Synopses & Reviews
What did the little ones do back in the days when "children should be seen and not heard"? How were they schooled, what did they wear, and which games did they play? This eye-opening survey revisits the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries for an illustrated look at the lives of Colonial America's youngest citizens
The first American historian to chronicle everyday life of the colonial era, Alice Morse Earle conducted years of research, based on letters, official records, diaries, and other accounts. A vivid portrait emerges, depicting a child's world of hornbooks and primers; lessons in manners and religion; methods of discipline; and toys, pastimes, and other amusements. The author offers a broader perspective by comparing conditions in America with those of England. More than 120 illustrations include reproductions of images by the era's finest artists, including Copley and Peale. "The book is one of historical interest and value," declared The New York Times, praising it as "beautifully illustrated [and] a charming book for old or young."
Synopsis
What was it like to be a child in 17th- and 18th-century America? A pioneering historian chronicles the eye-opening details of everyday colonial life in this engaging classic. Meticulously researched, it paints a vivid picture of infancy, toys and games, manners, discipline, schools, religious training, and much more. Features 128 illustrations.
Synopsis
A pioneering historian chronicles the everyday details of growing up in Colonial America in this engaging classic. Meticulously researched, it paints a vivid picture of infancy, toys, schooling, and more. 128 illustrations.
About the Author
Alice Morse Earle was an American historian born in 1851, who wrote many engaging books that chronicled the details of everyday life in colonial America.
Table of Contents
I. BabyhoodII. Children's DressIII. Schools and School LifeIV. Women Teachers and Girl ScholarsV. Hornbook and PrimerVI. School-booksVII. Penmanship and LettersVIII. Diaries and Commonplace BooksIX. Childish PrecocityX. Oldtime DisciplineXI. Manners and CourtesyXII. Religious Thought and TrainingXIII. Religious BooksXIV. Story and Picture BooksXV. Children's DiligenceXVI. Needlecraft and Decorative ArtsXVII. Games and PastimesXVIII. Children's ToysXIX. Flower Lore of Children