- Term
Currier and Ives
- Alternate Term
Currier and Ives
Currier & Ives
- Occupation/Role
printmaker
- Geography
New York City, NY
- Date
active 1835-1907
- Remarks
In 1834 Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888) entered a lithographic partnership known as Strodart & Currier in New York, NY. The following year Strodart withdrew from the partnership and Currier began publishing as N. CURRIER, LITHOGRAPHER. In 1852, Currier hired a bookkeeper, James Merritt Ives (1824-1895). Together, Currier and Ives built a highly successful lithographic firm. Currier & Ives employed printers, artists, lithographers and stone grinders to produce black-and-white prints. Young immigrant women hand-colored the prints, with each colorist responsible for adding one color in an assembly line. Nathaniel Currier retired in 1880, passing his share of the company to his son Edward. James Ives' share passed to his eldest son, Chauncey, at his death. In 1902, Edward Currier sold his share to Chauncey Ives.