Free Old Magazines Download – Old Magazine PDF – Vintage

American Humor & Show Biz Magazine Variety

1919-1923

U.S. – Various publishers

Here is a selection of American humorous magazines from around 1920, including some with show business or celebrity themes. Humor magazines include ‘Capt. Billy’s Whiz Bang, ‘Cap’n Joey’s Jazza Ka Jazza’, and ‘Hot Dog’. Show biz-themed magazines include ‘The Tatler’ and ‘Broadway Brevities.’

American Magazine

Vol 1-99 (1876-1925)

New York

The American Magazine was founded in 1906 as a continuation of a failed publication purchased from publishing mogul Miriam Leslie. It began as Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly in 1876 and went through two more name changes prior to 1906. When new management took over in 1906, highly respected muckraking journalists Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens and Ida M. Tarbell left McClure’s (also found on this web page) for American Magazine. Baker used the pseudonym David Grayson (but sometimes also used his own name). Besides social issues, American Magazine also focused on human interest stories and fiction. – information from Wikipedia.

The American Boy Magazine

1903-1940

Detroit: Sprague Publishing

“A mainly fiction-oriented juvenile magazine, roughly equivalent to Britain’s The Boy’s Own Paper. Originally a Boy Scout magazine; absorbed The Youth’s Companion from October 1929.”.

The American Mercury

1924-1960

New York

An American magazine published from 1924 to 1981; this online magazine archives has pdf issues through the 1950s. It was founded as the brainchild of H. L. Mencken and drama critic George Jean Nathan. The magazine featured writing by some of the most important writers in the United States through the 1920s and 1930s. After a change in ownership in the 1940s, the magazine attracted conservative writers. A second change in ownership a decade later turned the magazine into a virulently anti-Semitic publication. It was published monthly in New York City. The magazine went out of business in 1981, having spent the last 25 years of its existence in decline and controversy.” – Wikipedia.

American Motorist

Vols 1,2,4,5,8,9,10,11,12,13,14

Vols 6,7,8,9,10,13,14,15,16

Washington, DC

These sets contain all volumes from 1909 to 1924 except Vol. 3 (1911).
“Magazine published by major membership organization for drivers (American Automobile Association); contains many ads as well as articles chronicling the growth of the automobile industry. Each issue provides copious additional information on the building of roads, tourism, touring, and tourist camps, exemplary motorists and good driving skills, as well as other related topics.” – Library of Congress American Memory site.

American Review of Reviews

Vol 2 (1890) – Vol 15 (1897)

New York

Known at various times as the American Monthly Review of Reviews and Review of Reviews, but not to be confused with its British counterpart, also entitled Review of Reviews. According to a profile in Wikipedia, the American Review of Reviews “…represented the views and concerns of participants in the trans-Atlantic culture of progressive reform…”, and is “…one of the best primary sources on American reform between 1890 and 1920, providing not only a panoramic view of the range of reformers’ interests, but also the ties between British and American progressives.”

Arthur’s Home Magazine

1851-1897

Philadelphia

A monthly journal founded by publisher Timothy Shay Arthur. Aimed at women, it contained fiction, poetry, non-fiction articles, fashion, and more.

Atlantic Monthly

1857-1879

Washington, DC: Emerson Collective

“This was founded in 1857 in Boston as The Atlantic Monthly, a literary and cultural magazine that published leading writers’ commentary on education, the abolition of slavery, and other major political issues of that time. Its founders included Francis H. Underwood and prominent writers Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Greenleaf Whittier. James Russell Lowell was its first editor.” -Wikipedia.

Blackwood’s Magazine

Issues 1817 (vol 2) – 1927 at HathiTrust

Issues 1817-1980 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

Edinburgh, Scotland: Blackwood

Launched in 1817 by publisher William Blackwood and originally called the ‘Edinburgh Monthly Magazine’, Blackwood’s was an outlet for aggressive Tory (Conservative party) political views. It contained satire, reviews and criticism, as well as poetry and literary works. It ceased publication in 1980, having remained under Blackwood family ownership for its entire active life. – from info in Wikipedia.

The Bookman; an Illustrated Literary Journal

Vol 1 (Feb-Jul 1895) to Vol. 56 (Feb 1923)

Vol 8 (Sep 1898-Feb 1899)

Vol 9 (Mar-Aug 1899)

New York

“Illustrated articles on literary biography, criticism and literary history with occasional discussions of art. Sprightly in tone and very useful for study clubs. The book reviews, which vary from detailed criticism to mere comment, are much used by libraries and bookmen generally. Since February 1917, the scope has been widened to include more articles on general political and social subjects.” – F. K. Walter, Periodicals for the Small Library, ALA 1918.

Century Magazine

Vol 1 (1870 – Vol 114 (1927)

New York

The Century Magazine was first published in the United States in 1881 by The Century Company of New York City. It was the successor of Scribner’s Monthly Magazine (not to be confused with Scribner’s Magazine) and ceased publication in 1930. It gave much space to illustrated articles on history, and to literary criticism, fiction, poetry, literature, and current affairs. It reached its peak in circulation in the 1890s, when it was the largest periodical in the country. This was followed by a gradual loss of 90% of its subscribers by 1930. -info from Wikipedia.

Chatterbox Magazine

1872-1923

London, UK: Wells, Gardner, Darton

Chatterbox was founded in 1866 by British clergyman John Erskine Clarke as a weekly ‘paper’ for children of both genders at around their pre-teens. Clarke edited Chatterbox until 1902, and publication continued until 1955. Each issued contains a mix of short stories, serialized novels, and nonfiction pieces. Issues also contained numerous drawn illustrations. – Info from Victorian Voices.net.

Collection of 19th Century British Periodicals

438 Items; ca. 1806-1899

This free online collection at HathiTrust contains long runs of a number of 19th Century periodicals, including a few, like “The Gentleman’s Magazine”, that also have individual entries on this page.

Collection of Historic Railroad Periodicals

2,300 Items; ca. 1880-1980

This free online collection at HathiTrust contains numerous issues from a variety of railroad periodicals as well as government reports, books, and other publications.

Collier’s National Weekly

1901-1923

1908-1918

1926-1957 at UNZ

The volumes below are at Internet Archive

New York

Collier’s magazine was an American weekly, founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier, who was a pioneer in investigative journalism. For decades it had a reputation for being politically progressive, and became by 1919 one of the most popular magazines in the U.S. It reached a circulation of 2.8 million by 1946, but began a decline in the early ’50s. It changed to a bi-weekly in August 1953, and ceased publication in January 1957. – from Wikipedia.

Comfort

1891-1924

Augusta, Maine: Morse & Co.

“Devoted to Art, Literature, Science, and the Home Circle”.

Cosmopolitan Magazine

Cosmopolitan Magazine Website

2015-2016

1886-1961 (B&W)

1886-1925

U.S. – Hearst Communications

Cosmopolitan began in NY City as a family magazine, in 1886. By the early 1890s it was a leading fiction magazine, with stories by top authors. William Randolph Hearst bought Cosmopolitan in 1905, after which it continued to feature top fiction authors as well as investigative pieces and other nonfiction.
In 1965 Helen Gurley Brown became chief editor, and radically changed Cosmopolitan. A feminist who wished to erase the stigma of unmarried women having sex, ‘Cosmo’ was transformed into a racy, contentious, and highly successful magazine for single career women. – info from Wikipedia.

Country Life Magazine

1901-1927

New York

The magazine began in 1901 with a target audience of people living in rural America, but changed its focus to city dwellers looking for ideas on country living. The 1904 issues are titled: Country Life in America; a magazine for the home-maker, the country gentleman, the farmer, the gardener, the nature-student, and the lover of clean athletics and sports. In 1911 it was titled Country Life in America, a magazine for the home-maker in the country. In 1917 the name changed to The New Country Life. It ceased publication in 1942.

DeBow’s Review

Vol 1 (Old series) – Vol 7 (New Series) (1846-1869)

New Orleans

DeBow’s Review was an important and influential magazine of the southern U.S. “Prior to the American Civil War of 1861-1865, the journal contained everything from agricultural reports, statistical data, and economic analysis to literature, political opinion, and commentary. The magazine took an increasingly pro-Southern and eventually secessionist perspective in the late 1850s and early 1860s. It defended slavery in response to abolitionism, published an article in the 1850s that urged the South to resume the African slave trade, and advocated southern nationalism as the Civil War approached.” – Wikipedia. DeBow’s Review.

Detective & Mystery Magazine Collection

1905-1958

U.S. – Various publishers

This popular collection contains over 500 issues. The majority are from the 1930s through the early 1950s, but there are also issues from the 19th century up through 2013. Some titles: Famous Detective Stories, The Phantom Detective, Spicy Detective Stories, The Armchair Detective, Popular Detective, Dime Detective Magazine, Black Mask Detective, Thrilling Detective, 5 Detective Novels, True Detective Mysteries Magazine, New Detective, Dime Detective Magazine PDF, Hollywood Detective, Strange Detective Mysteries, Ten Detective Aces, Private Detective Stories, Startling Detective Adventures, 10-Story Detective, Front Page Detective, Dorcas Dene Detective, Bulldog Drummond, Crack Detective and Mystery, Clues, New Nick Carter Weekly, and more titles.

Everybody’s Magazine

Vol 1 – 49 (1899-1923)

1899-1929 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

NY: North American Company

According to the Magazine’s entry in Wikipedia, Everybody’s Magazine was founded by Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker in 1899, who had little role in its operations. It published a mix of non-fiction and fiction. In 1903, with a circulation of 150,000, it was sold to a group headed by Erman Jesse Ridgeway. A series of muckraking articles called “Frenzied Finance” in 1904 boosted circulation to over 500,000, and it stayed above that mark for many years, while changing its content to mainly fiction.

The Gentleman’s Magazine

Issues 1731-1907

London, UK: Edward Cave & others

The first English periodical to be called a “magazine”. Founder Edward Cave’s “innovation was to create a monthly digest of news and commentary on any topic the educated public might be interested in, from commodity prices to Latin poetry. It carried original content from a stable of regular contributors, as well as extensive quotations and extracts from other periodicals and books. It was read throughout the English-speaking world and continued to flourish through the 18th century and much of the 19th century under a series of different editors and publishers.” – Wikipedia
The collection at this HathiTrust link appears to contain a complete run, from the magazine’s founding in 1731 to the end of general publication in 1907. The numbering of volumes at the link is irregular: Vol 1 is the 5th item, Vol 2 is about 25th, etc. Indexes are in the list.

Godey’s Lady’s Book Magazine

Vols 1-136 (1830-1898)

Philadelphia

This monthly was the most widely circulated magazine in the U.S. in the period before the Civil War, reaching a circulation of 150,000 in 1860 despite being more expensive than other monthlies. It was published by Louis A. Godey in Philadelphia from 1830 to 1878. Each issue contained poetry, articles and engravings created by prominent artists and writers. Also recipes submitted by readers, illustrations of current clothing fashions, crafts, family activities, games, and much else about daily life in 19th century America. A similar magazine, ‘Peterson’s, is also found on this webpage. Godey’s Lady’s Book.

Good Housekeeping Magazine Free

Magazine Website

1885-1886 and 1922-1925 of British Edition Online Books Page

1885-1928 at HathiTrust

1885-1928 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

2015-2016 at Internet Archive

Holyoke, Mass

“Good Housekeeping Magazine presents a diverse blend of articles on life-management, beauty care, cooking, shopping, holiday planning, and interior design for the average woman or mother. Each issue features enticing recipes for daily cooking or special occasions alongside useful tips for eating healthy and maintaining a fit figure. You’ll also find ideas for creative craft projects, maximizing space with smart storage options, and upgrading your home décor on any budget. Whether you have a spouse, children, or pets, Good Housekeeping Magazine provides timeless advice on building strong relationships and creating a healthy, advantageous environment for your loved ones.” – Good Housekeeping.

Harper’s Bazaar Free

Magazine Website

1870-1922

New York

Vol 3 (1870) to Vol 57 (1922) Incomplete.
“Harper’s BAZAAR was founded in 1867, and it’s been guiding generations of women through the world of beauty and fashion ever since. It always features well-known names in the industry, including its own editors, writers, and photographers, to deliver you worthwhile advice. The articles are filled with information from legendary fashion designers and beauty experts to show you the best of the latest trends.” – Harper’s Bazaar.

Harper’s Weekly: A Journal of Civilization

1859-1916

New York: Harper’s Magazine Co.

An American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor, alongside illustrations. It carried extensive coverage of the American Civil War. The publisher also produced a monthly magazine. – Wikipedia.

Hearst’s Magazine

1915-1924 (vols 27-46)

1913-1914 (vols 23-25)

The World Today 1902-1912 (vols 3-22)

Chicago and New York

“Hearst’s Magazine was a 1912 renaming of ‘The World Today’, which Hearst had acquired in 1911. It continued the volume numbering of that periodical, and thus began with Volume 22. In 1922, the title shifted to “Hearst’s International”. All content of this serial is in the public domain in the US. In the mid-1920s, Hearst’s International combined publication with Cosmopolitan, which eventually effectively absorbed it.” – The Online Books Page.

Illustrated London News

1842-1927

London, UK

First published on 14 May 1842, this was the world’s first illustrated weekly news magazine. For graphics, the newspaper relied entirely on a team of illustrators until it began using photos about 1890. However, drawings still made up part of the illustrations as late as the 1920s. This appears to have been England’s most popular news weekly throughout the 19th century.

Ladies’ Home Journal Free

1884-2007 – at Century Past Page

Philadelphia, U.S.

A popular American women’s magazine, published from 1883 to 2016. In 1903 it was the first American magazine to reach one million subscribers.

The Lady’s Own Paper

1866-1872 – Old Magazines PDF

London:

British. “A weekly journal of the court, the drama, fashion, fiction, music.”

The Leisure Hour: an illustrated magazine for home reading

1852-1905

London, UK: Religious Tract Society

“A British general-interest periodical of the Victorian era which ran weekly from 1852 to 1905. It was the most successful of several popular magazines published by the Religious Tract Society, which produced Christian literature for a wide audience. Each issue mixed multiple genres of fiction and factual stories, historical and topical.” – Wikipedia.

Leslie’s Weekly

1855-1922

New York

Originally called Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, this is one of several magazines founded by illustrator and publisher Frank Leslie. Well-known for the quality of its illustrations, this popular national publication averaged about 16 pages per issue.

Liberty Magazine

1925-1947

NY: McCormick-Patterson et al.

“An American weekly, general-interest magazine. Launched in 1924 by McCormick-Patterson, the publisher until 1931, when it was taken over by Bernarr Macfadden until 1941. At one time it was said to be “the second greatest magazine in America,” ranking behind The Saturday Evening Post in circulation. It featured contributions from some of the biggest politicians, celebrities, authors, and artists of the 20th century. The contents of the magazine provide a unique look into popular culture, politics, and world events. – Wikipedia.

Life Magazine Free

1883-1927

1883-1957 (Black & White)

1936-1972

Chicago

Life was published as a weekly magazine from 1883 to 1972. It was initially a humor and general interest / light entertainment magazine, similar to the British magazine Puck. In 1936 it was acquired by Henry Luce, who changed the focus to news and particularly to photojournalism.

McClure’s Magazine Free

Vol 1 (1893) – Vol 59 (1927)

New York

McClure’s magazine (1893-1929) is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism (investigative, watchdog or reform journalism), and helped shape the moral compass of the day. The magazine featured both political and literary content, publishing serialized novels-in-progress, a chapter at a time. In this way, McClure’s published such writers as Willa Cather, Arthur Conan Doyle, Herminie T. Kavanagh, Rudyard Kipling, Jack London, Lincoln Steffens, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Mark Twain. Examples of its work include Ida Tarbell’s series in 1902 exposing the monopoly abuses of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, and Ray Stannard Baker’s earlier look at the United States Steel Corporation, which focused the public eye on the conduct of corporations. – Wikipedia.

Miscellaneous Pulp Fantasy

1937-1954

U.S.

A collection of various titles of fantasy magazines, mostly from the mid-20th century, including these titles and more: Beyond Fantasy Fiction, 10 Story Fantasy, Avon Fantasy Reader, A. Merritt’s Fantasy Magazine, Fantasy Tales, Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated (1999), Fantasynopsis.

Modern Man

1908-1915

London: Modern Man

British. “A weekly journal of masculine interest.” In 1914 the name changed to “Modern Life”.

The Motorcycle Illustrated Magazine

Vol 3 (1908) – Vol 18 (1922)

New York

“Devoted to the Development of Motorcycling in America”.

Movie Fan Magazine Collection

Magazine Variety 1912-1923

Various publishers

This collection of early fan magazines includes Screenland, Movie Pictorial, Photo-Play World, Close-Up, New Zealand Theatre & Motion Picture, Film Fun, Movie Weekly, and other titles.

National Geographic Magazine Free

National Geographic Magazine Website

Magazines 1888-2013 With Index – at Century Past Page

Washington DC: National Geographic

““National Geographic Magazine, the flagship magazine of the National Geographic Society, chronicles exploration and adventure, as well as changes that impact life on Earth. Editorial coverage encompasses people and places of the world, with an emphasis on human involvement in a changing universe. Major topics include culture, nature, geography, ecology, science and technology.” – National Geographic Magazine.

Newsweek Magazine Free

Magazine Website

1933-2008 – at Century Past Page

U.S. – Newsweek

“This weekly news magazine covers the national and global news front through news, commentary and analysis. It includes national and international affairs, business, lifestyle, society, the arts, politics, the economy, personal business, the Washington scene, health, science and technology.” – Newsweek Magazine.

Niles’ Weekly Register

Vol 1 (1811) – Vol 75 (1849)

Baltimore, MD

“Containing political, political, historical, geographical, scientifical, statistical, economical, and biographical documents, essays and facts; together with notices of the arts and manufactures, and a record of the events of the times.”
Vols 5, 7-9, 15-16, 23, 38 and 43 contain supplements.
Hezekiah Niles (1777-1839) was the editor until 1836, when he was succeeded by his son, William Ogden Niles. Jeremiah Hughes bought the Register in 1839 and edited it until it was discontinued in 1849.

“… in the first half of the 19th century, the Register was as well-known as the New York Times and Washington Post are known today. From 1811 to 1849, it was the principal window through which many Americans looked out on their country and the world. The scope of the work was immense, its circulation was large (the largest in the United States, by some accounts) … ” – W.H. Earle, “Niles Register, 1811-1849: Window on the World” Website (defunct).

The Nineteenth Century and After

1921-1927

London: Henry S. King & Co.

Originally known at ‘The Nineteenth Century’, this British magazine was renamed ‘The Nineteenth Century and After’ in the 1901 issue.

North American Review

1815-1927

1815 to 1939

Boston

“One of America’s leading literary journals of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Early contributors included William Cullen Bryant, Daniel Webster, John Adams, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Francis Parkman. Two of the Review‘s best-known editors, in the 1860s and 1870s, were James Russell Lowell and Henry Adams. In the late 1870s, under new ownership, the Review was transformed into a national periodical noted “for its critical influence and outstanding writing concerning social and political issues”. Contributors then included William Gladstone, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Mark Twain and H.G. Wells.” – Encyclopedia Britannica online.

Outdoor Life Magazine

1898-1925 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

Denver, Colorado: Bonnier

Launched in 1898 in Denver, founder J.A. McGuire intended the magazine for ‘outdoorsmen’, which was generally understood then as men who enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Outing. An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of Recreation

Vol 3 (1883) – Vol 82 (1923)

Boston

A late 19th- and early 20th-century American magazine covering a variety of sporting activities. It began publication in 1882 as the Wheelman “an illustrated magazine of cycling literature and news” and had four title changes before ceasing publication in 1923. It was initially published for bicycling enthusiasts by the owner of the Pope Co., a bicycle manufacturer, but soon broadened its subject matter. -from info in Wikipedia.

Overland Monthly

1868-1923

1868-1935 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

San Francisco

Monthly. Edited by Bret Harte, the Overland Monthly; devoted to the Development of the Country began publication in 1868 in San Francisco and continued through 1875. It contained non-fiction, short stories and poetry. In 1880 the publishers founded the Californian, which then became the Californian and Overland Monthly and in 1883 was re-titled the Overland Monthly. In 1923 it merged with the magazine Out West, and continued until 1935. Some writers associated with the magazine were Alice Cary, Jack London, Mark Twain and Henry George.
— Information from Wikipedia entry for “Overland Monthly”.

Pan American Magazine

Vol 6 (1908) – Vol 40 (1927)

Washington, D.C.

The Pan-American Magazine and New World Review was a monthly that was founded in 1900 and edited by W. W. Razor in London. It contained economic news and travel articles about South and Central America.

Peterson’s Magazine

Vols 13 – 100 (1848-1891)

1842-1897 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

New York

The owners of the ‘Saturday Evening Post’ began publishing ‘The Ladies National Magazine’ in 1842 as a less expensive alternative to the popular magazine ‘Godey’s Lady’s Book’ (also on this webpage). The name was changed in 1855 to ‘Peterson’s Magazine’, and it continued under that title until 1892, ceasing publication in 1898.

Popular Magazine

1910-1930

NY: Street & Smith

“An early American literary magazine that ran for 612 issues from November 1903 to October 1931. It featured short fiction, novellas, serialized larger works, and even entire short novels. In October 1931, The Popular Magazine was merged with another Street & Smith pulp, Complete Stories.” – Wikipedia.

Popular Mechanics Magazine Free

Popular Mechanics Magazine Website

Vol 6 (1904)

1905-1917; 1921-2005

1918-1920

100+ issues from 1906-2016

Chicago

“Popular Mechanics magazine is for people who have a passion to know how things work. It’s about how the latest advances in science and technology will impact your home, your car, consumer electronics, computers, even your health.” – Popular Mechanics Magazine.

Popular Science Magazine PDF

Popular Science Magazine Website

Popular Science Magazine Free Download PDF – 1872-2009

Some issues from 2015 & Various Years

U.S.

“Popular Science magazine is one of the nation’s oldest and most influential magazines on trends in the scientific world. It provides a way for you to stay updated on the newest technology, inventions, and theories that affect our world today. Popular Science magazine also has many practical and insightful news stories that every household can use.” – Popular Science.

Punch Magazine

1841-1928

London, UK

Punch, or ‘The London Charivari’ was a British weekly magazine of humour and satire established in 1841 by Henry Mayhew and wood-engraver Ebenezer Landells. Historically, it was most influential in the 1840s and 1850s, when it helped to coin the term “cartoon” in its modern sense as a humorous illustration. After the 1940s, when its circulation peaked, it went into a long decline, closing in 1992.

Radio Periodicals – Collection

ca. 1910-1961

About 300 issues of various periodicals for radio listeners and for companies in the business. Titles include: Radio Stars, Broadcasting, Radio Mirror, Radio Broadcast, Radio Revue for the Listener, Talking Machine World, What’s On the Air.

Review of Reviews

New York

See the American Review of Reviews above on this page.

Saturday Evening Post Free

Magazine Website

1899-1927

1821-1961 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

U.S.

“The Saturday Evening Post is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influential magazines within the American middle class, with fiction, non-fiction, cartoons and features that reached millions of homes every week. The magazine declined in readership through the 1960s, and in 1969 The Saturday Evening Post folded for two years before being revived as a quarterly publication with an emphasis on medical articles in 1971. As of the late 2000s, The Saturday Evening Post is published six times a year by the Saturday Evening Post Society, which purchased the magazine in 1982. The magazine was redesigned in 2013.” – Wikipedia.

Saturday Night

1887-1927

Toronto, Canada

“Saturday Night was a Canadian magazine founded in 1887. Up until ceasing publication in 2005, it was Canada’s oldest general interest magazine. When first launched, the magazine was a weekly broadsheet newspaper about public affairs and the arts before expanding into general interest.” – Wikipedia.

St. Nicholas

Vol 1 (1874) – Vol 53 (1926)

New York

“One of the best and most popular magazines for young people. Includes well-illustrated short stories, series and articles on biography, history and travel, outdoor life and nature study. The articles are almost always interesting, wholesome and well written. Even the special pages of pictures, rhymes and short stories for small children are above the average merit of most similar attempts.” -F. K. Walter, Periodicals for the Small Library, ALA 1918.

Scientific American Magazine Free

Scientific American Magazine Website

Scientific American Magazine PDF – 1846-1922 (Hathitrust)

Scientific American Magazine PDF – 1845-1909 (Internet Archive)

New York

“As the oldest continuously published magazine in the country, Scientific American magazine pdf has been reporting on the latest breakthroughs in all areas of science since 1845. Respected and influential, it is known for making cutting-edge information accessible to the educated reader. From the latest in alternative energy technology to groundbreaking medical advances, the magazine explores and explains innovative developments, including what they mean to you.” – Scientific American Magazine PDF.

Scribner’s Magazine

1887-1927

1887-1938 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

New York

Scribner’s Magazine was produced by the publisher Charles Scribner’s Sons from 1887 to 1939, which also produced Scribner’s Monthly (later renamed Century Illustrated, and found on this web page). Scribner’s Magazine was launched to compete with Harper’s Monthly and Atlantic Monthly (both are found on this web page). Editor Edward Bulingame hired top artists to illustrate it, including Howard Pyle, Maxfield Parrish and Frederic Remington, and the magazine became known for the outstanding quality of its many illustrations. Many well-known writers contributed, including Jacob Riis, Theodore Roosevelt and John Galsworthy.- from information in the Wikipedia entry.

The Spectator Magazine

The Spectator Website

1828-1927 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

London, UK

The oldest weekly magazine in the world, founded in 1828 by Scottish reformer Robert Stephen Rintoul. ” – Wikipedia. It still exists.

Sports Magazines Variety

1905-1958

Various Publishers

A number of different sports magazines. Titles include: Popular Sports, Ten-Story Sports, Complete Sports, thrilling Sports, Super Sports, Fight Stories, Exciting Football, All-American Football, Motor Boating, Body Builder, Basketball Stories, Baseball Digest, Physical Culture, Official Wrestling.

Suburban Life; the Countryside Magazines

Jun 1905 Jan-Dec 1906 Jan-Jun 1907

Jul-Dec 1907 Jan-Jun 1908 Jul 1908-Jun 1909

Jul-Dec 1909 Jul-Dec 1910 Jan-Jun 1911

Jul-Dec 1911 Jan-Jun 1912 Jul-Dec 1912

Jan-Jun 1913 Jul-Dec 1913 Jan-Dec 1914

Jan-Dec 1915 Jan-Dec 1916

Harrisburg, PA

A popular lifestyle magazine at the beginning of the 20th century for affluent people who lived – or aspired to live – comfortably outside the city.

Time Magazine Free

Time Magazine Website

1923-2022 – Century Past Time Magazine Page

U.S. – TIME USA, LLC, owned by Marc Benioff

“Offering a rare convergence of incisive reporting, lively writing and world-renowned photography, Time magazine has been credited with bringing journalism at its best into the fabric of American life.” – Time Magazine.

Uncle Remus’s Magazine

1907-1912

Atlanta: Sunny South Publishing

“Typical of the South. National in its Scope”.

Youth Magazine Variety

1877-1970

Various Publishers

A variety of magazines for boys and a few for girls. Titles include: Eagle, Diamond Dick Jr., Tip Top Weekly, Chums, American Boy, Work and Win, The Modern Boy, Frank Reade Library, Beadle’s Frontier Series, Happy Days, Boy’s Cinema, Child Life, Calling All Girls, Boys’ Own Paper, The Girl’s Own Paper and Woman’s Magazine, American Girl.

The World Today Magazine

‘The World Today’ was acquired by William Randolph Hearst and renamed in 1912 ‘Hearst’s Magazine’. There is an entry for Hearst’s Magazine above on this webpage, which also contains most issues of ‘The World Today’.

The World’s Work Magazine

Vol 1 (1900) – Vol 54 (1927)

1900-1932 at Internet Archive (Black & White)

New York

“Discusses all kinds of current events and current tendencies in articles by recognized authorities and in well written editorial comments. The social development of the country receives as much attention as its material prosperity. Well illustrated and popular in style. One of the four periodicals most widely used in school work and very useful for club and debate work.”-F. K. Walter, Periodicals for the Small Library, ALA 1918.

More Free Old Magazines Online

From Great Britain

Country Life (1897 – 1927)

English Illustrated Magazine (1883-1913)

Spectator (1828-1928)

Spectator (2015-2016)

The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine (1853-1863)

The Strand Magazine (1891-1928)

Westminster Review (1824 -1914)

Wide World Magazine (1898-1923)

From the United States

Better Homes and Gardens (1940-1963)

The Ladies’ Companion (1834-1844)

McCall’s (1897-1961)

McClure’s (1893-1928)

Pictorial Review (1899-1928)

Woman’s Home Companion (1903-1928)

Historic Photos from Around the World

Collected links here at Century Past to selected photography collections from the late 1800s & early 1900s in countries around the world.

Magazine Articles from 100 Years Ago

A collection of links here at Century Past to articles in popular magazines around the beginning of the 20th Century, on a variety of topics.