The purpose of the Horatio Alger Digital Repository is to increase accessibility to the extensive holdings in the Northern Illinois University Libraries' Horatio Alger Collection, including short stories, poetry, letters, and manuscripts by Horatio Alger, Jr. (1832-1899). Alger was a prolific writer and a best-selling author. His moralistic stories, which appeared in books and serials, inspired many generations of children and taught them the virtues of industry, thrift, and honor. Alger's writing has often been compared to Charles Dickens for its bleak depiction of city life, the poor, and the plight of children.
To see the full-text of selected items from our collection please choose from Letters | Poems | Stories