This article reviews three early American chemistry books, written at the elementary level. They provide a quaint insight into the science and society of the 19th century. William D. Williams and Wyndhan D. Miles have collected over 2000 volumes of chemistry and related science books published between 1600 and 1900. They are contained in the Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection, located in the Brackett Library of Harding University (Searcy, AR). This Collection was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical society on February 15, 1996. More information about the collection is contained in the supporting document library.pdf.
William D. Williams (1996) studied this question.