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A Content Analysis of Science in Nineteenth-Century US Readers: Early American Science Education

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Abstract

Readers, the reading textbooks of the nineteenth century, were tools for helping students to read and to learn about the world. They supplied the content and the method of learning. With science not yet established as a separate subject, the science in these readers was the first and only science education for most of the students in this era. A historical content analysis was conducted to determine the quantity of science and type of science in twenty-year periods during the nineteenth century.

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Correspondence to Peter Rillero Ph.D. .

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Appendix A Bibliography for Most Popular Readers by Vicennial Periods Organized by Year of Publishing

Appendix A Bibliography for Most Popular Readers by Vicennial Periods Organized by Year of Publishing

1800–1819

Webster, N. (1803). An American selection of lessons in reading and speaking. Baltimore: Thomas Andrews.

Bingham, C. (1805). The American preceptor; being a new selection of lessons for reading and speaking (23rd ed.). Boston: Manning and Loring.

Murray, L. (1808). Sequel to the English reader: Or, elegant selections in prose and poetry. New York: Collins and Perkins.

Murray, L. (1812). Introduction to the English reader. Philadelphia: Bennett and Walton.

Bingham, C. (1815). The Columbian orator (Sixth Troy edition). Troy: Parker and Bliss.

Murray, L. (1818). The English reader; or, pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers. Pittsburgh: Patterson and Lambdin.

1820–1839

Murray, L. (1826). The English reader; or, pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers. Philadelphia: Edwin T. Scott.

Murray, L. (1827). Sequel to the English reader: Or, elegant selections in prose and poetry. Philadelphia: S. Probasco.

Pierpont, J. (1828). Introduction to the national reader. Boston: Richardson and Lord.

Murray, L. (1829). Introduction to the English reader. Pittsburgh: Bennett and H. Holdship.

Pierpont, J. (1829). The national reader. Boston: Richardson, Lord, and Holbrook.

Cobb, L. (1830). Cobb’s juvenile reader number 1. Ithaca: Andrus, Woodruff, and Gauntlett.

Cobb, L. (1831). Cobb’s juvenile reader number 2. Chambersburg, PA: Hickok and Blood.

Cobb, L. (1835). Cobb’s juvenile reader number 3. Bennington, VT: John C. Haswell.

Pierpont, J. (1835). The young reader; to go with the spelling book. New York: George F. Cooledge.

1840–1859

Sanders, C. W. (1840). The school reader. Second book. Cincinnati: William H. Moore.

Cobb, L. (1842). Cobb’s new juvenile reader, number I. Ithaca: Mack, Andrus.

Sanders, C. W. (1843). The school reader. First book. New York: Mark H. Newman.

McGuffey, W. H. (1844). McGuffey’s newly revised first reader; the eclectic first reader for young children. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith.

Cobb, L. (1845a). Cobb’s new juvenile reader, number II. Oxford, NY: W.E. Chapman.

Cobb, L. (1845b). Cobb’s new juvenile reader, number III. Cincinnati: B. Davenport.

Murray, L. (1846). The English reader; or, pieces in prose and poetry, selected from the best writers. Philadelphia: W.A. Leary.

McGuffey, W. H. (1848). McGuffey’s newly revised eclectic third reader. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith.

Sanders, C. W. (1848). The school reader. Third book. New York: Ivison and Phinney.

McGuffey, W. H. (1853). McGuffey’s newly revised eclectic second reader. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson, and Hinkle.

1860–1879

Sanders, C. W. (1861). The school reader. Third book. New York: Ivison and Phinney.

McGuffey, W. H. (1863a). McGuffey’s new first eclectic reader. Cincinnati: Van Antwerp, Bragg.

Hillard, G. S., & Campbell, L. J. (1864). The new series. The primer of first reader. Philadelphia: Eldridge and Brother.

McGuffey, W. H. (1863b). McGuffey’s new second eclectic reader: For young learners. Cincinnati: Wilson, Hinkle.

McGuffey, W. H. (1865). McGuffey’s new third eclectic reader: For young learners. Cincinnati: Wilson, Hinkle.

Sanders, C. W. (1869). Sander’s new series. The school reader, second book. New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman.

Parker, R. G., & Watson, J. M. (1860). National first reader or word-builder. New York: A.S. Barnes.

Parker, R. G., & Watson, J. M. (1869). National third reader or word-builder. New York: A.S. Barnes.

Sanders, C. W. (1871). Sander’s new series. The school reader, first book. New York: Ivison, Blakeman, and Taylor.

Parker, R. G., & Watson, J. M. (1857 and 1885). National second reader or word-builder. New York: A.S. Barnes.

Hillard, G. S., & Campbell, L. J. (1873a). The new series. The third reader, for primary schools. Boston: Brewer and Tileson.

Hillard, G. S., & Campbell, L. J. (1873b). The Franklin second reader. New York: Taintor Brothers, Merril.

1880–1899

Harris, W. T., & Rickoff, A. J. (1884). Appleton’s school readers. The first reader. New York: D. Appleton.

McGuffey, W. H. (1885a). McGuffey’s new first eclectic reader: For young learners. New York: American Book Company.

McGuffey, W. H. (1885b). McGuffey’s new third eclectic reader: For young learners. New York: American Book Company.

Harris, W. T., & Rickoff, A. J. (1886). Appleton’s school readers. Second reader. New York: D. Appleton.

Harris, W. T., & Rickoff, A. J. (1887). Appleton’s school readers. The third reader. New York: D. Appleton.

McGuffey, W. H. (1896). McGuffey’s second eclectic reader (Revised edition). New York: American Book Company.

Baldwin, J. (1897a). Baldwin’s readers first year. New York: American Book Company.

Baldwin, J. (1897b). Baldwin’s readers second year. New York: American Book Company.

Baldwin, J. (1897c). Baldwin’s readers third year. New York: American Book Company.

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Rillero, P. (2013). A Content Analysis of Science in Nineteenth-Century US Readers: Early American Science Education. In: Khine, M. (eds) Critical Analysis of Science Textbooks. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4168-3_8

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