Lost History Books
@losthistorybooks.bsky.social
Explorer of American textbooks. 🔎
Bibliographic Adventurer 📚
Independent Researcher & Rare Book Collector 📖
Help me find lost books:
http://losthistorybooks.com/help-me/
Bibliographic Adventurer 📚
Independent Researcher & Rare Book Collector 📖
Help me find lost books:
http://losthistorybooks.com/help-me/
I’ve finally organized and expanded the list of lost materials that I’m currently searching for. Check it out: losthistorybooks.com/help-me/
Help Me Find Stuff
This page contains a full list of materials that I’m searching for as of October 20, 2025. If you have any leads, please reach out! There are five sections: books, manuscripts, periodicals, photogr…
losthistorybooks.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I’ve finally organized and expanded the list of lost materials that I’m currently searching for. Check it out: losthistorybooks.com/help-me/
I’ve been examining the illustrations this Children’s magazine published by Christian missionaries in Shanghai. All the issues for 1875 are online courtesy of @bodleian.ox.ac.uk It’s titled: 小孩月报 (Xiaohai Yuebao). Which just means “Child’s Paper.” 🧵 🗃️
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/211c...
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/211c...
Bodleian Library Sinica 1822
View high resolution digitized images of Bodleian Library Sinica 1822
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk
August 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I’ve been examining the illustrations this Children’s magazine published by Christian missionaries in Shanghai. All the issues for 1875 are online courtesy of @bodleian.ox.ac.uk It’s titled: 小孩月报 (Xiaohai Yuebao). Which just means “Child’s Paper.” 🧵 🗃️
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/211c...
digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/211c...
I should have heeded this warning. The letters listed in the attached register were not in the box after all. 🙃
August 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
I should have heeded this warning. The letters listed in the attached register were not in the box after all. 🙃
I had a surprising amount of fun browsing old ecclesiastical Journals. This is from the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio.
July 28, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I had a surprising amount of fun browsing old ecclesiastical Journals. This is from the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio.
I’ve been looking at runaway slave ads from the American Revolutionary War and it’s been a humbling experience. If you have some time, I invite you to read some of their names in the thread below. 🗃️🧵
A man named Bone from New Hampshire.
A man named Bone from New Hampshire.
July 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I’ve been looking at runaway slave ads from the American Revolutionary War and it’s been a humbling experience. If you have some time, I invite you to read some of their names in the thread below. 🗃️🧵
A man named Bone from New Hampshire.
A man named Bone from New Hampshire.
I recently got to view some of William F. Allen’s handwritten notes from the 1860s. This excerpt includes a musical transcription of a song he heard former slaves singing near Helena, Arkansas. It would ultimately be published in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867.
June 3, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I recently got to view some of William F. Allen’s handwritten notes from the 1860s. This excerpt includes a musical transcription of a song he heard former slaves singing near Helena, Arkansas. It would ultimately be published in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867.
I just got images of Palier Nason from Harvard Library. This was another children’s magazine created by American missionaries. It includes articles in both Tamil and English.
May 22, 2025 at 3:36 AM
I just got images of Palier Nason from Harvard Library. This was another children’s magazine created by American missionaries. It includes articles in both Tamil and English.
This AI nonsense from last week inspired me to take a another look at everything I know about the United States Primer by Joanna Donaldson Bronson. Much to my surprise, I noticed something new! 🧵
I stumbled across an AI generated answer on a study website that touches upon my area of expertise. It claims that William H. McGuffey wrote The United States Primer. He didn’t! It was written by Joanna Donaldson Bronson, the wife of Dr. Oliver Bronson. 🗃️
May 21, 2025 at 2:23 AM
This AI nonsense from last week inspired me to take a another look at everything I know about the United States Primer by Joanna Donaldson Bronson. Much to my surprise, I noticed something new! 🧵
I finally got copies of Зорница (Zornitsa) from the National Library of Bulgaria! Like the other children’s magazines published in the Ottoman Empire, this sometimes included sheet music.
May 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I finally got copies of Зорница (Zornitsa) from the National Library of Bulgaria! Like the other children’s magazines published in the Ottoman Empire, this sometimes included sheet music.
I stumbled across an AI generated answer on a study website that touches upon my area of expertise. It claims that William H. McGuffey wrote The United States Primer. He didn’t! It was written by Joanna Donaldson Bronson, the wife of Dr. Oliver Bronson. 🗃️
May 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
I stumbled across an AI generated answer on a study website that touches upon my area of expertise. It claims that William H. McGuffey wrote The United States Primer. He didn’t! It was written by Joanna Donaldson Bronson, the wife of Dr. Oliver Bronson. 🗃️
I’ve been solving lots of little mysteries and have more exciting progress to report! The fantastic librarians at Yale provided copies of several rare issues of the Christian Banner and Tract Journal. It was the primary organ if the American Tract Society in Boston. 🧵
May 11, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I’ve been solving lots of little mysteries and have more exciting progress to report! The fantastic librarians at Yale provided copies of several rare issues of the Christian Banner and Tract Journal. It was the primary organ if the American Tract Society in Boston. 🧵
I recently acquired two editions of Morning Light from 1883. There’s nothing exciting about these issues, but I’m still overjoyed to add them to my collection. As far as I can tell, they’re the only known copies of these issues. So I’ll donate them to a suitable institution in the future.
May 9, 2025 at 1:14 AM
I recently acquired two editions of Morning Light from 1883. There’s nothing exciting about these issues, but I’m still overjoyed to add them to my collection. As far as I can tell, they’re the only known copies of these issues. So I’ll donate them to a suitable institution in the future.
I just got copies of the first two years of Morning Light was immediately able to answer two burning questions.
1 - Did the American tract society reuse illustrations they already had of black individuals?
The answer is yes! Here's one example from Advice to Freedmen by Brinckerhoff.
1 - Did the American tract society reuse illustrations they already had of black individuals?
The answer is yes! Here's one example from Advice to Freedmen by Brinckerhoff.
May 7, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I just got copies of the first two years of Morning Light was immediately able to answer two burning questions.
1 - Did the American tract society reuse illustrations they already had of black individuals?
The answer is yes! Here's one example from Advice to Freedmen by Brinckerhoff.
1 - Did the American tract society reuse illustrations they already had of black individuals?
The answer is yes! Here's one example from Advice to Freedmen by Brinckerhoff.
I unexpectedly discovered a clue to one of my most vexing mysteries: Who is H.? This enigmatic author contributed to several Christian publications in the 19th century but I have no idea who it is! Much to my surprise, I found an article by them in the Advocate and Family Guardian. 🧵
May 1, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I unexpectedly discovered a clue to one of my most vexing mysteries: Who is H.? This enigmatic author contributed to several Christian publications in the 19th century but I have no idea who it is! Much to my surprise, I found an article by them in the Advocate and Family Guardian. 🧵
I have been searching for later editions of The Freedman for years, and I finally made a little progress! Apparently the name changed to “Our School and Home” sometime in 1870.
April 26, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I have been searching for later editions of The Freedman for years, and I finally made a little progress! Apparently the name changed to “Our School and Home” sometime in 1870.
Y’all gotta see this. I just fell down a research rabbit hole involving a 19th century children’s magazine published in the Ottoman Empire, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and traditional black music. 🗃️
youtube.com/shorts/4BWQS...
youtube.com/shorts/4BWQS...
“Go Down, Moses” with an Unexpected Twist!
YouTube video by Lost History Books
youtube.com
April 21, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Y’all gotta see this. I just fell down a research rabbit hole involving a 19th century children’s magazine published in the Ottoman Empire, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and traditional black music. 🗃️
youtube.com/shorts/4BWQS...
youtube.com/shorts/4BWQS...
Check this out! I recently discovered that engravings made in Boston were also used by missionaries in the Ottoman Empire. These four publications each had a specialized audience.
Left to right is:
ԱՒԵՏԱԲԵՐ ՏՂԱՅՈՑ ՀԱՄԱՐ
Αγγελιαφόρος Τζοτζουκλάρ ιτσούν
The Child at Home
The Freedman
🗃️
Left to right is:
ԱՒԵՏԱԲԵՐ ՏՂԱՅՈՑ ՀԱՄԱՐ
Αγγελιαφόρος Τζοτζουκλάρ ιτσούν
The Child at Home
The Freedman
🗃️
April 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Check this out! I recently discovered that engravings made in Boston were also used by missionaries in the Ottoman Empire. These four publications each had a specialized audience.
Left to right is:
ԱՒԵՏԱԲԵՐ ՏՂԱՅՈՑ ՀԱՄԱՐ
Αγγελιαφόρος Τζοτζουκλάρ ιτσούν
The Child at Home
The Freedman
🗃️
Left to right is:
ԱՒԵՏԱԲԵՐ ՏՂԱՅՈՑ ՀԱՄԱՐ
Αγγελιαφόρος Τζοτζουκλάρ ιτσούν
The Child at Home
The Freedman
🗃️
A new addition for my collection. This book is so beautiful, it’s breathtaking.
March 4, 2025 at 12:04 AM
A new addition for my collection. This book is so beautiful, it’s breathtaking.
My propaganda collection has grown a lot over the years. I’m currently reviewing a few things for a project. Somehow I forgot how buck wild some of this stuff is. 🗃️
February 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
My propaganda collection has grown a lot over the years. I’m currently reviewing a few things for a project. Somehow I forgot how buck wild some of this stuff is. 🗃️
As you can see, there is significant overlap between all three papers. This is absolutely fascinating.
Angeliaphoros was for Karamanli children in Turkey. The Child at Home was for American Children. The Freedman was for formerly enslaved Black children.
Angeliaphoros was for Karamanli children in Turkey. The Child at Home was for American Children. The Freedman was for formerly enslaved Black children.
January 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
As you can see, there is significant overlap between all three papers. This is absolutely fascinating.
Angeliaphoros was for Karamanli children in Turkey. The Child at Home was for American Children. The Freedman was for formerly enslaved Black children.
Angeliaphoros was for Karamanli children in Turkey. The Child at Home was for American Children. The Freedman was for formerly enslaved Black children.
Yesterday I stumbled across this *incredible* image. Somehow this engraving created in Boston is in a Turkish children’s periodical from 1872. 🗃️
![The front page of the January 1872 edition of Αγγελιαφόρος Τζοτζουκλάρ ιτζούν [Angeliaforos Cocuklar Icun]. It translates to “The Messenger for Children.”
The article is titled: Εολουµέ χουκµ ολουνάν ατέµ νάσηλ κουρτουλτού [Ölüme hükm olunan adem nasıl kurtuldu]. How a man sentenced to death was saved.
This image is cited in the following article:
Hayrullah, Kahya. “Unveiling ‘Eyi Çocukluk’ (Ideal Childhood) in Late Ottoman Turkish Children’s Literature: A Discourse Analysis of Angeliaforos Çocuklar İçün (The Messenger for Children).” Sage Open 14, no. 4 (October 30, 2024). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/21582440241281357.
The translation of the article title is from the following book chapter:
“THE CONTENTS OF THE PERIODICAL ΑΓΓΕΛΙΑΦΟΡΟΣ ΤΖΟΤΖΟΥΚΛΑΡ ΙΤΖΟΥΝ. THE FIRST DECADE (1872-1880).” In FESTSCHRIFT IN HONOR OF IOANNIS P. THEOCHARIDES. Istanbul: The Isis Press, 2014.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7ik4fgwrqowwhbgs4fcmig46/bafkreibatbcsun4iojxfbwgqfiif3gjfxpdkcgqe5u257knumka37g2r3u@jpeg)
January 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Yesterday I stumbled across this *incredible* image. Somehow this engraving created in Boston is in a Turkish children’s periodical from 1872. 🗃️
I’ve taken some more time to review the works of Edmonia Lewis. This book by Harry Henderson has been invaluable. And I have some new leads on the photographs.
January 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I’ve taken some more time to review the works of Edmonia Lewis. This book by Harry Henderson has been invaluable. And I have some new leads on the photographs.
Here’s a fun fact: Both Hannah E. Stevenson and Ednah D. Cheney were close friends with Louisa May Alcott. Boston abolitionists and reformers were a close knit group.
Oops - I just realized the other half of the article didn't paste, here is the full thing. Transcription and citation are in the alt text.
January 13, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Here’s a fun fact: Both Hannah E. Stevenson and Ednah D. Cheney were close friends with Louisa May Alcott. Boston abolitionists and reformers were a close knit group.
I hope to write an article about this book, but I can’t figure out where to start. So I fell down a rabbit hole instead… y’all know the drill.
I spent a lot of time reading The Freedmen’s Record. It was published by the New England Branch of the Freedmen’s and Union Commission 1865-1874.
I spent a lot of time reading The Freedmen’s Record. It was published by the New England Branch of the Freedmen’s and Union Commission 1865-1874.
January 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I hope to write an article about this book, but I can’t figure out where to start. So I fell down a rabbit hole instead… y’all know the drill.
I spent a lot of time reading The Freedmen’s Record. It was published by the New England Branch of the Freedmen’s and Union Commission 1865-1874.
I spent a lot of time reading The Freedmen’s Record. It was published by the New England Branch of the Freedmen’s and Union Commission 1865-1874.
Hey folks, can anyone recommend an independent researcher in Worcester, Massachusetts? I need to hire someone to visit the American Antiquarian Society. I think what I need should take <6 hours. 🗃️
I located another copy of the Hand Book for American Citizens! It's been at the American Antiquarian Society this whole time. 😅 What's listed on the title page is basically the table of contents. So I missed it since it's catalogued under that "title" instead of Hand Book for American Citizens.
January 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Hey folks, can anyone recommend an independent researcher in Worcester, Massachusetts? I need to hire someone to visit the American Antiquarian Society. I think what I need should take <6 hours. 🗃️