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“An ever-expanding universe of information”: Joseph Paxton and his followers in the communications revolution

Bawden, D. (2015). “An ever-expanding universe of information”: Joseph Paxton and his followers in the communications revolution. Paper presented at the Paxton150: histories and futures of public parks, 11-09-2015 - 12-09-2015, Sheffield, UK.

Abstract

Joseph Paxton, and his protégés and followers in the domain of the public park, lived through the mass communications revolution of the nineteenth century, and played a very active part in it. This presentation examines how Paxton and his followers, as writers, editors, and publishers, were leaders in the dissemination of information on horticulture and landscape design, and in particular of the design and operation of public parks. This presentation examines the ways in which Paxton and his followers used, and contributed to the development of, these new media, particularly in respect of their work in public parks. It considers what, and how, they wrote, edited and published, and what this tells us of their views on parks, and of the parks themselves; and what immediate and listing effects these writings have on public perceptions of parks, and on the design and operation of parks. This presentation examines the ways in which Paxton and his followers used the new communications media, establishing the knowledge base of horticulture and park design in a way which has continuing influence to the present day.

Publication Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture)
Publisher Keywords: information history; horticultural publishing; Victorian
Subjects: Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z665 Library Science. Information Science
Departments: School of Communication & Creativity > Media, Culture & Creative Industries > Library & Information Science
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