The Juvenile Instructor Office: The Growth of Specialized Publishing in Utah in the 1880s

by Craig S. Smith

Discover the untold story of a pioneering force in Western American publishing. In The Juvenile Instructor Office: The Growth of Specialized Publishing in Utah in the 1880s, Craig S. Smith uncovers the vibrant, largely overlooked history of Mormonism’s early publishing ventures in nineteenth-century Utah. At the heart of this transformation was the Juvenile Instructor Office—a small but ambitious press that evolved from a youth's magazine into one of the largest Mormon publishing operations of its time. With vivid historical detail and engaging narrative, Smith traces how George Q. Cannon and his successors built a powerful cultural institution that shaped the reading lives of a growing faith community amid national scrutiny and local challenges.

Part history, part annotated bibliography, and wholly enlightening, this book also provides an extensive catalog of the office’s diverse publications—from Sunday School cards to bound catechisms and spiritual treatises. Ideal for historians, bibliophiles, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, media, and regional identity, The Juvenile Instructor Office offers fresh insights into how one press helped define the literary voice of a people. It’s a vital addition to the study of both American religious publishing and Utah’s cultural development during a pivotal era.

294 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025