Printed Material
Page: Title Page

The New England Primer

Page: Title Page | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
Date: 1782
Creator: Possibly Zechariah Fowle
About this artifact

The first settlers of New England brought primers with them from England where they had been in use for over 100 years. Primers, also known as catechisms, began as devotional books containing simple instructions in Christian teachings. Such books typically contained an illustrated alphabet, along with informative pictures and stories with a heavy dose of moralism. The New England Primer continued to be published through the beginning of the 19th century and was continually used to teach both reading and religion.

text transcription icon

/artifacts/views/neprimer.jpg
Courtesy American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA