![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhsswPWmMRsZcEAVQOdZmPRwmMlcm_irIWUrNvI1gBW5pPr2fpdOTc2FiHR-dsrttKrGDLcDA8KFH0kGFc0ZSyH2Zwo8I4SCryOjxqfYAB30csR-zJpvtYZXaaXNST88r0tJiQxkS/s640/1787+Charles+Willson+Peale+%2528American+artist%252C+1741-1827%2529++Mary+Chew+Mrs+Thomas+Elliott+Chrysler+in+Norfolk.jpg)
1787 Charles Willson Peale (American artist, 1741-1827) Mary Chew (Mrs Thomas Elliott Chrysler) reading with glasses
Reading in the colonies & early nation was not restricted to religious texts. Classical & humanist works were popular reading matter, just as in Europe, along with newspapers, almanacs, chapbooks, novels, & books on proper conduct.