Today In History: Webster's Dictionary Is Published

On April 14th, 1828 Noah Webster (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843), known as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education," published The American Dictionary of the English Language. This important work introduced over 10,000 "Americanisms" to the English language, representing a cultural departure from standard English dictionaries, including his very own Compendious Dictionary of the English Language (1806). It took the Yale-educated, multi-lingual Webster about 26 years to compile his American Dictionary which sold modestly at the time -- a mere 2,500 copies -- and unfortunately led to growing financial concerns throughout his life, despite its prominent place in American lexicography over decades to come. In addition to being a lexicographer, Noah Webster authored The Blue-Backed Speller, introducing generations of schoolchildren to the fundamentals of spelling and reading. He contributed to a Federalist newspaper as a political writer and went on to serve in the Connecticut House of Representatives where he helped establish the Copyright Act of 1831.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Webster, N. (1886, Sep 07). Noah Webster's Letter: Difficulty In Securing the Publication Of the Great Dictionary. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1922) 
• Russell, T.W. (1928, Apr 15). Webster, Word Arbiter for 100 Years: The Great Schoolman's Definitions Have Been Standard Ever Since He Published His Dictionary in 1828. New York Times (1923-) 
• Noah Webster. (1934, Oct 17). The North - China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette (1870-1941) 
• Goodman, Nathan G. (1936, Apr 26). Noah Webster's Claim to Fame: A Biography Which Reveals His Great Contribution to American Culture: Noah Webster, Schoolmaster to America. New York Times (1923-) 
• Whicher, G. F. (1936, May 03). True Connecticut Yankee: How Noah Webster, He Of the Dictionary, Acted as Schoolmaster To a Whole Nation. New York Herald Tribune (1926-1962) 
• Noah Webster Exhibit: Parts Of Writings On Display At Central Library. (1958, Sep 14). New York Times (1923-) 
• Garboden, C. (1991, Nov 17). Noah Webster. Boston Globe (1960-) 
• Happy Birthday, Noah Webster! (2008, Sep 18). New Journal and Guide (1916-) 
• Murray, J. A. (2010, Jun 04). Noah Webster and the Bee. Wall Street Journal (1923-) 
• Sheidlower, J. (2011, May 29). Colonial Polymath: Noah Webster Was a Journalist, Reformer and Lexicographer. New York Times (1923-) 

Tips:

• An American Pioneer ; Noah Webster, Esq. New York: American Book Co., 1935. Closed Stacks Research ; PE1617.W43 A44 1935
• Monaghan, E. Jennifer. A Common Heritage : Noah Webster’s Blue-Back Speller. Hamden, Conn: Archon Books, 1983. Stacks ; PE2813.A2 M6 1983
• Scudder, Horace Elisha. Noah Webster. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1882. Closed Stacks Research  PE64.W5 S4
• Warfel, Harry R. (Harry Redcay). Noah Webster : Schoolmaster to America. New York: Macmillan Company, 1936. Closed Stacks Research  924.2
• Webster, Noah. The Modern Webster Dictionary for Home and School, Self-Pronouncing; an Authoritative Dictionary Containing the Most up-to-Date Words Now in Common Use and Acceptance Drawn from the Various Great Divisions of Human Knowledge Including Literature, History, Science, Technology, Electricity, Aviation, Radio, Medicine, Politics, Physics, Chemistry, Law and Fine Arts. A New Work Throughout. Ohio: The World Publishing Company [c1941], 1941. e-book
• Webster, Noah. Webster’s Universal Dictionary of the English Language. Ohio: The World Publishing Co., 1940. e-book
• Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s American Spelling Book : with an Introductory Essay by Henry Steele Commager. New York: Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1962. Closed Stacks Research; TC ANA PE1144 .W4 1831a

Images:

• American Dictionary of the English Language 1828, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
• Signature of Noah Webster, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
• Poster, Courtesy of Gottesman Libraries

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