McGuffey's Oxford Home

McGuffey Museum has been a registered National Historic Landmark since 1966, honoring the significance of William Holmes McGuffey and the McGuffey Eclectic Readers. Professor McGuffey was Professor of Ancient Languages and Moral Philosophy at Miami University from 1826 to 1836. Marrying Harriet Spining of Dayton in 1827, Professor McGuffey bought Outlot 9 and the small frame house upon it in 1828. By 1833, a two-story brick house had been built on the same lot to replace the original dwelling. The present house is a vernacular adaption of the Federal style with later enlargements and redecoration. The front porch, elaborate front stairway and downstairs woodwork were probably added in the 1860s. The room now used to display Professor McGuffey's octagon table, lectern and travelling 3-part secretary/bookcase was a later addition. Portraits of William Holmes McGuffey and his wife Harriet hang in the parlor, believed to have been painted about 1835 by Horace Harding. A collection of McGuffey Eclectic Readers is on display in the bookcases in the Library. A noted collection of children's books, including McGuffey Eclectic Readers, is housed in Special collections, King Memorial Library, on the main campus of Miami University. The First Eclectic Reader, published in 1836, started the series of books that was to educate five generations of Americans by 1920. Still in print and still used today, the Readers have had numerous publishers and many revisions. McGuffey Museum offers free guided tours to groups of any size. For individuals or families, no advance reservation is required. If you have a large number of people, we ask that you schedule your tour at least two weeks in advance. Please contact McGuffey Museum at 513-529-8380 or e-mail at McGuffeyMuseum@muohio.edu to schedule your group tour.