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The Athens of America

Boston: From cradle of the American Revolution to cradle of American Elitism.Created by: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search EngineDated: 2017
[Suffragist Margaret Foley distributing the Woman's Journal and Suffrage News]
Boston was once a center for shipbuilding and it has always been a neighborhood of immigrants. It was part of the New England corner of triangular trade, receiving sugar from the Caribbean and refining it into rum and molasses, partly for export to Europe. Boston was chartered as a city only in 1822 as a result of a transformation from a small and economically stagnant town in 1780 to a bustling seaport and cosmopolitan center by 1800. It had become one of the world's wealthiest international trading ports, exporting products like rum, fish, salt and tobacco.
By the mid-19th century Boston was one of the largest manufacturing centers in the nation, noted for its garment production, leather goods, and machinery industries. Manufacturing overtook international trade to dominate the local economy. A network of small rivers bordering the city and connecting it to the surrounding region made for easy shipment of goods and allowed for a proliferation of mills and factories.
Boston's "Brahmin elite" developed a particular semi-aristocratic value system by the 1840s—cultivated, urbane, and dignified, the Brahmin was the very essence of an enlightened aristocracy. He was not only wealthy, but displayed personal virtues and character traits. The Brahmin had expectations to meet: to cultivate the arts, support charities such as hospitals and colleges, and assume the role of community leader. In 1831, William Lloyd Garrison founded The Liberator, an abolitionist newsletter, in Boston. It advocated "immediate and complete emancipation of all slaves" in the United States, and established Boston as the center of the abolitionist movement.
The earliest Irish settlers began arriving in the early 18th century and they were forced to hide their religious roots since Catholicism was banned in the Bay Colony but later, throughout the 19th century, Boston became a haven for Irish Catholic immigrants. Today, Boston has the largest percentage of Irish-descended people of any city in the United States. The Irish took political control of the city, leaving the Yankees in charge of finance, business, and higher education.
From the mid-to-late-19th century, the Boston Brahmins flourished culturally. Higher education became increasingly important, principally at Harvard (based across the river in Cambridge).
The Brahmins were the foremost authors and audiences of high culture, despite being a minority. Emerging Irish, Jewish, and Italian cultures made little to no impact on the elite. From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, the phrase "Banned in Boston" was used to describe a literary work, motion picture, or play prohibited from distribution or exhibition. During this time, Boston city officials took it upon themselves to "ban" anything that they found to be salacious, immoral, or offensive: theatrical shows were run out of town, books confiscated, and motion pictures were prevented from being shown—sometimes stopped in mid-showing after an official had "seen enough".
1,623 Media in collectionpage 17 of 17
Nat'l First Aid Ass'n., Boston, Massachusetts., U.S.A. / George Brayton, Boston.

Nat'l First Aid Ass'n., Boston, Massachusetts., U.S.A. / George Brayto...

Photograph showing firefighter descending on ladder from second story window carrying person being rescued in practice drill. Transfer; Manuscript Division (Clara Barton papers); 2004; (DLC/PP-2004:023). Forms ... More

"Fire! Fire! I want to make a Fire!" Boys who build fires for Jewish families on Sabbath (Saturday).  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

"Fire! Fire! I want to make a Fire!" Boys who build fires for Jewish f...

Picryl description: Public domain image of child labor, exploitation, children workers, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Commonwealth pier, South Boston, Massachusetts.

Commonwealth pier, South Boston, Massachusetts.

Picryl description: Public domain image of a department store, commercial building, downtown, shopping center, 19th-20th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Day messenger.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Day messenger. Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Picryl description: Public domain image of child labor, exploitation, children workers, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Cocoanut Shaver - Kibbe's Factory. Jacob Futterman, 16 years, 108 Sharon St.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Cocoanut Shaver - Kibbe's Factory. Jacob Futterman, 16 years, 108 Shar...

Picryl description: Public domain image of child labor, exploitation, children workers, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Organ, Old North Church [i.e. Christ Church], Boston, Massachusetts.

Organ, Old North Church [i.e. Christ Church], Boston, Massachusetts.

Picryl description: Public domain image of a religious building interior, church, cathedral, hall, 17th, 18th, 19th-century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Stamping labels. Boston Index Card Co., 113 Purchase Street.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts / Lewis W. Hine.

Stamping labels. Boston Index Card Co., 113 Purchase Street. Location...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a child labor, factory, plant, manufacture, industrial facility, early 20th-century industrial architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Celina Melchionno, 14 years old, waxing (dipping) flowers at the Boston Floral Supply Co., 347-357 Cambridge Street. Said to be the only flower factory in Massachusetts.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts / Lewis W. Hine.

Celina Melchionno, 14 years old, waxing (dipping) flowers at the Bosto...

Picryl description: Public domain image of child labor, exploitation, children workers, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Guild House, business on Tremont St., Boston, Massachusetts. Second winding settee I

Guild House, business on Tremont St., Boston, Massachusetts. Second wi...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a couch, sofa, furniture, living room interior, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Allied Stores, Jordan Marsh, business in Boston, Massachusetts. Dressing table II

Allied Stores, Jordan Marsh, business in Boston, Massachusetts. Dressi...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Carol M. Highsmith - Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts

Carol M. Highsmith - Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Family on a stoop in Boston, Massachusetts

Family on a stoop in Boston, Massachusetts

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

[View from Beacon Hill] - Public domain scan / drawing

[View from Beacon Hill] - Public domain scan / drawing

Drawing shows view from a British redoubt, with cannon and soldier in the foreground, on Beacon Hill. Includes legend which identifies prominent features, such as the (1) Mystic River, (8) North Boston, and (11... More

Copley Square, Trinity Church, Art Museum, Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Copley Square, Trinity Church, Art Museum, Public Library, Boston, Mas...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Home Insurance Company, cash assets $6,000,000, June / Kronheim & Co., 9 Dey Street, New York.

Home Insurance Company, cash assets $6,000,000, June / Kronheim & Co.,...

Print on recto shows calendar from the Home Insurance Company almanac, June 1876, with illustration of soldiers fighting at Bunker Hill; description of illustration on verso. Picture caption from item. At head... More

Robinson's grand moving panoramic scenes of the present war! at Allston Hall ... [Boston 186-].

Robinson's grand moving panoramic scenes of the present war! at Allsto...

Available also through the Library of Congress web site in two forms: as facsimile page images and as full text in SGML. 2 duplicate copies Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 73, Folder 28. Copy scanned: 1

Brief account of the Society for propagating the gospel among the Indians and others in North-America. Boston January 1798.

Brief account of the Society for propagating the gospel among the Indi...

Imprint 2.; Not in Evans. Page Order: Leaflet Available also through the Library of Congress web site in two forms: as facsimile page images and as full text in SGML. Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 46, Folder 9.

Creatore's Band on steps of Mechanics Building, Huntington Ave, Boston, Massachusetts.

Creatore's Band on steps of Mechanics Building, Huntington Ave, Boston...

H37360 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright deposit; E. Chickering Co.; October 27, 1903. On front: "Copyright by E. Chickering & Co., 1903, reproduction forbidden".

Name: Boys of the Dumps - South Boston. Fields now being filled in for a Play Ground. Boston 1915 Exhibit. Oct. 1909.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Name: Boys of the Dumps - South Boston. Fields now being filled in for...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

[Election posters. Ward 5, Boston. 1860].

[Election posters. Ward 5, Boston. 1860].

Available also through the Library of Congress web site in two forms: as facsimile page images and as full text in SGML. Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 66, Folder 43.

Custom House, Boston, Massachusetts. - Public domain image. Dry plate negative.

Custom House, Boston, Massachusetts. - Public domain image. Dry plate ...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a classical or neoclassical building, architecture design, 19th-20th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Vendor in Boston Market.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Vendor in Boston Market. Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Vendor in Boston Market.  Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Vendor in Boston Market. Location: Boston, Massachusetts.

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

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