The college of life; or practical self-educator, a manual of self-improvement for the colored race, forming an educational emancipator and a guide to success, giving examples and achievements of successful men and women of the race as an incentive and inspiration to the rising generation including Afro-American progress illustrated, the whole embracing business, social, domestic, historical and religious education, embellished with hundreds of superb engravings

n.p., 1896. A substantial and lavish volume, 160, xii, 17-720p., with original copyright date of 1896 but this apparently a later edition, as the presentation page near the front has a pre-printed 19-- to begin the date. Various editions of this work appeared with different pagination. Pictorial covers somewhat dulled and spotted, but generally very good condition. From the preface: "In preparing this volume for the Eight Millions of Afro-Americans in this country certain well-defined objects were in view, as follows:

To advise, encourage and educate the thousands of young people of the race and to inspire them with a desire to better their (truncated) condition in life by Self-Improvement;

To afford the valuable information needed by the large class of men and women who are engaged in the responsible duties of active life, and to place within the reach of parents a valuable guide for the successful training of their children, and a Family Educator for the Home.

With the above purpose in view portraits of many successful men and women of their own race, with sketches of their achievements in life, are given as examples of what may be accomplished through education, patience, perseverance and integrity of character.

Many engravings illustrating Afro-American Progress are introduced as object lessons of the great advancement of their own people, impressing them with the fact that they must educate and elevate themselves if they would attain success in life. (Inventory #: 328362)