Kouwenhoven Collection

The Cuban insurrectionistss meeting in their headquarters, on the corner of Rector Street and Broa Artist
The Cuban insurrectionistss meeting in their headquarters, on the corner of Rector Street and Broadway, c1868, (1938). From Adventures of America 1857-1900, by John A

Munitions Factory, Bridgeport, Connecticut, c1870s. Artist: Theodore R Davis
Munitions Factory, Bridgeport, Connecticut, c1870s. Machines speeded up production after the Civil War. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Role of Women in the War, 1861, (1938). Most of the women of the country, North and South, turned courageously to the tasks left by the men who had gone to fight

Coaches to resorts and hotels, c1859, (1938). Those who chose to avoid the elegance and formality of Newport and the great hotels at Saratoga (where $1, 500, 000 was spent annually)

Police Cartoon in the Weekly, c1859, (1938). From Adventures of America 1857-1900, by John A. Kouwenhoven. [Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York and London, 1938]

The School for Scandal on opening night, January 4th, c1882, (1938). Artist: C Graham
The School for Scandal on opening night, January 4th, c1882, (1938). In 1882, Lester Wallack moved his company uptown to a new theatre.The picture represents the theater during the screen scene

Alexander Graham Bell and assistant use an electrical detector to find a bullet in the torso of ail Artist: W Shinkle
Alexander Graham Bell and assistant use an electrical detector to find a bullet in the torso of ailing US President James Garfield, 1881, c1882, (1938)

Wall Street, New York City, 1866, (1938). From Harpers Weekly Magazine, June 23, 1866. From Adventures of America 1857-1900, by John A

Electricity In The Art Of Healing, 1881. Artist: W Shinkle
Electricity In The Art Of Healing, 1881. US President James Garfield has medical attention from an electrical detector. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Reproducing Speech, 1878. Artist: C A Keetels
Reproducing Speech, 1878. Demonstration of the Edison phonograph in New York. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers, (New York)

The Travelling Circus, c1870s. Artist: Frenzeny and Tavernier
The Travelling Circus, c1870s. Up until the 1870s, the circus travelled in wagons. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers

Palace Hotel Car, Union Pacific Railroad, c1870. Artist: A R Ward
Palace Hotel Car, Union Pacific Railroad, c1870. A black waiter serves customers on board a train. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Wall Street, New York, 1869. Wall Street markets crash on Black Friday, 1869. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers, (New York)

Turpentine Distillery, North Carolina, 1870. Artist: Edwin Austin Abbey
Turpentine Distillery, North Carolina, 1870. By 1870 there were 147 turpentine distilleries in North Carolina, USA. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Mrs Lincoln, c1860s. Artist: Brady
Mrs Lincoln, c1860s. The wife of President Abraham Lincoln shows one of her gowns on a trip to New York. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Gun Turret Aboard USS Passaic, c1860s. Twin barrel gun designed by Captain John Ericsson. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers

The Loading Of The Atlantic And Baltic Boats, c1860s. Soldiers and supplies sailing from New York. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Professor Lowes Balloon, c1859. Steamboat-powered airship for transatlantic flights. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers

The Atlantic Telegraph Cable, Parade, c1858. Celebrating the telegraph cable that crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven

Military Academy, The Hop, Cozzens Hotel, 1859. Artist: Winslow Homer
Military Academy, The Hop, Cozzens Hotel, 1859. Illustration from Adventures of America, 1857-1900, by John A Kouwenhoven, published by Harper & Brothers, (New York, London, 1938)

Paeonia officinalis, peony
Watercolour 5 by G. van Kouwenhoven from the Dutch Collection. Held in the Botany Library at the Natural History Museum, London

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"Kouwenhoven: A Glimpse into America's Turbulent Past" Step back in time and witness the pivotal moments that shaped America through the lens of Kouwenhoven. From the Cuban insurrectionists convening at their headquarters on Rector Street and Broadway, to the haunting sight of three men and a woman hanged for Lincoln's assassination, Kouwenhoven captures history in its rawest form. Intriguingly, this collection also includes the execution of slave trader Nathaniel Gordon within the walls of New York's Tombs prison. The chilling image serves as a reminder of a dark chapter in American history when human lives were traded as commodities. Delving further into society's complexities, Kouwenhoven unveils scenes from Robert W Barnwell's opulent mansion in Beaufort, North Carolina. Here we catch a glimpse of antebellum grandeur before it was forever altered by war. The role of women during wartime is not forgotten either. Through his lens, Kouwenhoven sheds light on their contributions during times of conflict - an often overlooked aspect that deserves recognition. Political tensions are also explored as William Lloyd Garrison attempts to hold a John Brown anniversary meeting amidst controversy at Tremont Temple in Boston. These images serve as reminders that even within movements fighting for justice, differing opinions can create divisions. Transportation and leisure find their place too with depictions of coaches ferrying guests to resorts and hotels while Wall Street bustles with activity post-Civil War reconstruction. Yet perhaps one of the most poignant moments captured by Kouwenhoven is Alexander Graham Bell utilizing an electrical detector to locate a bullet lodged inside ail - showcasing how science merged with medicine during desperate times. Lastly, driven by Northern domination and desperation, white Southerners take drastic measures - illustrating how political unrest can push individuals towards extreme actions they may have never considered otherwise.