The ''Book of Knowledge'' was an encyclopedia aimed at juveniles first published in 1912, by the
Grolier Society
Grolier was one of the largest American publishers of general encyclopedias, including ''The Book of Knowledge'' (1910), ''The New Book of Knowledge'' (1966), ''The New Book of Popular Science'' (1972), ''Encyclopedia Americana'' (1945), ''Acade ...
.
Originally largely a reprint of the British ''
Children's Encyclopaedia'' with revisions related to the United States by
Holland Thompson, over time the encyclopedia evolved into a new entity entirely. It was published under a policy of
continuous revision, meaning that there were no separate editions, but annual printings that were edited and updated by the publisher. Thompson remained editor until his death in 1940. From 1941 to 1960 it was edited by
Ellen V. McLaughlin and from 1960 to 1966 by
John D. Tedford.
In 1966 it was replaced by the ''
New Book of Knowledge ''The New Book of Knowledge'' is an encyclopedia published by Grolier USA.
The encyclopedia was a successor to the ''Book of Knowledge'', published from 1912 to 1965. This was a topically arranged encyclopedia described as an "entirely new work" ...
''.
The number of volumes fluctuated. It was originally a 24 volume set, but other print runs had 10, 12 or 20.; 1919 was a 20 volume set as shown in the image above
as was 1951.From 1949 Grolier also issued a ''Book of Knowledge Annual''.
Encyclopaedia Britannica praised the index system that was introduced by the Book of Knowledge: "much of the success of the work as a reference tool resulted from its splendidly contrived index, which remains a model of its kind.".
There was a separate index for poetry.
Sample pages of 1919 edition
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Edition. 20 volumes.jpg, 20 Volumes of Book of Knowledge 1919 edition.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1, TOC.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1, Table of Contents
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 4.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 4. The story of the earth.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 110.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 110. Thinking problems, match tricks, measurement conversion.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 254.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 254. Card trick.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 264.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 264. Music lesson.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 266.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 266. Drawing lesson.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 269.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 269. French lesson
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 310.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1 Page 310. Trains.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1. Ship.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 1. Passenger ship.
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, General Index Start.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, General Index Start
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, General Index Sample.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, General Index Sample
File:Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, Poetry Index Start.jpg, Book of Knowledge 1919 Vol 20, Poetry Index Start
References
{{Reflist
American encyclopedias
English-language encyclopedias
20th-century encyclopedias
Children's encyclopedias