Arthur Mee's Children's Encyclopaedia Ten Volume Set

by Arthur Mee, John Alexander Hammerton (Editor)

Available in public domain. Volume one (of ten volumes) is digitally preserved

The Children's Encyclopedia, originally titled The Children's Encyclopædia, was a printed encyclopedia originated by Arthur Mee, and published by the Educational Book Company Ltd., a subsidiary of the Amalgamated Press of London. It was published from 1908 through to 1964, and was found in many family homes throughout the British Empire.


The format of the Encyclopedia was because it was originally published in fortnightly parts between March 1908 and February 1910. Some readers could have bound their own collections, but the first eight-volume sets were published in 1910.

Each section contained a variety of articles, developing its various topics as it progressed. The work could be used as a conventional reference library (the last volume contained a very extensive alphabetical index), or each section could perhaps be read from start to finish. Articles could also be dipped into at random to provide entertainment and reading matter whenever required.

The Encyclopedia was originally organised into the following sections (there were some changes in subsequent editions). (Some of these titles in fact cover scientific subjects such as geology, biology, astronomy, etc. but such scientific terms were generally avoided.)

* Familiar Things, by "Many writers"
* Wonder, by "The Wise Man"
* Nature, by Ernest Bryant and Edward Step
* The Child’s Own Life, by Dr. Caleb Saleeby
* The Earth, by Dr. Caleb Saleeby
* All Countries, by Frances Epps
* Great Lives, by "Many writers"
* Golden Deeds, by "Many writers"
* Bible Stories, by Harold Begbie
* Famous Books, by John Hammerton
* Stories, by Edward Wright
* Poetry, by John Hammerton
* School Lessons, by several writers, including Lois Mee, Arthur's sister
* Things To Make and Things To Do, by "Many writers"


The Encyclopædia broke new ground in the approach to education, aiming to make learning interesting and enjoyable. Its articles were clearly written. Some - in particular the scientific series - would have been challenging even to intelligent teenagers. It aimed above all to develop character and sense of duty.

The Encyclopedia was re-edited for the US market and retitled The Book of Knowledge (1911-12). A new company, Grolier, was founded to publish and distribute the book.

Genres: Reference, Childrens, History

First published January 1, 1908

About the author

Arthur Henry Mee (21 July 1875 – 27 May 1943) was an English writer, journalist and educator. He is best known for The Harmsworth Self-Educator, The Children's Encyclopædia, The Children's Newspaper, and The King's England.

Mee left school at 14 to join a local newspaper, where he became an editor by age 20. He contributed many non-fiction articles to magazines and joined the staff of the Daily Mail in 1898. He was made literary editor five years later.

Reviews

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this set of encyclopaedias as a child. I still like to browse through them from time to time. My set have red covers and date from the early 1950s I think. My Dad picked them up for a pittance at some auction in the 1970s. There is a little bit of everything in these from the expected general knowledge to stories, sheet music and recipes.

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother bought these in a second hand shop in the 1970's. The whole set of ten encylopedias cost her $2 (AUD). I pored over them constantly. At the time I didn't realise they were so old. I remember sections of questions and answers, such as, "Why is the sky blue". These were my favorite parts.

[Peter Brimacombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have the set. My mother read it to me when I was young, My parents kept it at 30 Ann Arbour Road. I think my Grandfather Battrick originally had it. There was the story of Arty the Dragon.

[Liem Do]

i think is cool and nice

[Hữu Trí · Rating 5 out of 5]

this cool

[Honestmitten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have volumes 2 to 10 and am loathe to part with them because they were bought when my dad was young and probably enabled him to get into his grammar school against the odds…but at times the language and colonial and sexist views are an undercurrent in some articles which helps me realise how education, which may have expanded our parents’ and grandparents’ knowledge of the world of literature, art and science, also provided an opportunity for prejudice to persist against different cultures and genders… For that reason I am loathe to pass these on to the next generation …Maybe these tomes deserve a place in a museum … in a dark and dusty corner for another 80 years… when they will be regarded with more amusement than offence.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ten volumes were constant companions growing up. The information was already dated but that didn't matter.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the whole set of these. VERY USEFUL IN MY SCHOOL DAYS. FOR HOME WORK