Pennsylvania Books

If you are looking for an honest, well done rating of the Presidents, then this book is the one for you. Blessing and Murray look at all the accomplishment of the Presidents and rates them without bias.

Greatness in the White House by Drs. Blessing and Murray may be a bit outdated, but is worth the read to get an idea about how historians view Presidents and how they rank them. Explores factors in how Presidents are ranked by historians based upon where the professors studied, gender, area of expertise, etc.

I recently read this book and it is an excellent book about the history of Greensburg PA. Its told through alot of pictures of postcards with well written documentary underneath them. For anyone who is a history buff this is a must read!

Growing Up In The Valley: A Memoir by George R. Holmes (Professor at the University of South Carolina School Of Medicine) is the nonchalant catalogue of a childhood growing up the youngest of four brothers in an Irish immigrant family in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a steel and coal-mining town crisscrossed with immigrants from a wide variety of origins. From the repercussions of World War II, to church, to coping with high school, Growing Up In The Valley paints an impressionable portrait of daily life half a century ago. An immersive experience of comradeship, family ties, charm, and irrepressible fondness for America's 40's and 50's.

The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place Where Time Stood Still presents the remarkable true story of Gruber Wagon Works, once a bustling business in the late 19th and early 20th century, later christened a National Historic Landmark long after it manufactured its last wagon in 1956. Now open to the public, Gruber Wagon Works reveals how wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and painters once worked together well prior to the heavily mechanized modern era, and offers insight into the evolution of manufacturing. Black-and-white photographs, some up to or more than a century old, and a detailed text tour through history distinguish this fascinating coffee table guide, which is surely the next best thing to traveling to the Berks County Heritage Center of Pennsylvania and beholding the Gruber Wagon Works in person.

one of the most powerful accounts about violence and war in Central America. The author's extensive interviews with key military officers give shocking evidence about the scope of the civil war in Guatemala. A must read for human rights scholars and activists !

This book starts with a brief introduction about Philadelphia before and during the U.S. Civil War. In 1860, Philadelphia was the second largest city in the country with over half a million people. Its population was increasing as many immigrants arrived and moved to neighborhoods along the edges of the city. There were businesses everywhere, especially in textiles, and the railroads covered so much of the city that they were a safety concern. The book addresses a little of what that time was like, but its main purpose is to describe sites associated with the war.

There are 15-20 sites described per chapter, with chapters ranging from the Abolition movement to libraries to vanished Civil War sites. I picked up this book because I was researching some Philadelphia ancestors who lived in the city during the Civil War and I wanted to know more about some of the resources available for researching that period. For this reason, I found the chapters on libraries and cemeteries to be more interesting. Over 20 museums, libraries, and historical societies are described, including lesser known places such as the Civil War Library and Museum on Pine St. and the Grand Army of the Republic Civil War Museum and Library. There are examples of regimental histories, biographies, manuscript collections, etc. that you can find at these locations. Descriptions for 18 cemeteries are also provided, with Laurel Hill and Woodlands receiving the most attention. Information includes famous Civil War military people who are buried there.

The appendix has some interesting lists, including companies that had government contracts, military hospitals that existed between 1861-1865, Civil War manuscript collections that can be found at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Chester County Historical Society, and a list of Philadelphia shipyards with their specific vessels and launch dates. Also, the book provides over 70 black & white photos.

Overall, this is a nice introductory guidebook. It's especially useful if you're looking to take some day trips of Civil War sites or cemeteries, and you're a historian or a genealogist. It's not for the casual tourist. Also, if you're just starting to do some research on Philadelphia history/genealogy during that period, then this book can give you a general idea of where to find some things.

This is an excellent book, gathering first-hand narratives from many souces, quite a few of which are unavailable to most of us. I would have appreciated some editorial comment to pull things together. Also, in the softbound copy, some of the maps cover two pages and, unfortunately, some of the crucial action is in the very center where the pages join and thus are difficult to see. The book is worth at least one more reading. Some of the narratives are quite thought provoking and inspire further study. What Confederate batteries advanced in support of the Charge? Where were Pettigrew's men when Armistead crossed the wall? If you are interested in detail and in pulling the many pieces of the puzzle together, read it, at least once.

Written by Tom Dwyer, A Guide To The Allegheny National Forest is a marvelous pocket reference packed with history, detailed commentaries, maps, area-specific information and much more concerning this grand, 513,000 acre historic forest that makes Pennsylvania truly sylvan. Of especial note are the many hiking trail descriptions in this concise, easy-to-read, straightforward and friendly guide. If you are planning a vacation, hike, or just a plain day off to enjoy the beauty of the Allegheny National Forest, you should consult A Guide To The Allegheny National Forest without delay!

The publishing of this book coincides with the 2007 Annual Philadelphia Flower Show. It covers roughly 40 or so of the major public gardens in the Philadelphia area.

Nice design by Philadelphia firm of Joel Katz who have formatted the information in a user-friendly layout. Maps, color coding and tabs make it very easy to locate specific gardens.

The photographs by Rob Cardillo are beautiful and, even at their small size, capture the gardens at their peak.

Adam Levine's brief descriptions and histories of each garden are succint without being overly dry.

My one disappointment is that, with the exception of the Azalea Gardens by the Art Museum, the Japanese House, and the West Laurel Hill Cemetery, and a brief description of the Horticultural Center, the authors do not detail the scope, history, and hidden gems of the Fairmount Park system.

Granted, and due to the state of upkeep, the park may no longer be called "great." But the park is still the "lungs of the city" and has its surprises: The miraculous row of dozens of cherry trees that create a wonderful pink line towards the Japanese House every Spring, and the natural walking and bike paths that surround the Horticultural Center are just a couple of these "secret" gems.

At a time when Philadelphians are talking of creating new green areas, Fairmount Park deserves our attention, our love, and our care.

Overall, a very good guide to Philadelphia garden treasures for visitors and locals alike.