Since the first edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica arrived, issued in three volumes between 1768 and 1771, subsequent editions sought to bring the individual articles up-to-date and dutifully reflect the range of current learning. Of course as learning, progress, industry, etc. accelerated over the next century this well-meaning goal became much more difficult to achieve. The ninth edition (1873-1878) so very nearly accomplished this that a tenth edition was nothing more than a few supplements.
The pinnacle however was the huge 29 volume eleventh edition issued in 1911, 105 years ago this year, replete with articles by some of the greatest minds of the day and century.
Newly arrived in the library this spring is Denis Boyles’ account of this extraordinary achievement. Read this remarkable story in Everything Explained That Is Explainable: On the Creation of the Encyclopedia Britannica’s Celebrated Eleventh Edition, 1910-1911. You will find it in the catalog here: http://alcuin.furman.edu:80/record=b5970162~S1. To see a review in the latest issue of The American Scholar, check here: http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.furman.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=116141379&site=ehost-live
Furman’s James B. Duke Library houses the original sets of both the Britannica’s ninth and eleventh editions if you would care to take a closer look for yourself.