Robert Merry's Museum
Publisher: I.C. & J.N. Stearns
Published: 1842
Number of pages: 407
Notes: "Established by Samuel G. Goodrich in 1841, this very popular children's periodical claimed a circulation of 13,000 in 1852. The Museum was similar in many ways to Parley's Magazine, which was merged with it in 1844, but contained more adventure and thrills than Parley's. The most important part of the sixteen-page magazine during Goodrich's editorship was that devoted to the tales of the famous 'Parley'; these were moral and didactic but nevertheless very popular. 'Parley' used stories of travels by balloon to teach geography, as well as historical lore, painlessly. Another prominent feature was a series of natural history articles illustrated with pictures of wild animals. Woodcuts, musical pieces, puzzles, and poems were plentiful. Goodrich was succeeded in the editorship in 1855 by Stephen T. Allen, who was followed by John N. Sterns. Louisa May Alcott edited the Museum from 1867 to 1870; during her editorship contents included articles on French history, stories of adventure, and excerpts from 'An Old-Fashioned Girl.'" --Cf. American periodicals, 1740-1900.