Chautauqua Literary & Scientific Circle Book Lists

This is a list of all the books chosen by the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, year by year from 1878, when they started, to 1929. The CLSC is the oldest continuous reading group in the US. From their web page

At its inception, the CLSC was basically a four-year course of required reading. The original aims of the CLSC were twofold:

To promote habits of reading and study in nature, art, science, and in secular and sacred literature, and …

To encourage individual study, to open the college world to persons unable to attend higher institutions of learning.

Each year they selected a group of books, usually 4-5, that would be studied at the Chautauqua Institute during the summer or by local groups during the rest of the year.

CLSC BOOK LIST

1878 - 1879

Green, J. R. ..................................... A Short History of the English People Scans
- The J. R. Green book above was the first CLSC book selection
Brooke, Stopford ............................ English Literature Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Outline of Bible History Scans
Larned, Augusta ............................. Old Tales Retold from Grecian Mythology Scans
Mahaffy, J. P. ................................. Old Greek Life Scans
Peirce, Bradford K. ........................ The Word of God Opened Scans
Steele, J. Dorman ........................... Fourteen Weeks in Human Physiology *one of a series "Fourteen Weeks in ..." on the sciences.
Vail, A. D. ...................................... Greek Literature
Vincent, John H. ............................ English History
Vincent, John H. ............................ Greek History
Warren, Henry W. .......................... Studies of the Stars Scans
Warren, Henry White .................... Recreations in Astronomy

1879 - 1880

Blaikie, William ............................. How to Get Strong and How to Stay So
Hughes, James L. ........................... Canadian History Scans
Hurlbut, J. L. .................................. American History
Lawrence, Eugene .......................... A Primer of Latin Literature
Merivale, Charles ........................... A General History of Rome from the Foundation of the City to the Fall of Augustulus Scans
Richardson, Charles F. ................... A Primer of American Literature
Ridpath, John Clark ....................... History of the United States (1880) Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ Christian Evidences; Chautauqua Library of English History and Literature
Vincent, John H. ............................ Roman History Scans
Walker, James B. ........................... Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation
Wythe, J. H. .................................... Biblical Biology
Wythe, J. H. .................................... The Science of Life Scans

1880 - 1881

Abbott, Jacob ................................. Histories of Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great
Arthur, William .............................. The Tongue of Fire Scans
Fish, Henry Clay ................................................. Primitive Piety Revived; The Acts of the Apostles; The Chautauquan Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Outline of Church History Scans
Kingsley, Charles ........................... Hypatia
Thalheimer, M. E. .......................... An Outline of General History Scans
Townsend, L. T. .............................. The Art of Speech, Vol. I Readings from Ancient Classics; Chautauqua Library of English History and Literature Scans

1881 - 1882

Abbott, Lyman ............................... Hints for Home Reading Scans
Alden, Mrs. Isabella Macdonald ...... The Hall in the Grove
deForest, Julia B. ........................... A Brief Outline of History of Art
deForest, Julia B. ........................... A Short History of Art; The Chautauquan
Mackenzie, Robert ......................... The 19th Century: A History Scans
Quackenbos, John D. ..................... Illustrated History of Ancient Literature; Chautauqua Library of English History and Literature
Terry, M. S. .................................... Man's Antiquity and Language
Townsend, L. T. ............................. The Art of Speech, Vol. II Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ Outlines of General History Scans

1882 - 1883

Griffis, William Elliott .................. Asiatic History
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth ...... Evangeline, and the Building of the Ship Hampton Tracts for the People; The Chautauquan
Packard, A. S., Jr ............................ First Lessons in Geology Scans
Timayenis, T. T. ............................. A History of Greece Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ English History
Vincent, John H. ............................ Greek History
Warren, Henry W. .......................... Studies of the Stars
Warren, Henry White .................... Recreations in Astronomy
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory Greek Course in English Scans

1883 - 1884

Bishop, Coleman E., ed. ................ Pictures from English History Scans
Blaikie, William ............................. How to Get Strong and How to Stay So
Gilmore, J. H. ................................. English Literature
Hawthorne, Nathaniel .................... Biographical Stories
Hughes, James L. ........................... Canadian History Scans
Hurlbut, J. L. ................................... American History
Richardson, Charles F. ................... A Primer of American Literature Scans
Timayenis, T. T. ............................. A History of Greece; Brief History of Greece Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ Christian Evidences
Vincent, John H. ............................ English History; The Chautauquan
Vincent, John H. ............................ Greek History
Vincent, John H. ............................ Roman History Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ The Sunday School Normal Class; Good Manners
Walker, James B. ........................... Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory Latin Course in English Scans
Wythe, J. H. .................................... Easy Lessons in Vegetable Biology Scans

1884 - 1885

Abbott, Jacob ................................. Histories of Cyrus the Great and Alexander the Great
Appleton, John Howard ................. Chemistry Scans
Timayenis, T. T. ... Brief History of Greece Scans
Bushnell, Horace ............................ The Character of Jesus Scans
Fields, Mrs. James T. ..................... How to Help the Poor Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Short History of the Reformation; The Chautauquan; Our Alma Mater Scans
Townsend, L. T. ............................. The Art of Speech: Studies in Poetry and Prose Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ Greek History
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory Greek Course in English Scans; College Greek Course in English Scans

1885 - 1886

Abbott, Lyman ............................... A Study in Human Nature Scans
Browning, Robert ........................... Pomegranates from an English Garden
Hale, Edward Everett ..................... In His Name; The Chautauquan Scans
Shumway, Edgar S. ........................ A Day in Ancient Rome Scans
Steele, George M. .......................... Outline Study of Political Economy Scans
Steele, Joel Dorman and Steele, Esther B. ....................... Brief History of Rome Scans
Townsend, L. T. .............................. The Bible and Other Ancient Literature in the Nineteenth Century Scans
Vincent, John H. ............................ Roman History Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory Latin in English Scans; College Latin Course in English Scans

1886 - 1887

Beers, Henry A. ............................. An Outline Sketch of English Literature Scans
Fisher, George Park ....................... The Christian Religion Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Short History of the Early Church Scans
Macaulay, Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay, ed. by J. H. Vincent .................. Warren Hastings Scans
Warren, Henry White .................... Recreations in Astronomy
Wheeler, Arthur M., ed. ................. Sketches from English History Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Classic French Course in English; The Chautauquan
Winchell, Alexander ...................... Walks and Talks in the Geological Field Scans

1887 - 1888

Beers, Henry A. ............................. An Outline Sketch of American Literature Scans
Hale, Edward E. ............................. History of the United States Scans
Hatfield, Marcus P. ........................ The Physiology and Hygiene of the House in which We Live; Readings from Washington Irving
Hurst, John F. ................................. A Short History of the Medieval Church; The Chautauquan Scans
Walker, James B. ........................... Philosophy of the Plan of Salvation
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Classic German Course in English, currently F2.proj_waiting

1888 - 1889

Appleton, John Howard ................. Beginners' Hand-Book of Chemistry Scans
Bushnell, Horace ............................ The Character of Jesus Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Short History of the Modern Church in Europe Scans
Steele, Dorman and Jenks, J.W. P. ............................ A Popular Zoology; The Chautauquan Scans
Vincent , John H. and Joy, James R. ..................... An Outline History of Greece Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory Greek Course in English Scans; College Greek Course in English Scans

1889 - 1890

Ely, Richard T. ............................... An Introduction to Political Economy Scans
Steele, J. Dorman ........................... The Chautauqua Course in Physics Scans
Townsend, L. T. .............................. The Bible and Other Ancient Literature in the Nineteenth Century Scans
Van Dyke, John C. ......................... How to Judge of a Picture, currently proj_post_first_available
Vincent , John H. and Joy, James R. ..................... An Outline History of Rome Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Preparatory and College Latin Course in English Scans; Scans

1890 - 1891

Beers, Henry A. ............................. From Chaucer to Tennyson
Hill, Adams Sherman .................... Our English Scans
Hurst, John F. ................................. Short History of the Church in the United States Scans
Joy, James Richard ........................ An Outline History of England Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Classic French Course in English
Winchell, Alexander ...................... Walks and Talks in the Geological Field; The Chautauquan Scans

1891 - 1892

Beers, Henry A. ............................. Initial Studies in American Letters
Bryce, James .................................. Social Institutions of the United States Scans
Mitchell, J. Murray and Muir, Sir William ..................... Two Old Faiths: Essays on the Religions of the Hindus and the Mohammedans; The Chautauquan
Montgomery, D. H. ........................ The Leading Facts of American History Scans
- - one of series of "The Leading Facts of ..."
Thorpe, Francis Newton ................ The Story of the Constitution of the United States Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Classic German Course in English, currently F2.proj_waiting

1892 - 1893

Church, Alfred J. ............................ Callias: A Tale of the Fall of Athens
Curtis, William Eleroy ................... The United States and Foreign Powers Scans
Fisher, George Park ....................... Manual of Christian Evidences; The Chautauquan Scans
Joy, James Richard ........................ Grecian History, An Outline Sketch Scans
Redford, George ............................. Greek Sculpture Scans
Smith, T. Roger .............................. Greek Architecture Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver .......... Classic Greek Course in English Scans

1893 - 1894

Ely, Richard T. ............................... Outline of Economics Scans
Goodyear, W. H. ............................ Roman and Medieval Art Scans
Joy, James Richard ........................ Rome and The Making of Modern Europe Scans
Kinsley, W. W. ............................... Science and Prayer Scans
Wilkinson, William Cleaver ed. by W. D. McClintock and P. L. McClintock and Porter Lander...................... Classic Latin Course in English Scans; Song and Legend from the Middle Ages

1894 - 1895

Beers, Henry A. ............................. From Chaucer to Tennyson
Coman, Katharine and Kendall, Elizabeth .................... The Growth of the English Nation Scans
Goodyear, William H. ................... Renaissance and Modern Art Scans
Judson, Harry Pratt ........................ Europe in the Nineteenth Century Scans
Winchell, Alexander, revised and ed. by Frederick Starr ......................... Walks and Talks in the Geological Field Scans

1895 - 1896

Beers, Henry A. ............................. Initial Studies in American Letters
Judson, Harry Pratt ........................ The Growth of the French Nation
Scripture, E.W. ............................... Thinking, Feeling, Doing Scans
Starr, Frederick .............................. Some First Steps in Human Progress Scans
Wright, Carroll D. .......................... The Industrial Evolution of the United States Scans

1896 - 1897

Adams, George Burton................... The Growth of the French Nation Scans
Brownell, W. C. .............................. French Traits, An Essay in Comparative Criticism Scans
Howe, Herbert A............................. A Study of the Sky Scans
Mahaffy, J. P.................................... A Survey of Greek Civilization Scans
Tarbell, F.B. .................................... A History of Greek Art

1897 - 1898

Goodyear, W. H. ............................ Roman and Medieval Art, (Revised) Scans
Henderson, C. R. ............................ The Social Spirit in America Scans
Pellisson, Maurice, translated by Maud Wilkinson ...................... Roman Life in Pliny's Time Scans
Thatcher, Oliver J. ......................... A Short History of Medieval Europe Scans
Whitman, Sidney ........................... Imperial Germany, A Critical Study of Fact and Character Scans

1898 - 1899

Beers, Henry A. ............................. From Chaucer to Tennyson
Hale, Susan ..................................... Men and Manners in the Eighteenth Century Scans
Joy, James Richard ........................ Twenty Centuries of English History Scans
Judson, Harry Pratt ........................ Europe in the Nineteenth Century Scans
Winchell, Alexander, revised and ed. by Frederick Starr ......................... Walks and Talks in the Geological Field Scans

1899 - 1900

Beers, Henry A. ............................. Initial Studies in American Letters
Ely, Richard T. ............................... The Strength and Weakness of Socialism Scans
Merriam, Florence A. .................... Birds Through an Opera-Glass Scans
Schurz, Carl .................................... Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Speech and Other Papers Scans

1900 - 1901

Capps, Edward ............................... Homer to Theocritus Scans
Joy, James Richard ........................ Grecian History: An Outline Sketch Scans
Mathews, Shailer ........................... The French Revolution: A Sketch Scans
Thorndike, Edward ........................ The Human Nature Club Scans

1901 - 1902

De Sismondi, J. C. L., ed. from the Italian by Elizabeth Wormeley Latimer .... The Italian Republics
Joy, James Richard ........................ Men and Cities of Italy;:The Roman Empire Scans
Kuhns, Oscar, II ............................. Studies in the Poetry of Italy: II Italian
Marriott, J. A. R. ............................ Makers of Modern Italy Scans
Miller, Frank Justus ....................... Studies in the Poetry of Italy; I Roman
Starr, Frederick .............................. Some First Steps in Human Progress Scans
Whitman, Sidney ........................... Imperial Germany, A Critical Study of Fact and Character Scans

1902 - 1903

Dawson, W. J. ................................ Literary Leaders of Modern England Scans
Gaye, Selina ................................... The Great World's Farm Scans
Hapgood, Isabel F. ......................... A Survey of Russian Literature
Joy, James Richard ......................... Ten Englishmen of the Nineteenth Century: Wellington, Canning, Stephenson, Russell, Cobden, Peel, Shatesbury, Palmerston, Gladstone, Disraeli

1903 - 1904

Brigham, Albert Perry ................... Geographic Influences in American History Scans
Burton, Richard .............................. Literary Leaders in America Scans
Ely, Richard T. ............................... Studies in the Evolution of Industrial Society Scans
Fiske, Horace Spencer ................... Provincial Types in American Fiction Scans

1904 - 1905

Erckmann, Emile, and Chatrian, Alexander ................. The States General Scans
Hochdoerfer, Richard .................... Introductory Studies in German Literature Scans
Mathews, Shailer ........................... The French Revolution: A Sketch Scans
Warren, Frederick M. .................... Ten Frenchmen of the Nineteenth Century Scans

1905 - 1906

Lavell, Cecil Fairfield .................... Italian Cities Scans
Lawton, William Cranston ............ Ideals in Greek Literature Scans
Miller and Kuhns ........................... Studies in the Poetry of Italy
Tarbell, F. B. ..................................A History of Greek Art

1906 - 1907

Dawson, W. J. ................................ Literary Leaders of Modern England Scans
King, Henry Churchill ................... Rational Living: Some Practical Inferences from Modern Psychology Scans
Moran, Thomas Francis ................. The Theory and Practice of the English Government Scans
Sherman, L. A. ............................... What is Shakespeare? An Introduction to the Great Plays Scans

1907 - 1908

Addams, Jane ................................. Newer Ideals of Peace
Bates, Katherine Lee ...................... American Literature Scans
Commons, John R. ......................... Races and Immigrants in America
Fiske, Horace Spencer ................... Provincial Types in American Fiction Scans

1908 - 1909

Baker, Ray Stannard ...................... Seen in Germany Scans
Reich, Emil ..................................... Foundations of Modern Europe Scans
Shaler, Nathaniel Southgate .......... Man and the Earth Scans
Warren, Frederick M.; Harrison, James A.; Peirce, Walter T.; Wells, Benjamin W.; Trent, William P.; Lovett, Robert Morss; Deering, Robert Waller ........... Studies in European Literature

1909 - 1910

Dickinson, G. Lowes ..................... The Greek View of Life; The Homeric Stories: Iliad and Odyssey
Fowler, William Warde ................. Social Life at Rome in the Age of Cicero
Martin, Martha Evans .................... The Friendly Stars Scans

1910 - 1911

Cheyney, Edward P. ...................... An Introduction to the Industrial and Social History of England
Oppenheim, Nathan ....................... Mental Growth and Control Scans
Scudder, Vida D., ........................... Social Ideals in English Letters Studies in Dickens, (Mabell S. C. Smith, ed. )Scans

1911 - 1912

Addams, Jane ................................. Twenty Years at Hull-House
Hamilton, Clayton .......................... Materials and Methods of Fiction
Robinson, H. Perry ........................ The Twentieth Century American, Being a Comparitive Study of the Peoples of the Two Great Anglo-Saxon Nations
Smith, J. Allen ................................ The Spirit of American Government; A Study of the Constitution; Its Origin, Influence and Relation to Democracy

1912 - 1913

Ogg, Frederic Austin ..................... Social Progress in Contemporary Europe Scans
Powers, H. H. .................................. Mornings with Masters of Art Scans
Sidgwick, Mrs. Alfred ................... Home Life in Germany
Smith, Mabell S. C. ........................ The Spirit of French Letters Scans

1913 - 1914

Mahaffy, J. P. ................................. Rambles and Studies in Greece
Miller and Kuhns ........................... Studies in the Poetry of Italy
Powers, H. H. .................................. The Message of Greek Art Scans
Schmucker, Samuel Christian .......The Meaning of Evolution

1914 - 1915

Alden, Percy ................................... Democratic England Scans
Gruenberg, Sidonie Matzner ......... Your Child Today and Tomorrow
Huckel, Oliver ................................ Through England with Tennyson; The Independent, The Story of the Week Scans
Johnson, Clifton ............................. Among English Hedgerows, currently proj_post_first_available

1915 - 1916

Hart, Albert Bushell, ed. ................ Social and Economic Forces in American History Scans
Mabie, Hamilton Wright ............... American Ideals, Character and Life Scans
Martin, Martha Evans .................... The Ways of the Planets
Ross, Edward Alsworth ................. Changing America; Studies in Contemporary Society Scans

1916 - 1917

Bracq, Jean Charlemagne .............. France Under the Republic Scans
Fife, Robert Herndon, Jr. ............... The German Empire Between Two Wars: A Study of the Political and Social Development of the Nation Between 1871 and 1914 Scans
Griffis, William Elliot .................... Belgium: The Land of Art; Its History, Legends, Industry, and Modern Expansion Scans
Powers, H. H. .................................. The Things Men Fight For; With Some Application to Present Conditions in Europe Scans

1917 - 1918

Ferrero, Guglielmo ........................ Characters and Events of Roman History, from Caesar to Nero: The Lowell Lectures of 1908
Fisher, Irving, and Fisk, Eugene Lyman ................ How to Live: Rules for Healthful Living Based on Modern Science
Portor, Laura Spencer .................... The Greatest Book in the World: Interpretive Studies Scans
Tucker, T. G. .................................. Life in Ancient Athens Scans

1918 - 1919

Gleason, Arthur .............................. Inside the British Isles Scans
Laut, Agnes C. ............................... The Canadian Commonwealth
Lavell, Cecil Fairfield and Payne, Charles Edward ............ Imperial Britian Scans
Phelps, William Lyon .................... Essays on Modern Novelists

1919 - 1920

Blichfeldt, E.H. .............................. A Mexican Journey Scans
Jusserand, J. J. ................................ Brothers in Arms Scans
Page, Thomas Nelson .................... The Old South, Essays Social and Political, currently F2.proj_waiting
Powers, H. H. ................................. America Among the Nations Scans

1920 - 1921

Bates, Katharine Lee ...................... Spanish Highways and Byways
Davis, William Stearns .................. A History of France Scans
Slosson, Edwin E. .......................... Creative Chemistry, Descriptions of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries
Zimmern, Helen and Agresti, Antonio ....................... New Italy Scans

1921 - 1922

Abbott, Frank Frost ........................ The Common People of Ancient Rome
Gibbons, Herbert Adams ............... The New Map of Asia Scans
Marden, Philip Sanford ................. Greece and the Aegean Islands
Swift, Edgar James ........................ Psychology and the Day's Work Scans

1922 - 1923

Greenbie, Sydney ........................... The Pacific Triangle
Scudder, Vida D. ............................ Social Ideals in English Letters Scans
Stoddard, Lothrop .......................... The New Worlds of Islam
Strachey, Lytton ............................. Queen Victoria

1923–1924

Adams, Elizabeth Kemper .................... Women Professional Workers Scans
Bowers, Claude G. ................................ The Party Battles of the Jackson Period
Carpenter, Frank G. ............................. The Tail of the Hemisphere: Chile and Argentina Scans
Drake, Durant ...................................... America Faces the Future Scans
various authors...................................... Short History of American Literature Scans
- eds. William Peterfield Trent
- John Erskine
- Stuart P. Sherman
- Carl Van Doren

1924–1925

Bagger, Eugene S. ................................ Eminent Europeans of Today
Carpenter, Frank G. ............................. From Tangier to Tripoli: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and the Sahara
Fueter, Edward; trans. Sidney Bradshaw Fay ................. World History (1815 – 1920)
various authors; ed. Edwin E. Slosson ............................. Keeping Up with Science

1925–1926

Blaikie, James ....................................... The Life of the Ancient East Scans
Fisher, Irving and Fisk, Eugene Lyman .............................. How to Live
Magonigle, H. Van Buren ..................... The Nature, Practice and History of Art Scans
Schmucker, Samuel Christian .............. Man’s Life on Earth
Weigall, Arthur ..................................... The Life and Times of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

1926–1927

Dorsey, George A. ................................ Why We Behave Like Human Beings
Guedalla, Philip .................................... Fathers of the Revolution
Morris, G. W. and Wood, L. S. ............................................ The English-Speaking People
Oldham, J. H. ........................................ Christianity and the Race Problem
Van Doren, Carl and Van Doren, Mark .................................. American and British Literature Since 1890

1927-1928

Bowers, Claude G. ................................ Jefferson and Hamilton, The Struggle for Democracy in America
Erskine, John ........................................ American Character and Other Essays
Lee, Willis T. ......................................... Stories in Stone: A Geologist Looks at Our Continent
Monroe, Paul ....................................... China: A Nation in Evolution
Thompson, Wallace .............................. Rainbow Countries of Central America

1928–1929

Buell, Raymond Leslie ......................Europe: A History of Ten Years
Darrow, Floyd L. ................................The Story of Chemistry
Fosdick, Harry Emerson ...................A Pilgrimage to Palestine
Sedgewick, Henry Dwight ................ Lafayette
Swift, Edgar James ...........................Psychology and the Day’s Work