Rest In Peace
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of long time society member, Bill Gowen in December, 2025 at age 82. Bill first joined the society in May 1983. He collected primarily Stratemeyer Syndicate boys' books, such as Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, etc. His extensive collection included many Alger titles as well. He took over as editor of the Newsboy with the May-June 1991 issue and continued until the March - April 2024 issue when poor health dictated a change. Bill served in the U.S. Navy, including a year in Vietnam. He worked for the Daily Herald in Arlington, IL from 1971 until his retirement in 2009 as the sports copy editor and opera critic, an unusual combination! As an independent researcher he made many presentations at the Popular Culture Association yearly conferences. His extensive knowledge and genial personality will be sorely missed.
2026 Convention Report
Thursday, June 11 - Sunday, June 14
The 2026 annual convention of the Horatio Alger Society was held in Franklin, Indiana from Thursday, June 11 through Sunday morning, June 14th, hosted by Bob Sipes. Convention report pending.
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2025 Convention Report
Thursday, May 1 - Sunday, May 4
The 2025 annual convention of the Horatio Alger Society was held at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois on May 1-4, 2025. Click here for a report on the activities from Jack Bales, Newsboy editor.
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2024 Convention Report
Thursday, May 2 - Sunday, May 5
The annual convention of the Horatio Alger Society was held May 4-7, 2023, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Click here for the convention report from Jack Bales, convention host.
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All of Alger's Published Poems
on the Website
We've put all of Horatio Alger's published poems (discovered so far) on the site. To see them, please go to Works/Poetry. Or click here.
New Publisher/Title List
The comprehensive index of all Alger publishers (discovered so far) and the titles/formats they issued are now on the the website to see them, please go to Works/Publishers and their formats. Or click here
New! Publisher/Title List
A new comprehensive index of all Alger publishers and the titles they issued is coming soon! It will contain all known first edition and reprint titles for each publisher. MANY PDF FILES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE! Click here.
Recent Update -First Edition List
The first edition list, found under Works - Books-First Editions has been recently updated with new information about The Western Boy, Timothy Crump's Ward (hardcover and softcover), The New Schoolma'am (softcover) and Silas Snobden's Office Boy.
A while back, updates were made to the first hardcover editions of The Errand Boy, Frank Fowler, Joe's Luck, Ned Newton, A New York Boy, Tom Brace, Tom Temple's Career, Tom Thatcher's Fortune, and Tom Tracy. The very first softcover edition of Ralph Raymond's Heir, which was originally published under the title of The Merchant's Crime, is also included.
"Are My Boys Real?"
Horatio Alger's article about the boys in his books and their real-life counterparts appeared in the Ladies' Home Journal in 1890. Read it here. Click here.
Buying Alger Online
HAS member Barry Schoenborn tells you what to look for and what to avoid when buying books online.
Click here.
Alger Short Stories
Eight short stories are on this site. They are representative of what was referred to as sketches" at the time, generally 1-3 pages in length. Click here.
Site content © The Horatio Alger Society 2011-2015. Site design © Frances Rodgers 2011-2015.
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