Carmen, who works in our gift shop, has compiled a list of many, if not most, of the books in our gift shop AND written a brief synopsis of each. If you're downtown during the 3RF...or anytime...we encourage you stop in and browse (as well as buy).
by Carmen Doyle
Fiction (Michael Martone)
Double-Wide-This is actually a reprint of a few
of his other volumes that went out of print.
Michael Martone- A collection of author’s notes and
bios that Martone wrote about himself. Each one is different and some
contradict themselves. It reads like Martone got bored of the standard author
bio, and decided to start making stuff up to see if anyone noticed. It has made
me read the author biography of other books a little closer.
Racing in Place- A group of essays on various topics. The essays sort of ramble onto various
topics, and can be a little hard to follow.
Miscellaneous
Remembering Grabill, Indiana- It is obvious that the author loves
Grabill. This book serves as sort of a historical tour of Grabill, and includes
many pictures of interest, such as an old newspaper or photos of families.
American Folk Art: Expressions of a
New Spirit- Pictures
of art work from the 1800s. A brief description of each piece is included.
However, without reading the descriptions, I would have found it hard to
distinguish between the sculpture and the paintings.
Done and Been: Steel
Rail Chronicles of American Hobos- This was a really interesting book. The
author first clarifies the differences between a hobo, a bum, and a tramp, and
then has some of the hobos she has met tell their story. The most interesting
parts are when the author tells her adventures riding the rails. However,
because the book is written, not told around a campfire, sometimes the author’s
prose gets irritating. A great book to just pick up and start reading anyplace.
Quest Club: the first 100 years and The Quest for Fort Wayne- These are a series of papers on a variety
of topics, including politics, stem cell research, Stradivarius violins and
prominent Fort Wayne people like Harry Baals and Hugh McCulloch.
Kids
A Trip on the Wabash and Erie Canal- This book is designed for grade
school readers, but there is so much information that older readers can find it
helpful as well. The story is about Daniel and his family leaving Toledo on
their way to settle in Fort Wayne. They use the canal to travel, and Daniel
learns about the mechanics of the canal- how long the trip takes, how locks
works, and other activities.
Before the Dinosaurs- A good start to learning about
fossils in Indiana.
Essential Atlas of Astronomy- Gorgeous photos and a ton of
information. This book could be used by anyone interested in astronomy basics-
there is more information in here than I remember learning in school.
Eyes on the Skies: 400
years of Telescopic Discovery – Beautiful photos of not just stars, but of
telescopes and planetariums. Also comes with a DVD.
*By Freedom’s Light- fictional story
about a 13 year old girl who has to decide how she feels about slavery when she
meets a slave girl her own age,
*The Civil War Book of Games, Puzzles, And
Things To Do- These games range from “secret messages” (cryptograms) to
mazes, matching, and coloring. Most of the activities would work in a car, so
if you have a long trip in front of you, this might be a way to keep the kids
entertained.
Genois Wilson, Firefighter – See the
blog post: http://historycenterfw.blogspot.com/2013/04/as-good-fire-laddie-as-many-of-boys.html
Birds of Indiana: A field guide- Organized by bird color, this book
is great for a budding ornithologist.
Trees of Indiana: A field guide- Organized by leaf shape, the small
size makes it easy to carry. Great for use outdoors!
Sports
Baseball in Fort Wayne- Images with detailed information
attached. While this book was written before the TinCaps, it still has a lot to
offer. I liked the section “Major Connections” which featured contemporary
baseball players who had played for the Wizards before making it to the Major
League.
Fort Wayne Sport History- This book is organized like a
calendar, with every day of the year (including February 29) having some Fort
Wayne sports record. If you don’t know when something happened, this book isn’t
very helpful. It does work well if you use it as a sports devotional- every day
read a new fact.
Dottie Wiltse Collins: Strikeout Queen
of the All-American Professional Baseball League- This book is excellent for anyone
wanting to learn more about women playing baseball during WWII. Dottie was an
excellent pitcher. The book also tells of her experience advising for the movie
A League of Their Own, (including the
fact that Madonna’s character catching a ball in her cap would never have
actually happened. A lot of the other baseball scenes were accurate.) A question
I did have trouble finding the answer to in this book was how women’s baseball
differed from men’s.
Opening Pitch: Professional Baseball’s
Inaugural Season, 1871-
How baseball started to evolve into the game as we know it today. Chapter 3
talks about the short lived Fort Wayne Kekiongas, and why they were short
lived. Unfortunately, the writing style made it hard for me to follow the
details. It is clear money was an important factor, but that wasn’t the only
reason. I did enjoy learning about how the dimensions of the stadiums have
changed. There are also lots of stats for the avid fan.
Indiana Sporting Life: Selections from Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History- This book is a
collection of articles that originally appeared in Traces magazine. The History Center has a small exhibit
devoted to a baseball player form Fort Wayne, Chick Stahl. One of the stories
in this book goes into greater detail of the tragedy of Chick. Baseball is not
the only sport covered- basketball, fishing, horse racing and boxing are among
the other sports covered. However, my favorite story was “A Major League
Friendship: Carl Erskine remembers Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers”.
Erskine talks about not only Jackie Robinson, but also how he got involved in
Wildcat baseball- Erskine and Jackie Robinson were both named “the Godfathers
of Wildcat Baseball”. There are even
photos of Jackie, Erskine, Bob Feller and Ted Williams with Dale McMillen,
founder of Wildcat baseball. The recent movie 42, about Jackie Robinson, makes this article a great read.
Hoosier
Leisure
50 Years Together: The Red Birds
Remember- Joe Taylor
and the Red Birds were a popular country music band from Fort Wayne for many
years. This book traces how the band got started, including how Taylor came to
record his signature song “Cowboy Auctioneer”. While the book includes a
discography, there is no music attached to it. Difficult to have a book about a
band without being able to listen to the music!
A History of Lake James-Lake James is the third largest
natural lake in Indiana. The authors’ love for the lake clearly shows in this
book. What makes the book really interesting are the illustrations- many are
old postcards sent from the lake.
Spinning through Clouds- This book is the memories of Max
Knight, who began flying at age nine in the mid 1930s. His adventures in flying
are interspersed with stories of famous pilots, and their contributions to
aviation.
Life in a 3-Ring Circus- The pictures in this book are
gorgeous- very colorful. The description of circus posters isn’t very
interesting- discussions of sizes are hard to tell in a book. The interviews
with the circus performers is very good; however, the reader is assumed to know
so much about renowned circus performers it was hard to follow. Get the book
for the artwork, and the interviews. If you have background knowledge of
circuses, this book is great. If you have only vague knowledge of prominent
circus performers, then this book isn’t very helpful.
Wolf & Dessauer: Where Fort Wayne
Shopped- On the off
chance you have no idea what Wolf & Dessauer was, this book starts with a
brief background, and then has interviews with various people who worked for
W&D’s. There is also (of course) a huge chapter on Christmas at the store.
The History Center has several of the animated figures from the store on
display during the Festival of Gingerbread.
Indiana
Living
A Swiss Community in Adams County- Photos of Berne, Indiana. Part of
the Images of America series, so the photos are good quality.
Haunted Hoosier Trails- and More Haunted Hoosier Trails- scary tales from around Indiana. The
story of the Embassy ghost even has an interview from Steve Toor, the History
Center’s event coordinator! (I’m not a fan of scary stories, so I’m happy to
know that the History Center isn’t among the haunted places in Fort Wayne)
Indiana: A new Historical Guide- A series of tours over several
portions of Indiana. If you have a car, and are looking for a tour that lasts an
entire day, this book is helpful. While some of the information is outdated,
(sadly, the Lincoln Museum is no more) there are some interesting things. I
enjoyed learning that Concordia Seminary, located not far from my house, was
designed to look like a North European village.
The Irish in Indiana- The most famous Irish place in
Indiana, Notre Dame, is only mentioned briefly, within the context of a deeper
subject. And the football team gets only ONE mention! There is interesting
information on social and economic interests of Irish from the 18th
century to the present.
Peopling Indiana: The Ethnic
Experience Every
ethnic group is covered in this book, not just the groups from Europe. The
difficulty faced by Chinese immigrants coming to Indiana isn’t a topic I had
thought of before. There are many diagrams for the serious scholar, but the
book is well written and clear enough that someone with a casual interest can
read it as well. However, there is no mention of Notre Dame!
Play the Yellow Tape- If you like Unsolved Mysteries, this book is full of descriptions of crimes
from 1854-1932 for which no explanation has been found.
Lincoln
“There I grew up”: Remembering
Abraham Lincoln’s Indiana Youth- Lincoln spent 14 years in Indiana, and
this book starts with Lincoln’s memories of IN, and then goes into memories
from the people who surrounded him while he was there, including his
stepmother, as well as his law partner (and later biographer) William Henry
Herndon. If you’re a Lincoln scholar, this book is wonderful.
*Abraham Lincoln: Portrayed in the
collections of the Indiana Historical Society- This book has wonderful
images of Lincoln; not just portraits, but also political cartoons and
paintings. Not only are there pictures, there are explanations of the role the
pictures played in the memory of Lincoln. A wonderful book for those who haven’t been
able to make it to the Indiana State Museum to see their Lincoln collection, or
for those who don’t want to look at the online Lincoln collection from the
library
The Faces of Lincoln (postcards) - These postcards feature
a wide variety of Lincoln images. My favorite was the reward poster for “THE
MURDERER of our late, beloved President” These postcards would also make great
thank you notes!
Abraham Lincoln stickers- Fun stickers are a great
way to introduce Lincoln to younger kids. Plus, they make an excellent
decoration for any patriotic occasion!
Young Lincoln: the early life of
Abraham Lincoln, 1816-1830
(DVD) - This video has interviews with historians as well as excerpts from
Lincoln’s writings.
The Life of Lincoln: Video &
Interactive group learning tool
(DVD)- a 3 disc set designed for classrooms, both school age and adult.
African-Americans
A Friendly Mission: John Candler’s
Letters from America 1853-1854-
Candler was an English Quaker who came to America on an anti-slavery mission.
The letters are written to his wife, and tell of the people he met on his
travels and how people in different areas felt about slavery. Really
interesting view of the culture of the time period
Indiana’s African-American Heritage: Essays from Black History News & Notes- The essays divided into five
general topics, and each author goes into depth about their subject. Each essay
is written by a different author, and well researched. The essays cover a
variety of areas.
Negro Theatre in America Prior to the
Civil War- Although
there isn’t much directly written about African-American theater in this time
period, the author uses mentions of theater in newspapers and other sources to
try and figure out what theater there was and where it happened. Because the
author has to rely so much on mentions of theater, not on actual sources, his
enthusiasm is sometimes annoying. Lots of information for people who want to do
further research.
A Communion of the Spirits- This book was very neat. It’s
organized by people- the author interviewed multiple people about their
memories of quilting, and what it meant to them. However, I would have
appreciated more photos of the quilts, along with descriptions of the designs
and how quilts are made- I have very little idea what a quilting frame is, for
example.
Desperate Deliverance: The Story of
African-Americans in the Civil War-Lots
of information, and well told. I really liked some of the stories of bravery
performed by the African-Americans, like the man who managed to steal a ship
and successfully pilot it to Union territory.
The Black Women of the Middle West
project- the oral
histories are very interesting, but most of the book seems to be lists for
additional research. Good for scholars seeking more information.
An Oral History of African Americans
in Grant County-
various people tell about an area of their life in Grant County. Everyone
interviewed was born in the early 1900’s and when interviewed were in their 80s
or 90s. The interviewees talk about their life when they were in their 20s and
30s, and some of the experiences they had.
African-Americans
in Fort Wayne: The First 200 Years – this book has interviews with several
elderly African-Americans about their early memories of Fort Wayne. There are a
lot of photos of African-Americans from the 1930s through the 1960s. The book
also contains information about African-American churches and the first in Fort
Wayne. The interviews are great, but it’s the photos that make this book really
worthwhile.
Native
Americans
Contested Territories: Native
Americans and non-natives in the lower Great Lakes, 1700-1850- Seven in-depth essays on various
topics related to Native Americans in the area. Great for scholars, but it can
be hard for the average person to follow. The essays that discuss Chief
Richardville is very informative, however, that essay didn’t discuss
Richardville and Métis as much as I would have liked.
Long Journey Home- Oral histories of Native Americans
from Oklahoma (The tribe was originally located in Indiana.) Really interesting
but I would have liked the fry bread recipe (not just a song and a photo.)
A Sorrowful Journey- The journals of John Shelby and
Daniel Workman are presented side by side. Both men accompanied the Shawnee on
their journey out of Ohio. The journals presented side by side can be
confusing, as some of the line spacing is off. This is a minor problem, and the
side by side presentation makes for an engrossing read.
The Lost Years: Miami Indians in
Kansas- Very informative
book about the problems encountered by the Miami Indians on the journey to
Kansas. Despite the author’s writing (It reads like a book report from a junior
high student, with sentence fragments and time confusion) there is a lot of
good information in this book. Great for kids and those wanting just a little
bit of information. Sources are given at the end of each chapter for further
investigation.
Blacksnake’s Path- This book, while fiction, goes into
depth about the life of William Wells, a white boy captured and raised by Miami.
Wells was both a Miami warrior and later a scout for Anthony Wayne. This book
goes into detail about Wells’ life among the Miami and then among white settlers.
Heart of a Warrior –This book reads like a Hollywood
movie. It focuses on the relationship between William Wells and Sweet Breeze,
Little Turtle’s daughter. Although their relationship was only a section of
William Wells’ life, it’s still worth reading. Because the book is written like
a movie, it’s easy and fun to read. One thing that would make this book better
is pictures. Guess I’ll have to wait for the movie! (Assuming a movie is ever made.)
Land of the Indians: Indiana- a good beginner book. There is a ton
of information in here, but a few spelling errors, bad pictures (the pictures
all look like someone just printed them off from their computer) and lack of citations
mean that this book is for starting scholars only. A good book to start
research, but better information can be found elsewhere.
Miami Indians of Indiana: A Persistent
People 1654-1994- This
book has a ton of information, and is well written. The history of the Miami
and the government continuing to take advantage of them is told. Also told is
the process used to try and get the Miami federal status. This book was
published in 1996, so an update or a place to get more information would be
nice.
Murder in their hearts: The Fall Creek
Massacre--This book starts
with a description of the 1824 murder of a small group of Indians, including
children, who were killed by drunken white settlers. What’s unusual about the
murder is that the murderers were tried and convicted. The book uses newspaper and
court accounts to help tell the story.
The Native Americans- History of the Native Americans in Indiana from BC to the present, and how the view of the Native Americans have changed throughout the decades.
The Native Americans- History of the Native Americans in Indiana from BC to the present, and how the view of the Native Americans have changed throughout the decades.
Northwest
Territory
Bayonets in the Wilderness: Anthony
Wayne’s Legion in the Old Northwest-
This book tells about Anthony Wayne and his campaign in what would later be
Fort Wayne. Heavily researched, and has information about William Wells and
Simon Girty. (For more on Simon Girty, check out our blog http://historycenterfw.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-look-at-simon-girty.html
)
Frontiersmen- Very entertaining book about Simon
Kenton, who traveled around the Northwest Territory (which would later become
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.) The only problem with this book is that the hefty size
(600 pages) makes it a little difficult to fit in your beach bag or on your
nightstand. Engrossing read.
President Washington’s Indian War: The
Struggle for the Old Northwest 1790-1795- The clashes between the Indians and the settlers, and
Anthony Wayne’s campaigns. Includes maps of locations mentioned, to help better
of the areas involved. The descriptions of some of the torture committed by
both sides is enough to make those with weak stomachs (and I’m one of them) a
little queasy. Don’t read while eating or before bed!
Mr. Jefferson’s Hammer: William Henry
Harrison and the origins of American Indian Policy- William Henry Harrison is probably
remembered best as “the President who made a really long inaugural speech, got
pneumonia, and died a month later.” This book tells the story of Harrison
before he became President, including his time as governor of Indiana. What I
found interesting was the reasoning behind Harrison’s stance on slavery, even
after the issue was hurting his political career.
Women
Fighting For Equality: a life of May
Wright Sewall- This
biography is of an Indiana suffragist, who with her husband started a girls’
school in Indianapolis. The aim of the school was that the girls’ studies would
be equal to the men’s. She also served as a delegate for Henry Ford’s 1915
Peace Trip, and worked with Susan B. Anthony.
Maggie Ray: World War II Air Force
Pilot-Margaret Ray
was from Fort Wayne and wanted to fly since she was ten. This book tells the
story of her learning to fly, then becoming a WASP in WWII. Her adventures
learning to fly are awesome to read about- like the time after an appendectomy
when a friend checked out a plane, not telling the people in charge at the
airport that Maggie would be coming along as a passenger. Then he let Maggie
fly the plane. The plane had troubles, but since he hadn’t told anyone he was
taking a passenger, Maggie had to wait for him to go back to the airport,
report the accident, and come back. The book was written by Maggie’s daughter,
Marsha Wright. Margaret was also featured in Tom Brokaw’s Greatest Generation because of her work in WWII. The book also has
photos throughout of Maggie. After you read this book, pick up a copy of the
DVD Wings for Maggie Ray, a
documentary film based on the life of this trailblazing woman.
Nature’s Storyteller: The Life of Gene
Stratton Porter-
Porter was one of Indiana’s most well known people. She was a well-known author
(the History Center has two books written by her, the Harvester and Mickey
O’Halloran.) She was also a conservationist, using her popularity from her
writings to encourage public interest in wildlife causes. This book focuses on
her life and her lasting influence. A fun, easy read.
Hold Fast to Dreams: The Sixty-Year
Career of an Indiana Teacher-
An autobiography of Audra Snyder Bailey, who worked as a teacher in various
capacities, from a boarding school to abroad to Milwaukee and then to Indiana. An
interesting career.
*Carole Lombard: The Hoosier Tornado- Carole
Lombard was a well-known actress in the 1930s and early 40s. Originally from
Fort Wayne, (her house is on the Bicentennial heritage Trail) she became known
as a screwball actress. This book details her life from Fort Wayne to her
tragic death during a tour to sell war bonds. Easy read, if not as fun as
watching her movies.
Pictorial
Histories
Historic Photos of Fort Wayne- Beautiful black and white photos of
Fort Wayne from 1860-1979. It’s neat to see how some places seem little changed,
and how some beautiful buildings are no longer here.
“One Shot”: World War II Photography
of John A. Bushemi- Not
just photography, this book serves as a biography of a Bushemi, photographer
during WWII, who became well-known for his photos capturing soldiers in the
Pacific. The book also tells about some the difficulties photographers faced
during the War, from being shelled to dealing with the elements. A great book for
those interested in the Pacific Theater.
Images of America: Fort Wayne, Indiana- photos of memorable Fort Wayne
scenes and events. The picture of St. Mary’s Catholic Church after the fire is
memorable, but I preferred the photos of kids at the zoo.
Images of America: New Haven- beautiful photos of New Haven. I
liked the photos of the canals and the railroads, especially reading about
railroad disasters and near disasters.
Images of Aviation: Fort Wayne
Aviation: Baer Field and Beyond-
Photos related to Fort Wayne aviation. While there are of course, many photos
of planes, some of my favorite images weren’t directly associated with flying,
like veterans housing at Baer Field or the photo of Hank Aaron’s bat, which was
in Fort Wayne as part of a publicity tour. (The picture was taken when the bat
arrived in Fort Wayne- by plane)
Headwaters Park: Fort Wayne’s Lasting
Legacy- TRF is here,
so what better time to look at Headwaters Park? The park has served many
purposes, and there are photos of many major events, including the many floodings,
and baseball photos from when League Park, home of the Fort Wayne Kekiongas,
was located in what became the park. (There’s even a photo of Babe Ruth when he
played at League Park!)
Exploring
Old and New
The Calumet Region: Indiana’s Last
Frontier- exhaustive
early history of Indiana, great for in-depth scholarship. For the casual
reader, it can be difficult to follow.
*Wabash and Erie Canal Notebook I: Allen County and Huntington County, Indiana-
History and importance of the canal to Allen and Huntington County.
Wabash and Erie Canal Notebook II:
Cass, Carroll and Tippecanoe counties-
Importance and influence of the canal in three counties. Exhaustively informative
on each county and wonderful for the canal scholar.
Wabash and Erie Canal Notebook III:
Wabash and Miami Counties-
uses official reports and stories of two important canal counties. The book
also has photographs and maps of the canals sprinkled throughout the text.
On the Heritage Trail- Chock-full of information on sites
of local historic interest in Fort Wayne. This is designed to be an
accompaniment to the Heritage Trail Guide Map, which is set up as a series of
walking tours around Fort Wayne. The History Center is no. 7 on the Central
Downtown Trail, and the Carole Lombard house is no. 32 on the West Central
Trail. ARCH is in the process of digitizing parts of the trail with QR codes,
but for those without smart phones, or who just prefer the sensory experience,
the book is awesome. (And since TRF is in full swing, this is a great time to see
how Fort Wayne started!)
Early Indiana Trails and Surveys- reprint of a 1919 book. In-depth
information on early Indiana trails. The index is helpful in finding data on
various aspects of early Indiana paths, focusing on the physical trails, and
not as much on the people as I would have liked. (For example, I found that
Aaron Burr may have stayed one night in Vallonia “during his famous conspiracy
days of 1806” but does not explain who Aaron Burr was or what his conspiracy
was)
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