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Courtesy, Manners, and Wit: An Etiquette Sampler, 16th Century to the Present, Fall 2016 @ Archives & Special Collections: The Cases

The Special Collections Department at the University of Pittsburgh presents an exhibition of works from the Darlington, Nesbitt, and Picchi collections.

Contents

There are five total cases in Courtesy, Manners, and Wit, organized thematically as follows:

Case I. Sprezzatura, Witte & Jestes, The Spectator, Lord Chesterfield, and Scenes from Punch’s Pocket Books: A Sampler of Italian and English Works of Courtesy, Humor, and Wit, 1528-1863

Case II. From George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Mrs. Grant’s Sketches of Manners and Scenery in America, to the etiquette of the Stars and Stripes and the U. S. Military: An American Sampler, 1746-1963

Case III. Courtesy, Manners, and Politeness: A Sampler of Children’s Literature, 14th Century-1963

Case IV. Beauty, Fashion, Gentility, and The Perfect Gentleman: An Etiquette Sampler for Adults, 1838-1932

Case V. Baldrige, Bracken, Eichler, Hathaway, Holt, Martin, Post, Rives, Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt: A Sampler of American Women Writers of Etiquette, 1901-2005

Illustrations from

A colored etching of a campsite, in which the servants and their well-to-do employers have switched places.

Topsy Turvey, -or, Our Antipodes

A colored etching, which depicts well-dressed ladies doing work on a farm, such as churning butter and feeding pigs, while soldiers look on in confusion.

Farming for Ladies

A colored etching, in which a number of women have gathered their babies for judgement on their behaviors and to view babies reared on different diets.

A Prize Baby Show, Materfamilias Rewarding a Successful Candidate

A colored etching, showing a satirical gathering of women who coo over the 'artistry' of a mannequin, overfeed their dogs, and fawn over a child prodigy who lacks any sense of autonomy.

Conversazione of Ladies

A colored etching depicting a military campsite, which has been overtaken by a well-off family for show.

Volunteer Movement- Jones & Family go Under Canvas

A colored etching of the well-off attempting to undertake beach activities on a previously polluted lake and interacting with geese.

A Substitute for the Sea Side, as Serpentine as it Might Be

A colored etching of women attempting to join caravans to California during the gold rush.

An Alarming Prospect, The Single Ladies off to the Diggings

A colored etching of a chaotic street seen, with many musicians and pedestrians interacting.

The Quiet Street: A Sketch from a Study Window

A colored etching of women in loose jumpsuit-style swimsuits, often with short skirts overtop, attempting to swim with varying success.

Swimming for Ladies

A colored etching depicting a number of servants helping a woman put on an elaborate and cumbersome ballgown.

Dressing for the Ball in 1857

A colored etching depicting the illustrator's prediction for the once peaceful Hyde Park to be turned into a roadway, with people riding personal trains amidst great chaos.

Hyde Park as it Will Be

A colored etching of servants and family members of the head of the house demanding unrealistic or odd improvements to their treatment and freedom.

Higgledy Piggledy, or, a Domestic Republic

A colored etching depicting a chef attempting to teach young women of varying ages to cook simple foods.

Preparatory School for Ladies

A colored etching of a household with reversed gender roles, with the women enjoying freedom and wearing pants, while the father and husband stays home with the baby.

Progress of Bloomerism, or a Complete Change

A colored etching depicting an auction house where men and women assess and purchase potential spouses.

The Matrimonial Tattersalls