Iowa Books

I like this book. I like black baseball players. Jackie Robinson is my hero, he played for the Dodgers, and was very black. I think that I will start liking Thomas Edison Alston better because of his story on page 108-09. He was a tall black man from North Carolina, I live in South Carolina so that is close to my home. I am not black though, if that matters to you. I have a learning disorder and writing this essay will help with bettering my condition. I think that if I lived in 1947-59 I would like black people better than those mean white baseball players did. I mean some of those players names I have heard before because they had strong black powers to hit the ball far, like Hank Aaron, he played in Atlanta, I live near where he played too, and my daddy watched him hit home runs very far. He was number 44.

The best daguerreotype portraits are some of the most striking photographic likenesses you'll ever see. Talk about verisimilitude: Those who posed for daguerreotypes in the last century seem about to start speaking, or to step right out of the image. The pictures are practically holographic in their three-dimensionality, and you feel you could almost reach out and touch the faces captured therein so long ago. The generally small size of the images doesn't detract from the experience; in fact, like the finest Mughal miniatures, the reverse is true. As you draw close to the frame, you find yourself entering the daguerreotype's exquisite little world. The experience is enhanced by the thought that, since daguerreotypes are positive images, the photograph before you is the only one in existence.

A daguerreotype's power is greatest when you're seeing the actual image before your eyes, of course, but the reproductions in this beautifully designed coffee-table book, many of which are reproduced in actual size, are so stunning that you're truly getting the next best thing. Here you'll find likenesses of some of the most famous figures to traipse through the 19th century -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry James, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jenny Lind, Tom Thumb, James Whistler, Dorothea Dix.

The author, Melissa Banta, a kind of curator-at-large at Harvard, was not content simply to ferret out all daguerreotypes then existing at Harvard (over 450 images, some of which are seeing the light of day for the first time here). She delved into the often compelling stories behind each image's creation, life history, and curation. In lyrically written short essays, we learn how the first daguerreotypes of the moon came into being in 1851, why Louis Agassiz had daguerreotypes taken of slaves forced to disrobe, what Harriet Beecher Stowe was thinking at the time her likeness was taken, why Asa Gray collected daguerreotypes of his fellow botanists (all images that appear here).

In short, this is a coffee-table book with substance and personality. It will serve as an excellent introduction to daguerreotypy for the layman, and a must-have compendium for the avid daguerreian. Highly recommended.

A wonderful compililation of letters from an infantryman in an Iowa regiment. Sgt Clayton was involved in actions in Missouri, Louisiana, and Alabama, including a stint as a confederate prisoner. Narrative anb pictures by Dr. Elder really rounded this book out. Clayton was an excellent writer and gives incredible insight into army life and the fighting of the civil war. Best of all you get a flavor for the general perceptions of the common soldier, the ones charged with the dirty work.

I thoroughly enjoyed this highly readable book, in fact resented any interruptions while trying to read it. Thank you, Dr. Elder!!

I read Davenport and found it to be an extremely informative and interesting book. I learned a lot about the Quad Cities and it's amazing history throughout the years. I never realized what a bustling town Davenport had been. I found the author's website as well and have found it to be just as if not more informative than his book. You may find the same. [...]

Excerpt from book's Preface:

"The discovery of inscribed tablets and elephant pipes by members of the Davenport Academy developed into one or the major controversies in the interpretation of prehistoric America. The private documents bearing upon this incredible example of nineteenth century research have never been previously published or even cited. Full disclosure provides a sordid example of amateur investigations gone awry during difficult transition to professionalism in American archaeology."

When reading of the locations Dennis goes to you feel you were in the back seat with him. He gives very vivid detail of exact places.
One place he reviewed was Manistee Michigan the Victorian Port City. the Milwaukee House was owned by Great Grandfather and Grandfather Diefenbach and we know the information was factual and interestingly portrayed.
There are many such articles that make you want to go to these byways he deplicts.

Q: What was your inspiration for writing the book?

Foremost were my grandparents, especially my grandfather, Merlyn L. McIntyre, who passed away earlier this year. He had such a love of history. He was also a pioneer and community leader in his hometown of Hemet, CA. As I was considering the life he lived, and how so much of what he did helped to form what his community would become, I became mindful of those pioneers that came before us, that we so often take for granted. So I wanted to write a bit about them, the lives they lived, and the struggles and successes they had in building a city out of a wilderness.

Q: How did you research the information for the book?

I had a good head start with many of the volumes and memorabilia I had collected on Iowa history over the years, including many published works that have since entered the public domain. Mainly, though, I worked through various libraries to collect the material I needed for the book. The Des Moines Public Library was a great help, as was the Iowa Department of Transportation's Archives. But I also spent a good amount of time looking through genealogical records and other historical artifacts available online, and worked with a number of antique dealers who specialized in Iowa historical artifacts.

Q: What will readers find interesting about the book?

Des Moines: 1845-1920 is not just a book of historical facts, but also a story about how life was truly like during Des Moines' early period. There are several good works already available about the city's history, but oftentimes so much of the flavor of a period is lost when we gloss over everyday life in our search for those "keystone events" we imagine to be the core of human experience. Instead, I wanted to show what the community of Des Moines itself was like, and how that community faced up to the history that unfolded before them as it was happening.

I also wanted to provide a bit of photographic archeology - to unearth the City of Des Moines that once was. So much of our everyday history is lost to us to make way for modern-day commercial enterprises and housing developments. And, in many cases there really isn't an opportunity to preserve that history: buildings get old, technology becomes obsolete, disasters happen and community values change over time.

The true legacy of our pioneers is not in the buildings they built, but in the character and values they fostered, and the enterprises and associations they left to their community. But if we have an opportunity to collect and preserve what's left, even if they only amount to a few documents and photos, then perhaps we can have a context to help us understand and connect with that legacy.

Q: What writing advice would you give to aspiring authors and historians?

Write about what you love, what you can connect to, and what you most relate to. But don't just sit down and write about life - go out and experience it, first, then write about what you discover; about the world, about your community and about yourself.

If you try to write just for money you will likely not achieve your goal, and if that is all you focus on you will become disappointed, perhaps enough to quit writing altogether. But if you instead write as a passion, you will find satisfaction in whatever you write about. And you just might become good enough to make some money as well.

Q: What lasting impact do you hope your book will leave?

By balancing history, nostalgia and archeology, I hope this book gives the community of Des Moines an opportunity to reflect on those who came before us. Perhaps they will find a connection to those pioneers, and come to respect and admire what they did. And, maybe a few who read this book will consider the legacy they themselves will leave behind, and will choose to pioneer a better Des Moines for future generations.

This lovely small book would be an excellent resource for any library. It was my good fortune to be a student of jewelry in 1979 with the author. My subsequent immersion in design and fabrication of many varied jewelry mediums was spurred on by my respect for Orville and his exuberance and delight in seeing the world as design possibility, and his ability to translate ideas into metal. The book is a classic and deceptively simple treatise on good design. Thanks Orville!

This is one of the most useful books I have found for educational purposes. It provides solid information, but even better it has forms /work sheets. These are located in the book (for Xeroxing) and on the CD-ROM (for printing). You can alter the forms on the computer (CD-ROM) if you need to. For teachers, or librarians who work with the Internet and database programs, this is great.

I must say that The Development, Nutrition and Management of the Young Calf is one of the best books I have ever bought. I am Dairy Science major at the University of Vermont and have always been dissapointed when trying to find factual books that pertain to the Dairy Industry. It is even harder to find books that are specific to an area like neonatal calves. Dr. Davis and Dr. Drackley have done a tremendous job detailing specific information about raising dairy calves. The authors do an excellent job describing the anatomy of the digestive system of the calf, describing energy requirements and metabolism of nutrients. Of course like any good calf book should do they talk about the importance of colostrum and saniatry housing. The book is referenced throughout, giving the reader the oppurtunity to do further more in depth reading at another time. I described this book as having the meat of multiple research papers, but as enjoyable to read as Hoard's Dairyman magazine. This book is so detailed and easy to read that a semester long college course could be esily developed from it. A Must read if your in the Dairy business!