Richards Topical Encyclopedia for children was published from 1882 to 1968.  Instead of arranging subjects in alphabetical order like most encyclopedias, they were organized by topic: science, social studies, industry, art, biography, leisure activities and so on.

 

Click the image below to see a full size page of 70-year-old canoe instructions from 1945.  You might learn some new techniques, or simply be amazed at the durability of the ones you already know.

 

 

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