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"Mitchell's Primary Geography. An Easy Introduction to the Study of Geography: Designed for the Instruction of Children"

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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As printing technologies improved in the 19th century, schoolbooks, such as this geography text, contained more frequently engraved illustrations to engage readers. This book contained 120 engravings! Although these illustrations were often inaccurate or stereotypic they provided students with visual images of unfamiliar peoples such as Indians "out west". (See example on pages 51 by clicking on the Select a page menu above.) These books were a real "window to the world" for children in a time before TV, radio or movies, and with access to few magazines or newspapers. Ideas and images absorbed from these books would color the thoughts and beliefs of the children who studied them.

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