An Index to Poetry and Recitations: Being a Practical Reference Manual for the Librarian, Teacher, Bookseller, Elocutionist, Etc

First published in 1904, Edith Granger’s index emerged from the increasing demand for standardized bibliographic tools at the turn of the century. As the popularity of public elocution and recitation grew in schools and community centers, librarians and teachers struggled to locate specific poems within the thousands of disparate anthologies then in circulation. Granger sought to solve this by creating a massive, cross-referenced directory, which quickly became an essential utility for those curating literary programs.

The volume was designed with a strictly utilitarian ethos, emphasizing ease of access through title, author, and first-line indexes. While it lacked the aesthetic ornamentation of typical turn-of-the-century literature, its design was praised for its internal logic and comprehensive reach. Its reception among information professionals was overwhelmingly positive, establishing a standard for reference works that has been updated and republished through many subsequent editions, remaining a staple in academic and public library reference sections for decades.