Nebraska Books

Number twelve in a distinguished, and, multivolume effort by Dr. Gary Moulton, The University of Nebraska, The "Herbarium" volume of "The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition" is the most comprehensive, edited botanical reference of the known plant specimens of the Corps of Discovery, 1803-1806.

As an impressive culmination to the Journals, the herbarium collection finalizes the extensive botanical scholarship contained in the notes produced by Dr. Moulton in the previous eleven volumes, published periodically over the past twenty years. The product of extensive research into the known world repositories of the extent plant specimens, this volume contains only one known error in terms of inclusion of a plant specimen that cannot be attributed to the expedition's collection. This one specimen at the Charleston Museum has been discounted since publication.

Nevertheless, this volume contains relatively high-quality image reproductions of the known 238 specimens in the Lewis and Clark Herbarium, in addition to a clear introduction to the history of the Herbarium collection and the scholarship behind its most recent publication. 227 specimens are currently housed in the Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia, and the remaining 11 are housed in the Kew Gardens, London. Of this list, 177 are distinct, individual specimens.

In the future, it is more than likely, despite this exhaustive effort on the part of Moulton, that a few new specimens will emerge from the depths of the American Philosophical Society, The Academy of Natural Sciences, and Kew.

Until such a time, this volume is an absolute necessity for anyone seriously interested in understanding the natural history ramifications of the expedition, the study of Lewis and Clark, and, for that matter, America's landscape legacy. One wonders how many more specimens would have been added to this collection if Lewis' early collections for the lower-Missouri had not been lost to decay during the expedition itself.

"Volume 12, Herbarium of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," Gary E. Moulton, Editor, The University of Nebraska Press, completes a fantastic series and must be added to complete one's collection of the first eleven volumes of the truly great American literary epic.

The only wish of this author would be the publication of high-resolution, color digital images of the Herbarium on CD or DVD, as a compendium to this volume. Perhaps in this way, we could all experience more clearly the wonder of viewing this most valuable treasure.

Dr. Gary Moulton should be congratulated for a job very well-done.

Alex Philp The University of Montana

The Lewis & Clark-edition by the University of Nebraska is milestone not only for the US historiography, but also for booklovers, wether if the are Americans or not!

A fascinating guide written to encourage emigration to the Kansas Territory. This was evidently the first book ever written specifically about Kansas, and it was aimed especially at northerners who were opposed to slavery. With an interesting account of a steamboat trip up the Smoky Hill River in 1854. This book includes an up-to-date folding map of the region entitled "Map of Kansas and Nebraska form the latest surveys".

From the Preface: "The history of two territories whose first governors have as yet never seen their dominions, - in which, indeed, there is not yet a single town, - may seem to be easily written. When however, my attention was directed to the study of the various researches which have been made in the regions now known as Kanzas and Nebraska, I knew that I had a wide range before me. I have followed up, as carefully as I could, the memoirs of the early French travellers who first opened to the civilized world the valley of the Missouri. Of more use, in the view in which that valley is now regarded, are the more recent travels of our own countrymen, a body of official reports which deserve very height praise for the skill and gallantry displayed in exploration, and the care with which their history has been written. I have made such use as I could of the travels of Lewis and Clarke, Capt. Pike, Col. Long, Mr. Breckenridge, Maj. Bonneville, Col. Fremont, Col. Emory, Lieut Abert, Mr. Parkman, Maj. Cross, Capt. Stansbury, Capt. Gunnison, Gov. Stevens, Lieut, Williamson, and others.

"I have used some recent letters published in newspapers, and have been favored with personal narratives of agents of the Emigrant Aid Company. The Interest which is now sending into these territories a large and well-trained populations has been roused by the interest flet in their political condition. I have, therefore, given such a sketch of their political history as the size of the volume admitted. I have drawn my materials for a history of the great Missouri debate from the copious contemporary files in the library of the Antiquarian Society. The memoranda of other political passages in the history of a region, of which the civilized government has not yet begun, are from official documents. So few people have read 'the Nebraska Act,' of which so many have talked, that I have thought it desirable to publish an accurate copy of it, as the constitution of the new states..."

Contents include: Discovery of these regions; Native tribes; The Dahcotah or Sioux race; Pawnees; Arapahoes; Rapids; Blackfeet; Emigrant Indians form the East; Aboriginal Indians; Population and customs of Knistineaux or Crees, Ojibwas, Assineboins, Gros-Ventres, Manadans, Sioux, Crows, Puncas, Omahas, Ottoes, etc; Rivers; Valleys; Projected cities in Nebraska and Kanzas; Routes of travel; The Pacific Railroad; Navigable Rivers; Political History; Indian legislation; An act to organize the territories of Nebraska and Kanzas; Emigration to Kanzas; The Emigrant Aid Companies; etc.

This book takes you away and literally makes you feel as if you are "making it" in the plains of Nebraska, 1800's. I fell in love with the adventure that Stephanie Grace Whitson has pictured for us. The characters in 'Karyn's Memory Box' will stick with you long after reading the last page - by far, this is one of the best Christian novels that I have ever read.

This is an excellent book for anyone searching their geneology for connections to American Indian Nations in North Carolina. It is a well written history book that is interesting to read. I have trouble putting it down and wait anxiously to pick it up again.

I find it hard to believe that this book has not received any feedback. If you are an undergraduate history or political science student who wants to go to law school (especially in Kentucky), a las student, or if you are just seeking an excellent resource examining Kentucky's Political History- this book is for you! This book is a good read. It has a lot of information in it, but the information BY NO MEANS weighs down the actual text. Take the advice from someone who has been there- you cannot grasp the concepts of a state's laws or its government without first understanding its political history. In all seriousness, you should buy this book. G.A.

easy to read and broad perspective of the crazy horse sioux leader, great photos and descriptions by all the people involved in the last days of this great mans life

This is the definitive book on the phenomenon. If you want a discussion of the real "Kokopelli" rather than a compendium of fanciful and spurious "new age" ideas, this work provides that and more. Along the way you will gain interesting insights into Hopi culture, and how the Kokopelli phemomenon may have started and grown. Nicely illustrated.

Educational and interesting. My husband hasn't been able to put it down. The best gift I've found for a history buff in a long time!

Alexandre Leupin's Lacan is an amazing book! I didn't know Lacan could be as interesting. Alexandre Leupin has accomplished a tour de force: making Lacan's ideas and thoughts clear and enjoyable. Thanks to Leupin, Lacan's fascinating notion of the relationship between language and desire are made accessible to (almost!) everyone.