How Office Work Became Part of the American Dream
This article explores the historical evolution of office work in America, tracing its origins to the 19th century. It uses the 1841 murder of Samuel Adams by John Colt to illustrate the early anxieties and alienation associated with the rise of white-collar labor.
Why it matters
It provides historical context for modern workplace culture and the psychological impact of office environments.
In the 19th century, “artisans of the brain” flooded to white-collar jobs to prove themselves, but found it wasn’t that easy.
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Marian S. Carson Collection / Library of Congress July 23, 2026, 4:26 PM ET Share Save This is an edition of Time-Travel Thursdays, a journey through The Atlantic ’s archives to contextualize the present. Sign up here.
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