the "Pictorial Geography" series (all plates scanned & uploaded)

[Scott T. Shier]

Dear 'Corner,

I have scanned and uploaded all 288 plates in the Pictorial Geography series. It took a while, and I wanted to do this years ago, but here they are now. I put them into 9 folders, per titled group.

* also, here are the direct links to the 9 photo albums I created here on the 'Corner --->

1. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 1, Eskimo Life
2. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 1, Sahara Life
3. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 2, The Indian in America
4. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 2, The Negro in Africa
5. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 3, Life in China
6. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 3, The Hill Tribes of the Philippines
7. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 4, The Land, The Water, The Air
8. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 5, The United States
9. Pictorial Geography ~ No. 6, Italy

         ~ Scott

About the Pictorial Geography series ...

 

These pictorials were offered for sale beginning in 1916 and on into the earlier 1920's. They were designed for use in schools. Each packet consisted of 48 heavy paper sheets, with a telltale sheen finish (clay-coated, like the Magazine pages). The packets were contained in printed manila envelopes. 

 

 

For a more complete description, see the June 1919 National Geographic article, "Sight-seeing in School: Taking 20 Million Children on a Picture Tour of the World", pgs. 499-503, and the ads in the rear of various NGM's during this era. 

 

There were only 6 total sets (48 sheets each), though a couple were sub-divided into thematic headings, with 24 sheets for the sub-group; 48 sheets total. It seems from the group numbering system, that more sets were planned, but never came to fruition.

 

No. 1 Eskimo Life - 24 plates

          Sahara Life - 24 plates

No. 2 the Indian in America - 24 plates

           the Negro in Africa - 24 plates

No. 3 Life in China - 24 plates

           Hill Tribes of the Philippines - 24 plates

No. 4 The Land, The Water, The Air - 48 plates

No. 5    (the) United States - 48 plates

No. 6 Italy - 48 plates 

[George Thomas Wilson]

These are awesome, Scott !!!  You've been busy.

[Anthony J. Chesser]

School Service? What does that mean?

[Scott T. Shier]

The Society published educational material for the nation's schools (they still do). From 1919-1975, they made a "School Bulletin" for the school year, and they made these Pictorial Geography sheets, during the 1916-early 1920's time-frame. 

Currently, they do an "Explorer" magazine for the schools, again published during the school year. 

[Melvin L. De Vilbiss]

WOW!!!