National Temperance Society and Publishing House

The National Temperance Society and Publishing House was founded in 1865. It was at the end of the Civil War. During its first 60 years it published over a billion pages in support of temperance.

Its three monthly magazines had a combined circulation of about 600,000. The National Temperance Advocate was for adults. The Youth’s Temperance Banner was for adolescents. Finally, The Water Lily was for children.

The Society also published over 2,000 books and pamphlets. This was in addition to textbooks, posters and flyers. They tended to be religious in nature.

Books

The National Temperance Society produced a large number of books. They were both fiction and non-fiction. This is a sample.

Click on a title to read the book online at no cost.

James Black

National Temperance Society
James Black

The Society was co-founded by James Black. He later became the first presidential candidate of the Prohibition Party. But most supporters of the National Temperance Society and Publishing House opposed any third party.

Other co-founding officers included Neil Dow, Henry Ward Beecher, and Horace Greeley. (Dow was also a later Prohibition Party presidental candidate.)

Joining cost $1.00 per year. For life, it was $20.00. And for life patrons it was $500.00. 

The Society was important in building support for National Prohibition.

Resources: National Temperance Society

Web

Temperance Groups. (U.S.)

Temperance Groups. (World – Timeline.)

Women Temperance Leaders.

Temperance Leaders.

Alcohol Trivia.

Readings

Kobler, J. Ardent Spirits. NY: Putnam’s.

Rumbarger, J. Profits, Power, and Prohibition. Albany: State U. of NY Press.