Christmas With Mary Alice Jones

Dr. Mary Alice Jones (June 23, 1898 - September 23, 1980) was a lecturer, teacher, and the author of dozens of books for children about the Bible, Jesus Christ, prayer, God...and Christmas which sold over 20 million copies and were translated into multiple languages. She held masters' and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University and Yale University and was a widely respected consultant for Christian children's education.

"Stories of The Christ Child" by Mary Alice Jones. Illustrations by Eleanor Corwin.
Published by Rand McNally & Co., 1953

Some of Dr. Jones' credentials that were usually published on the back covers of her books. 

She is best remembered today for her "Tell Me About..." series which began in 1943 while she was the children's religious editor for Rand McNally beginning in 1945. Many online sources do not have a complete biography of Miss Jones and creating one has been a goal of mine for some time. This year would have been her 120th birthday, and the 75th anniversary of her first children's book Tell Me About God, so now may be a special time to reintroduce her work online.

To research the life of Mary Alice Jones, I have built a small but growing collection of her works.
Some of Jones' books were made into audio-visual aids for school, home and church use. I was fortunate to have purchased a super-rare A/V filmstrip & LP record version of her book "Tell Me About Christmas".

Very rare cover box for the filmstrip and 33 R.P.M record for Mary Alice Jones' "Tell Me About Christmas". 

I am interested in learning more about Jones' work in radio and instructional technology, (a woman as educated as her has to have an archival collection out there) and there will be more writings about her to come.

Welcome to the Christmas Library 2018!

"Jack and Judy in Bibleland", December 24, 1948. Nationally published comic strip by Robert Acomb

About five years ago I read an interesting news article from 1994 about an all too obvious truth about broadcast media during the Christmas season. That scarcely any of the many Christmas specials on television acknowledge the birth of Christ as central to the meaning of Christmas. So with that in mind, I began researching radio and TV specials that focus on the Birth of Christ, compiling a list of media from television, radio, home video and even exciting programs from the Golden Age of Radio.

To find wonderful radio and TV special the acknowledge Jesus and the reason for the season, please visit the updated Christmas Library Guide, for the best in radio, television and film. This page will be updated daily.

Every December I have tried to post fun research finds related under the banner of the "Christmas Library" and hope to be more fruitful in December 2018. There will be posts on comic strips, music, instructional technology, radio and television ministries, and so much more to show many ways to tell the tidings of great joy of the birth Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, to find wonderful stories that give the reason for the season, please check out the revised Christmas Library Guide, and recheck it often for updates.