Massachusetts Sabbath School Society
Congregational Sabbath School and Publishing Society
Congregational Publishing Society
Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society
Pilgrim Press
In Massachusetts in the early 1800's a number of Sunday school societies were operating. In May, 1825 the Massachusetts Sabbath School Union brought together these local outfits from the various denominations under one roof. In 1828 it established a publishing wing.
In 1832 the Union was dissolved because of differences in the
philosophies of the different denominations. Each denomination formed
its own society. The Congregationalists established the Massachusetts
Sabbath School Society at that time.
In 1833 the society began publishing the monthly Sabbath School
Visiter. In 1844 this periodical was discontinued and the society
began the publication of the weekly “Well-Spring” and the monthly
"Congregational Visiter".
The publication of small books in 1839 included the “Infant Series” which had a very large list. In 1846 the “Lives of the Chief Fathers of New England Series as well as the Sabbath School Library was started.
In 1850 four series were initiated.
Infant's Library
Youth’s Library
Children’s Library
Family Library
Between 1850 and 1868 numerous series were added to the Massachusetts
Sabbath School Society list:
| Aunt Celia's
Library Aunt Susie's Library Bedtime Series (1867-) Boys' and Girls' Fireside Series, No. 1 Boys' and Girls' Fireside Series, No. 2 Brother Willie's Library Cousin Mollie's Library Cousin Nellie's Library Dana Hill Stories (1867-) Golden Ray Series Holiday Series for Boys (about 1860-) Holiday Series for Girls (about 1860-) Inquirer’s Library (Adult) Little Boy's and Girl's Library (1852-) Little One's Library Little Willie's Library Lives of the Chief Fathers of New England Mossy Dell Series My Little Pet Library (1867-) River-bank Stories (1867-) Sabbath School Library Sea-Side Stories Silver Spray Library Snowdrop Series (1867-) Tiny Library Well Spring Series (About 1860-) |
In 1868 the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society joined with the Congregational Board of Publication to form the Congregational Sabbath School and Publishing Society. . The American Doctrinal Tract Society was established in 1829. In 1850 it became the Doctrinal Tract and Book Society and in 1854 its name was changed to the Congregational Board of Publication.
In 1870 the latter firm became the Congregational Publishing Society. This outfit changed its name in 1882 to Congregational Sunday-School and Publishing Society. Finally in 1897 the imprint “Pilgrim Press” was initiated for the Society’s books.
Beginning in 1868 these firms published a number of series/libraries for juveniles. Some were continuations of previous series published by the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society. Others were not.
After each series listed below are the initials of the firms that did
the set:
Congregational Sabbath School and Publishing Society (1868-1870) CSS
Congregational Publishing Society (1870-1882 )CPS
Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society (1882-1897) CSuS
Pilgrim Press (1897-) PP