The Century Book of Facts: A Library of Ready Reference Embracing History, Biography, Government, Law, Language, Literature, Invention, Science, Domestic Economy, Industry, Finance, Art, Religion, Education, Hygiene, and Useful Miscellany

The Century Book of Facts was first published at the turn of the 20th century, emerging during a golden age of single-volume reference compendiums. Designed to serve as a comprehensive home library for the average family, the work functioned as an all-encompassing resource intended to provide quick access to information across diverse fields, including government, science, and the arts, in an era before the ubiquity of digital information.

The publication was compiled and edited by a collective of scholars and editors, often remaining anonymous in the various editions published by the King-Richardson Company. It was marketed to middle-class households as a prestigious and essential tool for self-improvement and general knowledge. The book gained widespread popularity due to its accessible language and well-organized, encyclopedic format, establishing itself as a staple of American domestic reference collections for decades.