Chronology: Waning of the McGuffeyites
& Emergence of the Culture Wars

1961 - The Federation dedicated a tree to William E. Smith, who was still living, and had served as President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Federation.

1962 - E. Merrill Root, a conservative critic of education wrote an article in Christian Economics endorsing the use of the McGuffey Readers in public schools. He wrote in response to a Wisconsin school board that adopted the McGuffey Readers as their primary text, but were forced to remove all mentions of God to receive state aid. Also, at the 1962 annual convention, the societies continued a long-running push for a McGuffey commemorative stamp.

1963 - The William Holmes McGuffey Museum was open only a few hours a week.

1964 - The Societies' dues doubled - to 20 cents.

1966 - McGuffey's boyhood home site in Coitsville Township, Ohio was dedicated a National Historic Landmark by the National Parks Service. Also, this year, according to a McGuffey Society program, competition was "keen" at the McGuffey Reading Contest.

1969 - The William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society held a birthday celebration for McGuffey at the former McGuffey home site. McGuffey was born in western Pennsylvania, but his family moved to northeastern Ohio when he was young, and he spent most of his youth at this site. A band played the "Star Spangled Banner," a Presbyterian minister offered a prayer, and local educators spoke. The Historical Society aspired to raise $65,000 to preserve the home site and build an Educators State Park and Hall of Fame.

1972 - McGuffey's Oxford house, the site of the William Holmes McGuffey Museum, became a Registered National Historic Landmark. The plaque explained, "This site possesses exceptional values in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States."

1978 - The William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society established a National Educators Hall of Fame on McGuffey's boyhood home site.

1980s - Concurrent with the conservative "Reagan revolution," the Readers underwent a brief resurgence.

1983 - Sales surged over 217,000 from the 10,000 sold in 1975. Hundreds of private and public elementary schools, mostly in rural communities, adopted the Readers as supplemental texts.

1984 - The National Federation of McGuffey Societies contributed an Ohio Historic Site marker on the site of McGuffey's 1829 ordination as a Presbyterian minister. This marker was funded by Mott Media, a company that reprinted the original edition of the McGuffey Readers. Also, Miami University's School of Education and Allied Professions established a McGuffey Scholars Program "as another way to keep the spirit of America's master teacher alive."

1986 - The Federation of McGuffey Societies celebrated the 50th anniversary of the organization and the sesquicentennial of the McGuffey Readers. The Oxford Mayor and Ohio House of Representatives passed resolutions praising the work of the National Federation of McGuffey Societies. Also, Gary L. Bauer, the undersecretary of Education under the Reagan administration, gave the main address on "Teaching Virtue." President of the National Federation and Butler County historian, Thomas F. Stander said he expected hundreds of McGuffeyites and their friends will visit the campus to pay homage to McGuffey.

1989 - The Societies' dues increased to a quarter, and the summer meeting drew only 18 members to Miami University.

1990 - Nine members of the federation met to disband the National Federation of McGuffey Societies, but the memory of McGuffey continued, especially in Oxford, Ohio. Allen Berger, professor at Miami and Secretary-Treasurer of the federation turned over the Societies' meager bank account to the McGuffey Museum.

1994 - An ash tree, under which legend said McGuffey gathered local school children on the campus of the University of Virginia, was taken down and "given a second life as a piece of ceremonial furniture." One writer noted, "David K. Ramazani, a furnituremaker in Charlotte, N.C., was humbled by the honor of being chosen to build the table." (1)

1997 - The William Holmes McGuffey Museum underwent a renovation.

1999 - Fans of McGuffey continued the long-running push for a McGuffey commemorative stamp in preparation for McGuffey's 200th birthday. One supporter from Fairfield, Ohio said, "If they can put out an Elvis Presley stamp, then they can certainly make one for McGuffey."

2000 - Miami University sponsored a four-part lecture series on McGuffey and his legacies. A commemorative stamp cancellation was produced by Miami University's Art Department to be used the week of McGuffey's 200th birthday.

2003 - The newly reopened McGuffey Museum was declared an Ohio Bicentennial Historical Site.

2000s - McGuffey Readers are no longer used in public schools, but are available as E-books online for a "back to basics," Christian home-schooling curriculum.