So it's our 20th birthday...
Posted February 12th, 2014 by perryd
So, here it is, February again. KidPub has been on the web for 20 years now...no longer a teenager! Here's a bit of a repeat of a post I made last year in response to a member who asked about KidPub's history. Before that, though, I would first like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for making this site possible...without our readers and members it would be pretty pointless. KidPub is one of the oldest sites on the Internet; it's been an amazing journey from those first few posts to where we are today.
I've updated a few of the numbers, marked in [ ] below. I also should note that the book publishing side of the house, KidPub Press, has birthed a similar service for older teen and adult authors, called Bookility. KidPub Press is five this year, and we've published seveal hundred books by our great young authors.
Perry
Thanks to everyone for the birthday greetings! It's been an amazing [twenty] years...KidPub has grown from a small Linux computer in my living room with a few web pages on it to this incredible worldwide community of amazing young writers; from just a few visitors a week to over 3,000 visitors a day! I get email now from parents who were members back in the '90s and have kids who have grown up with KidPub. How crazy is that?
For readers who don't know the story of KidPub, here is the short version. Back in the mid 1990s I was working at a large computer company, Digital Equipment Corporation. One of my jobs was to do research on a brand new thing, something called the World Wide Web. I decided that the best way to figure out how it worked was to create my own web site. I had a friend whose daughter loved to write, and I made a little page to post her stories. Back then there were only 10,000 or so web sites in existence...now there are more than 200 million. I started receiving email from other kids who liked to write, asking if I would post -their- story, too. Pretty soon there were dozens, then hundreds, then THOUSANDS of stories posted from kids all over the world.
And it's just kept growing.
Like Dr. Who, there have been several versions of KidPub. The original pages looked pretty comical...I hand-drew the logo, and I didn't really know how to format a web page, so everything had a plain grey background. Stories were sent in by email, and I tried to format them as best I could before posting them. Around 2000 or so the entire site was rebuilt, and then again around 2008. There was a 'notebook' theme that we used for a couple of years, and finally what you see now was created. You can see some of the early designs on the WayBack Machine, like this one from 1998. I recall being really excited to figure out how to replace the gray background with a graphic that looked like paper!
Here's the original logo:
KidMUD, by the way, appeared for the first time a year later in 1996. The first version was destroyed by an evil player, and it was rebuilt several times. The current version was created in 2005.
This is the 'official' announcement of KidPub from February of 1995. Back in those days, we didn't have search engines like Google, and when a new web site was created, the owner would simply announce it on a Usenet newsgroup called 'comp.infosystems.www.misc'. Newsgroups were how we communicated back then, before blogs and instant messaging and such. The very first KidPub pages weren't on kidpub.com or kidpub.org, as I hadn't yet registered those domain names. I owned a small site devoted to fencing (the sword-fighting kind...I did a lot of foil fencing back then) called en-garde.com, and that's where KidPub lived for a few months. The site itself was on a small Linux server in my living room.
So here it is, the 'birth announcement' of KidPub from nearly 20 years ago...
*** From Net-Happenings Moderator ***
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: donham@en-garde.com (Perry Donham)
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.www.announce
Subject: CHILDREN: Publish stories on KidPub
Followup-To: comp.infosystems.www.misc
Date: 12 Feb 1995 10:48:12 -0800
KidPub is a place for children to publish their stories, and to
read stories published by others. Its purpose is to encourage
children to write, and to introduce them to the Internet.
<URL:http://www.en-garde.com/kidpub>
Perry Donham
http://www.en-garde.com
Finger donham@en-garde.com for PGP public key
I find it interesting that the description of KidPub I wrote 20 years ago is still exactly what KidPub is today.
KidPub is an east-coast company; we're located just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Because of the Internet, our audience is worldwide. I spend most of my day teaching computer science at a local university, but I'm never more than a few clicks away from working on this site that I love.
The server in my living room has been replaced by a rack of servers, and our book publishing business now has over 400 titles in print. KidPub was featured a few years ago in a front-page New York Times story on kids and publishing. I've seen so many great kids come through the site, and while it's always sad when they leave (and they always do), every year there's another wave of amazing writers to marvel at. It's been an incredible ride for the past 20 years and I can't wait to write the post for our 21st anniversary. And our 25th. And our 40th.
Through all those years, the one thing that has been constant is you, our members and visitors. I simply love reading all your stories, comments, arguments, posts, and everything else. I am incredibly proud of our members. Frankly, you just amaze me with your writing and the way you create KidPub in your own image. My philosophy is that kids are good people, and what I do is give you the tools to express yourself and then just step back to see what happens. It's a big, ever-changing family and every morning I wake up excited to see what you've come up with.
Thank you so much for making KidPub something special. All of you.
Perry
KidPub Authors Club members can post their own stories, comment on stories they've read, play on KidMud, enter our contests, and more! Want to join in on the fun? Joining is easy!
Lucky for her! Congrats Perry and KP! Two things that would be cool on KP but are opttional, would be A) Editing Poles B) Comments on Auto biographies. BTW, Perry, how do you feel about running this website for all these crazy, awesome, wonderful writers and kids? I mean, sometimes we can get pretty crazy (in our own, good way). Just look at author chat. Anyway, thanks so much!!!!!- Panthera tigris tigris (Grace) Something lurks in the shadows.... Beware the Black Claws! http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/black-claws-saga-book-1-shado...
Yay :D Happy birthday, KidPub!
“I’m the queen of worrying, Kris. You of all people should know that.” -RUNNING FROM THE PROGRAM
-sweet nothings-
Wow, I can't believe it's already been another year. Seems like just yesterday KidPub turned eighteen. *wipes tear* They grow up so fast. XD
Anyways, happy birthday KidPub! :D
~sometimes all it takes is a pure obsession to conjure a madman.~
Oh Wow!! This means that today marks my first KP birthday (aka I've been on KP for a full year)!!
AynonomusAngel let me wriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii -Sorry, I let my friend, Mr.MooMoo write my sig. He fell asleep. Mr.MooMoo AynonomusAngel OurSilentLove
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
And I have a suggestion:
Word count on stories and being able to subscribe to stories. Like on fanfiction.net or something. Like following a story? Because a lot of the time I read a first chapter and never see any more. One day I find that the author has completed that book. I would like to know when new chapters of books come out.
You'll have to decide for yourself. Walk on your own. Move forward. You've got a strong pair of legs, Rose. You should get up and use them~Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.
I AGREE WITH GARRETT!!!
Cool ideas,, you should also be able to friend others to see what stories or stuff they've done and if someone writes to you om Authors Note, it should tell you.
Have you ever wanted to be a real secret agent? Now you can, by joining S.T.O.R.M., a spy team of kid super-spies who protect the world from any threat. To join and add to the S.T.O.R.M. NES, please click on this link: (http://www.kidpub.com/forum3/showt
Dear KidPub,
Thank you for everything.
If you're on KidPub, then you love to write, if you love to write, then you do it a lot, if you do it a lot, then you get better, if you get better, then you don't suck! So, basically, anyone on KidPub is good at writing. -Me
again, thank you for everything :)
look dave, i can see you're really upset about this. i honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIDPUB!!!!!
I realy enjoyed writing on this site, and knowing that I have so many followers really helped!!! This site helped me know how well I can write if I put my mind to it!!!
Congratulations, KidPub, and you too, Perry!!!
I saw this earlier, but I HAD to throw in a gif. And I was on my phone earlier. So...
OMPJ HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDPUB. *huggles website*
Thank you so much, Perry, for making this site. :')
AND NOW IMMA PARTYYYYYYYYYYY
The must-have for all birthday, yearaversary and EVERYTHING gif!!!
-People just suck in general.- ~Lena
Happy Birthday KidPub (Though this has already been said)
Fave. this site!!!
You'll have to decide for yourself. Walk on your own. Move forward. You've got a strong pair of legs, Rose. You should get up and use them~Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist.
Happy birthday KP!
This month is also my yearaversary! I joined because I saw your little deal about a free book ^_^
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDPUB!!!
it's such a great website, and I hope it continues for many, many more years. :)
"be kind, for everyone you meet is engaged a great struggle." -philo of alexandria
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear KidPub! Happy Birthday to you! "Never trust and Elf!" ~Gimli, the Fellowship of the Ring
Happy birthday KP! That's awesome! :D
Guys remember last year when Kidpub became a legal adult?
Good times... good times XD
but anywho
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDPUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And even though it was used last year, I still love the Doctor Who reference.
"Something inspiring" ~Me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If mutants are freaks, that makes us the freaks of the freaks." Start reading The Outlanders: http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/outlanders-book-onered-introd...
Absolutely amazing. You started this site and company so long ago, and it's still beautiful, people still join, and you still maintain it faithfully.
Perry? From the bottom of my heart, thank you for building and maintaining this site! Every single moment I've spent on here has been wonderful. And I'm sure whatever you and the team decide to change and improve, this site will still be fantastic. <3
Small suggestion, in case it hasn't already been mentioned: I know this might sound lazy, but, it would be nice if the comment boxes and posting boxes had automatic spellcheck. I'm not sure how complicated that would be to integrate into the layout, so I understand if you can't do that right now. But, if it's possible for you to add that, it would be MUCH appreciated by us all!
~~~
"The wolf will reside for a while with the lamb, and...the lion will eat straw like the bull." —Isaiah 11:6, 7
CONGRADULATIONS, PERRY!
Thanks so much for creating this website!!!
Happy birthday, guys!!!!!
“It was a game, said his flashing eyes, a dance, a performance, and he was playing it just for her.” - The Art of Lycanthropy
Happy birthday, KidPub! Thanks Perry for putting in so much effort to run such a magnificent site!
Read the compelling Sci Fi thriller story, Degradation!
-----Harry-----
Wow, Happy Birthday KP!
Congratulations on making the best site ever, Perry, :D and thank you for creating and sharing KP with all of us young writers, even though it is probably a pain in the butt to keep up with everything. >~< ouo
Happy Birthday Kidpub, and thanks Perry! This is the most amazing website I've ever been on. ^_^ Also thanks for the Doctor Who reference. :^D
'My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations.' - Augustus Waters, The Fault in our Stars.
HAPPY BDAY KP! :D
I don't think there's much else to say, so thank you Perry. Without KP a lot of my poetry would be lost and forgotten.
"You're beautiful for spacious skies. Don't let anyone think you're not." ~ Joey Graceffa
MY STATUS: Lying in bed. I'm so lazy.
HAAAAAAAAPYYYYYYY BIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRTHDAAAAAAAYYYYYYY KKKKKKPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hehehehe. Ahem, *exaggeration*. But seriously, Happy Birthday! Again! :D So happy to see it get bigger, yet also so sad. ;-;
PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRTYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
AHEM, *exaggeration again*
"Writing is the bane of my existence, but it's thing thing I love to do most." ~Me
"Inspiration has slapped me in le face!!!" ~Me
OMPJ, it feels like just yesterday it was KP's 18th birthday! Wow! Hope this website keeps growing and becoming even better as the generations move through. :)
_______________
Think you're poor? Think you're free? Follow me! FOLLOW ME!
Wow! Thanks so much for making KP Perry. :) It makes me really happy and I don't know what I'd do with out it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDPUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, KP has been a legal adult for a whole year already :D Hoppy birdy two yew! :D
http://oi47.tinypic.com/2dhxy6b.jpg "I will make sure to keep my distance Say I love you when you're not listening And how long 'till we call this love?" --Christina Perri + Jason Mraz, Distance
Two years, actually! *throws confetti*
Hey! You! Read my Poetry! --> http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/shattering-starlight-poem-pac...
/sigh/ Ah, last-year-Meera, you were cute.
This-year-Meera wishes this website a very happy birthday!
hi if you are reading this signature you're not worthless and you deserve to live another day!! :) (also i should probably be practicing or working now loll)
Happy birthday Kidpub!!!!!!!!!!
happy birthday kidpub! i'm excited to see what's yet to come c:
-
to live is to fall asleep, to die is to awaken
i wonder why there wasn't a post. happy birthday anyway kidpub we love you. <3
so if you're a poet or if you read poems you should click
Yup. HB2U!!
I think of my enemies not as enemies, but as people who don't get me and can't handle me. -Scarlett Hunter
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KP!!!!!!!!!
I love KidPub, and I've gotten inspired so many times by everyone on here, writing their amazing books and poetry!
Keep writing everyone!
I am Gandalf. And that means me! ~ J.R.R Tolkien The Hobbit
Happy belated birthday! :D
P.S. Did you know there's someone behind you?
Yeah!! Congratz! :D Also, that Doctor Who reference ;) ~Ian 'I sometimes think I can do great things. Then I remember that my far-off relatives are butt-scratching monkeys. Then again, so is my brother'
Yeah! Kidpub! I'm so glad that we have lasted THIS long... wow... It's been really nice writing on here, Perry! And we couldn't have done it without you giving us the tools to do so. I have ment amazing people and enlightening new perspectives while on here, and I plan to continue writing on here for many, many, more years. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KP!!!!
And now, time for the obligatory anime gifs!
(Sorry, I can't change the size.)
Ok, done with that now. Have a happy Birthday, everyone!- Panthera tigris tigris (Grace) Something lurks in the shadows.... Beware the Black Claws! http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/black-claws-saga-book-1-shado...
I swear to god it was the 18th birthday a few months ago...
Oh god happy birthday kidpub <333
_________
I appreciate fine art and fine boys.
Happy Birthday KP! I joined just before the 18th birthday, It's good to still be here.
Hey! You! Read my Poetry! --> http://www.kidpub.com/book-page-or-chapter/shattering-starlight-poem-pac...
KidPub? Twenty? That's FABULOUS! ((okay I'm kind of late I'm sorry))
I know i've only been here for one year, but this one this has been simply, utterly, FANTASTIC and I can't wait to be apart of more KidPub annverseries. :3
ALSO YASS DR.WHO IT IS PERFECT.
Man, I'm really late.
But happy birthday KP and congratulations Perry!!
"Silence is the loudest scream." ~Anonymous
It just keeps on going!
Happy birthday KP!!
_______________
Think you're poor? Think you're free? Follow me! FOLLOW ME!
Happy birthday, my beauty.
ohmygosh I remember commenting on the 18th birthday post....happy birthday Kidpub :')
Yay, Kidpub! Wow, 20 years. Not many websites can say that!
Perry, I just want to thank you for never giving up on endless children who have ever published a story on KidPub. Thank you for being so encouraging and professional with all problems we may have on here. I have been on KP since 2010, and that's longer than most people have been on here for. I felt that here on KP, I could share my everlasting love of writing with people who would listen and share the love with me. A lot of my friends on here have came and went, but I am so glad and extremely thankful for finding this site on a summer day and spending the past 4 years here. I hope I can stick around for years to come.
Happy 20th Perry!
Alexa10
Happy B-Day! Much exite!
Thank you for that Dr. Who mention. And I agree with whoever said that we should be able to subscribe to stories or authors.(quick question: when does the new writing contest come out because we're still on the contest from March 2014)
Thank you so much Kidpub. Keep it up!
#onelasttime Random Hobbit Parody for Frozen scene;
Kili: Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me?
Tauriel: Can I say something even crazier?
Legolas:(walks in) No!
Happy birthday KidPub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
Yay! Happy birthday Kidpub!
~infinitywriter~
I'm procrastinating by writing this. You're procrastinating by reading this. Now we are procrastinating together. Yay us.
Come in on the harmony, guys! HAAAAPY BIRRTHDAY TOOOO KIIDDPUUUUBB, HAAAAAPY BIIIIRRRTHDAY TOOOOO KIDDPUUUUB, HAAAAPY BIIIIIIIIIIRTHDAY, DEEEAR KIIIIIIIDPUUUUB, HAAAAPYY BIIIIIRTHDAY TOOO KIIIDPUUUUUUB!
*Aims the confetti cannon*
I do not have a signature. These words do not exist.
Congrats, Perry, and thanks for making this so...interesting.
I mean, it has been pretty bizarre. But it's changed so much for me and I suppose it's been really important, both in terms of forming friendships and enabling me to be exceptionally cheesy to a large audience.
Thanks.
http://www.kidpub.com/forum3/showthread.php?t=3023
If you need a book review, or whatever, some people may have said I'm good.
Wow this is super cool. Congrats Perry! :3
Happy Birthday Kidpub, I love you so much! I was one of the kids who grew up with this site and to look back on it every now and then amazes me. I end up finding even better writers than myself. I'm proud of what it's transformed into.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KP!! Ompj, I haven't logged on in a long time, but this website still holds a special place in my heart. I have so many great things to say about this website, but I just can't form them into sentences. First off, Kidpub isn't just a website. It's a family. I remember when I first joined I was so nervous, but all the older members took me in and welcomed me to the family. I've made the most wonderful friends on this website, and it's safe to say this place has helped me grow and encouraged me to just be who I am and do what I love. This website boosted my confidence a LOT, and now I'm a much better person because of it. I'll never forget my time on kidpub. Hopefully now I'll be able to come on more often, but no matter what, this place will always be special to me, and I will always call it home.
Thank you so much for welcoming me to the family Perry :)
All it takes is a spark...
Congratulations on 20 years, Perry. This site and its members have made me so much more confident in my work and have helped shape me into the reader and writer I am today. And I have you to thank, as this site's creator. You do so much for this site and for us.
You're really increbile =-) Thank you for all you do.
I reject your reality and substitute my own!--Adam Savage
Ummmmmmmmmmmm............I'm a little late, aren't I? Well, at least i'll join the celebration next year.
Now it's 27 (I think!)
---------------------------------------------- "I'll make chapter 4 tomorrow" Famous last words