His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. Over the course of 385 editions in his lifetime, the title was changed in 1786 to the american spelling book, and again in 1829 to the elementary spelling book. The elementary spelling book by noah webster and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The webster spelling book, commonly called the blue backed speller, was originally published in 1788, revised as the american.
The first person to write a dictionary of american english and permanently alter the spelling of american english, noah webster through his spelling book taught millions of american children to read for the first halfcentury of the republic and millions more to spell for the following halfcentury. While it may be inappropriate to resurrect it as an official school text, it certainly has a place in every school library. See memoir of noah webster by his soninlaw, professor chauncey a. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. An important part of the method webster taught for spelling was to.
The revised edition of the elementary spelling book webster, by noah webster, l. Speller, along with books like the bible and the mcguffeys readers, gave young people in america an excellent foundation in the areas of reading, phonics, and spelling. The book that follows, noah webster s reading handbook, is an updated and modernized version of the old bluebacked speller. The fourth son of five children of noah and mercy steele webster, young noah showed exceptional scholarly talents as a child, and his father sacrificed much in order that his son would gain the best education available. Webster, has shewn me a plan of a new english spelling book and grammar. I have a revised edition of the elementary spelling book webster. Noah webster was a famous american lexicographer, political writer, editor and english language spelling reformer. Webster revisions after 1824 should be disregarded. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new.
Noah webster 17581843, the author of the readers and spelling books that dominated the american market at the time, spent decades of research in compiling his dictionaries. He left for new haven in 1774 when he was 16 and graduated in 1778. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. Most people called it the bluebacked speller because of its blue cover and, for the next one hundred years, websters book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. Noah webster schools are a public, nonprofit charters located in arizona. In 1816 webster sold the entire rights to the american spelling book for its third period, 1818 to 1832, to hudson and company of hartford, connecticut, in order to work solely on his major dictionary. Noah webster 17581843 websters innovations, perfecting. Noah webster was a christian and famously said education is useless without the bible. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states noah webster t. This dictionary, which almost at once became, and has remained, the standard english dictionary in the united states, was the endproduct of a stream of spelling books, grammars, readers, and dcitionaries which flowed from the pen of the industrious noah websterwebsters great dictionary, all the 70,000 entries of which he wrote with. Noah webster and moving away from british english october 7, 2014 melissa 7 comments eliminating the unnecessary u, many duplicate consonants, the redundant e, converting diphthongs into simple vowels and turning the combination of e and r at the end of a word the right way around, americans significantly changed the spelling of many english words. This 1879 revised edition conforms to webster s international dictionary, and associates each lesson with some principle of sound, meaning, or. Find the elementary spelling book by webster, noah at biblio.
This key to pronunciation is from noah websters elementary spelling book. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 a wikipedia article about this author is available webster, noah, 17581843. Noah webster had a lasting impact on language in the united states. Noah webster might never have published his bluebacked speller if it werent for setbacks in his career and disappointment in love. Title page of noah webster s revised bible of 1833 noah webster s 1833 limited revision of the king james version focused mainly on replacing archaic words and making simple grammatical changes. Being an improvement on the father of american scholarship and education, american lexicographer noah webster 17581843 was an author whose astonishingly prolific career included numerous textbooks for elementary education. Roosevelt himself did not originate new spellings of english words, but he. Noah webster was born october 16, 1758, in new hartford, connecticut, to noah sr.
Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of the. Goodrich, in the quarto editions of the dictionary, also noah webster 1882, by horace e. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states noah webster websters and skinners, 1822 children 168 pages. Home webster, noah the elementary spelling book being and improvement on the. The elementary spelling book, being an improvement onthe american spelling book. Noah webster s most popular book is american dictionary of the english language. Noah webster s speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. As time went on, webster changed the spellings in the book to more phonetic ones.
Noah webster has 336 books on goodreads with 4245 ratings. Early life noah webster was born on october 16, 1758, in west hartford, connecticut. Noah webster ardently supported the american revolution, though it disrupted his studies and kept him from the law. The bluebacked speller forgotten intellectual legacy of the american revolution as the revolutionary war was ending in 1783, a former soldier in that conflict named noah webster published a book that was to have an enormous influence on american culture. At the same time they secured the rights to create revised editions of that work. Noah webster biography childhood, life achievements. Slowly, edition by edition, webster changed the spelling of words, making them americanized. Noah webster s 1833 limited revision of the king james version focused mainly on replacing archaic words and making simple grammatical changes. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Websters incredibly complete and easy to use phonic table was apparently inspired. Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. Failed attempts to reform english spelling merriamwebster. Websters new twentieth century dictionary of the english language 2.
Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. The earliest american author and the first person to distinguish the fine line between american english and british english, noah webster sought change and taught millions of americans to read and spell. Mainly abridged from the latest edition of the quarto dictionary of noah webster, as revised by chauncey a. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Dec 26, 2015 why do americans color but the british colour. Donald potters noah webster s spelling book method for teaching reading and spelling. The first part, often revised, was his famous elementary spelling book, or bluebacked speller, with which he helped to standardize american spelling. Before publishing his american dictionary of the english language, he produced a series of spelling books including the one. I perchd at will on every spray, my form genteel, my plumage gay, my strains for ever new. I have a revised edition of the elementary spelling book. Noah webster 17581843, the author of the readers and spelling books which dominated the american market at the time, spent decades of research in compiling his dictionaries. A practical dictionary of the english language giving the correct spelling, pronunciation and definitions of words bas add to cart there is a problem adding to cart. Websters third new international dictionary project.
In his eightyfive years, noahs life is intensely interesting. Her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way, alerted me to the fact that dr. Most people called it the bluebacked speller because of its blue cover and, for the next one hundred years, webster s book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united.
Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. I have the original american spelling book from 1783 written by noah webster. Don worked several years typing and editing webster s 1908 elementary spelling book for use today. He also published governor john winthrops journal in 1790, and wrote a history of the united states, of which a revised edition appeared in 1839. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. She argued from the history of reading and the psychology of reading that webster s spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling was superior to all other methods. Websters spelling book method for teaching reading and.
The modifications in this revision are not of a character to embarrass those. The bluebacked speller forgotten intellectual legacy of. Noah webster 17581843 has been called americas schoolmaster by one of his biographers, and it seems a very apt title for him. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. He chose s over c in words like defense, he changed the re to er in words like. Further information on the birthplace and life of noah webster is available at the noah webster housemuseum of west hartford history. Oct 07, 2014 noah webster and moving away from british english october 7, 2014 melissa 7 comments eliminating the unnecessary u, many duplicate consonants, the redundant e, converting diphthongs into simple vowels and turning the combination of e and r at the end of a word the right way around, americans significantly changed the spelling of many english words. This dictionary, which almost at once became, and has remained, the standard english dictionary in the united states, was the endproduct of a stream of spelling books, grammars, readers, and dcitionaries which flowed from the pen of the industrious noah webster. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 a wikipedia article about this author is. In 1843, the company bought the rights to the 1841 edition of webster s magnum opus, an american dictionary of the english language, corrected and enlarged. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, circa 1845. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. Elementary spelling book, used abebooks passion for books.
These will typically sell higher in a vintage book store or private sale compared to an auction. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. Webster believed that americans should learn from american books, so in 1783, he wrote. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. Noah webster biography life, children, death, history.
Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Does merriam webster have any connection to noah webster. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of. American dictionary of the english language noah webster. See all books authored by noah webster, including noah websters first edition of an american dictionary of the english language american christian history education series, and the original blue back speller vocabulary of a warrior, and more on. Noah webster biography noah webster was a famous american lexicographer, political writer, editor and english language spelling reformer. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects.
Webster s method offered advantages lacking in todays reading and spelling methods. Noah webster 17581843 american, books, words, and dictionary. Webster s incredibly complete and easy to use phonic table was apparently inspired. For more information on this milestone in american reference publishing, please see noah websters spelling reform and a sample glossary from a compendious dictionary of.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. He taught school and wrote a dictionary, so he knows our language and knows how to teach. It isnt in the best of shape, but considering its age, i know it has to have som read more. This is a teacher training video explaining the use of noah webster s syllabary in mr. This 1879 revised edition conforms to webster s international dictionary, and associates each lesson. Websters dictionary project gutenberg selfpublishing. A year later, webster produced the final revision of his speller, the elementary spelling book, in conjunction with aaron ely, a new york educator.
The elementary spelling book being and improvement on the. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new england. In his dictionary, webster used american spellings like color instead of the. This was not webster s famous dictionary, which didnt arrive on the scene until 1828. His dictionary contains seventy thousand words and over six thousand bible references and remains one of the only mainstream dictionaries to use bible references to demonstrate the meaning of words. Webster, noah article about webster, noah by the free. Noah webster and the dream of a common language connecticut. Noah webster l l d abebooks abebooks shop for books. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own.
Noah websters american dictionary of the english language. Mcguffeys eclectic spelling book includes a pictorial alphabet plus 248 individual lessons on spelling, grammar, pronunciation, abbreviation, usage and more. In three parts by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books page. Inspiration for experimenting with noah webster s spelling book method for teaching reading and spelling came from the work of miss geraldine rodgers. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline. Webster was born in the western division of hartford which became west hartford, connecticut to an established family. His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. For over a century this book has provided america with a standardize system of spelling, grammar and word usage. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. See all books authored by noah webster, including noah websters first edition of. Noah webster west hartford, connecticut, 16 oktober 1758 new haven. In 1793, alexander hamilton recruited webster to move to new york city and become an editor for a federalist party newspaper.
The elementary spellingbook, revised edition by noah webster author. Noah websters 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook. He was the author of several books that were widely used in schools in his day, including spellingbooks, grammars, histories, and his famous dictionary, an american dictionary of the english language 1828. The elementary spelling book being and improvement on the american spelling book. The webster spelling book, commonly called the bluebacked speller, was originally published in 1788, revised as the american spelling book in 1829, and revised by webster again in 1841 as the elementary spelling book. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. An american dictionary of the english language 2 volumes. The webster spelling book, commonly called the bluebacked speller, was originally published in 1788, revised as the american.
Webster was instrumental in giving american english. Merriam webster can be considered the direct lexicographical heir of noah webster. Webster, noah 17581843 the first person to write a dictionary of american english and permanently alter the spelling of american english, noah webster 1 through his spelling book taught millions of american children to read for the first halfcentury of the republic and millions more to spe. Even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think websters when they have a question regarding spelling and. Revised and enlarged by webster, noah book condition. His dictionary was first published in 1828 as an american dictionary of the english language. But gaudy plumage, sprightly strain, and form genteel, were all in vain, and of a transient date, for caught and cagd, and starvd to death, in dying sighs, my little breath, soon passd the wiry grate. Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english, he also compiled the american spelling book, which was the basic textbook for young readers in early 19thcentury america.
The elementary spelling book new edition by noah webster. Noah webster improved this basic spelling book method by what amounted to the addition of pascal phonics in his american spelling book, which first appeared in 1783 and which was revised in 1804. It was the beginning of a publishing tradition that has continued uninterrupted to this day at merriam webster. Known by its colored cover, webster s bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. Noah websters book is fascinating reading for todays students and teachers alike, as well as for the average citizen, as there is much to learn from it. In 1806 webster published a compendious dictionary of the english language, the first truly american dictionary. His first dictionary, a compendious dictionary of the english language, appeared in 1806. Webster s great dictionary, all the 70,000 entries of which he wrote with his own.