Collier's Cyclopedia of Social and Commercial Information, compiled by Nugent Robinson, was one of those "compendiums of knowledge" that were popular in the 19th century. Think of it as how people found stuff out before the Internet... This particular compendium focused on topics such as etiquette, law, business, penmanship, animal husbandry, games and sports. Articles varied from lengthy pieces on, say, the etiquette of mourning, to fascinating lists of proverbs, toasts and quotes for speeches. This page lists the articles from the volume that are posted on VictorianVoices.net. The complete volume can be downloaded for free at Archive.org.

Animals (Domestic)

The Horse

Poultry

Varieties of Cattle

Arts & Crafts

Knots and Splices

Business, Law & Government

Civil Service Rules

Forms of Legal Documents

Laws Relating to the Rights of American Women

A Synopsis of the Rules of Process in the US Patent Office

Childcare & Education

The Nursery

Etiquette & Social Occasions

Etiquette for Gentlemen

Etiquette for Ladies

Etiquette of Courtship and Matrimony

Etiquette of Mourning

Golden Rules of Etiquette

How to Learn to Write [Penmanship]

The Letter Writer

Party and Ballroom Etiquette

Various Forms of Invitations

Household

Carving [at Table]

Life

How to Get Up a Fair

Miscellany

A Full-Rigged Ship

The Language of Flowers

Phrenology

Proverbs and Old Sayings

Speeches

Toasts and Sentiments

Recreation

Games of Cards

Driving [Horses]

Lessons in Bicycle Riding

Magic Tricks

Outdoor Games

Parlor Games

Riding

Rowing

Royalty

Rulers of Scotland, Wales & France; US Presidents

A Table of the Kings and Queens of England

Research & Statistics

Average Temperatures in Important Places in the World

A [Perpetual] Calendar

Copyright Laws of the US

Debts, Revenues, Expenditures and Commerce of Nations

Duration of Life/Life Expectancy

Estimate of Values of Foreign Coins

Executive Officers of the US from 1789 to 1882

Historical & Statistical Table of the US and Territories; US Money, Production of Gold and Silver

International Weights and Measures

Leading Agricultural Crops in Europe

Miscellaneous English Weights and Measures

Mountains and Rivers of the Globe; US Lakes

The Navies of the World; Navy Yards of the US

Population of European Capitals (in 1882)

Population of the US at Each Census, 1790-1880

Principal Cereal Productions of the US

Railway Times and Distances from New York to Major US Cities

Rainfall in the US and Europe

Rate of Mortality in American Cities

Total [US] Cotton Production and Average Product Per Acre

United States Internal Revenue Tax

United States Postal Table

World Travel, Cultures & Colonies

Our Next-Door Neighbors: Canada and Mexico