United States Historic Scenes

This may be one of the most wide-ranging and eclectic collections in the stacks of the American Antiquarian Society. Images depicting most major events from the landing of Leif Erickson to the surrender at Appomattox, as well as classic naval battles, images of colonists and Native Americans, and a nearly complete pictorial life of George Washington, doing everything from marching triumphantly home to cutting down trees, have made their way into this accumulation of images of American History. Most are engravings from late eighteenth and nineteenth-century books.

The images, sorted by event depicted and largely in order by date, include the five major wars in North America during AAS's collecting period (the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, The Mexican War, and the Civil War), as well as images of the explorers and early colonies. They are sorted into over 70 folders kept in seven boxes. Box one is devoted to explorers and colonization, box two holds the French and Indian War, three and four cover the Revolution, five holds the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, and boxes six and seven hold the Civil War. Box seven is comprised of photographs, including many portraits.

These historical scenes and images of battles are perfect for anyone compiling a textbook or comprehensive history of the United States, researching any particular war, battle, or other major event in the collecting period, or someone doing a biography of George Washington.

For current information on the cataloging status of this and other AAS collections, choose "Collection Access" below.

-E.J. Harris, AAS volunteer