Child Life was a United States children's magazine founded in December 1921, when Rand McNally produced a specimen issue, before beginning regular publication in 1922. It published poems and stories by Marjorie Barrows, Margaret Widdemer,Huber, Miriam Blanton, Bruner, Herbert B., Curry, Charles Madison (editors), The Poetry Book 2, unnumbered acknowledgement page, Rand McNally & Co., 1926 Carl Sandburg, Augusta Huiell Seaman, Padraic Colum, Nora ArchibaldAd, Time Magazine, December 13, 1926, page 24 and Dr. Seuss.Copley, Rich, Older, Just As Mean, Lexington Herald-Leader, December 21, 2007, page 61
For most of its history Child Life had the subtitle of The Children's Own Magazine, but for a time, starting in 1976, the subtitle became Mystery and Science-Fiction Magazine. The magazine ceased publication in 2007.
Content by publisher Rand McNally (January 1922 – November 1941) Rand McNally produced a specimen issue of Child Life: The Children's Own Magazine dated December 1921, before beginning regular publication in 1922. It was a 64-page monthly magazine, well illustrated, and printed on coated paper. The cost was 25 cents an issue.
The first editor, Rose Waldo, selected material for children ages 5 through 15, and most of the content was written by women. Waldo organized sections under numerous headings. "Nursery Nuggets" had short poems and stories for very young readers. "Happiness Hall" was for older children, and had longer stories and poems.
From 1922 to 1938 Child Life's art editor Ruby McKim published quilt patterns and needlework projects for children.Musgrave, Karen, Quilts in the Attic: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the Quilts We Love, Voyager Press, page 216, 2012
The "Joy Givers Club" was open to readers under the age of 12 to submit their own drawings for possible publication. In 1932 a music appreciation contest was started, under the direction of Anne Faulkner Oberndorfer, who also wrote articles on music composition for the magazine.A Music Appreciation Contest For Your Pupils, Music Supervisor's Journal, March 1932, page 66
Child Life, Inc. (December 1941 – November 1966) Child Life, Inc. was a company organized by Clayton Holt Ernst. The magazine's page count was reduced to 48, and its content was presented under three headings: "Stories, Poems, and Plays", "For You To Do", and "Keeping Up With Child Life".
Dr. Seuss's first holiday piece, "Perfect Present" was published in the December 1953 issue.Copley, Rich, Older, Just As Mean, Lexington Herald-Leader, December 21, 2007, page 61
A column entitled "The Hollow Tree" printed readers' poems and letters about trips they would like to take. Starting in 1947 many articles about travel were published.
In 1949 the magazine reduced its issues to ten per year by combining the June / July and the August / September issues. In 1960 Child Life had a circulation of 200,000.SerVaas Buys Child Life Magazine, The Indianapolis News, July 27, 1960, page 31
Review Publishing Co. (December 1966 – June / July 1973) Review Publishing geared its content towards children aged 7 to 11 years old. They published stories and riddles, and had a column for children seeking pen pals.Jung, Suzanne, Best magazines for kids – and an eye-opener for adults, Imperial Beach Star-News (Imperial Beach, CA), December 7, 1972, page 17
Simple recipes, such as sandwiches and no-bake cookies, were published for children to make for themselves.Turner Library Exhibits Food Goodies, Friday, Washington Daily News (Washington, NC), August 2, 1973, page 3 Readers could enter poetry contests, and winning poems were published in the magazine.Student, 10, Has Poetry Published, The Galveston Daily News, (Galveston, TX), February 19, 1970, page 6
Curtis Publishing Company (August / September 1973 – December 1979) The Curtis Publishing Company owned The Saturday Evening Post, and was later renamed The Saturday Evening Post Company. In April 1974 Child Life became a digest-sized periodical with 64 pages. In October 1976 the subtitle became Mystery and Science Fiction Magazine. The content included fiction, articles, jokes, riddles, and hidden pictures.
The magazine continued to be geared for ages 7 to 11, and much of the content was supplied by its readers. Children submitted poems, as well as stories and articles that did not exceed 500 words.Brennan, Susan Warfield, Publishing Children's Writing, The Teacher, February 1976, pages 447-449 A feature entitled "Art Gallery" printed pictures drawn by readers.Lee County 7th grader's drawing published in "Child Life" magazine, The Beattyville Enterprise (Beattyville, KY), January 30, 1975, page 7
Benjamin Franklin Literary and Medical Society (January 1980 – July / August 2007) In 1980 the magazine was purchased by the Benjamin Franklin Literary and Medical Society and was published by its division, the Children's Better Health Institute.Free Fun For Children, The Desert Trail (Twentynine Palms, CA), May 2, 1985, page 25
The periodical was aimed at children from 7 to 9 years old, emphasized health and good reading, and published 8 issues per year.Smith, Jennifer, Periodicals That Publish Children's Original Work, Language Arts, February 1988, page 204
Regular features included "The Poet’s Page", "Jokes, Riddles and Cartoons", and "Ask Doctor Cory", a column for children to ask medical questions that were answered by Dr. Cory SerVaas.Cory SerVaas death notice "Young Writer's Story" printed original stories from readers on the topics of health, safety, nutrition, and exercise.
In 1981 Child Life had a circulation of 103,000, and the subscription price was $10.95 a year.Collins, Glenn, Children's Magazines: A Varied Choice, The New York Times, January 21, 1981, Section C, page 1
Beurt SerVaas' connections to three publishers In 1960 Bert R. SerVaas purchased Child Life,SerVaas Buys Child Life Magazine, The Indianapolis News, July 27, 1960, page 31 and he later founded Review Publishing to publish the magazine, along with several other periodicals.Post Publisher to Speak at Journalism Day, Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, IN), October 20, 1971, p. 2
In 1970 SerVaas became the president and controlling stockholder of Curtis Publishing Company, which published The Saturday Evening Post. Curtis Publishing Company began printing Child Life in 1973.
In 1976 SerVaas and his wife Dr. Cory SerVaas founded the Benjamin Franklin Literary and Medical Society, and its division Children's Better Health Institute, and in 1980 the society began publishing Child Life. In 1982 the society purchased The Saturday Evening Post.Saturday Evening Post Sold to Franklin Society, The New York Times, January 10, 1982, Section 1, page 23
Merger with Children's Digest The July / August 2007 issue of Child Life contained a notice stating that, starting with the September / October 2007 issue the magazine would be merged with Children's Digest. Readers were assured that popular features would continue to be published.
References
External links Online black & white 1922-1928 issues of Child Life Online 1926-1940 color cover illustrations of Child Life