1881 Northrup Miniature Map Envelope of Lake Chautauqua, New York

This is an 1881 envelope with a miniature map issued for the 1881 season of the Chautauqua Meetings - adult education camps held annually on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, New York.

Chautauqua Movement

The Chautauqua Institution is a unique educational community located in Chautauqua, New York, renowned for its commitment to the arts, education, religion, and recreation. Founded in 1874, it originally served as a training camp for Sunday school teachers, but evolved into a cultural hub, offering lectures, performances, and classes across diverse disciplines. Its picturesque grounds on the shores of Chautauqua Lake come alive each summer as thousands gather for a season of intellectual exploration, artistic expression, and spiritual reflection, all within the framework of lifelong learning and shared experiences. The success of the initial 'camp' evolved into the Chautauqua Movement, a national effort to foster lifelong learning, religious education, and cultural enrichment. The movement saw the establishment of numerous branch 'Chautauquas' across the nation, often in tent assemblies open-air auditoriums. These gatherings aimed to provide rural communities with intellectual and cultural experiences akin to those available in urban centers. The movement, although less popular than in its heyday, remains alive and annual summer meetings on the original grounds are much anticipated.

Publication History and Census

This map envelope was printed by William Phelps Northrup, later of the Matthews Northrup firm of Buffalo. This is among the earliest work that can be assigned to Northrup. Likely, given his location in nearby Buffalo, Northrup was a Chautauquan. This is the only known surviving example.