Oklahoma Books

First published in 1960, Neil R. Johnson's The Chickasaw Rancher, Revised Edtion, tells the story of Montford T. Johnson and the mixed and intermarried Chickasaw settlements of Oklahoma (and Indian Territories). Abandoned by his father after his mother's death and then left on his own following his grandmother's passing in 1858, Johnson had control of a piece of land in the northern part of the Chickasaw Nation (and some in the Oklahoma Territory that was often occupied by the Boomers) in what is now Oklahoma.
The Chickasaw Rancher follows Montford's family and friends for the next fifty years. Neil R. Johnson (Montford's grandson) describes the work, the ranch parties, cattle rustling, gun fights, tornadoes, (the unexpected return of Montford's father after a thirty-three year absence, trips to Florida and New York City), encroachment of white settlers, the run of 1889, the hard deaths of many along the way, and the rise, the fall, and the revival of the Chickasaw Nation. (The original edition ends with Montford's death in 1896. The revised edition covers the next generation's continued expansion of the family's business ventures ending with E. B. Johnson's death in 1935).
Including more than fifty previously unavailable photographs, illustrations, and maps, (and more than 20% new material) this revised edition of The Chickasaw Rancher, edited by C. Neil Kingsley-grandson of Neil R. Johnson-is the perfect addition to any reader's collection of the history of the American West. Cover illustration based on painting done by Oklahoma City artist, Greg Burns.

This book is a most unusual account of life on the range. It describes the life of Montford Johnson, a friend of Jesse Chisholm, from around the time of the Civil War until after the land runs in Oklahoma prior to 1900.
The unique value lies in the specifics of living on the range, the daily routine of the cattle drive, and the reality of cowboy life.
Taken largely from the journal of his son, it's a story that Hollywood could use.

I'm reading this book for the second time...something that I RARELY ever do with books. It is probably my favorite book of all time!

Does anyone know if this author has published any other books?

-Julie

Children of the Dust is the best book I have ever read. I am soooo disappointed that I cannot find the book anywhere. The book is so awesome. It's romantic,emotional, moving, sensational, and fascinating. Way to go Charlile Clancy, you are an awesome poet.

Good reading for impressinable youngsters. Issues dealing with integrity, clashing cultures and a man who chooses not to take the easy way out. Inspiring.

The Choctaw Code is one of my all time favorites and was an especially liked read aloud chapter book for my fifth grade students in Atoka, Oklahoma. Readers relate to the growing beautiful friendship between Jim and the boy and the values being taught by example of the Choctaw people's way of dealing with justice and life. The story paints a picture of unselfish communication between two people of two very different cultures. I am pleased that it is back in print.

In recent years theologians and historians have come up with a new orthodoxy regarding the early Christians and their faith. It holds that Jesus was a political revolutionary who was executed as a danger to the Romans. Later on, Christians were persecuted for political, not religious, reasons by the empire. Finally, Constantine's conversion was entirely a practical act, and was in no sense genuine.

Sordi refutes all of these notions. The most reliable and believable sources for the period, he says, are the gospel accounts, and we should believe them, at least so far as the basic facts about the period are concerned. Christianity spread through acceptance of the gospel message. I must say I found this book a breath of fresh air, after having heard so much political correctness. Hopefully college professors will assign this book in addition to the other ones they have been using.

Everyone has heard of revisionists historians who have tried to downplay, minimize, and even deny the persecutions of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Marta Sorti here engages in a scholarly debate to refute those revisionists. Actual surviving evidence from the emperors, their courts, edicts, and eyewitnesses are presented along with a logical interpretation of those facts. In fact, Marta puts many of the revisionists to shame, for they do not have facts to back them up, only assumptions and criticisms.

I thoroughly recommend this book for those who want to be able to engage the revisionist at an intelligent level with the facts to back up the age old truth.

I have not had a chance to read the book yet, but I believe I will learn a great deal about the Cheyenne when I do.

People familiar with studies of the Plains Indians and their culture already know that this is the defininitive book on the Cheyennes. The details of their history, culture, and religion are fascinating. However, those just beginning to dabble in this area of study should be warned, it may be more than they are looking for right now. For example, the alliances and warfare between the Cheyenne and other tribes would be very difficult to follow if you didn't already know a little bit about who they were and how their migratory paths crossed,etc. Once you've done a fair amount of study on the subject, however, your library will not be complete without it.

The horse brought about a cultural revolution for the Kiowa

The horse brought about a cultural revolution for the Kiowa Indians enabling them to better prosper and extend their influence. It was the catalyst for the development of the Plains Indian culture, without which it would never have existed. Emerging in the seventeenth century, the horse oriented Kiowa brave literally evolved from a "half-starved skulker in the timber" to a daring buffalo hunter and valiant cavalryman. By 1790, with their new found sinew, Kiowas in confederacy with the Comanches drove the Caddos and Wichitas eastward along the Red River, taking over mastery of the Southern Plains.
The Kiowas, by Mildred P. Mayhall, published by the University of Oklahoma Press, is a topical study that systematically sets forth the cultural history of the tribe. Well written, it provides informative as well as engaging reading. She begins with a paleethnological look at the Kiowas as they emerged upon the Northern Plains out of the Yellowstone area; an Athapascan-speaking people, they had close ties in the north with the Crows and Arikaras who taught them the ways of the plains. Accordingly, they lived in the Black Hills for a number of years until they were driven out by the Dakotas about 1775. Mayhall goes on to present a proto-history of the tribe. Earliest descriptions go back to La Salle in 1682; Lewis and Clark note the earliest American descriptions of them. Then, at the Fort Gibson, on May 26, 1837, the Kiowas made their first treaty with United States government. As it turned out, American citizens were given the right to travel across the Southern Plains to and from Mexico; the Kiowas, in turn, were to be at peace with Mexico and Texas as well as the United States. In the mean time Texans "continued to drive" all Indians from the their state and historic Indian hunting grounds provoking immense enmity with the Kiowas. As it turned out, many Kiowas did not keep peace, especially with Texas, rather the "Tejannas" (Texans) became their "favorite" antagonists.
In considering the evolution of the Kiowa culture, Mayhall argues that there were no aboriginal Plains Indians prior to the arrival of the horse on the Plains; evidence shows that the Plains were not habitable in a practical manner until the introduction of the equine which became its modus vivendi. Hence the culture developed during the period of white intrusion onto the Plains. She disputes Clark Wissler's contention that the horse only "augmented" the already developing Plains culture.
Two important Indian records of the Kiowa culture were the Sett'an and Anko annual calendars. She provides a narrative interpretation of the two calendars, then narrates an extensive history of the Kiowa plains culture at its height starting in 1845. Events like the Wagon Train Massacre in 1871, Lawrie Tatum's work at the Fort Sill Reservation, and the ordeal of Satanta and Big Tree are presented in detail among other important occurrences.
She finally documents various difficulties related to Kiowa acculturation to the "white man's way" like farming and the great tension of the drift away from the glory of the Plains culture. For example on the trivial side, Satanta complained that eating corn hurt his teeth, but in a more serious light, as late as the Hoover Administration Indian Affairs was under the judicious guidance of Charles J. Rhoads who was extremely interested in Indians welfare and did much to help them.
She ends her study with a brief survey of archaeological evidence related to the Kiowa tribe. For instance, linguistic evidence directly links the Kiowas with Athapascan origins in Canada. Further evidence suggests that in the sixteenth century Indians inhabited the prairies but not the Plains.
The Kiowas, by Mildred P. Mayhall, published by University of Oklahoma Press, is a masterful study on the Kiowa Indians. Her writing style is fluid, succinct and interesting. The first part of her bibliography includes seven pages of primary source materials. The work is a systemic study of the Kiowas and is recommended for any student of the Southern Plains Indians.

Here is a superb work that is well worth reading if you're interested in FACT not fiction regarding the American Indian, in this case, the Kiowas - who were easily the fiercest, most far-ranging "horse Indians" of all the Plains Tribes ( did you know that the Kiowas resided in what is now northern Texas and southern Oklahoma, yet they raided as far south as the borders of Guatemala and Yucatan?!! ). Many of their raids and exploits were attributed to their allies, the Comanches, who were far more numerous and well-known to the Spanish, but it was definitely the Kiowa who caused the most serious destruction, loss of life, and horrific torture of captives.

Yes, this book BITES. It pulls no punches. It does not sugar-coat the pill. It does not sanitize the facts. It omitts nothing. IT IS NOT AN EXERCISE IN POLITICAL CORRECTNESS! Therefore, READ IT!
If you're sick and tired of the psuedo-history in trash literature such as "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" or the fiction-as-fact portrayals of fronteir history in motion pictures like "Dances With Wolves" and "Geronimo, An American Legend", then get this book! You'll be happy you did.
Also, pick up Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879 and Three Years Among the Comanches: The Narrative of Nelson Lee, the Texas Ranger and also Life Among the Apaches (Bison Book) as well as Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians - all of which are filled with chilling, blood-curdling FACTUAL accounts of Frontier history and the Plains Indians as they REALLY WERE.
Again, I can't say enough about this wonderful work! Get it at all costs!

Also, for further information on the Kiowa, read the superb Comanches (Pimlico Wild West) which is another in the "couldn't put it down" type of book on the subject of the AmerIndians.

Here is the last part of Aztecs' History in CHIMALPAHIN's compiling. It's followed by a precious kind of calendar by CHIMALPAHIN himself. A prime material to understand Aztecs' meaning of life. I'm waiting for the 4 other books of this exceptional collection of indigenous testimonies (Please excuse my bad English: I'm an usual French writer)

There are many "Codices" about MesoAmerica. This one is presented as a translate of primitive nahuatl compiling of Aztecs' History. An important contribution to Mexican History. The total collection counts 6 books; two are now available.

Great book, details several mining and ghost town areas in Colorado. Very well written and descriptive.

A great book on the ghost towns of this beautiful state! One of the best I've seen on the subject!

This is a review reposted from the Paperback version of Come, Wewoka:

Come Wewoka, July 6, 2008
By S. Miller "liandanson" (N.C.)

I was moved by this inspirational retelling of a historical disaster.
Once started I could not set down the poems of tragedy and conveyance of a People so oppressed and degraded. It made my heart sad to think My people (both white and native american) had brought this to pass.

Touching in its intensity the author has brought life to a past era and shared a side of the story seldom heard.

Thank you for sharing thoughts, stories and passion of an age gone by but hopefully not forgotten for its impact on humanity.

I highly recommend this book to all.
Sincerely,
Sondi Miller

One of the greatest tragedies of our American History, and of the history of our world is the abomination that led to the Trail of Tears of 1831. The devastation that occurred due to the forced relocation of entire nations from their homelands due to the greed of the American government still lingers today within the Five Civilized Tribes who were the victims of this action, and many of Edward Patterson's poetry in this dual collection deals with those after effects, and expresses the anguish, anger, and frustrations that continue to haunt his people almost 200 years later.

In addition to the poems of "Come, Wewoka,", Patterson shares much of his personal life through the prose poetry of "Diary of Medicine Flower". These poems, as personally insightful as the others, are more focused not on the impact of the Trail of Tears on his people as the life he's led and the trials and tribulations which he's faced and overcome.

This collection reflects what I believe to be poetry at its best, poetry which gives us a peek into the heart of the human soul from which we come away feeling a little more enlightened.

This is a poetry collection that every lover of great literature should find moving.

- Gregory Bernard Banks, author, reader, reviewer

In his Common & Contested Ground Ted Binnema fully describes the ecological reservoir that sustained the northern buffalo and was the focus of tribal subsistance. Here is a history of a neglected region that grows from the grassroots and hoof prints, set on a solid foundation and perceptively described. Breaking away from the river bound data of fur trade journalists, Binnema sets the record of the bands and traders properly ahorse and free to range the great adventures of the buffalo world.

As a scholar and researcher of the Northern Plains I can say without hesitation this is one of the best books to come out in years. Binnema has brought some fresh viewpoints to the complexity of northern plains history. It's refreshing to see new, good, work at a time when most authors are restating ideas that have been published to death.