Materializing Identity: The creation Jewish Periodicals in mid–19th Century America

• In Event: Materializing and Performing Jewishness in 19th Century America

Abstract

This paper examines the creation of Jewish periodicals and newspapers in the mid-19th century United States through the lens of material culture, from creating typefaces to buying paper. It also examines challenges faced and the processes involved in printing Jewish publications in the mid-19th century. By looking at this often-overlooked aspect of Jewish publications, we redefine their role beyond the literary. This paper sheds light on how Jewish periodicals served as vehicles for the dissemination of Jewish material culture, influencing not only the content of the publications but also the broader cultural landscape of America during this transformative period.

Author

• Laura Eckstein, University of Pennsylvania