Impressive Gatherings: Month of June 2017
In the realm of historical collecting, Eric C. Caren stands out as a notable figure, often referred to as the "Babe Ruth of private historical collecting." His passion for American history, rooted in his childhood fascination with romantic and sometimes silly historical TV shows and movies, has led him to amass one of the largest private collections of Paper Americana.
Paper Americana refers to authentic, original paper documents, ephemera, and printed materials that capture American history. Caren's collection, The Caren Archive, spans the American Revolution, Civil War, both World Wars, and key moments in American social history, making it a significant resource for historians, educators, and researchers.
The Caren Archive is acknowledged as a significant collection in the field of Paper Americana. It houses over one million original and historic newspapers, periodicals, manuscripts, and photographs, preserving firsthand accounts and contemporary reporting of pivotal moments in American history. Many of these documents are unavailable in standard archives, offering unique insights into the past.
The collection serves as a vital resource, providing primary source materials that help illuminate public perception and media coverage of historical events. Eric C. Caren's efforts to make significant portions of his collection available through exhibitions, collaborations with museums, and the publication of books and volumes that feature highlights from his archives, help ensure the preservation of American history for future generations.
The Caren Archive is currently housed at the Library of Congress, a testament to its significance in the field. Caren's collecting career has been compared to the 19th century collector Sir Thomas Phillips, reflecting the magnitude of his contributions to historical document preservation.
While the specifics of Caren's background are not detailed in the provided sources, extensive public information highlights his significance in the field. His collection, The Caren Archive, is one of the largest and most important private collections of Paper Americana in the United States.
**Summary**
Eric C. Caren's collection, The Caren Archive, is a treasure trove of American history, spanning from the 16th century to the 20th century. The archive contains over one million original and historic newspapers, periodicals, manuscripts, and photographs, offering unique insights into pivotal moments in American history. The collection serves as a vital resource for historians, educators, and researchers, providing primary source materials that help illuminate public perception and media coverage of historical events. Eric C. Caren's efforts to make significant portions of his collection available through exhibitions, collaborations with museums, and the publication of books and volumes, help ensure the preservation of American history for future generations.
Eric C. Caren's lifestyle is deeply rooted in his passion for American history, extending beyond his collection of Paper Americana to include efforts in outdoor-living, as he strives to preserve and share firsthand accounts of American history through exhibitions and collaborations with home-and-garden institutions like museums.
The Caren Archive, a signifiant resource for historians, educators, and researchers, not only houses over one million original historical documents but also contributes to the preservation of American history by providing unique insights into the past, thus playing a pivotal role in home-and-garden projects aiming to document and educate future generations about American history.
