Floyd Family Collection: McGuffey Readers & Spellers

(Arranged by Brother & Date)

Illustration from William McGuffey's Eclectic Third Reader, 1879

This file contains 51 entries. To indicate a sense of the publishing history of the famous McGuffey readers and spellers held in the Floyd Family Collection, the records have been arranged by main entry, date of publication, and title. Titles appear in logical rather than strict alphabetical order. For example, a "third" eclectic reader will precede a "fourth" eclectic reader.

William McGuffey wrote the Primer through the Fourth Eclectic Reader, while his brother Alexander was responsible for the Fifth through the Sixth Eclectic Reader. Alexander is also responsible for the Eclectic Speller. For authorship assignments as followed in this bibliography, consult John H. Westerhoff, McGuffey and His Readers, 1978, pp. 17-18. Another view of authorship of volume six is expressed by Harvey C. Minnich, William Holmes McGuffey and His Readers, c1936, pp. 85-86. A publishing history chart appears on page 40 and a listing of various editions held by four major collections of McGuffey materials may be found on pages 186-94 of the Minnich work.

A modern seven-volume facsimile reprint, excluding the Speller, concludes this catalog.

William H. McGuffey

[Cf. John H. Westerhoff, McGuffey and His Readers, 1978, pp. 17-18, for authorship. Sometimes Alexander's works are incorrectly attributed to his brother William both by bibliographers and by his publishers. Consequently, even some OCLC records are inaccurate.

Cover of Eclectic Third Reader, 1840

M'Guffey, William H. REVISED AND IMPROVED ECLECTIC THIRD READER: CONTAINING SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY, FROM THE BEST AMERICAN AND ENGLISH WRITERS: WITH PLAIN RULES FOR READING AND DIRECTIONS FOR AVOIDING COMMON ERRORS. Twenty-sixth ed. Cincinnati: Truman and Smith, 1840. 165 pp. Notes: At head of title: McGuffey's Third Reader. This copy was originally purchased for 37 cents.

M'Guffey, William H. REVISED AND IMPROVED ECLECTIC THIRD READER CONTAINING SELECTIONS IN PROSE AND POETRY, FROM THE BEST AMERICAN AND ENGLISH WRITERS WITH PLAIN RULES FOR READING AND DIRECTIONS FOR AVOIDING COMMON ERRORS. Thirty Second Edition--110,000 Copies Cincinnati: Truman and Smith, 1843. 165 pp. Notes: At head of title: McGuffey's Third Reader. This copy lacks back cover.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED FIRST READER. THE FIRST ECLECTIC READER FOR YOUNG CHILDREN: CONSISTING OF PROGRESSIVE LESSONS IN READING AND SPELLING; MOSTLY IN EASY WORDS OF ONE AND TWO SYLLABLES. Eclectic Series-Newly Improved. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith, c1844. 108 pp. Notes: This copy lacks pp. 105-08. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, William H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED SECOND READER, THE ECLECTIC SECOND READER: CONSISTING OF PROGRESSIVE LESSONS IN READING AND SPELLING; FOR THE YOUNGER CLASSES IN SCHOOLS. WITH ENGRAVINGS. Enlarged and greatly improved. Eclectic Series-Newly Improved. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith, c1844. 216 pp. Notes:

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC FIRST READER: CONTAINING PROGRESSIVE LESSONS IN READING AND SPELLING. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Permanent Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1848. 108 pp. Notes: In envelope. This copy lacks all pages after p. 34.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC FOURTH READER: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS, IN PROSE AND POETRY, WITH RULES FOR READING, AND EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION, DEFINING, ETC. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Permanent Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith, c1848. 336 pp. Notes:

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC SECOND READER: CONTAINING PROGRESSIVE LESSONS IN READING AND SPELLING. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Revised Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1853. 224 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Copy 1 lacks pp. 223-24.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC FOURTH READER: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY WITH RULES FOR READING, AND EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION, DEFINING, ETC. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Revised Stereoype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1853. 336 pp. Notes: Publisher's address given as "No. 58 Main Street." This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC FOURTH READER: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY WITH RULES FOR READING, AND EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION, DEFINING, ETC. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Revised Stereoype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1853. 336 pp. Notes: Publisher's address is given "No. 137 Walnut Street." This copy was held by the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC FOURTH READER: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY, WITH RULES FOR READING, AND EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION, DEFINING, ETC. REVISED AND IMPROVED. Revised Electrotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle; New York: Clark & Maynard, c1853. 332 pp. Notes: Inscribed by owner and dated "Feb 14th 1865" on first leaf.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FOURTH ECLECTIC READER: INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS FOR THE YOUNG. Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle; New York: Clark & Maynard, c1857. 216 pp. Notes:

Page 69, New First Eclectic Reader, 1863

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FIRST ECLECTIC READER: FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1863. 84 pp. Notes: This copy has four blank pages between title page/verso and p. 7.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW SECOND ECLECTIC READER: FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1865. 162 pp. Notes:

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW THIRD ECLECTIC READER, FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Wilson, Hinkle & Co., 1865. 242 pp. Notes: This copy was used in Ohio.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FOURTH ECLECTIC READER. Enlarged ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle; Chicago: Cobb, Pritchard & Co.; New York: Clark & Maynard, c1866. 242 pp. Notes: This copy was held by the Indiana State Musuem.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FOURTH ECLECTIC READER: INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS FOR THE YOUNG. Enlarged ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Wilson, Hinkle & Co., c1866. 242 pp. Notes: Title page lacks lower right corner.

McGuffey, W. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FOURTH ECLECTIC READER: INSTRUCTIVE LESSONS FOR THE YOUNG. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1866. 242 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Copy 2 was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC PRIMER. NEWLY ILLUSTRATED. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1867. 60 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. "Newly Illustrated" appears below the title page woodcut. This copy lacks lower portion of p. 11.

MCGUFFEY'S THIRD ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1879. 208 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S FOURTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1879. 256 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was used in Roam, Indiana.

MCGUFFEY'S THIRD ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company, c1896. 208 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S ECLECTIC PRIMER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1909. 64 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 1 was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S FIRST ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1920. 96 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 2 was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S SECOND ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1920. 160 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. That this copy is a reprint of the 1879 ed. is indicated by a note on the book flag. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S THIRD ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1920. 208 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. MCGUFFEY'S FOURTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1920. 256 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 2 was used in Frankfort, Kentucky and was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FIRST ECLECTIC READER: FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. S.l.: [Henry Ford, 1925]. 84 pp. Notes: Publisher's statement from added half-title leaf. Reprint of 1885 ed. From title page: original publisher's statement is "New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company, c1885." Signed by Henry Ford on first leaf. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW SECOND ECLECTIC READER FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. S.l.: [Henry Ford, 1925]. 162 pp. Notes: Publisher's statement from added half-title leaf. Reprint of 1885 ed. From title page: original publisher's statement is "New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company, c1885."

McGuffey, Wm .H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW THIRD ECLECTIC READER: FOR YOUNG LEARNERS. Eclectic Educational Series. S.l.: [Henry Ford, 1925]. 242 pp. Notes: Publisher's statement from added half-title leaf. Reprint of 1885 ed. From title page: original publisher's statement is "New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company, c1885." Stamped "Indianapolis Public Library Prospect Branch 1125 Spruce St. Indianapolis 3, Indiana" on preface. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

Alexander H. McGuffey

[Cf. John H. Westerhoff, McGuffey and His Readers, 1978, pp. 17-18, for authorship. Sometimes Alexander's works are incorrectly attributed to his brother William both by bibliographers and by his publishers. Consequently, even some OCLC records are inaccurate.]

McGuffey, A. H. MCGUFFEY'S RHETORICAL GUIDE; OR, FIFTH READER OF THE ECLECTIC SERIES: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY, WITH COPIOUS RULES AND RHETORICAL EXERCISES. Eclectic Series, Newly Improved. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1844. 480 pp. Notes:

MCGUFFEY'S RHETORICAL GUIDE; OR FIFTH READER OF THE ECLECTIC SERIES: CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY: WITH COPIOUS RULES AND RHETORICAL EXERCISES. Revised Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith, c1844. 480 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED ECLECTIC SPELLING BOOK: SHOWING THE EXACT SOUND OF EACH SYLLABLE, ACCORDING TO THE MOST APPROVED PRINCIPLES OF ENGLISH ORTHOEPY. Improved Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co., c1846. 144 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. Stamped "Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library" on front inside cover. This is the former Terre Haute, Indiana public library.

MCGUFFEY'S NEWLY REVISED RHETORICAL GUIDE; OR FIFTH READER OF THE ECLECTIC SERIES. CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY: WITH COPIOUS RULES AND RHETORICAL EXERCISES. Revised and Improved. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith, c1853. 480 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was used in Logansport, Ind.

MCGUFFEY'S RHETORICAL GUIDE; CONTAINING ELEGANT EXTRACTS IN PROSE AND POETRY: WITH COPIOUS RULES AND RHETORICAL EXERCISES. FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Wilson, Hinkle & Co., c1853. 480 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FIFTH ECLECTIC READER: SELECTED AND ORIGINAL EXERCISES FOR SCHOOLS. Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith & Co.; New York: Clark, Austin & Smith, c1857. 336 pp. Notes: Title pages identifies William McGuffey, brother of Alexander, incorrectly as author. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

Illustration from Alexander McGuffey's New Eclectic Spelling Book, 1865

MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK: EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY; INCLUDING DICTATION EXERCISES. Electrotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1865. 144 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK: EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY; INCLUDING DICTATION EXERCISES. Electrotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1865. 144 pp. Notes: 3 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 2 lacks most of page 17. Copy 3 stamped "W. B. McCollough Druggist & Bookseller Franklin, Ind." on front inside cover.

MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK: EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY; INCLUDING DICTATION EXERCISES. Electrotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1865. 144 pp. Notes: OCLC notes: "Only date in time is c1865. Publisher active 1877-1890. Each page framed with a wavy line border, not present in original 1865 edition. T.p. Verso lists Eclectic Educational Series."

McGuffey, Alexander H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK: EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY; INCLUDING DICTATION EXERCISES. Electroctype edition. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Willson, Hinkle & Co.; Phil'a: Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger; New York: Clark & Maynard, c1865. 144 pp. Notes:

MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK: EMBRACING A PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH ORTHOGRAPHY AND ORTHOEPY; INCLUDING DICTATION EXERCISES. Eclectic Educational Series. New York and Cincinnati: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1865. 144 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 1 stamped "Indianapolis Public Library Prospect Branch 1125 Spruce St. Indianapolis 3, Indiana" on title page. Copy 2 was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

McGuffey, Wm. H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW FIFTH ECLECTIC READER: SELECTED AND ORIGINAL EXERCISES FOR SCHOOLS. Electrotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Wilson, Hinkle & Co., c1866. 338 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page identifies William, brother of Alexander, incorrectly as author. Copy 2 was used in Terre Haute, Indiana.

McGuffey, Wm H. MCGUFFEY'S NEW SIXTH ECLECTIC READER: EXERCISES IN RHETORICAL READING, WITH INTRODUCTORY RULES AND EXAMPLES. Stereotype ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle; Chicago: Cobb, Pritchard & Co.; New York: Clark & Maynard, c1867. 460 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page identifies William, brother of Alexander, incorrectly as author. Copy 2 was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S ECLECTIC SPELLING-BOOK. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1879. 144 pp. Notes: 4 copies. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 2 p. 7 has lower portion missing. Copy 2 was used in Franklin, Indiana and was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. Copy 4 has a variant binding.

MCGUFFEY'S FIFTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. Cincinnati and New York: Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., c1879. 352 pp. Notes: 5 copies in two states. Title page lacks author statement. Copy 1 stamped "J. H. Hart Druggist & Bookseller . . . Martinsville, Ind." on first leaf. Copy 3 has "Larvill" [sic] Indiana on second leaf. Copy 4 has a different state of the title page. Copy 4 lacks a portion of p. 175 Copy 4 and 5 have variant bindings.

MCGUFFEY'S FIFTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1879. 352 pp. Notes: 2 copies. Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S HIGH SCHOOL AND LITERARY READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1889. 479 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S ECLECTIC SPELLING BOOK. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1896. 144 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. Stamped "Fred. Mack, Agent The Saturday Evening Post Colfax, Ind." on first leaf.

MCGUFFEY'S ECLECTIC SPELLING BOOK. Revised ed. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, 1920. 144 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement.

MCGUFFEY'S FIFTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1920. 352 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

MCGUFFEY'S SIXTH ECLECTIC READER. Revised ed. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company, c1921. 464 pp. Notes: Title page lacks author statement. This copy was held by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.

William H. McGuffey and Alexander H. McGuffey

MCGUFFEY'S ECLECTIC READERS[:] PRIMER THROUGH THE SIXTH. Revised editions. Eclectic Educational Series. New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago: American Book Company; New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, [1970?]. 64; 96; 160; 208; 256; 352; 464 pp. Notes: 7 vols in boxed set. Reprint of vols. originally published with copyright dates 1909-1921. OCLC record indicates this is a reprint of the 1920 ed, but the date for vol. 7 is actually 1921. According to the OCLC record, Van Nostrand Reinhold was responsible for the primer, Vols. 1-3, and 5 and American Book Co produced Vols. 4 & 6.