Children's Games

Before the Gilded Age, children played games primarily for fun or as a way to expend excess energy. In the 1870s, psychologists recognized children’s ability to learn through play. New board and card games were specifically developed to teach lessons and provide moral guidance. Games could now provide engaging learning experiences, keeping youths entertained while they were being educated.

The Gilded Ideal

Popular games aimed to teach children the value of hard work, dedication, and honesty. The Game of the Telegraph Boy encouraged players to advance from delivering telegraphs to becoming president of the company. This game reflected the popular ideal of the rags to riches story. Children’s games reinforced the moral and ethical values of the adult world.

The Tarnished Reality

While these games helped children learn, they also created unreasonable expectations about success. After all, in The Game of the Telegraph Boy only one player could achieve the position of company president. At a time of growing anxiety about immigration and labor unrest, games like these served to reinforce social and class differences. Though seeming to promote American ideals of equality, these games were available mostly to members of the middle and upper classes.

The Game of the Telegraph Boy, 1888 The Game of the Telegraph Boy was a popular children’s game. It was one of the first board games produced in color.
Elmira Authors Game, 1880s The Elmira Commercial Authors created their own version of the authors game, promoting local businesses and their products or services.
Literature Game, 1895 The Literature Game: 500 Questions and Answers on English and American Authors tested children’s knowledge of major English and American authors and the famous novels that they wrote.
Authors Illustrated, 1893 These cards were an interactive game played by a group of children. The object was to answer questions about popular novels and collect the most cards.
Mark Twain Memory Builder, 1885 Mark Twain patented his own game, the Mark Twain Memory Builder, requiring children to recall dates of events in world history.
Pins for Memory Builder Game, 1885

Children's Games

The Game of the Telegraph Boy, 1888

The Game of the Telegraph Boy was a popular children’s game. It was one of the first board games produced in color.

Elmira Authors Game, 1880s

The Elmira Commercial Authors created their own version of the authors game, promoting local businesses and their products or services.

Literature Game, 1895

The Literature Game: 500 Questions and Answers on English and American Authors tested children’s knowledge of major English and American authors and the famous novels that they wrote.

Authors Illustrated, 1893

These cards were an interactive game played by a group of children. The object was to answer questions about popular novels and collect the most cards.

Mark Twain Memory Builder, 1885

Mark Twain patented his own game, the Mark Twain Memory Builder, requiring children to recall dates of events in world history.

Pins for Memory Builder Game, 1885