Collier's Encyclopedia facts for kids
Collier's Encyclopedia was a large set of books, or an encyclopedia, made in the United States. It was published by a company called Crowell, Collier and Macmillan. This encyclopedia aimed to be a complete and updated collection of important knowledge for everyone. Many people thought it was one of the top three English-language encyclopedias of its time. The other two were Encyclopedia Americana and Encyclopædia Britannica. These three were sometimes called "the ABCs" because of their first letters.
Contents
What is an Encyclopedia?
An encyclopedia is like a giant library in a set of books or on a computer. It has articles about almost every topic you can imagine. These topics include history, science, art, and famous people. Encyclopedias help you learn new things and find facts quickly. They are organized alphabetically, making it easy to look up information.
The History of Collier's Encyclopedia
Collier's Encyclopedia first started in 1902. It was originally called Collier's New Encyclopedia. Over the years, it grew and changed a lot. The goal was always to provide accurate and easy-to-understand information. It became very popular in homes and libraries across the United States.
How it Was Created
Creating an encyclopedia like Collier's was a huge job. Many experts, like scientists, historians, and writers, worked together. Each expert wrote articles about their special area of knowledge. Editors then checked these articles to make sure they were correct and clear. This team effort helped make sure the encyclopedia was trustworthy.
Keeping it Updated
One special thing about Collier's Encyclopedia was that it was "continuously revised." This means the publishers kept updating it regularly. They would print new editions with the latest information. This was important because the world is always changing. New discoveries are made, and history keeps happening. Updating the encyclopedia made sure it stayed useful and relevant.
Why Collier's Encyclopedia Was Important
Collier's Encyclopedia played a big role in education. Before the internet, encyclopedias were a main source of information for students. If you had a school project, you would often go to the library and use an encyclopedia. It helped millions of students and curious people learn about the world. It made knowledge available to many homes.
Its Place Among Other Encyclopedias
Collier's was known for being very detailed and well-written. It was often compared to Encyclopedia Americana and Encyclopædia Britannica. While Britannica was known for its deep academic articles, Collier's was often seen as a good balance. It was scholarly but also easy for general readers to understand. This made it a favorite for many families.
The End of an Era
As the internet grew, people started getting information online. Websites like Wikipedia made it possible to find facts instantly. Because of this, fewer people bought large sets of printed encyclopedias. Collier's Encyclopedia stopped being printed in 1998. Its last major update was in 1997. Even though it's no longer printed, it remains an important part of publishing history. It shows how people used to learn and share knowledge before the digital age.
Images for kids
-
Collier's encyclopedia on a book shelf
See also
In Spanish: Enciclopedia Collier para niños
