A History of the Book in America

Volume Two of A History of the Book in America documents the development of a distinctive culture of print in the new American republic.Between 1790 and 1840 printing and publishing expanded, and literate publics provided a ready market for novels, almanacs, newspapers, tracts, and periodicals. Government, business, and reform drove the dissemination of print. Through laws and subsidies, state and federal authorities promoted an informed citizenry. Entrepreneurs responded to rising demand by investing in new technologies and altering the conduct of publishing. Voluntary societies launched libraries, lyceums, and schools, and relied on print to spread religion, redeem morals, and advance benevolent goals. Out of all this ferment emerged new and diverse communities of citizens linked together in a decentralized print culture where citizenship meant literacy and print meant power. Yet in a diverse and far-flung nation, regional differences persisted, and older forms of oral and handwritten communication offered alternatives to print. The early republic was a world of mixed media.Contributors: Elizabeth Barnes, College of William and MaryGeorgia B. Barnhill, American Antiquarian SocietyJohn L. Brooke, The Ohio State UniversityDona Brown, University of VermontRichard D. Brown, University of ConnecticutKenneth E. Carpenter, Harvard University LibrariesScott E. Casper, University of Nevada, RenoMary Kupiec Cayton, Miami UniversityJoanne Dobson, Brewster, New YorkJames N. Green, Library Company of PhiladelphiaDean Grodzins, Massachusetts Historical SocietyRobert A. Gross, University of ConnecticutGrey Gundaker, College of William and MaryLeon Jackson, University of South CarolinaRichard R. John, Columbia UniversityMary Kelley, University of MichiganJack Larkin, Clark UniversityDavid Leverenz, University of FloridaMeredith L. McGill, Rutgers UniversityCharles Monaghan, Charlottesville, VirginiaE. Jennifer Monaghan, Brooklyn College of The City University of New YorkGerald F. Moran, University of Michigan-DearbornKaren Nipps, Harvard UniversityDavid Paul Nord, Indiana UniversityBarry O'Connell, Amherst CollegeJeffrey L. Pasley, University of Missouri-ColumbiaWilliam S. Pretzer, Central Michigan UniversityA. Gregg Roeber, Pennsylvania State UniversityDavid S. Shields, University of South CarolinaAndie Tucher, Columbia UniversityMaris A. Vinovskis, University of MichiganSandra A. Zagarell, Oberlin College