Southwest Books

I was amazed by this book. The format looks like a children's book, but the subject matter and vocabulary is for an older child, I would say 10-12 yrs. There was a depth to this book that I certainly did not expect. I live in Navajo country and know many Navajo children. This book is an excellent introduction to the life of a modern day Navajo girl. I am glad a reprint is now available!

Author has extracted oodles of technical references into an overview that covers a vital sixty-year span of American Southwest history. Victoria Dye skillfully illuminates the intertwining of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company (AT&SF) with its more visual counterpart and partner, the Fred Harvey Company. In a mere six chapters, along with a smattering of descriptive BW photos, the author summarizes the wild ethnic mixture of the early Southwestern frontier with a strong emphasis on the economic impact of the myriad cultures. She describes how Harvey and AT&SF precipitated the view of pioneer New Mexico and Arizona as `Indian' more than `Mexican or Spanish,' even though the domineering government and religion was of the latter for hundreds of years. Dye further characterizes how the Harvey/AT&SF promotions helped travelers [remarkably] overcome the spectre of Indian hostilities, replacing fear with their inventive illusion of `Santa Fe' gentility. Marketing, promotion and economics are the core of the book. The author is to be highly commended for distilling five centuries of Cultural Revolution in to 100 pages of easy reading. The bibliography yields [literally] hundreds of literary resources (perhaps this book's most valuable contribution) for further reader interest. The author's supplemental material helps substantiate a "who's who" timeline of AT&SF, Fred Harvey, Santa Fe, curio and Southwestern Indian history - don't miss these appendix, page notes, and bibliographic features!

This is a remarkable first person account of Navajo culture as observed by the trader at the Shiprock Trading Post for a half century beginning in 1893. Divided into three sections: Historic,
People, and Culture, the author tells down to earth, first person stories of his customers, friends, and neighbors on the Northern Navajo reservation. The book is unique in that it records Navajo history and stories of individuals about whom precious little biographical information remains. This is unvarnished history through the eyes of a most astute observer. Absolutely first rate.

Note: This book was later published in a paperback edition by the University of Oklahoma Press under the title JAMES PATTIE'S WEST: The Dream & the Reality. Why the title was changed is unclear.

James Pattie is remembered solely for a book he published in 1831 entitled THE PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF JAMES O. PATTIE. The book recounted his experiences as a trapper and wanderer in the Far West between 1825 and 1830, experiences he shared with his traveling companion, his father Sylvester. After trapping throughout New Mexico and Arizona, the men journeyed to California where Sylvester died in [1828]. After continuing on to San Francisco, James boarded a ship for Mexico, across which he walked by way of Mexico City, and then boarded another ship on the Gulf for New Orleans. Destitute, he was able to borrow $40 from Senator Josiah Johnston, a family friend, to pay for passage aboard a steamboat to Cincinnati. It was there that he met publisher Timothy Flint, who published Pattie's narrative.

Since the book was first published it has held the attention of historians and others interested in first-hand accounts of the early West. Often it has been disparaged as a work filled with inaccuracies, half-truths, and tall tales; it was even claimed that Pattie, with Flint's help, made the whole thing up. Richard Batman has taken a fine-toothed comb to the Narrative with the purpose of separating fact from fiction wherever possible. He is able to show that quite a bit of what Pattie wrote is indeed based in fact. His descriptions of the geography he traveled over are often remarkably accurate. Batman wonders if Pattie kept a diary of some kind, since certain details (a rainstorm, for example, that can be verified from other journals that cite the event) are too specifically drawn to be recalled years later from memory. Where he errs the most is in his depictions of his own actions and responses. Zelig-like, Pattie blended in with the background scenery, rarely if ever making an impression on those he encountered (one trapper who spent time with him remembered his horse but not him). Yet in the Narrative he puts himself in the forefront and gives himself all kinds of heroic (at least "manly") qualities. Many of these incidents occurred in California where Pattie felt he was treated with great indignities; Batman is quick to point out where they might have been figments of his imagination. He also fills out Pattie's life, making the book a biography of the man. Unfortunately, but typically it seems, Pattie vanishes from the scene shortly after his book was published, never heard from again. Batman has done a great service with this book, not only helping to clarify a major historical record, but through his own researches adding much information about Pattie and life in the Far West at the end of the 1820s. Highly recommended for anyone interested in this period in American history.

Based on wild/natural foods grown and gathered by Native Americans of the Southwest, American Indian Cooking presents a wealth of information on plants, uses and updated recipes for their consumption. Each plant is listed, described and illustrated painstakingly, followed by the plant's uses and recipes for serving. A great deal of Native American agrarian history is effortlessly presented in this attractive book. Some eye catching recipes are given for: Saguaro Cactus Jelly, Sweet Pumpkin Muffins, Walnut Corn Bread, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Blue Corn Mush with Onion Gravy, and Zuni Succotash. Take a walk in the desert and see what wonderful edible plants nature has provided.

There are books that specialize and others that are extensive about the southwestern Indian cultures. This book is for the rest of us. It is a well laid out introduction of history and contemporary tribal affairs. We get coverage of arts and crafts. And it makes a perfect companion to Tony Hillerman books.
The book its self is separated into logical chapters on different subjects such as
1. Who an Where (physical Aspects of the American Indians)
2. The Pueblo Peoples (separate chapters on each)
3. The Athabascans
4. The Ute Indians
5. The Southern Paiute
6. The Rancheria Peoples
7. Arts and crafts

There are illustrations and monochrome pictures to support the text.
Also an extensive bibliography for those brave souls that really want to go into depth.

This small volume with 111 pages of text contains four essays on the history of the Oklahoma Panhandle. The changing nature of the region's economy throughout the twentieth century is the main theme.

The first essay discusses the unique geography of the region and how it impacted the economic development from 1907 to 1930. Lowitt highlights the agricultural prosperity of the region as well as the possible risks of drought and severe weather.

The second essay narrates the causes and impact of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. He tells of the efforts of the federal government, the agricultural experimental station at Goodwell, and the farmers in introducing soil conservation efforts and the recovery that resulted by 1940.

The third essay tells the story of Optima Dam, first planned in 1936 but only completed in 1978. He discusses how it resulted from the drought and flood prevention efforts of the 1930s but also how economic realities prevented it from being built until 1978. The political efforts of Oklahoma's senators Kerr and Harris feature in this essay.

Finally, Lowitt describes the economic development after World War II, showing how the region depends on the Ogallala Aquifer. Farmland could not be irrigated without producing natural gas to pump the groundwater. Cattle (Swift) and pigs (Seaboard) could not be raised commercially without groundwater. Although the region has diversified its economy, it has come to depend greatly on the aquifer, which may be depleted someday, depending on unknown recharge rates. Lowitt closes the book on the note that no one knows how sustainable the aquifer-based economy is.

The book contains thoughtful analysis and not oral history. He describes how transportation, Oklahoma law, and the climate have affected the Panhandle and the differential development of each county. He has done extensive research in the museums and historical collections of the region as well as at the University of Oklahoma. Perhaps most surprising, Lowitt does not take a doomsday view of the Great Plains, showing that the three Panhandle counties have consistently ranked in the top five in Oklahoma in terms of per capita income. He sees the region as having successfully overcome great hardships and having not just survived but prospered.

An excellent collection of thoughful review articles on patterns of ancient trade and exchange. There are nine chapters, covering the Chaco Anasazi (F. Mathien), Northern Anasazi (E. Blinman & C.D. Wilson), Hohokam (R. McGuire), marine shell exchange in N. Mexico and the SW (R. Bradley), Mesoamerican turquoise (P. Weigand & G. Harbottle), Mexico (R. Santley & C. Pool), lowland Maya (P. McAnany), and southern Central America (J. Hoopes). The introductory chapter by Baugh and Ericson provides a good overview of relevant archaeological theory.

I can't say enough about how useful this Travel Smart guide was on our recent trip to the Southwest. As Daniel Gibson claims, he only includes the best of what there is to see and do, only the best places to eat and stay. All this info is rated 1-4 stars and we found the ratings to be surprisingly accurate compared with our own opinions. The book is so organized that it's easy to find what you're looking for; places are cross referenced for easy research. We kept the book with us and read ahead about what was coming up as we traveled. Prices were either right on or close to present charges. Descriptions were interesting and fun to read, and detailed enough to help us decide whether or not we wanted to stop at each attraction. If you only want to take one book along on your next trip to the southwest, you won't go wrong with this one.

I wish this work were available because it's both informative and interesting and technical, but dad's a genius so that's to be expected.