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Almanacs

Information Found in Almanacs

By the nineteenth century, almanacs were offering more than dates and astronomical-related information. Among the types of information included were:

  • college vacation dates
  • a Correct Dress Chart for Men
  • automobile laws of all the states
  • a list of discoveries and inventions
  • interest tables
  • information on how to obtain patents
  • a diagram showing "that any set of working tools or implements may be so arranged as to present a pleasing symmetrical appearance if some prominent article is selected as the centre and the others made to radiate around it"
  • illustrations and prices of cricket equipment
  • songs/poetry
  • musical scores
  • statistics
  • times and places of court sessions
  • recipes
  • "Help in Case of Accidents"
  • capital punishment or legal penalty for murder for the various states
  • historical illustrations
  • governors' salaries

Examples of Information from Almanacs

College vacations listing for Harvard College with other facts and figures

 

  • College Vacation Dates
  • Birth and Inauguration Dates of American Presidents
  • Names and Characters of the Signs of the Zodiac
  • Legal Tender of Gold and Silver Coins

​​​Farmer's Almanack 1846 (Portland, Me.)

Chart organizing pieces of male clothing for different occasions

Correct Dress Chart for Men

Velvet Joe's Almanac 1921

 

Registration and fees for passenger cars organized by state

Automobile Registration Fees for Passenger Cars in the United States

Velvet Joe’s Almanac 1921

Title The Family Christian Almanac with text listing famous inventions in history

Discoveries and Inventions

Illustrated Family Christian Almanac 1850

Dollar amount of interest organized by increasing amount of time in days and months

Interest Tables

Farmers’ and Country Merchants’ Almanac and Ready Reference Book 1870

Text describing how to obtain and patent with ads circling around the text box

How to Obtain Patents

Farmers’ and Country Merchants’ Almanac and Ready Reference Book 1870

Illustration tools organized for spatial efficiency

A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place: A diagram showing "that any set of working tools or implements may be so arranged as to present a pleasing symmetrical appearance if some prominent article is selected as the centre and the others made to radiate around it"

V.B. Palmer’s Business-Men’s Almanac 1849

 

Illustration of cricket equipment and cricket player with business information

Illustrations and Prices of Cricket Equipment

John Wisden’ Cricketers’ Almanack 1898

Poem titled The Working Men

Songs/Poetry

The United States Working Man’s Almanack 1831

Musical score notes to

Musical Scores

Cold Water Almanac 1843

Charts of wool factory workers and comparative wages by state and demographic

Statistics:

Wages of Male and Female Workers in Woolen Factories

and

Wages of Male and Female Teachers

Woman’s Rights Almanac: 1858

Text describing Vice Chancellor's courts, times and places for holding circuit courts 1839

Times and Places of Court Sessions

Gates’ Troy Almanac 1839

Text describing how to handle common medical emergencies and situations

  • Weather Wisdom
  • Help in Case of Accidents

Swamp-Root Almanac 1916

Text describing penalties for murder by state and methods

  • Capital Punishment or Legal Penalty for Murder
  • State Flowers

Swamp-Root Almanac 1916

illustration of soldiers on horse back swords drawn

Historical Illustrations

Image caption: "Victory of the Thames, 1813"

Hard Cider and Log Cabin Almanac 1841

  • Chief Executive Officers of the United States
  • Members of the Supreme Court of the United States
  • Salaries of Governors of the States

Whig Almanac 1838