Secretary and Bookcase
Datec. 1815-1820
MediumMahogany, satinwood veneer, white pine, poplar, brass, and glass
Dimensions113 × 61 3/4 × 22 inches (287 × 156.8 × 55.9 cm)
Credit LineGiven by Mrs. Joseph D. McGoldrick.
Object number1978.6
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextA mahogany secretary in American Empire style, combining a desk, a bookcase, and a chest of drawers. The upper bookcase cabinet is topped by a scalloped cornice supporting three urn-shaped finials. Two rectangular glazed and mullioned cupboard doors open to an interior with adjustable shelves. The lower chest features a central drawer with a hinged front, opening to reveal a writing surface and an interior compartment of small drawers and cubbyholes, all veneered in satinwood. At bottom, are a valanced skirt and ebonized, carved lion’s paw feet.
By the beginning of the 19th century, most white Americans were literate, thanks to an increased emphasis on free public education. Most free and enslaved people of color were either illiterate, or hid their literacy due to a system of laws preventing their education. With economic prosperity and the rise of the middle class, the culture of correspondence made letter-writing a favorite leisure activity. The tall secretary (from secretarius, Latin for writer) evolved as a larger and more formal piece of furniture to store papers and display books.
