Maine's Capital Area

Log in

Log in

All Categories

Download as iCal file
The Kennebec Historical Society's June Public Presentation: "Jigsaw Puzzles, A Short History"
Wednesday, June 20, 2018, 06:30pm
Hits : 1282
Contact Kennebec Historical Society, (207) 622-7718

Jigsaw puzzles originated in Europe in the mid-1700s in the form of “dissected maps” to teach geography to young children.  American production began around 1815 for children’s puzzles, and almost one hundred years later for puzzles that would interest adults.  During the early 1930s there was a year-long craze for jigsaw puzzles.  Large and small companies, including many in Maine, worked at that time to satisfy the huge demand for hand-cut wooden puzzles.  After World War II, die-cut cardboard puzzles replaced the more expensive wooden ones.  Today only a handful of companies continue to make hand-cut wooden puzzles, one example being Elms Puzzles of Harrison, Maine.  Anne Williams, our presenter, will cover the earliest puzzles and some nineteenth century examples.  Her discussion of post-1900 puzzles will focus on Maine puzzle makers.

Anne Williams has been fascinated with jigsaw puzzles since early childhood and has collected seriously since the late 1970s.  While teaching at Bates College and the University of Pennsylvania she authored two books, several exhibition catalogs, and many articles on jigsaw puzzle history. In 2014, the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, acquired 7,500 of her puzzles and related research materials for its permanent collection.

The Kennebec Historical Society’s June Presentation is co-sponsored by the Maine State Library and free to the public (donations gladly accepted).  The presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the Maine State Library located at 230 State Street in Augusta.   

Location Maine State Library, 230 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330
FacebookLinkedInInstagram