A Record of the Metropolitan Fair in Aid of the United States Sanitary Commission c. 1860 - 1880

Editor: Here we have "A Record of the Metropolitan Fair in Aid of the United States Sanitary Commission," a print from between 1860 and 1880 by Jeremiah Gurney. What strikes me is the rich texture of the book cover. It seems like a piece of decorative art. What's your perspective on this work? Curator: Seeing this, I immediately think of the labor involved. Look closely – that marbled paper wasn’t mass-produced in the way we’re accustomed to today. Each sheet involved a specialized craft. The binding too suggests skilled handwork. Knowing it’s connected to the Sanitary Commission also contextualizes it. These fairs were enormous undertakings, dependent on both professional and volunteer labor. Editor: So, you see it as more than just a decorative object? Curator: Exactly. Think about the materiality. Paper production, printing, and bookbinding during this era all speak to particular methods of production. Moreover, the book becomes a record and artifact of the very specific context of a fundraising fair. It is evidence of this moment in the 19th Century United States. Who produced the book, for what purpose and under what circumstances is more relevant than its mere visual aspects. Editor: That makes me consider its preservation, too. Each mark and imperfection tells its own silent story. Curator: Precisely! This shifts our perception; what initially looks simply decorative is tied directly to tangible, physical processes, and labor itself. Editor: That really reframes how I see even seemingly simple objects now. Thanks. Curator: Indeed, focusing on the material connects the piece to broader social and economic histories.