Chautauqua Industrial Art Desk for Children

Chautauqua Industrial Art Desks were produced to encourage creative and self-directed learning at home. According to the "Our History" (13) of The Home Teacher (c 1913) (the book that accompanied this product...scanned pages available online, www.pixelpixie.net/chautauqua/2.htm ). This product was designed "...to bring out a device for arousing the possibility of self expression in every child." In an ad, c.1916 (also available at the above website), the by-line reads, "A Plan to promote the Culture of work and Play among Children in the Home."

This was a box (mine is missing the lid with the slate). It opens to expose a roll of paper with various plates, ranging from kindergarten basic shapes all the way to electrical diagrams and fine art. It covers art, natural science, geography. There are knobs outside that allow the child to turn from lesson to lesson (similar to a player piano roll). There are 26 plates.

The first page of the roll says, "Lewis E. Meyers & Co; Valparaiso, Indiana; Toronto, Canada; PAT Oct 20 1895; PAT Nov 15 1895; c 1913 Powers, Myers & Co.; Other rights Pending; All Rights Reserved"

On one plate, it is marked c 1895 Powers Bros.

On the back of the box is a map of the United States. Title is: American Resources Map c. 1923 Lewis E. Meyers & Co. (Apparently these back covers varied).

On the label for how to care for the desk it refers to the Hy-San Art Slate and recommends using only Hy-San white or colored pencils. (It mentions they could be purchased at stationers or directly from them)