Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861
Coltons General Atlas of the World

Home > Masculinities

Masculinities

These “image essays” gather together striking images on the same theme from across the books in the exhibit.

Men filled the pages — and the images — of American travel narratives and geography books. When those men were American, they were typically presented as paragons to be admired: sailor, captain, navy officer, explorer, manufacturer. When those men were indigenous, they were usually given full bodies and social contexts. At best indigenous men represented the exotic; at worst, the simply inferior. Only American men were deemed to be rational agents, capable of operating anywhere in the world.

Hover over any image to see source information; right click on any image to see a larger version; look under Research Resources for guides to all images in the digital exhibit.

Fitch W. Taylor. A Voyage Round the World, and Visits to Various Foreign Countries, in the United States Frigate Columbia. New Haven: H. Mansfield; New York: D. Appleton, 1859. p. 1:17.
James Riley. An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, Wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815. Hartford: Published by the author, 1817. Frontispiece.
James Fenimore Cooper. History of the Navy of the United States of America. Continued to 1853. New York: G.P. Putnam, 1853. between pp. 1:230-231.
Elisha Kent Kane. Arctic Explorations: The Second Grinnell Expedition in Search of Sir John Franklin, 1853, ’54, ’55. Philadelphia: Childs and Peterson...., 1857. 1:Frontispiece.
J. Leander Bishop. A History of American Manufactures from 1608-1860: Exhibiting the Origin and Growth of the Principal Mechanic Arts and Manufactures.... Philadelphia: E. Young and Co.; London: Sampson Low, Son and Co., 1864. 1:Frontispiece.
J. Leander Bishop. A History of American Manufactures from 1608-1860: Exhibiting the Origin and Growth of the Principal Mechanic Arts and Manufactures.... Philadelphia: E. Young and Co.; London: Sampson Low, Son and Co., 1864. 2:Frontispiece.
J. Leander Bishop. A History of American Manufactures from 1608-1860: Exhibiting the Origin and Growth of the Principal Mechanic Arts and Manufactures.... Philadelphia: Edward Young and Co.; London: Sampson Low, Son and Co., 1868. 3:Frontispiece.
William Lewis Herndon and Lardner Gibbon. Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon: Made Under the Direction of the Navy Department. Washington DC: Robert Armstrong, Public Printer, 1854. Plate 11 between pp. 1:112-113.
William Lewis Herndon and Lardner Gibbon. Exploration of the Valley of the Amazon: Made Under the Direction of the Navy Department. Washington DC: Robert Armstrong, Public Printer, 1854. Plate 12 between pp. 1:112-113.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. p. 1:102.
William Francis Lynch. Narrative of the United States’ Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1849. opposite p. 128.
William Francis Lynch. Narrative of the United States’ Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1849. opposite p. 134.
Thomas Jefferson Jacobs. Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Pacific Ocean, or, the Islands of the Australasian Seas, During the Cruise of the Clipper Margaret Oakley, under Capt. Benjamin Morrell. New-York: Harper and Brothers, 1844. p. 218.
Charles Wilkes. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1845. p. 1:333.
Charles Wilkes. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1845. p. 3:120.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. opposite p. 1:128.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. p. 1:157.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. p. 1:161.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. p. 1:295.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. p. 1:297.
Matthew C. Perry. Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan.... Washington DC: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1856. opposite p. 1:433.
Fitch W. Taylor. A Voyage Round the World, and Visits to Various Foreign Countries, in the United States Frigate Columbia. New Haven: H. Mansfield; New York: D. Appleton, 1859. 2:Frontispiece.
<< HUMAN RACESMISSIONARIES >>