In 1824, on February 25, the Baptist General Tract Society was formed in Washington, DC. The purpose was to publish Christian Literature and Sunday School materials. Two years later the Society moved to Philadelphia. In 1841 the first colporters were appointed to distribute the literature. Out of this society came the American Baptist Historical Society (1853), The Board of Education and Publication (1888), and eventually the Publication arm was named Judson Press. The picture above is one of the first colporter wagons. ABHS had many records from the Tract Society, and shelves of books published by Judson Press and its predecessors. There are also many pictures of various colporters using horse and buggies, boats and cars.
