PIONEER AND FRONTIER STORIES

National Library Service 

for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

The Library of Congress

Washington 1995

NONFICTION

_Cassettes_

We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher  RC 31520 by

Edward Charles Abbott and Helena Huntington Smith

read by Hal Tenny

2 cassettes

A colorful account of the life of "Teddy Blue" Abbott, born in

1860 in England and brought to the United States by his parents,

who settled in Lincoln, Nebraska. He spins the yarns of years on

the cattle trail--as he tells about Calamity Jane buying him a

drink, how he got the name of "Blue," about drinking alkali and

eating coyote, and about rustlers and shallow graves. 1939. 

Wanted, Frank and Jesse James: The Real Story  RC 20376

by Margaret Baldwin and Pat O'Brien

read by Dick Jenkins

1 cassette

A biography of the notorious outlaw brothers who fought as

Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War and led a gang of

bank and train robbers during the late 1860s and 1870s. For

junior and senior high readers. 1981.

Great Train Robberies of the West  

RC 23878

by Eugene B. Block

read by Charlie Ryle

2 cassettes

Accounts of several sensational robberies, from the 1870 holdup

of the Central Pacific Railroad to that of the Sunset Limited in

1933. 1959.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: 

An Indian History of the American West  RC 20462

by Dee Alexander Brown

read by Suzanne Toren

3 cassettes

Based on the records of treaty councils and the actual words of

Indian leaders such as Geronimo, Chief Joseph, and Crazy Horse.

This history of the Indians from 1860 to 1890 covers the thirty

critical years during which the West was won and the civilization

of the American Indian was lost. 1970.

The Gentle Tamers: Women of the Old Wild West  RC 11160

by Dee Alexander Brown

read by Juanita Bethea

2 cassettes

Account of feminine aspects of western life and the women who

rode beside their men and helped tame the West. 1958.

Best of the Old West: An Indispensable Guide to the Vanishing

Legend of the American West  RC 22671

by Ron Butler

read by Jeanne Evans

2 cassettes

A handy primer that focuses on the cultural and historical

phenomena of western states including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada,

New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, and also the Mexican

border. Provides coverage of ghost towns, western hotels and

saloons, trains, Indian lands, and national parks. 1983.

The Great Chiefs  RC 19799

by Benjamin Capps

read by Catherine Byers

2 cassettes

Account of the Indian chiefs of the Old West at the beginning of

the nineteenth century. Relates how they met the challenge of the

white invasion with a courage and daring seldom seen on the

American continent. A Time-Life book. 1975.

The Life of Hon. William F. Cody, Known as Buffalo Bill, the

Famous Hunter, Scout, and Guide: An Autobiography  RC 20141

by Buffalo Bill Cody

read by Art Metzler

2 cassettes

An engaging autobiography of the legendary guide and scout, first

published in 1879. Cody relates his years in the Nebraska

legislature, his skirmishes with Indians, his buffalo and deer

hunts, and his experiences as an actor. 1879.

The Western Writings of Stephen Crane

RC 16006

by Stephen Crane

read by Edward Bryce

2 cassettes

A collection of twenty-seven western stories, sketches, reports,

and letters by the author of "The Red Badge of Courage. Included

are "The Five White Mice," "A Man and Some Others," "The Bride

Comes to Yellow Sky," and "The Blue Hotel." The introduction

considers the literary merit of Crane's work in relation to the

mythical elements of the modern western story. 1979. 

My Life on the Plains: or, Personal 

Experiences with Indians  RC 32109

by George Armstrong Custer

read by Randy Atcher

4 cassettes

Custer's account of his life on the plains covers the years

1867-1869 when military activity against the Plains Indians was

at its peak. Custer discusses his position as lieutenant colonel

in the Seventh Cavalry and the Battle of the Washita, which took

place during the Winter Campaign of 1868. Also included is a

rebuttal by General W.B. Hazenn regarding Custer's account of the

battle. 1962.

Cowboy Culture: A Saga of Five Centuries  RC 17130

by David Dary

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

Comprehensive history of cowboy life from its beginnings in

fifteenth-century Mexico to its great flowering in the American

West. Includes the cattle industry, horses and equipment, social

customs, trail life, and the modern myth of the cowboy. 1981. 

Entrepreneurs of the Old West  

RC 25005

by David Dary

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

A history of the nineteenth-century entrepreneurs who sought

adventure and wealth on the American frontier. Relates the

adventures as well as the business practices of the largely

unknown and unsung trappers, traders, wagon freighters,

merchants, cattlemen, railroaders, land promoters, and other

early capitalists who contributed so much to the taming of the

Old West. 1986.

True Tales of the Old-Time Plains  

RC 15952

by David Dary

read by Roy Avers

2 cassettes

Stories about people, animals, and events that capture the

romance and adventure of the Old West. Includes such well-known

characters as Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson,  the Dalton gang, Abraham

Lincoln, and Frederic Remington, once a Kansas sheep ranch owner

and later a renowned artist. 1979.

The Life and Adventures of Frank Grouard, Chief of Scouts, U.S.A. 

RC 20061

by Joseph De Barthe

read by Ken Kliban

3 cassettes

An account of the courageous life of scout Grouard. Held captive

by the Indians for a long period, he recorded the long history of

the Sioux nation. Classics of the Old West series. 1894. 

_This three-book sequence should be read in the following order:_ 

The Year of Decision, 1846  RC 33337

by Bernard Augustine De Voto

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

First published in 1942, with a foreword by Arthur M.

Schlesinger, Jr., added in 1984. The year 1846 is chosen as a

crucial year in western history, when the Mexican war began, the

Oregon question threatened, the Mormons were trekking toward the

mountains, and other emigrants were moving to Oregon and

California. All these movements are synthesized with the whole

history of the nation. 1989.

Across the Wide Missouri  RC 33338

by Bernard Augustine De Voto

read by Art Metzler

4 cassettes

The author chronicles the history of the Rocky Mountain fur

trade, which flourished in the 1830s. He describes the business

as a vocation--although the rivalry between competing companies

was often violent--and examines its relationship to westward

expansion. 1947. 

The Course of Empire  RC 33339

by Bernard Augustine De Voto

read by Butch Hoover

5 cassettes

An account of westward conquest and exploration from Balboa to

Lewis and Clark. Geography and Indians are included in appraising

the Spanish, French, British, and U.S. exploits that determined

the course of empire. 1952.

Pioneering on the Yukon, 1892-1917  

RC 36833

by Anna DeGraf and Roger S. Brown

read by Lynn Schrichte

1 cassette

In 1892, widowed fifty-three-year-old DeGraf is concerned when

her son fails to return from a two-week trip to the Yukon.

Packing her sewing machine to provide income along the way,

DeGraf leaves her Seattle home and sets out to find him. She

proves hardier than many of the men who turn back. DeGraf

describes in her memoirs the highlights of what turned out to be

a twenty-five-year stay on the Yukon frontier. Some violence.

1992. 

Taken by the Indians: True Tales of Captivity  RC 11951

by Alice Dickinson

read by Flo Gibson

1 cassette

Excerpts of extraordinary accounts by three men and three women

who relate their captivities among Indians between 1676 and 1864.

Each account yields insights into both Indian life and the clash

between white and Indian cultures. For junior and senior high

readers. 1976. 

The Road West: Saga of the 35th Parallel  RC 19664

by Bertha Sanford Dodge

read by Bruce Huntey

2 cassettes

Absorbing saga of the opening and settling of the Southwest

between 1540 and 1861 by Spanish and American explorers and

emigrants following the thirty-fifth parallel. Recreates the

drama of frontier people driven by ambition and curiosity who

suffered hardships moving through the often inhospitable

landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona. 1980. 

_This six-book sequence should be read in the following order:_ 

The Frontiersmen: A Narrative  

RC 39059

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Hal Tenny

6 cassettes

Covers the period from just before the American Revolution until

shortly after the War of 1812 and gives a narrative history of

the conquest and settlement of the Northwest Territory and

Kentucky. Follows the life of Simon Kenton, frontiersman; others

involved are Daniel Boone, Simon Girty, Tecumseh, Mad Anthony

Wayne, and William H. Harrison. 1967. 

Wilderness Empire: A Narrative  

RC 29938

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Hal Tenny

6 cassettes

An account of the struggle between the English and French for

supremacy in the area held by the Iroquois tribes, covering the

years from 1730 to 1774. Features Irish-born William Johnson,

Indian superintendent for New York; Chief Pontiac of the Ottawas;

Chief Joseph Brant of the Mohawks; and many others involved in 

the French and Indian War. 1969. 

The Conquerors: A Narrative  RC 29939

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Hal Tenny

7 cassettes

Beginning in 1758, recounts the causes and events of the Indian

uprising led by Chief Pontiac of the Ottawas in 1763 and 1764.

Some of the people involved in this segment of American history

are Sir William Johnson, Colonel Henry Bouquet, and Major

Gladwin, defender of Detroit. 1970. 

The Wilderness War: A Narrative  

RC 29940

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Hal Tenny

5 cassettes

Account of the last years of the Iroquois Nation and the first

few years of the American nation. Begins in 1763 after 

the English victory over the French in the French and Indian War

and continues through the American Revolution. Features Chief

Joseph Brant, Sir William Johnson, Colonel John Butler, and

General George Washington. 1978. 

Gateway to Empire  RC 29941

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Hal Tenny

7 cassettes

Account of the struggle to control the Chicago Portage, the vital

link between  the East and the West, covering the years

1769-1812. Centers on John Kinzie, a successful trader, and

Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader, both of whom are trapped in a

tragic conflict that threatens the land they love. 1983.

Twilight of Empire: A Narrative  

RC 29942

by Allan W. Eckert

read by Roy Avers

5 cassettes

Covering the period from 1801 to 1838, this is an account of the

events surrounding the Black Hawk War of 1832 that was fought for

possession of the upper Mississippi Valley. The leading

characters are Black Hawk, a Sac war chief, and many others whose

names have gone down in history: William Henry Harrison, Colonel

Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, and William Clark. 1988.

The Long Hunter: A New Life of Daniel Boone  RC 10607

by Lawrence Elliott

read by Bradley Bransford

2 cassettes

A realistic account of an American hero. Reveals the troubled

personal life of Boone, who actually hated coonskin caps and who

died without owning an acre of the precious land he opened for

the nation. 1976.

Kit Carson: A Portrait in Courage  

RC 18968

by M. Morgan Estergreen

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

Biography of the wiry man who became a legend of the Old West.

Based on unpublished notes and primary source materials, this

biography includes interviews and letters from Carson's family

and friends. 1962.

Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer  RC

38055 by John Mack Faragher

read by Robert Sams

3 cassettes

Biography of a frontiersman, whose accomplishments have been the

subject of conflicting legends for more than two centuries.

Faragher draws on Boone's autobiographical accounts of his

adventures, the public record, folklore, and the writings of

nineteenth-century historians. Acknowledging his debt to sources,

the author questions suspicious facts and explores the social

milieu of the period that helped to create the folk hero. 1992. 

Life in Prairie Land  RC 29238

by Eliza Woodson Burhans Farnham

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

An account of everyday life in Illinois by a New Yorker who was

to become a leading feminist of her time. The author spent almost

five years during the 1830s in the prairie land of Tazewell

County and recounts her experiences in this miscellany of

frontier adventures, folklore, natural history, and sharply

observed manners. 1988.

The Cowboys  RC 19788

by William H. Forbis

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

A colorful narrative of the brief heyday of the American cowboy.

Portrays the swashbuckling spectrum of humanity that made up the

cowhand fraternity, including Civil War veterans and former

slaves, Mexicans, Indians, Harvard graduates, English

ne'er-do-wells, and shady characters on the dodge. A Time-Life

book. 1973.

Emily: The Diary of a Hard-worked Woman  RC 26804

by Emily French and Janet Lecompte

read by Miriam Wagner

2 cassettes

Emily French was a laundress, cleaning woman, nurse, and mother

of eight children. She was often busy, tired, or ill but she

faithfully kept a diary that describes her work and how she felt

about it. She is equally articulate about other aspects of her

life, such as her family, friends, values, and God. 1987.

The Chisholm Trail  RC 16219

by Wayne Gard

read by Tim Jernigan

2 cassettes

An account of the Texas cowhands' road to high adventure. The

story of this famous cattle route, which opened up the Southwest

in the 1870s to railroading, beef farming, and meat packing, is

also the story of its time. 1954.

Westering Man: The Life of Joseph Walker  RC 19982

by Bil Gilbert

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

Reconstructs the life and times of one of America's greatest yet

least-known frontier heroes--a man who, among other things, was

the first sheriff of Independence, Missouri; discoverer of

Yosemite; surveyor of the Santa Fe Trail; and leader of the first

wagon train to California. 1983. 

Trials of the Earth: The Autobiography of Mary Hamilton  RC 36830

by Mary Hamilton and Helen Dick Davis

read by Lynn Schrichte

2 cassettes

At Helen Dick Davis's urging, Mary Hamilton begins writing her

memoirs in 1932 at the age of sixty-six. When her mother dies,

eighteen-year-old Mary feels obligated to marry the secretive

Englishman who promises to care for her orphaned siblings.

Although she grows to love Frank Hamilton, their pioneer life in

the Mississippi Delta is difficult--children die, Frank drinks,

and Mary endures long hours as a cook. 1992.

My Sixty Years on the Plains: Trapping, Trading, and Indian

Fighting  RC 20468 by W.T. Hamilton and E.T. Sieber

read by Art Metzler

1 cassette

Straightforward account of the author's experiences as a

mountaineer. Classics of the Old West series. 1905.

The Advancing Frontier  RC 28555

by Trudy J. Hanmer

read by Sara Morsey

1 cassette

Traces the history of westward expansion in the United States and

examines the role of the frontier in American life and history.

Discusses the popular view of the "Wild West," the politics of

"manifest destiny," the controversy over slavery, the role of

women and blacks, the oppression of the Indians, and the

discrimination against other minority groups in the West. For

junior and senior high and older readers. 1986.

North of the Sun: A Memoir of the 

Alaskan Wilderness  RC 33409

by Fred Hatfield

read by J.P. Linton

1 cassette

The author faced bleak prospects when he finished high school in

Maine in the early 1930s. With a desire for adventure and a love

for beauty of the wild, he made his way to Alaska. He found the

life he sought, a wife who shared his enthusiasm, terrifying

moments with wildlife, and profound, almost mystical beauty in

the remote frontier. 1990. 

Jessie Benton Fremont: A Biography

RC 26320

by Pamela Herr

read by Mitzi Friedlander

3 cassettes

Portrait of a remarkable nineteenth-century American woman. The

spirited daughter of a prominent politician, Jessie was born in

1824 and eloped at the age of seventeen with scientist-explorer

John Charles Fremont. Her husband's early exploits provided an

outlet for her energies and talents, and she penned bestselling

accounts of his western explorations and adventures. 1987.

The American West: An Interpretive History  RC 23190

by Robert V. Hine

read by Lou Harpenau

3 cassettes

An interpretive history of the American frontier and its

influence on the national character. The author uses an extensive

range of disciplines to reevaluate many  of the myths and

assumptions that have dominated the literature of the frontier.

1984. 

The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience  RC

17484 by J.S. Holliday and William Swain

read by Jim Walton

4 cassettes

With three companions, all from Youngstown, New York, William

Swain set  out in April 1849 by lake steamer from Buffalo and

joined an emigrant train, the "Wolverine Rangers." They were on

their way to seek their fortunes in the gold rush in California.

Based on newspaper accounts and letters from Swain's diaries.

1981. 

The Gunfighters  RC 10719

by James David Horan

read by Charlie Ryle

2 cassettes

Accounts by eyewitnesses and gunfighters shatter many myths and

reveal the truth behind some bullet-riddled lives. Includes such

desperadoes as Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, and Kid Curry.

Also issued on flexible disc as FD 10719. 1976.

The Lawmen  RC 16513

by James David Horan

read by Ray Hagen

3 cassettes

The story of the men who tried to preserve law and order in the

Old West, based on eyewitness accounts, newspaper reports,

memoirs, and other primary sources. Stresses the reality of the

careers of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, and others

over the myths that have grown up around them. Also issued on

flexible disc as FD 16513. 1976. 

Doc Middleton: Life and Legends of the Notorious Plains Outlaw 

RC 16144 by Harold Hutton

read by Cherri Boehme

2 cassettes

Biography of the famed horse thief and gang leader who was known

as the "Jesse James" of Nebraska. 1974.

Phil Sheridan and His Army  RC 26665

by Paul Andrew Hutton

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

Study of the post-Civil War career of General Philip H. Sheridan,

the nation's principal Indian fighter. From 1867 until 1883, when

he became commanding general of the army, Sheridan administered

the Military Division of the Missouri. Under his command, the

final Indian campaigns of the century were planned and fought.

1985.

A Tour on the Prairies  RC 21683

by Washington Irving

read by Todd Curless

1 cassette

Descriptive account of a journey to the prairies in 1832. Irving

was accompanied by several worldly companions, including a United

States commissioner, a young Swiss count, an Englishman, and a

French creole. Tales of Indians and buffalo and deer hunting are

included. 1983.

Gold Dust  RC 16721

by Donald Dale Jackson

read by Bill Wamsley

3 cassettes

Account of the events that precipitated the California Gold Rush

of 1849 and of the colorful men and women who streamed across a

continent to strike it rich. 1980. 

Cowgirls: Women of the American West  RC 20188

by Teresa Jordan

read by Jeanne Fagan

2 cassettes

Using passages from novels, diaries, and other historical

materials, Jordan, who grew up on a Wyoming ranch, focuses 

on women of the West. She recalls their rounds of roping and

branding, pitching hay, and rodeo riding. 1982.

High Trails West  RC 9679

by Robert Franklin Leslie

read by Robert Donley

2 cassettes

A California schoolteacher writes informally of vacation pack

trips that he has taken on foot, by burro, and by canoe through

the undisturbed wilderness of the West. He has explored high

mountain trails, looked for lost silver mines, and paddled down

the Rio Grande. 1967. 

The Cowboy Humor of Alfred Henry Lewis  RC 35664

by Alfred Henry Lewis 

and Richard D. Myers

read by Ray Foushee

2 cassettes

Collection of robust stories that not only give the reader a

taste of late-nineteenth-century humor but also provide an

insider's view of the frontier. Lewis, a lawyer, politician,

wandering cowboy, and Hearst journalist, was known for his

amusing and perceptive writing on the Western ethos. 1988.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark  

RC 31118

by Meriwether Lewis

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

These selections from the journals of Lewis and Clark tell of the

explorations and discoveries the team of explorers made as they

crossed North America from St. Louis to the Pacific coast from

1804 to 1806. They received their commission from President

Thomas Jefferson, who foresaw the advantages of exploring the

vast territory west of the Mississippi. 1964. 

History of the Westward Movement  

RC 14970

by Frederick Merk

read by Ralph Lowenstein

7 cassettes

A massive study of the American people from pre-Columbian times

to the present. This work, which grew out of Professor Merk's

celebrated course at Harvard, emphasizes the many problems that

have resulted from the swift, unplanned exploitation of the

continent. 1978. 

The Road to Virginia City: The Diary of James Knox Polk Miller 

RC 30521 by James Knox Polk Miller 

and Andrew F. Rolle

read by Gary Tipton

1 cassette

Miller was a nineteen-year-old orphan in the summer of 1864 when

he appropriated a considerable sum of money from his guardian and

headed west, using the pseudonym J. Sidney Osborn. His diary,

which covers the years 1864-1867, paints a detailed picture of

the hazards and joys of life in the West at that time. 1960.

Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West  RC 10060

by Dale Lowell Morgan

read by Robert Donley

3 cassettes

Smith was one of the reckless breed of mountain men who dared to

explore the Rocky Mountains and beyond. He was a modest,

intelligent, and religious man, who after eight years of hunting

and trading, set out for the Santa Fe Trail. 1964.

Ghosts of the Old West: Desert Spirits, Haunted Cabins, Lost

Trails, and Other Strange Encounters  RC 29228

by Earl Murray

read by Hal Tenny

1 cassette

A collection of purportedly true stories about paranormal

occurrences relating to historic locations in the American West:

phantoms and spirits that haunt old forts, battlefields, hotels,

mansions, lost trails, and ghost towns. Native American

spiritualism is also recognized in these personal stories about

visions and strange experiences. 1988. 

The Oregon Trail  RC 25385

by Francis Parkman

read by Jack Fox

3 cassettes

An account of the author's experiences during the early days of

the West. He writes of big game hunts, encounters with Indians,

and camp life on the trail. 1849. 

The Far West and the Great Plains in Transition, 1859-1900  RC

29152 by Rodman W. Paul

read by Randy Atcher

3 cassettes

Historical survey of four decades of the American Far West. Paul

believes the "ruthless pursuit of private gain was the driving

force behind most western enterprises." Thus, hundreds of

thousands headed west to try their hands at silver and gold

mining or cattle or sheep ranching, or to provide legal services

to the speculators. A sweeping survey of the era, land, and

pioneers. 1988. 

Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West  RC 21600

by Harriet and Fred Rochlin

read by John Richardson

3 cassettes

Traces the experience of Jewish pioneers moving west in the

United States, beginning with the first Europeans, among them

secret Jews, in the late sixteenth century  to 1912. Rochlin

tells how these settlers worked as merchants, bankers, miners,

and farmers, and how they helped establish law and order. 1984.

The Gunfighter: Man or Myth?  

RC 16062

by Joseph G. Rosa

read by David Hornstein

2 cassettes

Was the gunfighter of the Wild West a heroic protector of the

innocent and helpless, or was he a trigger-happy rascal? The

author tackles this question by separating fact from fiction in

this account of a colorful period when a man could draw his gun

and shoot another man without hesitation. 1969.

Cowboy Life: Reconstructing an 

American Myth  RC 15986

by William W. Savage

read by David Straub

2 cassettes

Composite view of cowboy life on the Southern Great Plains in

Texas, Indian Territory, and Kansas from the 1860s to around

1900. Included are accounts by writers and other cowboys such as

Joseph G. McCoy, Richard Irving Dodge, and Andy Adams. Depicts

the cowboy's trials and tribulations, his humor, and his

association with men and beasts of the open range. 1975. 

Heroes without Glory: Some Goodmen of the Old West  RC 26276 by

Jack Warner Schaefer

read by Karl Weber

2 cassettes

Pioneer doctors and Indian agents are some of the forgotten

heroes of the West who, the author claims, were just as rugged,

fast on the trigger, and interesting as the outlaws. 1965. 

Women's Diaries of the Westward Journey  RC 21093

by Lillian Schlissel

read by Michael McCullough

2 cassettes

The diaries, letters, and reminiscences of the women who migrated

west. Offers an accurate, unsentimental picture of the daily

lives of the families who traveled the Over- land Trail from the

Midwest to California or Oregon between 1840 and 1870. 1982. 

Far from Home: Families of the Westward Journey  RC 30465

by Lillian Schlissel and Byrd Gibbens

read by Dale Carter

3 cassettes

By using the diaries and letters of four separate families who

traveled west in the 1800s and early 1900s, the authors show the

human cost of the trek westward. The families studied are from

Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, and North Dakota. 1989.

A Texas Cowboy; or, Fifteen Years on the Hurricane Deck of a

Spanish Pony: Taken from Real Life  RC 20128

by Charles A. Siringo

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

A colorful account of the life of an old cowpuncher first

published in the 1880s. The son of an Italian father and an Irish

mother, Siringo was born in 1856 on a strip of Texas bordering on

the Gulf of Mexico. He began working as a river hand but soon

returned to Texas as a rookie herder and brander. His career

included a brush with the dreaded smallpox and a close call with

the equally dreaded Billy the Kid. Classics of the Old West

series. 1980. 

Pioneer Women: Voices from the Kansas Frontier  RC 16749

by Joanna L. Stratton

read by Mitzi Friedlander

2 cassettes

Memoirs of women who lived in Kansas between 1854 and 1890 offer

descriptions of frontier life that illustrate their strength and

achievements. Includes tales of constructing dugouts and sod

houses, fighting off grasshoppers, adjusting to loneliness and

hard work, and the bloody strife over the issue of slavery. 1981.

The Gamblers  RC 15936

by the editors of Time-Life Books

read by Art Metzler

2 cassettes

Examines the role of gambling on the American frontier: among the

Indians, on the rivers, and in the mining camps and the

boomtowns. The authors contend that almost everybody gambled in

the Old West, and those who died at it had "a propensity for

cheating." 1978. 

Love and Glory: Women of the Old West

RC 34381

by Larry Underwood

read by Jake Williams

1 cassette

Chronicles the lives of eleven women who moved out west beginning

in the 1840s. Lured by adventure or the desire to reform, many

kept diaries and letters revealing details of pioneer life. Some,

such as dance-hall girls or prostitutes, followed job

opportunities. Others accompanied husbands and found themselves

fending off Indians or running cattle ranches. But all were

resourceful, brave, and tough. 1991.

The Plains Across: The Overland 

Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West, 1840-60  RC 16312 by

John David Unruh

read by Flo Gibson

6 cassettes

History of America's overland expansion west, based on diaries,

letters, and newspaper and periodical accounts. Demolishes many

of the myths and stereotypes about this era and provides a

realistic picture of the pioneers, the wagon trains, and the

white man-Indian relationship. Covers the role of the federal

government, private entrepreneurs, the Mormons, and the

Californians. 1979.

Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life

RC 31561

by Robert Marshall Utley

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

A historian retells the life of Henry McCarty, aka Henry Antrim,

Kid Antrim, or Billy Bonney, separating romantic myth from fact.

The author describes Billy's justification of his actions as a

reaction to the corruption he observed in the political and

judicial systems of the early West. 1989.

Forth to the Wilderness: The First 

American Frontier, 1754-1774  

RC 20396

by Dale Van Every

read by Christopher Hurt

3 cassettes

An account of the first crossing of the Appalachian Mountains and

the settlements established beyond them before the Revolution.

Includes biographical material on the key men and the obscure

people who took part in the mass migration. 1961.

_This three-book sequence should be read in the following order:_ 

A Company of Heroes: The American Frontier, 1775-1783  RC 36859

by Dale Van Every

read by Peter Johnson

3 cassettes

Historian and novelist Van Every follows the westward-moving

settlers who fought back Native American tribes incited by

British leaders during the American Revolution. Discusses the

confrontation between Virginia-born George Rogers Clark and

London-educated Iroquois chief Joseph Brant who engaged in a

"frontier war that took on many aspects of a personal duel."

1962. 

Ark of Empire: The American Frontier, 1784-1803  RC 36860

by Dale Van Every

read by Peter Johnson

3 cassettes

Tells the story of the birth of the United States following the

Revolution. This account covers the problems caused by a weak

confederation; the difficulties of governing and defending the

vast regions of the new nation; and the continuing threat of

Native Americans, the Spanish, and the British. 1963.

The Final Challenge: The American 

Frontier, 1804-1845  RC 36861

by Dale Van Every

read by Peter Johnson

3 cassettes

This volume completes Van Every's account of the expansion of the

new democratic nation from east to west, a phenomenon accompanied

by the rise of a sense of nationalism in America. Individual

stories of pioneers form a kind of collective biography of the

frontier men and women who defied great odds to advance to the

Pacific. 1964.

Exploring the West  RC 28241

by Herman J. Viola

read by Jake Williams

2 cassettes

The story of nineteenth-century pioneers who blazed trails across

the West: surveyors, scientists, mountain men, fur trappers,

engineers, artists, settlers, and many others. Tells the stories

of men such as Kit Carson, Zebulon Pike, and John C. Fremont and

about the expeditions, railroads, gold rush, and Indians that

were all part of the exploration. 1987. 

The Scouts  RC 21386

by Keith Wheeler

read by Randy Atcher

2 cassettes

An account of one group of indispensable men who served

throughout the decades of American western expansion as the eyes,

ears, and provisioners of those who dared venture into unsettled

territory. These scouts were former fur trappers who had learned

how to survive in the wilderness. With their knowledge of the

terrain, Indian ways, and available game, they attracted the

attention and elicited the admiration of influential explorers

and adventurers. A Time-Life book. 1978.

West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder to Almanzo

Wilder, San Francisco, 1915  RC 8759

by Laura Ingalls Wilder 

and Almanzo Wilder

read by Marion Ambrose

1 cassette

Long letters to the author's husband reflecting her excitement

over her experiences on a visit to San Francisco in 1915. For

junior and senior high and adult readers. 1974. 

The Loggers  RC 20125

by Richard Lippincott Williams

read by Lou Harpenau

2 cassettes

An account of the pioneer period of western logging and the

thousands of men who went west to profit from the timber harvest,

whether by felling trees or building a corporate empire. The West

offered them challenge, adventure, and an unencumbered way of

life. A Time-Life book. 1976. 

The Chisholm Trail: High Road of the Cattle Kingdom  RC 18953

by Donald Emmet Worcester

read by David Woods

2 cassettes

A panoramic view of the long cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail

in the 1870s and 1880s and of the life and work of the American

cowboy. Describes the early cattle drives with a modest group of

animals, the growth of trailing contractors with immense herds,

and, finally, the ranch syndicates. 1980.

BRAILLE

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American

West   BR 8720

by Dee Alexander Brown

4 volumes

Based on the records of treaty councils and the actual words of

Indian leaders such as Geronimo, Chief Joseph, and Crazy Horse.

This history of the Indians from 1860 to 1890 covers the thirty

critical years during which the West was won and the civilization

of the American Indian was lost. 1970.

Lost Bonanzas: Tales of the Legendary Lost Mines of the American

West   BR 352

by Harry Sinclair Drago

3 volumes

The author examines eighteen legends of treasures lost in the

West. In evaluating the evidence, he cites historical errors and

contradictions, including the tale of the lost Dutchman mine and

its connection with the Peralta hoax. 1966.

The Negro Cowboys  BR 15

by Philip Durham and Everett L. Jones

3 volumes

This book recounts the roles that black men played in the Old

West. Cowboys, cooks, roustabouts, rodeo riders, rustlers, and

gunmen are discussed. 1965. 

Cowboys of the Wild West  BR 6627

by Russell Freedman

1 volume

Cowboys--many of whom were teenaged or in their early

twenties--were responsible for driving great herds across the

plains in the 1800s. Describes their clothes and equipment, how

they passed their days on the trail and on the ranch, and the big

roundups. For junior and senior high and older readers. 1985.

This Ol' Drought Ain't Broke Us Yet (but We're All Bent Pretty

Bad): Stories of the American West  BR 9324

by Jim Garry and Herman J. Viola

2 volumes

Garry has spent a dozen years gathering and telling tales of the

American West. His stories are a mixture of fact and fiction,

extending from pioneer days to modern times, and they come from

sources ranging from his Texas ancestors to the Wyoming ranchers

he happens upon in diners. Humor permeates all of the adventures

in these stories--from bank robbing, to cowboying, to practical

jokes. 1992.

Women of the West  BR 3428

by Dorothy Gray

2 volumes

Collection of stories about pioneer women who helped settle the

West. Includes missionaries, writers, a doctor, and a cattle

rancher. 1976.

Those Tremendous Mountains: The Story of the Lewis and Clark

Expedition   BR 4606

by David Freeman Hawke 

and Meriwether Lewis

4 volumes

President Thomas Jefferson's ideas and plans were the basis for

the almost-four-year-long expedition from St. Louis to the mouth

of the Columbia River and back. Lewis and Clark tell much of the

story in their own words while Hawke assesses the significance of

the trip then and later. 1980.

The Gunfighters  BR 4459

by James David Horan

4 volumes

A biographical analysis of seven noted gunfighters of the Old

West, based on historical archives, newspaper accounts, and

eyewitness interviews. Chronicles the deeds and misdeeds of Billy

the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, Ben Thompson, Kid Curry, Tom Horn,

Harry Tracy, and John Wesley Hardin. 1976.

The Lawmen  BR 4732

by James David Horan

4 volumes

The story of the men who tried to preserve law and order in the

Old West, based on eyewitness accounts, newspaper reports,

memoirs, and other primary sources. Stresses the reality of the

careers of Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Bill Tilghman, and others

over the myths that have grown up around them. 1976.

The Pioneers  BR 5671

by Huston Horn

2 volumes

Conveys the spirit of heroic endeavor that characterized the

great migration in 1841, when a stream of men, women, and

children poured out of Independence, Missouri, headed west.

Mostly American-born, they were homeseekers determined to find

the fertile earthly paradise they were told existed on the other

side of the continent. A Time-Life book. 1974. 

The Wild, Wild West  BR 1485

by Peter Lyon

1 volume

An expos of several nineteenth-century western heroes, depicted

as worthless drifters, robbers, and killers. Includes stories of

Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, Jesse James, and Wyatt Earp.

1969.

A Lady's Experiences in the Wild West in 1883  BR 4328

by Lady Rose Pender

1 volume

An inimitable account of an English woman's travels through the

western states with her husband. Despite their adventures in

fording rivers in flood, getting stuck in mud holes, and

sometimes going without food and water, the author remained alert

to the beauties of the country. 1978.

The Outlaw Trail  BR 3988

by Robert Redford

1 volume

A unique blend of history and adventure in which the popular

actor expresses his love for nature and the land. This love

motivates him to promote the preservation of the Old West.

Covering many miles on horseback in Wyoming and Utah, his small

party of nine set out to retrace the legends and heritage of

American history. 1978.

Jesse James Was His Name; or, Fact and Fiction concerning the 

Careers of the Notorious James Brothers of Missouri

BR 7047

by William A. Settle

3 volumes

This well-documented volume cuts through the tangle of legend and

folklore concerning the American bandit Jesse James. 1966.

The Gamblers  BR 4448

by the editors of Time-Life Books

2 volumes

Examines the role of gambling on the American frontier: among the

Indians, on the rivers, and in the mining camps and the

boomtowns. The authors contend that almost everybody gambled in

the Old West, and those who died at it had "a propensity for

cheating." 1978. 

The Rawhide Years: A History of the Cattlemen and the Cattle

Country   BR 3257

by Glenn R. Vernam

2 volumes

Firsthand account of the life of the American cowboy from the

early pioneering days when the Spanish introduced the cow and the

horse. Includes portraits of such classic characters of the Old

West as Dora Hand, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, W.W. Pierson,

and Calamity Jane. 1976. 

The Women Who Made the West  

BR 4627

by Western Writers of America

3 volumes

Eighteen stories of the American frontier relate the

contributions of women, little known outside their own

localities, whose achievements either helped liberate women from

their traditional place in the social scheme or elevated their

status. Includes two-gun girls, women miners, stagecoach drivers,

hotel owners, practical nurses, doctors, and crusaders for

women's rights. 1980.

The Railroaders  BR 5707

by Keith Wheeler

2 volumes

Lively account of the railroad period in United States history

and the beginning of the first transcontinental line. Tells how

the project captured the imagination and describes surveyors,

brawling Irish construction workers and their Chinese

counterparts, proud engineers, corporate promoters, and firemen. 

*** 11/12/96 (gft)***

Comments to: lcmarvel@loc.gov