First edition. Scholars have only recently begun paying attention to the development of reading as a social practice. During the nineteenth century, an evolving print culture made reading an essential part of American's daily routines. To date, the history of American reading practices has tended to focus on middle-class white people living in northeastern cities before 1876. Here the focus is shifted to the Midwest with a broadening of the base of economic classes studied. The picture of print in Osage is complex and defies reduction, but by placing print in a community context and viewing printed materials as an expression of activities, not mere artifacts, Pawley enhances our understanding of the role of reading in American culture. Bibliography, index.