Living History Books

Simply written and beautifully illustrated, A Day in the Life of a Colonial Blacksmith tells about the world of a tradesman, his work, and his tools.

Young readers are given a clear understanding of why a blacksmith was so important in the colonies, and how a young apprentice could learn to become a master blacksmith.

Ideally, this would be the same type of information a student would have by visiting a living history museum and meeting the blacksmiths.

Very well done!

Benjamin Rush was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a doctor in Philadelphia.

In colonial days, there were few medical schools and a young man could become a Doctor by becoming an apprentice. Benjamin Rush was an apprentice who also studied medicine in Scotland, returning home to practice and teach others.

A Day In The Life of a Colonial Doctor outlines the attitudes toward disease in that day and how a lack of knowledge of germs caused many to die from infection after surgery. Eighteenth century remedies from the apothecary, as well as remedies taught to the colonists by the Indians are explained.

After treating soldiers in the battlefield during the American Revolution, Dr. Rush observed a connection between sanitation and health, developing new ideas in treating patients.

Both a humanitarian and a Patriot, Benjamin Rush earned his place in American history.

As a glassblower, I found this charming little tale quite informative.As an uncle to a two year old, I found it well illustrated, smooth paced, and very fun. We had a blast!!!! It is not always easy to help pass a craft to a young one,or keep one entertained in something so complex as glass, but I believe this little number hit the spot.An excellent and accruate historical view of colonial life. Did you know that glassblowing was the first free enterprise in Jamestown, stating in 1644? highly recomended........

Eliza Lucas Pinckney was a young woman who managed a plantation. In her day, this was unheard of! She had a head for business and agriculture. Eliza experimented with crops that brought wealth to the colonies, despite failure due to weather, insects and the jealousy of a sneaky dye maker who destroyed her crop because he didn't like working for a girl!

From seed to harvest to finished product, A Day In the Life of a Colonial Indigo Planter tells the story of indigo and the fascinating story of Eliza Lucas Pinckney, who earned a place in American history.

Most highly recommended!

This volume gives a through background of the colonists' need for inns, a day in the life of an inkeeper and his family, guest services and government regulations that controlled signs, prices, etc.

A Day in the Life of a Colonial Innkeeper provides a listing of web sites for further exploration of the subject and a glossary for review.

Every book in this series brings history to life with period illustrations and photographs of historacal interpreters in colonial costumes and settings.

Very highly recommended.

What was it like for the people who tended the lamps in lighthouses and guided ships to safety?

Thomas Knox was the son of a lighthouse keeper and had been in a lighthouse in Boston Harbor all his life. The colonists set fire to the lighthouse in 1775, to keep the British from getting it. The British repaired it, but when they left Boston, they burned it again! After the Revolution, the lighthouse was rebuilt on the same spot.

Lighthouses have been around since 280 BC, but Boston Light was the first lighthouse in America and eleven more eventually were added along the East Coast by 1776. Differences in colors and patterns helped ships navigators and captains to see where they were.

But a lighthouse keeper's life can be dangerous, when he has to climb outside the tower for repair work and rescue sailors. Lighthouse keepers were well paid, given a house, garden fire wood and opportunities to earn more as a harbor pilot. It took a special kind of person to do this job.

This book is filled with wonderful illustrations, contains a glossary and a website for more reading.

Recommended!

In 1777, John Keeler, would start his day as a miller at dawn in the gristmill. Colonial millers signed a mill covenant (a promise) to grind the grain for other citizens two days per week in exchange for a percentage of that meal.

Using photographs and drawings, the workings of the mill are described in enough detail to understand the miller's work, tools and terminology.

During the American Revolution, Isaac Keeler was a Patriot who hid supplies for the militia in his gristmill. He joined the militia, himself, but found that the British had burned his gristmill. John Keeler's efforts earned him a place in history. His story proves that everyday people can be heroes when contributing to a great cause.

In this wonderful volume of The Library of Living and Working in Colonial Times, author Kathy Wilmore outlines the working life of the printer, including a bookstore and post ofice, the tools of the trade, etc. The work was hard and very slow compared to the modern printing industry. Hard work in colonial times might only produce 200 copies in an hour!

The book lists web sites for extra study and a glossary.

Recommended!

Growing up in Philadelphia, James Forton was the son of free black parents. His father made sails for the ships. After his father's death, James has some exciting and frightening adventures during the Revolution! In 1784, he fulfills his dream of becoming an apprentice sailmaker and then a foreman who later was able to own the shop. James Forton became on of the richest men in Philadelphia. He never neglected his own people, and used his own home as a hiding place for escaped slaves.

The process of sailmaking is described with numerous illustrations and photographs. This is accurate history, entertainingly presented with a website for further study.

The work of shipbuilding in colonial days is entertainingly explained by author Laurie Krebs, who tells how a young apprentice, under a master shipbuilder worked to produce a finished ship in the Langdon Shipyard. From the first drawings to the scale model to the life-size patterns, cutting, measuring -- every detail of the trade is explained and illustrated beautifully.

John Langdon, shipbuilder, was also a representative to the second Continental Congress, and the ship that he produced, the Ranger, was captained by John Paul Jones!

A Day In the Life of a Colonial Shipwright also includes a link to a website for more information.