The Horn Book, Inc. was founded in 1924 by Bertha Mahony Miller (1882-1969) in Boston, Massachusetts and continues to publish one of the oldest bimonthly magazines dedicated to children’s literature. Hornbook paddles were used as a teaching aid for children to learn the alphabet and religious prayers.
The collection includes one wooden paddle facsimile of the New England Hornbook with The Lord’s Prayer printed on the front. The back of the paddle has a sticker detailing it was printed for The Horn Book, Inc. by Otto H. Miller in 1960 at Thomas Todd’s Printing Shop on Beacon Hill at 585 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Written in pencil on the sticker states 5-29-62 and $1.80.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
Facsimile of the New England Hornbook, MSS-0100, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is one item and therefore has no arrangement.
Provenance of the collection is unknown. It was in the holdings of Special Collections prior to 2000.
The collection was described by Special Collections intern, Melissa Moniz, in 2023 under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison.
This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.