Report of the General Committee of the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition

Between 1870 and 1888, the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade and the Ohio Mechanics Institute sponsored the highly-regarded Cincinnati Industrial Expositions. These massive cultural and technological events showcased products of Cincinnati inventors and business owners and provided a wide range of artistic, musical, and horticultural inspiration and entertainments. Exhibitions were held at Cincinnati’s Music Hall and the surrounding areas, including Washington Park. This report details the inaugural exposition that lasted from September 21 to October 15, 1870. The many descriptions of technical inventions of the time paint a portrait of a city and region on the rise that is primed be a major player in the industrial revolution.  

Condition and treatment: This is an original binding from 1870 covered in decorative brown cloth with gold and blind stamping along the covers. The binding is in severe condition and the textblock is in poor condition. The binding is detached, the spine is torn in numerous places and the spine linings along the textblock are brittle and failing. The textlbock is split caused by broken and loose sewing. Pages are detached. Conservation staff will conserve the textblock by removing brittle spine linings, resewing, and relining with flexible materials. The cover will be repaired, reattached to the textblock, and rebacked. All the original parts will be retained and reused.