An exhibition of more than 150 letters, manuscripts and other artifacts from the James S. Copley Library at Sotheby’s grounds American and literary history in their human origins.

Cut out the letter on the paper and trace it on the front of the cereal box with a black marker. Then flip over the letter so it’s backward and trace it on the back of the cereal box.

Carved wooden hornbooks were more common in the mid-1800s. A young learner would use a turkey quill to trace the letters and numbers. The indentations of the carvings allowed the quill to stay in ...