Joseph R. Hawley, The Hartford Courant, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

This small chromolithograph, made by Allen & Ginter, is part of a series of cards inserted into cigarette packs. They depict prominent Americans such as Joseph R. Hawley, editor of the Hartford Courant. These cards, while seemingly innocuous, were part of a larger cultural landscape deeply intertwined with American expansionism, industrialization, and the construction of national identity. Hawley, as a newspaper editor, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion during a period of rapid social change and political upheaval. He notably was a vocal supporter of the Union during the Civil War, later becoming a Republican congressman. The halo effect around his head is interesting. What does it say about the cultural elite if they are portrayed like religious figures? This card reflects how media and consumer culture intersected to create and disseminate narratives about success, power, and what it meant to be an American during the late 19th century.