Rieser, Andrew Chamberlin. The Chautauqua Moment: Protestants, Progressives, and the Culture of Modern Liberalism, 1874-1920 . Irvington, NY: Columbia University Press, 2003.

In his 416-page work, Rieser critically and thoroughly examines this social movement and provides insightful context as well.

Referenced in:
The Most American Thing in America: The Chautauqua