The antique game of Grandma’s Useful Knowledge was played by asking and answering challenging questions of the time.

McLoughlin Bros. Card Game
Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge

In the 1860’s McLoughlin Bros. produced a card game called Grandma’ Game of Useful Knowledge.  Browsing through the questions and answers found within the game will have anyone realize the 1860’s was a time of learning practical knowledge. The questions offer a perspective on household, religious, scientific, and historical beliefs of that period. It is a wonderful collectible game to catch a glimpse of life in the mid 19th century.

The game’s contents are small cards which are numbered and each displays a question. There is also a threaded seamed answer booklet which was used by the oldest player to confirm or provide the correct answers to the players.

The directions for the game instructs the dealer (the oldest) to take out fifty cards from the box, shuffle, and deal out six cards facedown to each player. Starting from the dealer’s left a player turns over a card, reads it, and tries to answer the question correctly. If they are unable to do so, the card passes to the next player until an answer can be given. If the card is passed all the way around the table and back to the dealer, the dealer then reveals the answer from the booklet based on the number of the card.

mcloughlin bros. old card game
Grandma’s Game of Useful Knowledge Cards and Booklet

There are a total of 120 question cards and the booklet containing the 120 answers. Each of these is a fascinating peek back into history. For instance, question number 106 is ‘What is paper made of?’ Today most people would answer ‘wood’. However, the correct answer to the question in the 1860’s is ‘Linen and cotton rags.’ Collectors may have fun playing the game answering the questions based on the period in which the old game was created.

Some of the questions reveal the religious importance of life during the time. There are questions asking about things in the Bible or on Christian beliefs. Examples of these are as follows:

What is the Easter day intended to commemorate?

How many books are there in the Old Testament?

How many books are there in the New Testament?

When did the deluge happen?

Then there are questions which their answers reveal a different viewpoint. Examples of these are as follows:

What is the use of lightening?  The answer in the booklet is “It cools and purifies the air.” It’s an interesting answer to say the least. One has to wonder if a person playing today would answer it correctly.

Or, what is the use of snow? The booklet answer is “It keeps the earth warm and nourishes it.” That is true but providing that answer today would seem a bit simple or strange.

Then there are questions which could make a person smile.  Like the question of ‘What are gloves made of?’ The answer is skins of kids (goat kids), lambs, does, and sometimes rats. Rats? Yuck. Would anyone provide that answer today? Would they think rat-skinned gloves? It makes a person wonder if they were warm?

Old games make interesting and whimsical collectibles. They offer collectors a unique picture into the past and a special understanding of life during the time the game was produced.

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17 Comments

  5. Hello Donald Kuemin, where did you find your game? if your ever interested in selling your game, please let me know , i’m looking to purchase more the game cards. Thank-you

    Ezra Walker

  6. looking to buy the 1860 game book like the one you have pictured above. Answer book Grandmama’s Useful Knowledge . also willing to purchase game cards from the same game

    Ezra Walker

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