John Collins

Born in Burlington, New Jersey, in 1814, John Collins was an American Quaker artist, lithographer, teacher, poet, and author. He studied at Haverford College and later worked in Philadelphia, where he ran a lithographic establishment in the late 1830s before continuing his career as an artist and educator.

Collins is especially remembered for his lithographic city and town views, including scenes of places such as Burlington and Newport. He also contributed to drawing manuals and educational art books, which fits with his reputation as both a practicing artist and a teacher.

For readers today, Collins is interesting not only as a writer but as a figure who moved easily between words and images. His books and prints preserve a clear, thoughtful picture of 19th-century America, shaped by artistic skill and a calm, observant sensibility.