Maclure of New Harmony: Scientist, Progressive Educator, Radical Philanthropist

18 New Harmony Adrift

271 New Harmony Adrift Those who survived the storm that had beset New Harmony now lived together without the noxious discord of the recent past. The financial status of the commune, though not without worry, was no longer a source of conflict, nor were philosophic differences the fount of controversy. Alexander and Anna Maclure managed their brother’s estate, which encompassed half the land and properties of New Harmony, while much of the remainderofthetowncenteredaroundRobertOwen’ssonsanddaughter, who in return for a much-needed 300 pounds per year had been given in trust the title to their father’s remaining possessions in New Harmony.1 In the pursuit of their various careers, Owen’s sons spent years away from New Harmony, coming and going, but by the mid-1830s, now American citizens, they were all located in Indiana, as was their sister, Jane Dale Owen.2 Robert Dale Owen, the eldest, assumed a leadership role in the community, while his brother William, who died young in 1842, was more concerned with commerce. The year 1837 saw a triple wedding, in which William Owen married the daughter of a former member of the Preliminary Committee, and David Dale and Richard Owen, the two younger brothers, married the daughters of Joseph Neef, the crusty Pestalozzian teacher whom Maclure had brought to America and New Harmony. Neef had left the commune bitterly critical of Robert Owen, who now became family. Neef and his Eighteen • 272 · Maclure of New Harmony wife, Eloisa, were induced to return, and they ended their days in New Harmony as teachers. The town seemed to exert an attraction for those who had attended its schools, for many of Phiquepal’s former students, including Achille Fretageot, chose to settle in New Harmony, and a few of the original inhabitants from the Boatload of Knowledge still remained. By choice or by chance, the remarkable Owens seemed to create unusual situations for themselves. A closely knit family, at one time all five Owens with their spouses and children lived in a single dwelling in New Harmony .Eveningswerefilledwithdiscussion,readings,amateurtheatricals, and musicales, for there were several pianists among them, and William played the violin, Richard the cello, and Jane the harp. With visions of reform all but gone, Maclure’s siblings tended to his interests in New Harmony, and to their credit they were always generous in making their brother’s library and collections available for instruction and scholarship. Maclure’s contributions to the community now lay in the support of studies in geology and natural history, an excellent library (despite the removal of some of its most precious books to the ANSP) that was open to all, and a publishing house. Although Maclure was the major proprietor of New Harmony, his influence was weakened from remote Mexico. Anna and Alexander Maclure were not effective administrators, andtheycertainlywerenomatchforthedynamic,entrepreneurialRobert Dale Owen, who increasingly set the Owen stamp on New Harmony. The Owensdominatedthelifeofthecommunity,creatingitssociableenvironmentandgivingititsflavor .RobertDale’shopewastocreatealivelycenter ofcultureandlearningontheWabashRiver,promotinglecturesandpublic entertainments under the aegis of the New Harmony Institute, a new lyceum which met in a building provided by the Owens—shades of the father—but unlike earlier days, no burning social and political agenda lit uptheassembly.3 RobertDalepennedarticlesfortheFreeEnquirerandthe Disseminator of Useful Knowledge, which were avidly read in local circles and which imparted a welcomed sense of unity and identity to the community . The Disseminator also featured interesting articles for the young, scientificpapers,andessaysandlettersbyMaclurethatacquiredanewlife when they were republished in his three-volume work, Opinions. Maclure stated many times that adults had been corrupted by their life experiences and that changing the thinking of adults was almost impossible . Still, he wanted to provide these lost souls with enlightening New Harmony Adrift · 273 publications at a price they could afford—a penny press, as it existed in England. Maclure was greatly pleased when Madame produced and sold a pamphlet on temperance for a quarter of the usual price. However, the New Harmony Press, reflecting the values of Say, Lesueur, and Troost, became less the flaming voice of reform directed toward the education of themassesandmorethepublisherofbooksandmonographsofascientific nature.TheoutputofMaclure’spresswasremarkable,evenafterhisdeath, for it produced several seminal classics and made a significant contribution to American natural history.4 Using F. A. Michaux’s exquisite copperplate engravings, which Maclure had purchased in France, Michaux’s North American SylvawasproducedbyanexpertEnglishprinterandNew Harmony resident, William Amphlett. Among many publications, Say produced his classics, American Conchology and American Entomology. SeveralothermonographswerepublishedbyLesueur(American Ichthyology ), David Dale Owen, and Alexander Maclure (Code...