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Lectures on Ancient History

Object Details

Description
Samuel Whelpley’s Lectures on Ancient History. Comprising a General View of the Principal Events and eras in Civil History, from the Creation of the World to the Augustan Age was published by Wiley and Halsted of New York, in 1821. The book mainly derives its source material from Biblical history, which was common in this time and may be expected from histories written by ordained ministers.
The Copp Collection contains about 150 books of early American imprint and shows a wide range of reading matter typical of a New England Puritan family living in a port town. Literacy was expected of many New Englanders, as Puritan doctrine required everyone to read the Bible. The abundance of multiple Bibles, psalms, hymnodies, sermons, and morality tales reflects the Copp’s religious beliefs. Other highlights of the library include the works of Shakespeare, almanacs, historical and political texts, and travel narratives.
The Copp Collection contains a variety of household objects that the Copp family of Connecticut used from around 1700 until the mid-1800s. Part of the Puritan Great Migration from England to Boston, the family eventually made their home in New London County, Connecticut, where their textiles, clothes, utensils, ceramics, books, bibles, and letters provide a vivid picture of daily life. More of the collection from the Division of Home and Community Life can be viewed by searching accession number 28810.
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Museum of American History
Credit Line
Gift of John Brenton Copp
Measurements
overall: 3 7/8 in x 6 in x 1 1/4 in; 9.8425 cm x 15.24 cm x 3.175 cm
Object Name
book
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
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