Research Project Artifact Inventory AML 4300 Scholar______Chelsy Tracz________

Due date: 1/28/11 or before

As early American scholars seeking to analyze the works of Judith Sargent Murray and Susanna Rowson
and authors of this period, we must first understand the text as a material artifact, an object that circulated
in and had meaning for specific readers who lived in a particular socio-cultural moment. By considering
the text as an artifact, we draw closer to understanding how the text functioned in its original context.
While we may be unable to travel to archives in Boston, New York, or Philadelphia, we can look at
digitized or microfilm images of the original objects and learn about how particular texts looked, felt, and
circulated. To that end, our initial research activities will introduce us to our chosen texts as material
objects.

• Using the following bibliographies and databases, complete a title and author search for your selected
text, and answer the questions in the chart below as fully as you can.
o Evans digital database (for texts published before 1800);
o Shaw-Shoemaker print bibliography, Second Series (post-1800 texts Z1215.S482)
o APS (American Periodicals Series) digital database
o American Prose Fiction 1774-1850 (aka Wright American Fiction; Indexes to microfilm
collection, v. 1-3, in Circulation Dept (Z1033.M6A522). UCF has MF-1515 (174 reels) v.1
(1774-1850).
• If possible, locate an electronic copy of the first edition of your text and download it as a PDF. If the
text is available online, please include the link here: (for example, you may find it at Project
Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page ).
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1555878
• Please check the reprint history of your text in Shaw-Shoemaker even if your text is published before
1801.

Using MLA documentation style, provide the full and correct citation for your novel here. If a modern
edition of your text exists (published by a reputable and/or scholarly press), please provide that citation
also. Remember to note the editor of the modern edition and which print edition the modern edition uses.

Warren, Mercy Otis. The Group. Jamaica: James Humphreys Jr., 1775. Project Gutenberg. Project
Gutenberg, 26 June 2009. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29224>.

Warren, Mercy Otis. The Group. Boston: Edes and Gill, 1775. Evans Digital. Web. 28 Jan. 2011.

Inventory Question Answer Inventory question Answer

1. When, where, and by “The Group” was printed in 1775. From
whom was your text first what I can gather, it first appeared in the
printed? Boston Gazette on January 23, followed by
the Massachusetts Spy on January 26. It
was published by Edes and Gill in Boston,
John Anderson in New York and James
Humphreys, Jr. in Jamaica. It was
reprinted by Humphreys in Philadelphia
Speculation: What might this
information suggest about this
text? For example, what does the
name and location of the printer
tell you? What other kinds of
texts did this printer publish?
From this information, it seems
that Warren’s play was fairly
well circulated. Given the fact
that publishing was often very
localized, Warren’s play was
able to reach several major cities.

2. How often was your
text reprinted? List all of
the reprints before 1850.
Do not confuse dates of
publisher’s/printer’s birth
and death with reprint
dates.
3. What was the actual
size of your text in
inches or centimeters?
What information can
physical presence,
binding, etc.? Do you
think it was expensive or
inexpensive?
4. View the original title
page using the digital
database or microfilm.
What is included there?1
Transcribe the exact
words of all of the
information listed on the
title page. Or, make a
PDF of this page if
possible.
again in the same year.
The only evidence I found regarding This leads me to believe that
reprinting was that done by James though widely circulated, “The
Humphreys Jr. in two separate locations in Group” did not become a classic
the same year, 1775. of the era. Its popularity was
probably short-lived at best.
22, [2] p. 20 cm. (4to) The work contained I think its basic nature as a
22 pages, was 20 cm, and was published as pamphlet as its small size helped
a quarto, meaning the pages were folded to to keep it inexpensive. This
produce 4 leaves. “The Group” was printed made the play cheaper to
in newspapers, as well as published as a produce and cheaper for
small pamphlet. Although I haven’t been consumers to purchase. This
able to find any specific information on the could help to explain its wide
actual binding, I would guess that it was circulation throughout the
stapled or some other equivalent of the colonies.
time. Because it was only a small
pamphlet, it most likely didn’t have a
tradition book binding.
Title Page for Boston, Edes and Gill ed.
“As the great business of the polite world
is the eager pursuit of amusement, and as
the public diversions of the season have
been interrupted by the hostile parade in
the capital; the exhibition of a new farce
may not be unentertaining.”/ THE
GROUP;/ As lately acted, and to be re-
acted to the wonder of all superior
intelligences, nigh head-quarters at
Amboyne./ The author has though proper
to borrow the following spirited lines from
a late celebrated poet, and offer to the
public by way of PROLOGUE, which
cannot fail of pleasing at this crisis./
WHAT! arm'd for virtue, and not point the
pen,
Brand the bold front of shameless guilty
men,
Dash the proud gamester from his gilded
car,
Bare the mean heart which lurks beneath a
star,_
* * *
_Shall I not strip the gilding off a knave,
Unplac'd, unpension'd, no man's heir, or
slave?
I will, or perish in the gen'rous cause;
Hear this and tremble, ye who 'scape the
laws;
Yes, while I live, no rich or noble knave,
Shall walk the world in credit to his grave;
To virtue only, and her friends, a friend,
 The world beside may murmur, or
commend./
BOSTON. Printed and Sold by Edes and
Gill in Queen-Street.

The Jamaica/Philadelphia Edition:

The /Group,/ A / Farce: / As lately Acted,
and to be Re-acted, to
the Wonder/ of all superior Intelligences;
/Nigh Head Quarters, at/
Amboyne. /In Two Acts./ New-York: /
Printed by John Anderson,/ at
Beekman's-Slip./ [The Boston edition was
printed and sold by Edes and
Gill, in Queen-Street, 1775.]

PDFs attached.

5. If there is more than The title page from the Edes and Gill,
one edition, compare the Boston edition has the quote before the
title pages. Note any head of the title, and it introduces the
differences here and keep prologue. It, of course, include publication
PDFs of these pages, if information as well. The
possible. Jamaica/Philadelphia edition by
Humphreys does not include the quote and
waits until the next page to introduce the
prologue.
I am thinking that after the
Boston edition, the play was
printed with a simpler and less
cluttered title page. Possibly the
name of the play was able to
stand alone now based on
popularity.

PDFs attached.
6. What miscellaneous The work does not include much front I would guess that there is such a
front matter is included? matter, such as engravings or dedication small amount of front matter
Describe it: and etc. It includes a brief prologue and because it was printed in a very
• Frontispiece the “dramatis personae,” which lists the condensed form as a pamphlet.
• Engravings characters and premise of the play. Warren did not have the benefit
• Preface of the space that was allotted to
• Dedication normal books.
• Other
Keep PDFs of these
pages.
7. How long is your The play is only two Acts and has only one The fact that the play is so short
text? Is it broken into scene in each act. It is very brief. The and published in newspapers and
volumes and chapters or print is a decent size—not excessively pamphlets helps to support it as
is it one big chunk? large but easily read. Because it is written being a satire. Warren wasn’t
How many volumes in the play format, it is broken up quite trying to construct any epic
and/or chapters? Is the nicely by the dialogue of characters. poetry, but rather used the drama
print large and easy to genre to convey her ideas on the
read or dense, with many revolution and satarize the
words on each page and British. This form echoes that
lines close together. used by Thomas Paine in his
“Common Sense” but instead
implements the literary form of
the play to do so. The brevity
helps to get Warren’s thoughts to
readers quickly and easily.
8. What back matter As with the front matter, the back matter is I think this can also be attributed
exists (following the end lacking because there isn’t any. to the nature of the work and its
of a text, usually word very short form.
“finis”)? Sometimes lists
of subscribers or other
works from this printer
or bookseller are
mentioned here. Keep
PDFs of these pages.
9. Is there a modern, “The Group” can be found in within Heath
scholarly edition of your Anthology of American Literature. A brief
text? (Scholarly editions biography of Mercy Otis Warren is
are distinguished from included as well as her other works
mere copies of the book including: An Address to the Inhabitants of
that are bound but lack the United States of America, The Ladies
scholarly apparatus.) of Castille, and To Fidelio, Long Absent re
the Great Public Cause.
10. Given all of the I would love to be able to include the
above, what might you versions of the play that were printed in
wish to include as you the two Boston newspapers. I have not yet
think about creating a had success in tracking them down. Being
virtual/physical site for able to actually see the play in that form
your project (your blog)? would be great. I will also want to include
all the title pages from as many editions as
are available. I have also discovered that
Warren had a close relationship with John
Adams, who was a great admirer of her
work and inspired her to use her talents for
the benefit of the revolution. I would like
to do more research on that and include
some context about John Adams. The
Group was also published the day before
the battle of Lexington, so I would like to
provide some historical context from that. I
may possibly include a map that shows
Warren’s probable location in Boston in
relation to the site of the battle. I would
also like to analyze the effect her work had
on fueling the revolution.