The American Tract Society, a nondenominational Christian publishing house, was founded in 1825 by the merger of several small printing establishments. Believing that a very effective and inexpensive way to reach most of the world's peoples with the story of Jesus Christ is through the printed page, the Society produces Christian books, booklets, magazines, and leaflets. Each year the Society made available to prisons, hospitals, and missionary organizations free materials for their distribution. Military servicemen in seven major wars were provided Christian literature by the Society as well as the cadets at West Point who received Bibles each year.

In the 1840s, the Society began distribution of their materials through messengers, known as colporteurs. These men, preferably single, were usually ministers or seminary students who were sent out and supported by various societies. Occasionally called on to preach, their primary tasks were distribution of materials and fund raising. Financial support for the Society's ministry depended (as they do now) upon the charitable contributions of their Christian friends.