Oklahoma Books

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

Kenner's book is an excellent narrative which chronicles the actual experiences of the buffalo soldiers and the white officers who served with them. The book is a pleasure to read because it goes beyond the dates and battles, opting instead to recreate their foibles and shortcomings as well as their valor and heroism. It takes a true historian to give the rest of us glimpses into such humanity.

This is an incredible social history placed on the backdrop of the west. When most people think of racial issues in the American west, they think about White settlers vs. Indians on the warpath. Dr. Kenner's book presents a different picture of the West. His book focuses on the world of white calvary officers and their "colored" soldiers. Dr. Kenner talks about issues from the fighting skill of these often forgotten African-American soldiers to interracial dating to homosexuality. This is an incredible story, that no serious historian of the west should ignore.

This book is not only about Charles Goodnight, but it is an excellent source on the history of the Panhandle, especially the settlement of the Palo Duro Canyon. You'll learn about the land, the wildlife, and the men who came to tame them both. It's an excellent biography, and should be required reading for anyone who lives within a hundred mile radius of the Palo Duro canyon.

My first indication this book existed was a chapter, entitled The Making of a Scout, that Ole Hosstail (Joe Austell Small) ran in TRUE WEST magazine back around August, 1966.

Charles Goodnight was many things in the Texas Panhandle, pioneer, ranchman, Indian fighter, homesteader, leader and all around man 'with the bark on. One of the outstanding things he did, among all his other activities, was his work with the Bison (buffalo) saving a herd but also in achieving the 'cattalo' a cross between range cattle and the bison.

This book was already 20 some years old when it crossed my trail, and though I have a good hardcover copy, it is a second printing. But no matter which copy one may have, it is definately a prime source of information and no small classic in its own right.

In September, 2007, the University of Oklahoma will publish a newer biography of Charles Goodnight by William T. Hagan. Though having much fewer pages it will no doubt be worth having on a reader's western shelf as well.

No matter what your western reading interest concerning the west, Charles Goodnight is almost a must read.

Semper Fi.

Being a shirtail relative of Charles Goodnight, Ihave been anxious to learn more of him. My mother was a Goodnight, but not a direct descendant. More like a great-great niece. Would like to here from anyone who may be related. The book is very informative. I have an early copy from about the 1940's.

Despite the perennial popularity of the American Civil War as a literary/historical subject, by comparison only small attention has been focused on the Civil War in the West - nor on the background of Cherokee Indian removal, or the varied and interesting history of the five civilized tribes in the West and their role in that same war. Truly neglected is the canvas that is the war's devastating effect on them.

Readers of the recent book "The Cherokee nation in the Civil War" by Clarissa Confer will be divided into two groups: those who never knew most of this happened, and a much smaller group who wonder if anything fresh is left to say about it. Native Americans, and most individuals with Native American heritage are, after all, antiquarians...these things are not new; so much here is familiar to them. They are astute in this rich and unique historical/ethnic area, as are so many around them. In Oklahoma state law requires one semester of Oklahoma history for high school graduation, and many college programs also require it. While school textbooks are not a scholarly treatise, they do provide substantial blocks of knowledge on these topics surrounding the Indian and the West and also the Civil War. This serves as a starting point for such an historical work.

Miss Confer narrates for us a story that is sad, rich, and absorbing. She approaches it at times as an essayist, at times in a tighter style. She writes about notable Cherokee leaders; about slaves, women, children, enlisted men, freedmen; about families and factions who participate, willingly or not, in the upset and devastation that was the Civil War as it played out in the West. She makes the point that these people and their lives must also matter to us. In other words, she does not consider mainstream white males in leadership positions to be the only actors on the historical stage. She insists that we look to the story of minorities of all stripes; to the little people history books so often ignore. Because of this viewpoint that is all encompassing and humane, she accomplishes an historiography that is new and significant. I wished it had been longer and perhaps fuller, but I admired it.

The bibliography of Clerissa Confer's book nearly duplicates that of so many pioneering histories of this region of the 19th century West, but with different results. Obviously she has been tireless in consulting the extensive original sources at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, the Western History collections at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and the Oklahoma State Historical Society. Anyone who enjoys Civil War, Western, or Indian/Cherokee history will be enriched by Miss Confer's book and will surely want to add it to their collection.

The book is well written, and readable. The research is amazing ,scholarly and accurate. We don't offen see Native Americans portrayed that honestly, or thouroughly. Very different from the Hollywood
verison.

A well researched and beautifully written account of a time in history that usually finds its focus elsewhere. The devastating effects the Civil War had on our Native Nations is sadly overlooked in our study of American History. Ms. Confer does an outstanding job of bringing it to life for us in an interesting and readable work. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from her.

For anyone unfamiliar with the Ol' time cattle drives, this book does a wonderful job enlightening from the point of view of the Ol' Cowboy Cook. I recommend this title to any reader interested in cattle drives

This book is highly recommended for those who follow the arcane art of chuckwagon cooking. Adams displays an excellent, first-hand grasp of the subject and writes with wit and style. Buy it now!

Ramon Adams has an encyclopedic knowledge of the social life of cowboys on the range. In this one of his many books, he describes the role of the chuck wagon cook on the cattle drives and roundups. Adams is a great collector of amusing stories and colorful cowboy slang. If he knows one word for something, he probably knows half a dozen.

The book provides a detailed description of the chuck wagon itself, how it's constructed and its contents organized, how it's cleaned and maintained, who has responsibilities for what. The chuck wagon was both the nerve center and social center of a trail outfit. Besides getting three meals a day, the cowboys also laid out their bedrolls nearby, and the wrangler's remuda of horses was close at hand. In many cases, the cowboys' bedrolls made the trip to the next night's camp in the back of the chuck wagon.

Of most interest to this reader was the actual fare, typically fried meat, beans cooked for many hours, and sourdough biscuits made in Dutch ovens, all washed down with strong coffee. Depending on the talent and disposition of the cook there were also treats and "sweets," such as pies made from dried apples. An outfit depended for morale and productivity on a cook who kept the men well fed and happy. This gave a well-liked cook a tremendous amount of leverage in the all-male hierarchy of tough cowboys. A man who complained about the chuck or didn't respect the cook's camp rules would soon be sorry.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and while I've read extensively about the cowboy West, it taught me a lot I didn't know, and in a very entertaining way. It belongs on anyone's "Lonesome Dove" bookshelf.

What a lovely story of such beautiful times in American culture. Paul you must feel especially blessed that your grandmother captured this portion of your heritage for you to share with your grandchildren. I was fortunate to have a kind neighbor here in Cypress Village, my Florida retirement community, that let me borrow this book. I look forward to vacationing in Tulsa so that I may feel some of the true magic of Oklahoma. This author took me in from page one as if she yelled out "Come in This House right now, its where you belong." Do yourself a favor and read this book. Thank you Helen.

My Grandmother wrote this book and it is great. A true
story of the hardships in Oklahoma- Paul

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I've passed it all around the nursing home and it has become a favorite among me and my girlfriends. We sometimes have weekly meetings discussing the pro's and con's of living among a rural community in Northern Oklahoma, and this very book is usually the center of our attention. I've both laughed and cried when reading and the unusual scenerios really hit home. Way to go Helen!

For those out there who still refuse to put anything nylon on yer hoss - this is the book for you. In an age when "horse whisperers" dominate the public's view on training their mounts, it's good to still pay attention to the wisdom and insight passed on by men who rode for a living, day in and day out, on green mounts in rough country. Also includes sections on handling a herd, packing, campfire cooking, leather work, saddles, tack, early rodeo, and a few long-forgotten loops for those of you who think you know how to throw a rope! True buckaroos as well as greenhorns will love this book.

This book is like a desktop encyclopedia devoted to nearly everything about the modern-day (1950s) working cowboy. As John Erickson, himself a working cowboy and writer, notes in his foreword, Ward has left us a treasure trove of cowboy know-how mostly passed on by word of mouth and that would have been lost without Ward's writing it down and illustrating it with his meticulous drawings.

There's a bit of history everywhere, as Ward traces the evolution of practices that mark the cowboy work of his day, but mostly he sticks with what he knows from what seems to be first-hand experience - how to braid leather, shoe a horse, throw a rope, make a bed roll. Chapters are devoted to varieties of equipment and cowboy gear. The detail is often amazing, for instance eight full pages devoted to descriptions of 134 different earmarks used in the branding of cattle. And for the noncowboys among readers, there are many little-known facts, like when and why to shoe only the back hooves of horses and why chaps are held together in front by a string instead of a belt.

The volume of information in the book is leavened by the author's conversational style and dry humor. There's a barely suppressed grin in his description of how to pull a cow from a bog, and in describing a pair of fancy chaps he remarks, "Chaps like these make a hundred-dollar bill look like thirty cents if you're going to buy 'em." Thanks to the University of Oklahoma Press for keeping this fine book in print.

TO GOOD TO BE TRUE IF YOU ENJOY COWBOYS THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YO

William Savage is disturbed over the cowboy myth that has developed, especially in the last half-century or so. Depicting cowboys as gun-toting toughs, heroic, ever-free men of the range living extremely exciting and envious lives, is a lot of bunk according to Savage. Actually cowboys were often unsavory characters, often uneducated, unable to gain employment in other occupations, who had the ability to ride a horse decently and for many hours at a stretch. Although they were expected to be brave and resourceful, they were rarely heroic, and usually spent most of their time performing deadly dull chores for very little pay. In this book, Savage collects 13 excerpts from cowboy reminiscences (for the most part), published between 1874 and 1906 that show real cowboys in real settings doing real cowboy work.

The longest and perhaps best is from a book published by the National Live Stock Historical Association in 1905 that is already weary of the myth that had developed about the cowboy and tried to describe this man, from his dress to his manner to his duties, as authentically as possible. Compared to what is often depicted in movies and commercials (The Marlboro Man) and western fiction, it presents quite a different picture. Other authors represented are Charlie Siringo, W.S. James, and Andy Adams. For the second edition, Savage wrote a heated Afterward where he condemns the continuance of the mythmaking at the expense of honest history. Those wanting a realistic look at the life of cowboys should look into this book.

Each chapter in this book is the account of what men who were either cowboys, ranchers, reporters, etc. observed and thought about cowboy life. It is a good book and interesting.

This is a collection of writings from the 19th and early 20th centuries about cowboys and cattle drives during the "Lonesome Dove" years after the Civil War. The book includes a large selection of full-page monochrome photographs of working cowboys, dating back to the 1880s.

Readers can trace the emergence of the cowboy as mythic figure, from his origins as a wild, unsavory character often regarded as a public menace in the frontier towns for his hard drinking and shoot-em-up antics. Readers will learn a great deal about the hard work and dangers of cowboying. And you get a sense of how cowboys on the range (most of them very young) were an elite fraternity of workmen, with specialized skills and a code of behavior that stoically honored bravery, while spending lavishly on saddles and the latest fashions in trail-wear. You also get a sense of how brief this period of history actually was, as the frontier swiftly moved westward and open rangeland was fenced in.

My favorite selections in the book are accounts by the cowboys themselves, describing the day-to-day routines and the occasional adventures of life on the trail. Among these is an excerpt from cowboy author, Andy Adams, whose "Log of a Cowboy" is a classic of Western literature. The editor of the collection, William W. Savage, Jr., who holds a PhD from the University of Oklahoma, has written an informative introduction based on what seems to be considerable familiarity with the subject of the American West.

This book is the inspiring story of the last surviving Ziegfeld Girl. The fabulous centenarian Doris Eaton Travis takes us on an amazing journey through the ups and downs of one family - members of which just happened to be stage performers. While several of Ms. Travis' siblings met tragic ends, she persevered - through her glorious Ziegfeld years, the sad days of the Great Depression, her loving second marriage, and her bittersweet (and ultimately disenchanting) relationship with Arthur Murray of dance studio fame. Nostalgic yet never melodramatic, Doris Eaton Travis' writing is fresh and upbeat. I was moved to tears at the end - not from sadness, but rather from awe at this magnificent woman with the indomitable spirit! I only wish I had the priviledge of knowing this lovely woman. A truly wonderful read - I simply can't praise this book enough!

I actually had the honor of interviewing Doris Eaton Travis last fall for my college English class... and I was definately honored when she gave me a copy of her book and autographed it for me... I read it right away and absolutely loved it! She is an amazing woman and has lead and incredible life which she tells about in her book. At age 99, she is still going strong and is as busy as ever! I loved meeting and interviewing her and definately loved this book! I recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Doris Eaton Travis, at age 99, looks back at a full life, the early part of which is a valuable, firsthand portrait of early 20th Century entertainment, when vaudeville and the stage was still a central part of pop culture. Her frank appraisal of the rough road even successful performers would face as times changed is certainly an antidote to nostalgic ruminations about that long gone era! Highly recommended.

Robin Robertson is and absolutely amazing poet!! I loved both his collections SO much!! Anyone who hasn't read 'A painted field' or 'slow air' should definitely buy them!! They are well worth it!!

I came across this Scottish poet at a literary festival in Montreal and was completely blown away by his reading. Once I read A Painted Field, I realised that this was one of the most powerful new voices I've read - from either side of the Atlantic. His writing is taut, sensuous, beautifully imagined and often incredibly moving. He seems able to move from the terrifyingly visceral to the heartbreakingly lyrical with complete ease and confidence. Extraordinary stuff.

Rarely does one find the magisterial artistic command so evident in this book in any poetry collection--let alone in the first collection of a "new" poet. Robertson is no joke: not even the initial reviews on this website (glowing as they are) can do him anything like justice. Here appear poems that require reading, and that don't stand much discussion. That (for me) is what real works of art are like: they want to conjure up not ideas about the thing, but the thing itself.

I can't wait for the next book from this man. This is, by a very long shot, the best thing I've read in a while--in any discipline.

Rep Charles Key really steps up to the plate while investigating the controversial Oklahoma City Bombing. He throughly looks at all aspects and possibilities as to how the bombing could have taken place. He has many official documents to back up all of the text in the book. It is a thorough look at OKC through the eyes of a group of individuals who just want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They did this for the victims and I think they did a wonderful job. Great job Charles!

If you want to know the truth about the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, this is the source. The author was one of the eminently qualified people who pursued the study of the bombing and produced this book. It is well researched, well written, and quotes research by many extremely well qualified individuals, including several eyewitnesses and victims of the bombing. The only qualification I would add is that it comprises 364 pages of fine print, with an additional 184 pages of pictures and supporting documentation.

You have not read the complete story until you've read this. The "official version" is nothing like this.

This 556-page volume raises extremely important questions about the first major terrorist attack on U.S. shores, which was unfortunately not the last.

In hindsight, some observers wonder whether the devastating 1995 attack was both precursor and connected to the Sept. 11, 2002 attacks on New York and Washington which took more than 3,000 lives.

This research--conducted by the Oklahoma Bombing Investigation Committee, and funded by private citizens--raises many unsettling questions.

For starters it provides clear evidence that U.S. Federal authorities never found all of the perpetrators of the Oklahoma City attack, that they did not pursue every lead, and that they did not utilize all available physical evidence. Substantial evidence surfaced that dozens of crucial eyewitnesses were neither interviewed nor called at federal trials.

In October 1995, Oklahoma State Representative Charles Key petitioned the District Court of Oklahoma County for a Grand jury to be formed to investigate the bombing. His petition was denied in February 1997.

Nevertheless, an FBI agent swore in an affidavit included in this volume that Abraham Abdallah Ahmed, a Jordanian-born naturalized U.S. citizen detained by American Airlines security personnel in Chicago on April 19, 1995 met the description of one of the male suspects seen running from the scene of the bombing. Ahmed flew from Oklahoma City to Chicago after the bombing. The FBI man further swore that Ahmed's luggage, which continued to Rome, contained several car radios, substantial amounts of shielded and unshielded wire, a small tool kit and other tools. While these could be used for everyday work, they were also "consistent with use" for "explosive devices." Ahmed was requested to appear before a Grand Jury, but had fled.

The Grand Jury indicted Timothy McVeigh, along with "others unknown." Composites of two "others," each called "John Doe," are shown here. They were never found.

In addition, actual evidence from terrorist attacks in Columbia in 1989, Saudi Arabia and Lima Peru in 1996 proved that a car bomb alone could not destroy reinforced concrete supports like those in the Alfred P. Murrah building. Chemical and electrical engineers, physicists and a U.S. Brigadier General all concurred that the damage to the Murrah Building on April 19, 1995 could not be ascribed to a single truck bomb containing 4,800 pounds of ammonium nitrate fuel oil.

A former military man at the scene on April 19 to search for victims witnessed fire department teams removing two devices that were placed in bomb disposal units. These were described as "military olive drab in color," the size of "round, five-gallon drums, with black lettering designating the contents as fulminated mercury," a high grade explosive. He saw mercury switches on devices which he recognized as detonators.

Had complete work been done in 1995, might 2001 have been prevented?

Read this book, and weep for the victims of both heinous attacks.

--Alyssa A. Lappen