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Punch bowl: Landing of Lafayette
1840-1850
1910.24
Earthenware
Owned By: Heiser family

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collections > Luce Center > Clemen's Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the U.S., State of Illinois

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Clemen's Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the U.S., State of Illinois

Clemen's Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the U.S., State of Illinois
Title
Clemen's Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the U.S., State of Illinois
Object name 
Map puzzle
Date 
ca. 1900
Related People 
Artist/Maker: Clemens, Rev. E. J.
Medium 
Wood, paper
Dimensions 
box: 2 1/4 x 9 x 7 1/2 in. ( 5.7 x 22.9 x 19 cm )
Description 
"Clemen's Silent Teacher: Dissected Map of the U.S., State of Illinois" two-sided picture puzzle with an image of the State of Illinois on one side broken into counties and the other an advertisment for Sherwin -Williams paints with a Victorian home in the center and four medallions in the corners with images of a woman holding a paint can, painted walls, a horse drawn carriage and a train car; box cover chromolithographed with a map of the U.S. in the foreground with personifications of the nations of the world lined up to enter; box cover inscribed, "CLEMENS' SILENT TEACHER/ Dissected/ MAP OF THE/ UNITED STATES/ AND OF/ EACH STATE/ IN COUNTIES/ MANUFACTUERED BY/ REV. E. J. CLEMENS,/ CLAYVILLE/ N.Y."
Credit Line 
The Liman Collection
Object Number 
2000.265
Marks 
lithographed: on the box cover: "CLEMENS' SILENT TEACHER/ Dissected/ MAP OF THE/ UNITED STATES/ AND OF/ EACH STATE/ IN COUNTIES/ MANUFACTUERED BY/ REV. E. J. CLEMENS,/ CLAYVILLE/ N.Y."
Gallery Label 
The imagery of this dissected map (puzzle) suggests that even school children were aware of the United States' role as an international imperial power. The various national figures may represent immigrant streams. If so, then the African-American contribution to the make-up of the American population has been purposely minimized and obscured. The woman lacks a national costume (in fact she wears nothing at all), implying that black Americans were present but not welcome.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.