Sylvanus Stall

Born in 1847, Sylvanus Stall was an American Lutheran pastor, editor, and author. He served congregations in New York and Pennsylvania before leaving parish ministry in the late 1880s to edit The Lutheran Observer and devote more of his time to writing.

Stall is best remembered for the enormously popular What a Young Boy Ought to Know and related books, part of a wider series aimed at guiding young readers and families on health, character, and sexual knowledge. These books were unusual for their day because they addressed subjects many writers avoided, helping make him a prominent—and sometimes debated—public voice on moral and educational issues.

Alongside his books, Stall remained active in religious and publishing circles, and he continued writing well into the early 20th century. He died in 1915, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the reform-minded, instructional literature of his era.