On Wed, 2 Aug 1995, Christine M. Stouffer wrote:
> Ah yes, the old hornbook ... something we talked about in my
> education courses in undergrad. Hornbooks were sheets (usually just one)
> that were on a board and worn hung around a child's neck as a long
> necklace. On them were written abc's and other basics of the three r's.
> Coming from an education background, I was a little surprised to see
> the term in such high use when I first entered law librarianship.
> -------------------------------
>
> Christine M. Stouffer, Reference
> Ritter Library, Baldwin-Wallace College
> Cleveland, OH. 44017
>
>
> On Wed, 2 Aug 1995, Helen Litwack wrote:
>
> > Hello out there.
> >
> > Does anyone know the origin of the term "hornbook"?
> > Black's Law Dictionary calls it a "colloquial designation
> > of the rudiments or general principles of law", but does not
> > tell me what the origin of the term is, e.g., what the "horn"
> > in "hornbook" means.
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Helen Litwack
> > Reference Librarian
> > New England School of Law Library
> > Boston, Mass.
> > hlitwack@lib.nesl.edu
> >
>Dr.Johnson described the hornbook as "the first book of
children,covered with horn to keep it unsoiled." Pardon's New General English
Dictionary (1758)defined it as "A leaf of writen or printed paper pasted
on a board , and covered with the horn, for children to learn their
letters by, and on prevent their being torn and daubed."
It was used throughout Europe and America between the late 1400s and the
midle 1700s.
Shaped like an odl-fashioned butter paddle, the first hornbooks were made
of wood.
Jana Maryska
Senior Int'l.Docs.Ass.
N.Y.U.School of Law Library
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