Picture of the Heavens, for the use of Schools and Private Families; being a Full and Distinct Explanation of the Different Celestial Phenomena, Divested of Mathematical Formulae; with Tables for Determining the Moon’s Age, Calculating Eclipses, Etc. Etc. Adapted to the Comprehension of Young Persons
Artist/Maker
McCullough, Samuel __author ||J.B. & R.P. Donogh __Printer
Place Made
Authored, Kentucky; Printed, Ohio; Used, Nelson County, Virginia Kentucky United States of America
Date Made
1841
Medium
paper and leather
Dimensions
__ __9″ __7″
Accession Number
6072.2
Description
Astronomical atlas and instruction book designed by Samuel D. McCullough to accompany his monumental celestial wall map (6072.1).
History
This copy descended in the Dillard family of Nelson County, Virginia. Names are scribbled throughout the textbook, including “Nannie E. Dillard.” Nannie was born in 1862, more than twenty years after the book and accompanying map were printed. It is possible that they were originally purchased for the use of her father, Stephen T. Dillard (b. 1829), and his eight siblings in the household of their parents, James Spottswood and Narcissa Turner Dillard. Narcissa was keenly interested in the education of her family. In her will, she specified funds for the education of her late son Terisha Dillard’s two young children.
The map and book were originally purchased out of an estate auction. Numerous books and maps were also in this auction, many of which have the signatures of Stephen Dillard and his siblings.
Credit Line
Partial gift of Mack and Sharon Cox, Nancy James Purchase Fund
