Reciprocities market : John Bartram's 18th century botanical subscription service and the seeds of independence
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This dissertation "Reciprocities Market: John Bartram's 18th Century Botanical Subscription Service and the Seeds of Independence," delves into the evolving social and economic relationships of 18th-century colonial America through the lens of John Bartram's work and network. Bartram (1699-1777), a Pennsylvanian-born Quaker farmer and naturalist, developed a transatlantic botanical subscription service. An exemplar of the broader shift from traditional patronage systems of obligation and reciprocity or deference to market-based egalitarian exchange. This study explores how Bartram's economic and scientific endeavors mirrored the changing dynamics of his time, contributing to the intellectual and economic development of an emergent nation. Through the analysis of Bartram's correspondence, geography, and network, this research uncovers the ways he and his contemporaries navigated and reshaped the conventions of reciprocity and market exchange. The dissertation argues that Bartram's market-oriented approach was part of a larger trend among colonial Americans, who used market mechanisms to negotiate and assert their economic and social positions. Through John Bartram as a representative figure, this dissertation contributes to our understanding of the complex interplay between science, commerce, and society in early America, revealing how individual initiatives and market mechanisms aided by and as extensions of empire were integral to the dissemination of natural knowledge and the development of a distinct American identity, challenging European hierarchical norms and contributing to the seeds of independence.
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Ph. D.