Americans were visualizing history long before they were called Americans. In the beginning they picked up tools and left images on stone or on hides recording their beliefs, their experiences and their dreams. Then artists and engravers began illustrating books, newsprint and periodicals—pictoralizing history and capturing current events. With the introduction of the camera Americans seized another tool for documenting and interpreting their world, first with still images then with moving ones. Whatever the means, or whenever the time, and wherever the place, today we have a rich legacy of visual history and to explore, analyze, and enjoy.
Clio's Visualizing America will examine both the processes and the products of visual history. While great writing produces remarkable visions of the past, here we focus on images rather than words from both literate and pre-literate communities. Our discussions will include questions and issues that images, icons, or artifacts raise about visual history. We examine the changing tools and times, the tensions between documentation and interpretation, and other issues that visualizing history provokes.
Visualizing America is an online history educational project currently under construction by Clio.