Miss Ball’s visit to the Burris School

Apr 5

In April 1946, the 5th-grade students at Burris Laboratory School welcomed a special visitor to their class, Betty Ball, who brought several rare children’s books from her collection to show them.

A postcard of the Burris School in the late 1940s. *Minnetrista Heritage Collection.*

The students marveled at Betty’s “hornbooks,” handheld children’s “books” popular from the 1400s to the 1800s. Thin cow’s horn, used to protect the paper mounted onto some hornbooks, gave them all their nickname. However, hornbooks were made of many different materials, including wood, ivory, and brass.

A selection of Elisabeth Ball’s hornbooks, now held in the Ball State University Archives & Special Collections. The two on far right now on loan to Minnetrista and on view through July 2022 inside the *Oakhurst Experience*.

By 1946, paper books were common, making hornbooks an unusual sight! Check out the Burris student’s impressions of Betty’s books “from the olden days” in their letters below.

Burris School
Muncie, Ind.
Apr. 5, 1946

Dear Miss Ball,

I enjoyed your collection very, very much! I had never seen any thing like it before. The s’s looked very funny to be because they looked so different. Many children will agree with me I think that the books we have now are much better than the horn – books.

Thank you very much for coming!

Your friend,
Ann Huffer

P.S. The class would be very happy to have you come again any time you would like.

Burris School
Muncie, Ind.
Apr. 5, 1946

Dear Miss Ball,

I enjoyed your exhibit very much. Especially the big horn book. You had a very nice collection and it was interesting too.

It was a nice thing for you to come over and show us the different books you got from the olden days.

I hope you have a very nice Easter.

Nancy Joyce Schwierking

A Happy Easter