Guide to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Christian Education Division of Publication Records

In 1839 the General Assembly established the Board of Publications to "publish such works, permanent and periodical, as are adapted to promote sound learning and true religion." During the two decades before the reunion of the Old School and New School Assemblies, the Board worked closely with the flourishing Sunday School movement and in 1851-52 was directed by the General Assembly to publish and distribute Sunday School literature. After the reunion in 1870, the General Assembly directed that Sunday School work should be an organic part of the Board's function and charged it with three responsibilities:

1. to publish books and other literature necessary to the success of the Sunday School work;
    
2. to improve the standard of teaching in the Sunday Schools; and
    
3. to establish new Sunday Schools in destitute regions.

In 1882 the General Assembly mandated the Board to establish depositories in Chicago and St. Louis to aid in the distribution of the Board's publications. Stating in 1887 that Sunday School work was "the most important feature of the Board," the General Assembly changed the Board's title to The Board of Publication and Sabbath School Work. By 1903 the Board had developed the beginnings of a religious education program for non-English-speaking people, and by 1909 all Sunday School work had been placed under its administration. With the general reorganization of the Church's boards in 1923 the publication activities of the Board were transferred to the Board of Christian Education while its missionary and evangelistic activities were placed under the Board of National Missions.