American Antiquarian Society

This online exhibition examines Revere’s many skills as a craftsman who stood at the intersection of social, economic, and political life during the formation of the new nation.

Most of the prints in this exhibit were designed simply to please the eye, but they are also useful to historians who would like to understand how 19th century Americans thought about the world in which they lived. 

This online resource both catalogs and contextualizes the twenty-two pieces of the Ridgway dinner service “Beauties of America” – a subset of the Society' collection of Staffordshire.

Coming soon

Architectural resources in this online exhibition include design books, drawings, lithographs, engravings, periodicals, and photographs.

The illustrations and objects depicted in this exhibition provide a brief glimpse into the history of social dance. The abundance of artwork and social artifacts available attest to dance's importance throughout American history. Featured is not only its origin, fashion and forms, but also the unspoken language of dance. Always moving, always changing, dancing has never failed to enchant American society.

AAS holds a collection of more than 400 American watch papers ranging in dates from the 1790s to 1910. These were inserted into a watch case to protect the delicate mechanisms from dust and debris.

This online exhibition supplements the publication The American Antiquarian Society, 1812-2012: A Bicentennial History by Philip F. Gura.

Based upon the unparalleled collection of Children's Literature held at the American Antiquarian Society, this comprehensive directory contains 2,600 entries documenting the activity of individuals and firms involved in the manufacture and distribution of childrens books in the United States chiefly between 1821 and 1876.

Search the directory