Why, the stories from the “Fifth Book” of the “Graded Literature Readers” of course. Just unearthed in a pile of books left at Meekins, this volume, published in 1900, is clearly stamped: “Property of Town of Williamsburg School Dept.” and with the date stamp “Oct 19, 1914”. This series of readers, edited by Harry Pratt Judson, President of the University of Chicago, and Ida C. Bender, the Supervisor of Primary Grades in the Public Schools of Buffalo, New York, sought to interest the children and engage them while improving their reading skills. These illustrated books introduced age-appropriate excerpts from classic authors and poets like Hawthorne, Dickens, Shakespeare, and Whittier, and included stories, and biographies, nature and science writings, travel and adventure tales, and poems of all sorts.
But the full story of the book is not in its printed form. It is in the “extras” that we find when we look at the book. There are numerous town children who left their mark in this one volume, stamped “Hay[denville]. Grammar.” Ruth Black, February 7, 1930, and Mary Black, April 11, 1921, signed on the front flyleaf on opposite corners. In the back, Robert Brown signed his full name once along the inside cover edge and then R. G. Brown twice more. Catherine Mansfield added her cursive signature together with Haydenville, Mass., and P.O. Box 28 on the rear flyleaf. The rear endleaves were also covered with names and doodles, mostly erased but still visible. Surprisingly, there is very little underlining or writing on the text inside.
This volume had a full life, serving the children in town for years. It was a delightful surprise to discover it in that pile of old books. What were you reading in the 5th grade? Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt.
Posted to Facebook 5/18/2023
