Knowing that I use a great many of the same sources for my blog postings and living history presentations that internationally known and respected historical museums such as Greenfield Village and Colonial Williamsburg use.
That's what makes me feel good.
I will also (sometimes successfully) make the attempt to locate the source of the sources - does that make sense? - to get an even deeper understanding of a subject. And when it comes to my favorite period of the colonial era - roughly the last half of the 18th century - everyday life information can sometimes run scarce and sketchy.
Now, on the other hand, for the American Civil War, there have been thousands of books written. In fact, according to THIS source, there are over 65,000 books about the Civil War, and up to 50% of those are about Gettysburg alone! Needless to say, my Civil War library is quite large, with numerous volumes concentrating on the battles, though most of my collection deals more with life on the homefront. That's where my main interest of the 1860s lies.
But I do have an ever-growing colonial/RevWar library as well. The Revolutionary War era is a different ball of wax altogether. Books of this period tend to have a wider span, dating back to the French & Indian War of the late 1750s and early '60s or, in greater numbers, from the Stamp Act of 1765, which many agree was the strike that started the initial flicker of war, and going into the early growing pains of our Nation's founding.
Though there is plenty written about the Rev War itself, as well as of many of the individual founding fathers (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, etc), finding books about everyday life during the 18th century can prove to be much more difficult.
Interestingly, I discovered that many of the "War" books written do intertwine home life and soldier life, most likely because it wasn't just a "man's war," nor was it only fought in one general area.
As difficult as it may be, however, if one searches hard enough, these gems-of-gold books on colonial homelife can be found.
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| Here are a few of the books mentioned here that I have in my collection. I use these and others quite extensively in my research. |
I consider these the some of the best books available to guide one in recreating the colonial past.
What you see here is not even close to all the books I have in my personal library, but what I chose to include I did for a number of reasons, with first and foremost being the information given about everyday life. The other is readability; I prefer to keep the writing on a lighter scale. I mean, unless you are interested in the deep details of any one particular subject, many "heavy" books can be extremely boring.
Finally, I tried, for the most part, to list books that don't have some sort of an agenda: when researching history, the last thing I want to do is read of someone's revisionist-biased opinions presented as fact. So I attempted to stay away from that as much as I could (though there are always opinions that sneak in).
By the way, the greater majority of the reviews beneath each book were copied and pasted directly from Amazon.com. Some, however, are my own. And others may be a mixture.
So, for your reading and research pleasure, I give you a listing - with links! - of some of my very favorite books:
What you see here is not even close to all the books I have in my personal library, but what I chose to include I did for a number of reasons, with first and foremost being the information given about everyday life. The other is readability; I prefer to keep the writing on a lighter scale. I mean, unless you are interested in the deep details of any one particular subject, many "heavy" books can be extremely boring.
Finally, I tried, for the most part, to list books that don't have some sort of an agenda: when researching history, the last thing I want to do is read of someone's revisionist-biased opinions presented as fact. So I attempted to stay away from that as much as I could (though there are always opinions that sneak in).
By the way, the greater majority of the reviews beneath each book were copied and pasted directly from Amazon.com. Some, however, are my own. And others may be a mixture.
So, for your reading and research pleasure, I give you a listing - with links! - of some of my very favorite books:
Our Own Sung Fireside 1760 to 1860 by Jane C. Nylander
Perhaps my favorite of all my "go to" books, the author herein explains in great detail (by way of primary sources) everyday life during the years cited, but stays heavily in the late 18th and early 19th century. The author uses first person illustrations by way of historic documents such as journals, diaries, letters, and estate papers to describe life as lived in the average home of the period.
One of the very best "everyday life" books out there, in my opinion.
Perhaps my favorite of all my "go to" books, the author herein explains in great detail (by way of primary sources) everyday life during the years cited, but stays heavily in the late 18th and early 19th century. The author uses first person illustrations by way of historic documents such as journals, diaries, letters, and estate papers to describe life as lived in the average home of the period.
One of the very best "everyday life" books out there, in my opinion.
As Various As Their Land by Stephanie Wolf
The outstanding characteristic of 18th-century life in America was the diversity of individual experiences, observes Wolf, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Quoting from letters, diaries and other records detailing the daily lives of both men and women, Wolf traces changes in areas of life from child rearing to technology. The beginnings of consumerism and the emergence of new communities are also documented.
The outstanding characteristic of 18th-century life in America was the diversity of individual experiences, observes Wolf, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Quoting from letters, diaries and other records detailing the daily lives of both men and women, Wolf traces changes in areas of life from child rearing to technology. The beginnings of consumerism and the emergence of new communities are also documented.
Tidings From the 18th Century by Beth Gilgun
Beth Gilgun brings the mid to late 1700s to life with her entertaining and informative "letters to a friend" on the frontier. This is great for reenactors, teachers, and historic interpreters. As an accomplished seamstress and goodwife, Gilgun shares with her "friend" information on clothing for men, women and children, as well as other topics of daily life in Colonial America. Included are clear, concise instructions for constructing reproduction 18th century garments, from choosing fabric to finishing. Her chatty letters include news about current events, dyeing wool, money in the colonies, tobacco, and the latest goods available on the East Coast.
Beth Gilgun brings the mid to late 1700s to life with her entertaining and informative "letters to a friend" on the frontier. This is great for reenactors, teachers, and historic interpreters. As an accomplished seamstress and goodwife, Gilgun shares with her "friend" information on clothing for men, women and children, as well as other topics of daily life in Colonial America. Included are clear, concise instructions for constructing reproduction 18th century garments, from choosing fabric to finishing. Her chatty letters include news about current events, dyeing wool, money in the colonies, tobacco, and the latest goods available on the East Coast.
Wenches, Wives, and Servant Girls by Don Hagist
In an age when people of all races could be owned by others, newspaper advertisements provided detailed descriptions of those who absconded. These verbal images are often the only surviving information on countless thousands of common, working class people. The advertisements presented here describe females (and a few males) who were advertised in America during the era of the Revolutionary War, presenting a striking picture of the wenches, wives, and servant girls who formed a substantial but largely forgotten segment of the population in colonial America.
In an age when people of all races could be owned by others, newspaper advertisements provided detailed descriptions of those who absconded. These verbal images are often the only surviving information on countless thousands of common, working class people. The advertisements presented here describe females (and a few males) who were advertised in America during the era of the Revolutionary War, presenting a striking picture of the wenches, wives, and servant girls who formed a substantial but largely forgotten segment of the population in colonial America.
What Clothes Reveal by Linda Baumgarten
Drawing on contemporary written descriptions and on actual costumes of the period, this book analyzes what Americans in the 18th century considered fashionable and attractive and how they used clothing to assert status or to identify occupations.
Drawing on contemporary written descriptions and on actual costumes of the period, this book analyzes what Americans in the 18th century considered fashionable and attractive and how they used clothing to assert status or to identify occupations.
Eighteenth Century English as a Second Language by Cathleene HellierMost of us have no problem reading novels, plays, diaries, or newspapers from the eighteenth century. But speaking eighteenth-century English can be trickier. This series of lessons has been designed to help historical interpreters and re-enactors better understand the language of the period and sound more like the persons they portray. Lessons contain grammar, vocabulary, and conversational etiquette for all levels of society.
The American Family in the Colonial Period by Arthur W. Calhoun
First published in the early 20th century, this book contributed significantly to an understanding of the forces at work in the evolution of family institutions in the United States. The text describes the American family as a product primarily of European folkways, economic transition to modern capitalism, and its distinctive environment — a virgin continent. Exhaustive in its use of primary and secondary sources, The American Family in the Colonial Period will be invaluable to students of early American history and of interest to all who enjoy reading about America's past and its early settlers.
First published in the early 20th century, this book contributed significantly to an understanding of the forces at work in the evolution of family institutions in the United States. The text describes the American family as a product primarily of European folkways, economic transition to modern capitalism, and its distinctive environment — a virgin continent. Exhaustive in its use of primary and secondary sources, The American Family in the Colonial Period will be invaluable to students of early American history and of interest to all who enjoy reading about America's past and its early settlers.
Home Life in Colonial Days by Alice Morse Earle
Though first published over a hundred years ago, "Home Life in Colonial Days" is filled with usefulness and vitality. In her wonderfully readable narrative, Alice Morse Earle provides a fascinating description of everyday life --- the chores, the tools, the dwelling places, the foods, the sights and sounds --- that Colonial Americans knew. Though not a history of Colonial America, "Home Life in Colonial Days" contains many interesting tidbits about our country's earliest days. It also provides an excellent description of everyday life in America, with special emphasis on New England and Virginia during the 1600-1800's. As such, "Home Life in Colonial Days" would be useful not just to historians and antique collectors, but to writers, museum curators, and anyone who wants to understand Colonial America.
The Colonial Tavern by Edward Field
The material that has been used to produce these reflections from the Colonial tavern has been gleaned from many sources. The various New England town histories and newspapers have disclosed many a curious item; old diaries, letters, account books and other writings have been studiously examined and their quaint entries liberally made use of; while state, town and court records have brought to light many forgotten episodes that have gone far to make up this picture of one side of the life in New England during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Stage-Coach and Tavern Days by Alice Morse Earle
Covering travel, food, sleeping, and all other angles of tavern life during colonial times, Earle utilizes the primary sources available to her when written over a hundred years ago.
Taverns of the American Revolution by Adrian Covert
Taverns of the American Revolution is the first visual and narrative account of the American Revolution told through tales about the Colonial-era inns, taverns, and alcoholic beverages that shaped it. It is equal parts history, trivia, coffee-table book, and travel guide and reveals the crucial role these public houses played as meeting places for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and their fellow Founding Fathers in the struggle for independence.
From history buffs and those interested in colonial architecture and art to tavern goers, beer aficionados, trivia lovers, and those keen on hitting a few historic pubs on their road trip through the original thirteen colonies, this one-of-a-kind compendium is the ultimate guide to the taverns that helped spark a revolution.
The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse
Though first published over a hundred years ago, "Home Life in Colonial Days" is filled with usefulness and vitality. In her wonderfully readable narrative, Alice Morse Earle provides a fascinating description of everyday life --- the chores, the tools, the dwelling places, the foods, the sights and sounds --- that Colonial Americans knew. Though not a history of Colonial America, "Home Life in Colonial Days" contains many interesting tidbits about our country's earliest days. It also provides an excellent description of everyday life in America, with special emphasis on New England and Virginia during the 1600-1800's. As such, "Home Life in Colonial Days" would be useful not just to historians and antique collectors, but to writers, museum curators, and anyone who wants to understand Colonial America.
The Colonial Tavern by Edward Field
The material that has been used to produce these reflections from the Colonial tavern has been gleaned from many sources. The various New England town histories and newspapers have disclosed many a curious item; old diaries, letters, account books and other writings have been studiously examined and their quaint entries liberally made use of; while state, town and court records have brought to light many forgotten episodes that have gone far to make up this picture of one side of the life in New England during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Stage-Coach and Tavern Days by Alice Morse Earle
Covering travel, food, sleeping, and all other angles of tavern life during colonial times, Earle utilizes the primary sources available to her when written over a hundred years ago.
Taverns of the American Revolution by Adrian Covert
Taverns of the American Revolution is the first visual and narrative account of the American Revolution told through tales about the Colonial-era inns, taverns, and alcoholic beverages that shaped it. It is equal parts history, trivia, coffee-table book, and travel guide and reveals the crucial role these public houses played as meeting places for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and their fellow Founding Fathers in the struggle for independence.
From history buffs and those interested in colonial architecture and art to tavern goers, beer aficionados, trivia lovers, and those keen on hitting a few historic pubs on their road trip through the original thirteen colonies, this one-of-a-kind compendium is the ultimate guide to the taverns that helped spark a revolution.
The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse
This
book, a facsimile from the original printed in 1776, is a must-have for collectors of antiquarian cookbooks.
To
appreciate what Hannah Glasse's work did for cooking, it's necessary to
understand what place it had in the market of the 18th century -- it was the
book for English-speaking cooks, even in Revolutionary times as popular in the
Colonies as it was back home in England. It's a bit more in scope than a
typical modern cookbook as well, including things like beer/wine/mead recipes and
preserves that are usually in separate books today, and even an occasional home
remedy. The recipes cover much classic British Isles cooking, including Roast
Beef with Yorkshire Pudding, meat pies, Scotch Broth, and a good number of
seafood recipes.
The recipes in question don't lend themselves much to modern kitchens, unless you've got a fireplace with pothooks and a beehive oven in the chimney. But it's still enough to make you imagine, and to realize that while the techniques have changed, food hasn't changed much in two hundred years and change.
And that is what makes "A Book of Cookery" worth your hard-earned money.
The recipes in question don't lend themselves much to modern kitchens, unless you've got a fireplace with pothooks and a beehive oven in the chimney. But it's still enough to make you imagine, and to realize that while the techniques have changed, food hasn't changed much in two hundred years and change.
Now, to understand the above cookbook, might I strongly suggest A Book of Cookery by a Lady?
Authoress
Kimberly Walters spent countless hours honing her skills of period cooking by
actually practicing the art of open-hearth cooking first hand, and has also
learned, over time, how to apply not only modern measurements and decipher 250
year old directions/instructions, but to also use modern ingredients to allow
today's cook access to items a bit more easily accessible in our modern day to
replace those that may not be available any longer (or pretty hard to get). And that is what makes "A Book of Cookery" worth your hard-earned money.
To add to this Ms. Walters includes quite a bit of historical information, also
taken from original cookbooks, to allow the reader a better understanding of
the process of kitchen and even home life of the colonial period.
Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the chapter on what was seasonally available by month for such foodstuffs as meat, fish, poultry, fowl, and vegetables.
A must have for 18th century cooks!
Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the chapter on what was seasonally available by month for such foodstuffs as meat, fish, poultry, fowl, and vegetables.
A must have for 18th century cooks!
Food in Colonial and Federal America by Sandra L. Oliver
The
success of the new settlements in what is now the United States depended on
food. This book tells about the bounty that was here and how Europeans forged a
society and culture, beginning with help from the Indians and eventually
incorporating influences from African slaves. They developed regional food
habits with the food they brought with them, what they found here, and what
they traded for all around the globe. Their daily life is illuminated through descriptions
of the typical meals, holidays, and special occasions, as well as their
kitchens, cooking utensils, and cooking methods over an open hearth. Readers
will also learn how they kept healthy and how their food choices reflected
their spiritual beliefs.
Colonial: Design in the New World by David Larkin
Colonial Design explores the development of domestic design in early America by showing examples of authentic colonial architecture, interiors, and furniture. More than 200 color photos taken throughout the original 13 colonies capture the look and feel of colonial life.
Colonial Design explores the development of domestic design in early America by showing examples of authentic colonial architecture, interiors, and furniture. More than 200 color photos taken throughout the original 13 colonies capture the look and feel of colonial life.
Colonial Living by Edwin Tunis
Colonial Living is
a vigorous re-creation of 17th- and 18th-century America―of the
everyday living of those sturdy men and women who carved a way of life out of
the wilderness. In lively text and accurate drawings we see the dugouts and
wigwams of New England's first settlers and the houses they learned to build
against the cruel winters; the snug Dutch and Flemish farmhouses of New
Amsterdam; the homes of the early planters in the South which would one day be
kitchens for the houses they dreamed of building when tobacco had made them
rich.
Long research and love for his
subject gave Tunis an intimate knowledge of the details of daily living in
colonial times. He shares all with his reader―the building of houses, with
their trunnels, girts, and hand-hewn beams, the spinning of yarn and its
weaving and dyeing, the making of candles and soap, and the intricate business
of cooking on the open hearth with lug poles, cranes, bake kettles, and spits. He describes the early crops, and pictures the implements and animals used to
produce them; in detailed pictures we see again the tools and products of the
craftsmen―the blacksmith, the cooper, the miller, the joiner, and the
silversmith.
Edwin Tunis has brought the
significant past to life with consummate skill. Rich in enjoyment, rich in
information, with more than 200 drawings, his book is a warm, lively, and
authentic panorama of a lost way of life.
Everyday Life in Early America by David Freeman Hawke
In this clearly written volume, Hawke provides enlightening and colorful descriptions of early Colonial Americans and debunks many widely held assumptions about 17th century settlers. He argues that most pioneers were not young and that their families weren't much larger than present-day households. In addition, he states that adults lived longer than has been believed and that most early settlers were artisans and craftsmen with little knowledge of farming, although the wilderness soon forced them to adapt. Hawke includes entertaining discussions of what the first white Americans ate (for example, raccoon was served in New York). He also discusses how colonial Americans were punished for crimes and how they treated enslaved blacks and indentured servants.
In this clearly written volume, Hawke provides enlightening and colorful descriptions of early Colonial Americans and debunks many widely held assumptions about 17th century settlers. He argues that most pioneers were not young and that their families weren't much larger than present-day households. In addition, he states that adults lived longer than has been believed and that most early settlers were artisans and craftsmen with little knowledge of farming, although the wilderness soon forced them to adapt. Hawke includes entertaining discussions of what the first white Americans ate (for example, raccoon was served in New York). He also discusses how colonial Americans were punished for crimes and how they treated enslaved blacks and indentured servants.
Everyday Artifacts in America by Anthony Tafel
Over 280 crisp color photos reveal artifacts of early American everyday life that were useful for surveying land, building log homes, farming the land, traveling, blacksmithing, and cabinetmaking. From light paper ephemera such as land surveys and playing cards to heavy garden stones and Conestoga wagon components, they are pictured and explained. This book is ideal for all those with a passion for history or a curiosity about objects used in America in the mid-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
A Day in a Colonial Home by Della R. Prescott
Over 280 crisp color photos reveal artifacts of early American everyday life that were useful for surveying land, building log homes, farming the land, traveling, blacksmithing, and cabinetmaking. From light paper ephemera such as land surveys and playing cards to heavy garden stones and Conestoga wagon components, they are pictured and explained. This book is ideal for all those with a passion for history or a curiosity about objects used in America in the mid-eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
A Day in a Colonial Home by Della R. Prescott
Written
in 1922, this book address the problems that parents then and today both
share--how do you make history interesting for children? The Newark Museum
decided to create a living history center where children could see history in
action; out of this endeavor came A Day in a Colonial Home. It's simple
story - a day in the life - elaborates upon a normal colonial family's life and the accurately-portrayed goings on within it. Items
children might be unfamiliar with have pen illustrations, photographs and
review notes in the back to help them gain a better understanding of what a
Colonial family owned and operated.
Yes, written for the younger set, but it's a valuable source for adults as well. Remember: books for school-aged kids written a hundred years ago are quite different than those written for the same age-group today.
The American Revolution: A Mirror of a People by William Peirce Randel
Until about 1900, history as it was found in books pretty much ignored the ordinary facts about life in the past. Wars and politics and Great Men got most of the attention.
The intention of this book is to offer a sampling, in text and graphics, of what life was like in America for common folk in the period that produced the Declaration and established our Independence.
Yes, written for the younger set, but it's a valuable source for adults as well. Remember: books for school-aged kids written a hundred years ago are quite different than those written for the same age-group today.
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| A few more of the titles listed here. |
Until about 1900, history as it was found in books pretty much ignored the ordinary facts about life in the past. Wars and politics and Great Men got most of the attention.
The intention of this book is to offer a sampling, in text and graphics, of what life was like in America for common folk in the period that produced the Declaration and established our Independence.
Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer
The 18th century comes to life!
The 18th century comes to life!
Paul
Revere's midnight ride looms as an almost mythical event in American
history--yet it has been largely ignored by scholars and left to patriotic
writers and debunkers. Now one of the foremost American historians offers the
first serious look at the events of the night of April 18, 1775--what led up to
it, what really happened, and what followed--uncovering a truth far more
remarkable than the myths of tradition.
The reader will get a real feel of the times - a favorite.
Founding Fathers by K. M. Kostyal
Kostyal tells the story of the great American heroes who created the Declaration of Independence, fought the American Revolution, shaped the US Constitution--and changed the world. The era's dramatic events, from the riotous streets in Boston to the unlikely victory at Saratoga, are punctuated with lavishly illustrated biographies of the key founders--Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison--who shaped the very idea of America. An introduction and ten expertly-rendered National Geographic maps round out this ideal gift for history buff and student alike. Filled with beautiful illustrations, maps, and inspired accounts from the men and women who made America, Founding Fathers brings the birth of the new nation to light.
This book is more than just a book about the founders...it's also about the times as well that has a more well-rounded history than most of this sort.
Kostyal tells the story of the great American heroes who created the Declaration of Independence, fought the American Revolution, shaped the US Constitution--and changed the world. The era's dramatic events, from the riotous streets in Boston to the unlikely victory at Saratoga, are punctuated with lavishly illustrated biographies of the key founders--Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison--who shaped the very idea of America. An introduction and ten expertly-rendered National Geographic maps round out this ideal gift for history buff and student alike. Filled with beautiful illustrations, maps, and inspired accounts from the men and women who made America, Founding Fathers brings the birth of the new nation to light.
This book is more than just a book about the founders...it's also about the times as well that has a more well-rounded history than most of this sort.
Reporting the Revolutionary War by Todd Andrlik
For the colonists of the new world, the years of the American Revolution were a time of upheaval and rebellion. History boils it down to a few key events and has embodied it with a handful of legendary personalities. But the reality of the time was that everyday people witnessed thousands of little moments blaze into an epic conflict-for more than twenty years. Now, for the first time, experience the sparks of revolution the way the colonists did—in their very own town newspapers and broadsheets. Reporting the Revolutionary War is a stunning collection of primary sources, sprinkled with modern analysis from 37 historians. Featuring Patriot and Loyalist eyewitness accounts from newspapers printed on both sides of the Atlantic, readers will experience the revolution as it happened with the same immediacy and uncertainty of the colonists.
For the colonists of the new world, the years of the American Revolution were a time of upheaval and rebellion. History boils it down to a few key events and has embodied it with a handful of legendary personalities. But the reality of the time was that everyday people witnessed thousands of little moments blaze into an epic conflict-for more than twenty years. Now, for the first time, experience the sparks of revolution the way the colonists did—in their very own town newspapers and broadsheets. Reporting the Revolutionary War is a stunning collection of primary sources, sprinkled with modern analysis from 37 historians. Featuring Patriot and Loyalist eyewitness accounts from newspapers printed on both sides of the Atlantic, readers will experience the revolution as it happened with the same immediacy and uncertainty of the colonists.
United States Experience by Gerry and Janet Souter
This is more than a history book - - it's a museum in a book and includes replica documents of such historic items as The Quartering Act of 1774 where British Officers were allowed to quarter their troops inside private homes, an oath of allegiance for the Continental soldier to sign, a few pages from the 1775 diary of Joseph Plumb Martin, a full copy of the Declaration of Independence, colonial paper money, notes from James Madison on the content of the Bill of Rights, and a copy of the Louisiana Purchase, among so many other historic replicas of our American History.
Revolutionary Mothers by Carol Berkin
Historian Carol Berkin offers a lively account of women's various roles in the long, bloody conflict of the Rev War. Early forms of resistance included boycotting British cloth and tea as women used "their purchasing power as a political weapon." As the conflict became a war in city streets and the neighboring countryside, houses became war zones; ordinary women often served as spies, saboteurs and couriers. Camp followers (often soldiers' wives) provided logistical support (cooking, washing, sewing, nursing, finding supplies) and occasionally even fought; prostitutes kept up soldiers' sexual (and social) morale. Generals' wives, "admired while the ordinary camp followers were often scorned," accompanied their husbands in different style; they boosted morale with dinner parties and dancing. Berkin reaches out to chart the experiences of Loyalist women, Native American women, and African-American women. First-person accounts lend immediacy and freshness to a lucidly written, well-researched account that is neither a romantic version of "a quaint and harmless war" nor "an effort to stand traditional history on its head."
Faiths of our Fathers: What America's Founders Really Believed by Alf Mapp Jr.
In
The Faiths of Our Fathers, widely acclaimed historian Alf Mapp, Jr. cuts
through the historical uncertainty to accurately portray the religious beliefs (and, at times, periods of non-beliefs) of 11 of America's founding fathers, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
In
my opinion, it is a very well researched and balanced account of some of the
most famous and popular of the founding generation.
Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers & Mother in Sickness and in Health by Jeanne E. Abrams
Before the advent of modern antibiotics, one’s life could be abruptly shattered by contagion and death, and debility from infectious diseases and epidemics was commonplace for early Americans, regardless of social status. Concerns over health affected the founding fathers and their families as it did slaves, merchants, immigrants, and everyone else in North America. As both victims of illness and national leaders, the Founders occupied a unique position regarding the development of public health in America. Revolutionary Medicine refocuses the study of the lives of George and Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John and Abigail Adams, and James and Dolley Madison away from the usual lens of politics to the unique perspective of sickness, health, and medicine in their era.
Before the advent of modern antibiotics, one’s life could be abruptly shattered by contagion and death, and debility from infectious diseases and epidemics was commonplace for early Americans, regardless of social status. Concerns over health affected the founding fathers and their families as it did slaves, merchants, immigrants, and everyone else in North America. As both victims of illness and national leaders, the Founders occupied a unique position regarding the development of public health in America. Revolutionary Medicine refocuses the study of the lives of George and Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John and Abigail Adams, and James and Dolley Madison away from the usual lens of politics to the unique perspective of sickness, health, and medicine in their era.
Journal of the American Revolution 2014 by various authors
In a remarkably presented
collection of remastered articles and never-before-published essays, this
collectors print edition of the popular webzine, Journal of the American
Revolution (allthingsliberty.com), attempts to answer several lingering
questions about the most important era in American history: What was the true
start of the American Revolution? Who came up with no taxation without
representation? What role did dogs play in the war? How did the Sons of
Liberty influence the rebellion? How did news about America's independence go
viral in 1776? How did Washington's army actually cross the Delaware River? At
what moment did Washington become a politician as well as a general? How did
Washington's mastery of intelligence lead to one of the most daring attacks of
the war? What is the treatment for a scalped head or arrow wound? Was the most
hated Loyalist in America really a Patriot spy? And what about those British
soldiers?
Spanning 248 full-color pages, all
50+ articles are accompanied by high definition images portraits, maps, photos, and more including some in print for the first time ever. Todd Andrlik, Hugh T.
Harrington, Don N. Hagist and several historians and experts guide readers
through various topics with passionate, creative and smart historical study. Journal
of the American Revolution delivers impressive substance, depth and
breadth as it strives to become the leading source of information about the American
Revolution and Founding period.
Journal of the American Revolution 2015 by various authors
The Journal of the American Revolution has provided educational, peer-reviewed articles by more than 75 historians and experts on the
journal's popular website, allthingsliberty.com. The site attracts more
than 65,000 readers per month and its historical perspectives have been
featured by Time, Smithsonian, Slate and other national media. The online periodical's roster of writers includes a balance of
emerging talent and seasoned scholars, such as J. L. Bell, Benjamin L.
Carp, Thomas Fleming, Benjamin H. Irvin, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Jim
Piecuch and Ray Raphael. The Journal of the American Revolution, Annual
Volume 2015, marks the beginning of a partnership between Westholme and
the journal to provide an annual print edition of the journal's best
historical research and writing. These annual volumes are designed for
institutions, scholars, and enthusiasts alike to provide a convenient
overview of the latest research and scholarship in American Revolution
studies. The fifty articles in the 2015 edition include: "Five Myths of
Tarring and Feathering," by J. L. Bell; "Raid Across the Ice: The
British Operation to Capture Washington," by Benjamin Huggins; "Paul
Revere's Other Riders," by Ray Raphael; "A Patriot-Loyalist: Playing
Both Sides," by Todd Braisted; "William Lee & Oney Judge: A Look at
George Washington & Slavery," by Mary V. Thompson; "The Great West
Point Chain," by Hugh T. Harrington.
Note: The Journal books continue on year by year through today~
Tea in 18th Century America by Kimberly A. Walters
I must say that Ms. Walters is thorough in her research, and it is very easy to see where her passions in history lie (see also above for her "Book of Cookery By A Lady"), for this book covers just about everything anyone who would want to know about tea in 18th century America as can be told. From its history on this continent (including the Tea Tax which caused the Boston Tea Party) to its social aspects to having the correct tea items (slop bowl, tea caddy, mote spoon, and other items I was not familiar with) to 18th century recipes to even quoting account books that include an inventory on tea items owned and recipes written down by a barrister's wife from the 18th century, "Tea in 18th Century America" fills in the gaps of everyday life in that period that you may not have realized needed filling in
Ms. Walters did extensive research utilizing period newspapers, historic texts, period portraits and prints is added that immerses the reader into the Colonial American world. Included within are chapters on when colonists drank tea and instructions on how to understand 18th century recipes mentioned, as well as how to identify foods that are perfect to prepare and then eat when having your own tea party (italicized from the back cover).
Within the pages of this book is the opportunity to learn how to bring your 18th century persona to life in a different yet vivid way.
Legend & Lies: The Patriots written by David Fisher (under Bill O'Reilly)
The American Revolution was neither inevitable nor a unanimous cause. It pitted neighbors against each other, as loyalists and colonial rebels faced off for their lives and futures. These were the times that tried men's souls: no one was on stable ground and few could be trusted. Through the fascinating tales of the first Americans, Legends and Lies: The Patriots reveals the contentious arguments that turned friends into foes and the country into a warzone.
From the riots over a child's murder that led to the Boston Massacre to the suspicious return of Ben Franklin; from the Continental Army's first victory under George Washington's leadership to the little known southern Guerilla campaign of "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion, and the celebration of America's first Christmas, The Patriots recreates the amazing combination of resourcefulness, perseverance, strategy, and luck that led to this country's creation.
Heavily illustrated with spectacular artwork that brings this important history to vivid life, and told in a fast-paced, immersive narrative, The Patriots is an irresistible, adventure-packed journey back into one of the most storied moments of our nation's rich history.
How Early America Sounded by Richard C. Rath
In early America, every sound had a living, willful force at its source. Sometimes these forces were not human or even visible. In this fascinating and highly original work of cultural history, Richard Cullen Rath recreates in rich detail a world remote from our own, one in which sounds were charged with meaning and power.
From thunder and roaring waterfalls to bells and drums, natural and human-made sounds other than language were central to the lives of the inhabitants of colonial America. Rath considers the multiple soundscapes shaped by European Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans from 1600 to 1770, and particularly the methods that people used to interpret and express their beliefs about sound. In the process he shows how sound shaped identities, bonded communities, and underscored―or undermined―the power of authorities.
This book's stunning evidence of the importance of sound in early America―even among the highly literate New England Puritans―reminds us of a time before a world dominated by the visual, a young country where hearing was a more crucial part of living.
The Revolution's Last Men by Don N. Hagist
During the Civil War that threatened to tear the United States apart came the realization that only a handful of veterans of the American Revolution still survived—men who had fought the war that created the nation. Six of these men were photographed and interviewed for a book by Reverend E. B. Hillard that appeared late in 1864. Their images have captivated generations since then; but—through a combination of faded memories and the interviewer’s patriotic agenda—the biographies accompanying these amazing photographs were garbled and distorted, containing information that ranged from inaccurate to implausible. Now for the first time the military careers of these men have been researched in detail using a wide range of primary sources. The result is a new perspective on the actual service of these soldiers, from enlistment to discharge, along with new details of their relatively quiet postwar lives. The Revolution’s Last Men presents the original biographical interviews published in 1864, pension depositions and other first-hand accounts given by each man later in life, and an up-to-date biography examining each soldier’s service and discussing the inaccuracies and uncertainties of the previously published accounts. To complement the photographs taken in 1864, original drawings depict the men as they may have appeared when they were soldiers, using current research on military artifacts and material culture. While the photographs of these aged veterans continue to inspire, this book puts their service into perspective and allows these men to be appreciated for who they really were and for their great and unique service to their country.
The Domestic History of Early America by Alice Morse Earle
Author, collector, and historian Alice Morse Earle (1851–1911) was among the most important and prolific writers of her day. Between 1890 and 1904, she produced seventeen books as well as numerous articles, pamphlets, and speeches about the life, manners, customs, and material culture of colonial New England. Earle's work coincided with a surge of interest in early American history, genealogy, and antique collecting, and more than a century after the publication of her first book, her contributions still resonate with readers interested in the nation's colonial past.
Written in a style calculated to appeal to a wide readership, Earle's richly illustrated books recorded the intimate details of what she described as colonial "home life." These works reflected her belief that women had played a key historical role, helping to nurture communities by constructing households that both served and shaped their families. It was a vision that spoke eloquently to her contemporaries, who were busily creating exhibitions of early American life in museums, staging historical pageants and other forms of patriotic celebration, and furnishing their own domestic interiors.
Beneath Old Roof Trees by Abram English Brown
A different take on that first "official" battle of the American Revolution:
From the author: "While speaking on the battlefield at Lexington with tourists from the city of Philadelphia, allusion was incidentally made to other towns than those usually mentioned in this connection; whereupon I was at once politely met with the honest inquiry, What did they have to do with it?
My object in this volume is to answer that question, showing in a story-like manner the part taken by many towns in the opening events of the Revolution."
There are some very interesting "lost to history" stories herein.
The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson
From the battles at Lexington and Concord in spring 1775 to those at Trenton and Princeton in winter 1777, American militiamen and then the ragged Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable fighting force. It is a gripping saga alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between the redcoats and the rebels all the more compelling.
Full of riveting details and untold stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering. Rick Atkinson has given stirring new life to the first act of our country’s creation drama.
Colonial and Early American Lighting by Arthur H. Hayward
It's the little things that bring the past to life:
Beginning with the rushlight holders used by the earliest settlers and ranging up to the elaborate chandeliers of the Federal period, this book is a unique coverage of the fascinating story of lamps and other lighting devices in America.
The selection of lighting devices from the American Colonies begins with the "Betty" lamps which were similar in function and design to the oil, wax, and fat-burning lamps of antiquity.
Succeeding chapters range over candelabra lamps, ship lamps, whale oil lamps, wall sconces, bull's eye reading lamps, pierced tin lanterns, candle lanterns, bull's eye reading lanterns, hall lanterns, Sandwich glass candlesticks, lamps of unusual design, glass table and spark lamps, single and double burner mantle lamps, astral lamps, Luster lamps, Bennington ware, and chandeliers made of wood, iron, pewter, brass, bronze, silver, and crystal. Although the main emphasis is on the Colonial era, work up to the 1880's is considered.
This volume, containing what is probably the largest selection of antique lamps ever illustrated together before, fills a long-felt need on the part of antique collectors, designers, historians, and Americana enthusiasts for a thorough-going survey of lighting in Colonial America.
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose
Based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian Alexander Rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and deep into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed men who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all.
Rose’s thrilling narrative tells the unknown story of the Revolution–the murderous intelligence war, gunrunning and kidnapping, defectors and executioners—that has never appeared in the history books. But Washington’s Spies is also a spirited, touching account of friendship and trust, fear and betrayal, amid the dark and silent world of the spy.
The Apprentice: History, Crafts, & People at Colonial Williamsburg
This booklet was written with teenagers in mind but there is wonderful information packed inside giving an overview of the apprentices who worked in Williamsburg under masters and mistresses to learn a trade or to keep house.
As it is not a new booklet, it is not easily found, but worth the few bucks to own.
~The following are must have diaries, journals, letters, and other intimate sources:
A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
This book is a model of social history at its best. An exegesis of Ballard's diary, it recounts the life and times of this obscure Maine housewife and midwife. Using passages from the diary as a starting point for each chapter division, Ulrich, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, demonstrates how the seemingly trivial details of Ballard's daily life reflect and relate to prominent themes in the history of the early republic: the role of women in the economic life of the community, the nature of marriage and sexual relations, the scope of medical knowledge and practice. Speculating on why Ballard kept the diary as well as why her family saved it, Ulrich highlights the document's usefulness for historians.
By the way, I cannot recommend the companion video highly enough. This brings the era to life like little else I have ever seen: A Midwife's Tale docu-drama.
Diary of Mary Cooper: 1768-1773 -
Each form of historical evidence contributes to the whole of our knowledge of a past culture. The private diary, intended only for the writer's eyes, reveals personal thoughts and feelings in a way that other historical records may not. And it is in this way that we can see a time through the eyes of one who was there like no other scholarly history book can show.
This is a window to the past.
The Journal of Madame Knight 1704 -
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the culturally important original published book. Imagine...here is the diary kept in 1704 by Sarah Kemble Knight while on her hazardous journey from Boston to New York and back on horseback. It is filled with witty comments on the manner of the people she encountered, as well as the geography of early New England.
Diary of Anna Green Winslow 1771 -
A rare view of colonial life from a bright and sensitive 12 year old girl from Nova Scotia, who was sent to Boston in 1770 by her parents to be educated in Boston schools. The diary was not published until 1894 when it was issued with notes and an introduction by Alice Morse Earle.
My Dearest Friend: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams -
In 1762, John Adams penned a flirtatious note to "Miss Adorable," the 17-year-old Abigail Smith. In 1801, Abigail wrote to wish her husband John a safe journey as he headed home to Quincy after serving as president of the nation he helped create. The letters that span these nearly forty years form the most significant correspondence--and reveal one of the most intriguing and inspiring partnerships--in American history.
Everyone has their own particular tastes and style when it comes to their favorite history books. Those listed in today's post happen to be the ones I turn to and enjoy most. I have found them to be a wealth of information and each cover the different aspects of the daily lives and activities of the founding generation. It's in these books that I gain the insight that allows me to, in a sense, place myself in their time while visiting historic locations, reenact, doing genealogy, or settling down on a living room chair beneath a reading lamp. They are, in my opinion, of the "can't put this down" variety, for the authors are historians that write for the every man, and they write in a style that grabs the reader and pulls them into the world of the past.
That being said, I hope this list has helped you in your researching adventures.
Until next time, see you in time.
By the way, if you would like to see the listing (with reviews and links) to my favorite history-based movies, click here--->American History from the Movies
Note: The Journal books continue on year by year through today~
 |
| And even more favorites of mine |
I must say that Ms. Walters is thorough in her research, and it is very easy to see where her passions in history lie (see also above for her "Book of Cookery By A Lady"), for this book covers just about everything anyone who would want to know about tea in 18th century America as can be told. From its history on this continent (including the Tea Tax which caused the Boston Tea Party) to its social aspects to having the correct tea items (slop bowl, tea caddy, mote spoon, and other items I was not familiar with) to 18th century recipes to even quoting account books that include an inventory on tea items owned and recipes written down by a barrister's wife from the 18th century, "Tea in 18th Century America" fills in the gaps of everyday life in that period that you may not have realized needed filling in
Ms. Walters did extensive research utilizing period newspapers, historic texts, period portraits and prints is added that immerses the reader into the Colonial American world. Included within are chapters on when colonists drank tea and instructions on how to understand 18th century recipes mentioned, as well as how to identify foods that are perfect to prepare and then eat when having your own tea party (italicized from the back cover).
Within the pages of this book is the opportunity to learn how to bring your 18th century persona to life in a different yet vivid way.
Legend & Lies: The Patriots written by David Fisher (under Bill O'Reilly)
The American Revolution was neither inevitable nor a unanimous cause. It pitted neighbors against each other, as loyalists and colonial rebels faced off for their lives and futures. These were the times that tried men's souls: no one was on stable ground and few could be trusted. Through the fascinating tales of the first Americans, Legends and Lies: The Patriots reveals the contentious arguments that turned friends into foes and the country into a warzone.
From the riots over a child's murder that led to the Boston Massacre to the suspicious return of Ben Franklin; from the Continental Army's first victory under George Washington's leadership to the little known southern Guerilla campaign of "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion, and the celebration of America's first Christmas, The Patriots recreates the amazing combination of resourcefulness, perseverance, strategy, and luck that led to this country's creation.
Heavily illustrated with spectacular artwork that brings this important history to vivid life, and told in a fast-paced, immersive narrative, The Patriots is an irresistible, adventure-packed journey back into one of the most storied moments of our nation's rich history.
How Early America Sounded by Richard C. Rath
In early America, every sound had a living, willful force at its source. Sometimes these forces were not human or even visible. In this fascinating and highly original work of cultural history, Richard Cullen Rath recreates in rich detail a world remote from our own, one in which sounds were charged with meaning and power.
From thunder and roaring waterfalls to bells and drums, natural and human-made sounds other than language were central to the lives of the inhabitants of colonial America. Rath considers the multiple soundscapes shaped by European Americans, Native Americans, and African Americans from 1600 to 1770, and particularly the methods that people used to interpret and express their beliefs about sound. In the process he shows how sound shaped identities, bonded communities, and underscored―or undermined―the power of authorities.
This book's stunning evidence of the importance of sound in early America―even among the highly literate New England Puritans―reminds us of a time before a world dominated by the visual, a young country where hearing was a more crucial part of living.
The Revolution's Last Men by Don N. Hagist
During the Civil War that threatened to tear the United States apart came the realization that only a handful of veterans of the American Revolution still survived—men who had fought the war that created the nation. Six of these men were photographed and interviewed for a book by Reverend E. B. Hillard that appeared late in 1864. Their images have captivated generations since then; but—through a combination of faded memories and the interviewer’s patriotic agenda—the biographies accompanying these amazing photographs were garbled and distorted, containing information that ranged from inaccurate to implausible. Now for the first time the military careers of these men have been researched in detail using a wide range of primary sources. The result is a new perspective on the actual service of these soldiers, from enlistment to discharge, along with new details of their relatively quiet postwar lives. The Revolution’s Last Men presents the original biographical interviews published in 1864, pension depositions and other first-hand accounts given by each man later in life, and an up-to-date biography examining each soldier’s service and discussing the inaccuracies and uncertainties of the previously published accounts. To complement the photographs taken in 1864, original drawings depict the men as they may have appeared when they were soldiers, using current research on military artifacts and material culture. While the photographs of these aged veterans continue to inspire, this book puts their service into perspective and allows these men to be appreciated for who they really were and for their great and unique service to their country.
The Domestic History of Early America by Alice Morse Earle
Author, collector, and historian Alice Morse Earle (1851–1911) was among the most important and prolific writers of her day. Between 1890 and 1904, she produced seventeen books as well as numerous articles, pamphlets, and speeches about the life, manners, customs, and material culture of colonial New England. Earle's work coincided with a surge of interest in early American history, genealogy, and antique collecting, and more than a century after the publication of her first book, her contributions still resonate with readers interested in the nation's colonial past.
Written in a style calculated to appeal to a wide readership, Earle's richly illustrated books recorded the intimate details of what she described as colonial "home life." These works reflected her belief that women had played a key historical role, helping to nurture communities by constructing households that both served and shaped their families. It was a vision that spoke eloquently to her contemporaries, who were busily creating exhibitions of early American life in museums, staging historical pageants and other forms of patriotic celebration, and furnishing their own domestic interiors.
 |
| So, which books have you read? |
A different take on that first "official" battle of the American Revolution:
From the author: "While speaking on the battlefield at Lexington with tourists from the city of Philadelphia, allusion was incidentally made to other towns than those usually mentioned in this connection; whereupon I was at once politely met with the honest inquiry, What did they have to do with it?
My object in this volume is to answer that question, showing in a story-like manner the part taken by many towns in the opening events of the Revolution."
There are some very interesting "lost to history" stories herein.
The British Are Coming by Rick Atkinson
From the battles at Lexington and Concord in spring 1775 to those at Trenton and Princeton in winter 1777, American militiamen and then the ragged Continental Army take on the world’s most formidable fighting force. It is a gripping saga alive with astonishing characters: Henry Knox, the former bookseller with an uncanny understanding of artillery; Nathanael Greene, the blue-eyed bumpkin who becomes a brilliant battle captain; Benjamin Franklin, the self-made man who proves to be the wiliest of diplomats; George Washington, the commander in chief who learns the difficult art of leadership when the war seems all but lost. The story is also told from the British perspective, making the mortal conflict between the redcoats and the rebels all the more compelling.
Full of riveting details and untold stories, The British Are Coming is a tale of heroes and knaves, of sacrifice and blunder, of redemption and profound suffering. Rick Atkinson has given stirring new life to the first act of our country’s creation drama.
Colonial and Early American Lighting by Arthur H. Hayward
It's the little things that bring the past to life:
Beginning with the rushlight holders used by the earliest settlers and ranging up to the elaborate chandeliers of the Federal period, this book is a unique coverage of the fascinating story of lamps and other lighting devices in America.
The selection of lighting devices from the American Colonies begins with the "Betty" lamps which were similar in function and design to the oil, wax, and fat-burning lamps of antiquity.
Succeeding chapters range over candelabra lamps, ship lamps, whale oil lamps, wall sconces, bull's eye reading lamps, pierced tin lanterns, candle lanterns, bull's eye reading lanterns, hall lanterns, Sandwich glass candlesticks, lamps of unusual design, glass table and spark lamps, single and double burner mantle lamps, astral lamps, Luster lamps, Bennington ware, and chandeliers made of wood, iron, pewter, brass, bronze, silver, and crystal. Although the main emphasis is on the Colonial era, work up to the 1880's is considered.
This volume, containing what is probably the largest selection of antique lamps ever illustrated together before, fills a long-felt need on the part of antique collectors, designers, historians, and Americana enthusiasts for a thorough-going survey of lighting in Colonial America.
Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring by Alexander Rose
Based on remarkable new research, acclaimed historian Alexander Rose brings to life the true story of the spy ring that helped America win the Revolutionary War. For the first time, Rose takes us beyond the battlefront and deep into the shadowy underworld of double agents and triple crosses, covert operations and code breaking, and unmasks the courageous, flawed men who inhabited this wilderness of mirrors—including the spymaster at the heart of it all.
Rose’s thrilling narrative tells the unknown story of the Revolution–the murderous intelligence war, gunrunning and kidnapping, defectors and executioners—that has never appeared in the history books. But Washington’s Spies is also a spirited, touching account of friendship and trust, fear and betrayal, amid the dark and silent world of the spy.
The Apprentice: History, Crafts, & People at Colonial Williamsburg
This booklet was written with teenagers in mind but there is wonderful information packed inside giving an overview of the apprentices who worked in Williamsburg under masters and mistresses to learn a trade or to keep house.
As it is not a new booklet, it is not easily found, but worth the few bucks to own.
~The following are must have diaries, journals, letters, and other intimate sources:
A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard Based on Her Diary by Laurel Thatcher UlrichThis book is a model of social history at its best. An exegesis of Ballard's diary, it recounts the life and times of this obscure Maine housewife and midwife. Using passages from the diary as a starting point for each chapter division, Ulrich, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, demonstrates how the seemingly trivial details of Ballard's daily life reflect and relate to prominent themes in the history of the early republic: the role of women in the economic life of the community, the nature of marriage and sexual relations, the scope of medical knowledge and practice. Speculating on why Ballard kept the diary as well as why her family saved it, Ulrich highlights the document's usefulness for historians.
By the way, I cannot recommend the companion video highly enough. This brings the era to life like little else I have ever seen: A Midwife's Tale docu-drama.
Diary of Mary Cooper: 1768-1773 -
Each form of historical evidence contributes to the whole of our knowledge of a past culture. The private diary, intended only for the writer's eyes, reveals personal thoughts and feelings in a way that other historical records may not. And it is in this way that we can see a time through the eyes of one who was there like no other scholarly history book can show.
This is a window to the past.
The Journal of Madame Knight 1704 -
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the culturally important original published book. Imagine...here is the diary kept in 1704 by Sarah Kemble Knight while on her hazardous journey from Boston to New York and back on horseback. It is filled with witty comments on the manner of the people she encountered, as well as the geography of early New England.
Diary of Anna Green Winslow 1771 -
A rare view of colonial life from a bright and sensitive 12 year old girl from Nova Scotia, who was sent to Boston in 1770 by her parents to be educated in Boston schools. The diary was not published until 1894 when it was issued with notes and an introduction by Alice Morse Earle.
My Dearest Friend: The Letters of John and Abigail Adams -
In 1762, John Adams penned a flirtatious note to "Miss Adorable," the 17-year-old Abigail Smith. In 1801, Abigail wrote to wish her husband John a safe journey as he headed home to Quincy after serving as president of the nation he helped create. The letters that span these nearly forty years form the most significant correspondence--and reveal one of the most intriguing and inspiring partnerships--in American history.
As a pivotal player in the American
Revolution and the early republic, John had a front-row seat at critical
moments in the creation of the United States, from the drafting of the
Declaration of Independence to negotiating peace with Great Britain to serving
as the first vice president and second president under the U.S. Constitution. Separated more often than they were together during this founding era, John and
Abigail shared their lives through letters that each addressed to "My
Dearest Friend," debating ideas and commenting on current events while
attending to the concerns of raising their children (including a future
president).
Full of keen observations and
articulate commentary on world events, these letters are also remarkably
intimate. This new collection--including some letters never before
published--invites readers to experience the founding of a nation and the
partnership of two strong individuals, in their own words. This is history at
its most authentic and most engaging.
And to see John and Abigail come to life, check out this spectacular mini-series John Adams. This is my all-time favorite movie.
And to see John and Abigail come to life, check out this spectacular mini-series John Adams. This is my all-time favorite movie.
~ ~ ~
Everyone has their own particular tastes and style when it comes to their favorite history books. Those listed in today's post happen to be the ones I turn to and enjoy most. I have found them to be a wealth of information and each cover the different aspects of the daily lives and activities of the founding generation. It's in these books that I gain the insight that allows me to, in a sense, place myself in their time while visiting historic locations, reenact, doing genealogy, or settling down on a living room chair beneath a reading lamp. They are, in my opinion, of the "can't put this down" variety, for the authors are historians that write for the every man, and they write in a style that grabs the reader and pulls them into the world of the past.
That being said, I hope this list has helped you in your researching adventures.
Until next time, see you in time.
By the way, if you would like to see the listing (with reviews and links) to my favorite history-based movies, click here--->American History from the Movies
~ ~ ~
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