Collection Highlights
James (1777-?) and Sarah Clark Tuttle (c. 1779-?)
1836
1937.1715
Gouache, watercolor, graphite, and black ink with selective glazing on ivory paper
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Hill's Spelling Blocks
Title
Hill's Spelling Blocks
Object name
Alphabet blocks
Date
1869
Medium
Wood, paper
Dimensions
box: 2 1/8 x 5 7/8 x 7 1/2 in. ( 5.4 x 14.9 x 19 cm )
Description
Set of twelve cube blocks painted red or white with numbers, letters and images painted on each side, each letter has a word that begins with that letter below and the images are labeled such as "Sleigh" and "Omnibus"; paper covered wooden box chromolithographed with two children playing with blocks outdoors; cover inscribed, "HILL'S/ SPELLING/ BLOCKS/ No. 54/ S. L. HILL & SON. BROOKLYN N.Y."
Credit Line
The Liman Collection
Object Number
2000.726
Marks
lithographed: on the box cover: "HILL'S/ SPELLING/ BLOCKS/ No. 54/ S. L. HILL & SON. BROOKLYN N.Y."
Gallery Label
Spelling lessons were also ways to impart religious knowledge and patriotism. The images on blocks shifted from biblical ones to objects and scenes of daily life as the secular creed of patriotism superceded religious messages in the publicly-supported schools.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
