Periodicals and Magazines for Children
The Juvenile Miscellany, published in Boston 1826-1836, was didactic, but not aggressively pious. It emphasized patriotic historical accounts and helped shape a vision of American childhood as middle class and secure.
Aunt Judy’s Magazine (1866-1885) featured more “serious” content: science, philosophy, and stories by noted authors like Lewis Carroll and Hans Christian Anderson. Both the Miscellany and Aunt Judy were designed for both boys and girls.
By mid-century though, girls’ magazines were popular and common. The Child’s Pictorial (1885-1896) was edited by prolific author, Mrs. Molesworth, and frequently included her stories. Like many of the publications of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, it had numerous illustrations in color.
The Girl’s Realm Annual (1898-1915) was a progressive publication that featured articles on physical activities for girls, non-traditional careers for women, and women’s suffrage.
The Girl’s Own Annual, published by the Religious Tract Society, was more conservative politically. It offered its adolescent readers fiction, poetry, fashion, travel accounts, recipes, and instructions for crafts.