Historic Textbook Collection
Title
Description
Scope and Contents
The volumes date from 1770 to 1929. Most were published in the centers of textbook production–New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Cincinnati–but cities across the country are also represented.
The books are useful today as a survey of pedagogical methods and contents as well as a portrayal of the American popular mind of the day. Values, morals, and religious piety were imparted in addition to the subjects covered in the books. Ideologies supporting the superiority of certain nations and races, concepts which are anathema today, were expounded. Works by familiar authors such as William Holmes McGuffy, Charles W. Sanders, Lindley Murray, Charles A. Goodrich, and Samuel G. Goodrich abound in the collection.
Holdings: 950 volumes
Access
The collection is available to all researchers. Request materials for use in the Special Collections reading room. Some materials in this collection are stored offsite. Please request materials at least 48 hours in advance.
All titles are cataloged and available through the University's online catalog. The collection can be searched in MERLIN through the heading Historic Textbook Collection (University of Missouri–Columbia. Libraries).