"An American Dictionary of the English Language" by Noah Webster, 1828, Volume 2

Summary

Noah Webster wrote the first dictionary of American English. It was a radical attempt to foster a uniform language for the United States. Webster's first edition in 1828 contained about 70,000 entries -- some 12,000 more than had appeared in earlier vocabulary lists. Webster added many technical and scientific terms, included common Americanisms, and suggested new ways of spelling and pronouncing words.

Noah Webster wrote the first dictionary of American English. It was a radical attempt to foster a uniform language for the United States. Webster's first edition in 1828 contained about 70,000 entries -- some 12,000 more than had appeared in earlier vocabulary lists. Webster added many technical and scientific terms, included common Americanisms, and suggested new ways of spelling and pronouncing words.

Artifact

Dictionary

Date Made

1828

Creators

Webster, Noah, 1758-1843 

S. Converse 

Howe, Hezekiah, 1775-1838 

Durand, A. B. (Asher Brown), 1796-1886 

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872 

Burton, James R., 1798 or 1799- 

Place of Creation

United States, New York, New York 

United States, Connecticut, New Haven 

Creator Notes

Dictionary by Noah Webster; printed by Hezekiah Howe, New Haven, Connecticut; published by S. Converse, New York, New York. Frontispiece engraved by A. B. Durand after a portrait by Samuel Morse; printed by J. R. Burton.

Collection Title

Book Collection 

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

38.682.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Boards (Binding components)
Cloth

Technique

Printing (Process)

Dimensions

Height: 12.25 in  (Book)

Width: 9.75 in  (Book)

Height: 12.875 in  (Slipcase)

Width: 10.5 in  (Slipcase)

Related Content

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More