The objective of this work is to examine refinement and architecture in nineteenth-century America with a focus on rural areas and Ypsilanti, Michigan in particular. The research utilized consists of an analysis of primary and secondary sources. Included among the primary sources are architectural style books such as those by Andrew Jackson Downing, pioneer writings such as those of Caroline Kirkland and Solon Robinson, historical buildings, and probate record inventories of Washtenaw County. Ypsilantians did not assume the genteel refinement that developed in the nineteenth century. They instead modified gentility to become a form of respectability that suited their needs. By examining one small town in which gentility was unrealistic and undesired, we can conclude that Americans in other periphery locales had differing opinions and feelings toward the movement of gentility which helped shape respectability and comfort in American society.
","abstract_html":"<p>The objective of this work is to examine refinement and architecture in nineteenth-century America with a focus on rural areas and Ypsilanti, Michigan in particular. The research utilized consists of an analysis of primary and secondary sources. Included among the primary sources are architectural style books such as those by Andrew Jackson Downing, pioneer writings such as those of Caroline Kirkland and Solon Robinson, historical buildings, and probate record inventories of Washtenaw County. Ypsilantians did not assume the genteel refinement that developed in the nineteenth century. They instead modified gentility to become a form of respectability that suited their needs. By examining one small town in which gentility was unrealistic and undesired, we can conclude that Americans in other periphery locales had differing opinions and feelings toward the movement of gentility which helped shape respectability and comfort in American society.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["McCarron, Lynda"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"History and Philosophy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["John McCurdy, Ph.D., Chair","Richard Nation, Ph.D.","Dan Bonenberger, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:13Z","subjects":["American Art and Architecture","Architectural History and Criticism","United States History"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/722","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["John McCurdy, Ph.D., Chair","Richard Nation, Ph.D.","Dan Bonenberger, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["McCarron, Lynda"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-08-08T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["History and Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["American Art and Architecture","Architectural History and Criticism","United States History"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/722"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The objective of this work is to examine refinement and architecture in nineteenth-century America with a focus on rural areas and Ypsilanti, Michigan in particular. The research utilized consists of an analysis of primary and secondary sources. Included among the primary sources are architectural style books such as those by Andrew Jackson Downing, pioneer writings such as those of Caroline Kirkland and Solon Robinson, historical buildings, and probate record inventories of Washtenaw County. Ypsilantians did not assume the genteel refinement that developed in the nineteenth century. They instead modified gentility to become a form of respectability that suited their needs. By examining one small town in which gentility was unrealistic and undesired, we can conclude that Americans in other periphery locales had differing opinions and feelings toward the movement of gentility which helped shape respectability and comfort in American society.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Refinement and Architecture in Early Ypsilanti"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["John McCurdy, Ph.D., Chair","Richard Nation, Ph.D.","Dan Bonenberger, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["McCarron, Lynda"],"dc:date.available":["2017-08-08T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The objective of this work is to examine refinement and architecture in nineteenth-century America with a focus on rural areas and Ypsilanti, Michigan in particular. The research utilized consists of an analysis of primary and secondary sources. Included among the primary sources are architectural style books such as those by Andrew Jackson Downing, pioneer writings such as those of Caroline Kirkland and Solon Robinson, historical buildings, and probate record inventories of Washtenaw County. Ypsilantians did not assume the genteel refinement that developed in the nineteenth century. They instead modified gentility to become a form of respectability that suited their needs. By examining one small town in which gentility was unrealistic and undesired, we can conclude that Americans in other periphery locales had differing opinions and feelings toward the movement of gentility which helped shape respectability and comfort in American society.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/722"],"dc:subject":["American Art and Architecture","Architectural History and Criticism","United States History"],"dc:title":["Refinement and Architecture in Early Ypsilanti"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["History and Philosophy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:13Z"}