Birchbark Brigade: A Fur Trade History
European fur trading in North America began early in the sixteenth century and ended when a nineteenth-century change in fashion made beaver hats passé. At its height, the fur trade was big business as well as a means of exploring North America and, eventually, opening the path to European settlement. The first half of Peterson’s well-researched account tightly packs a great deal of exploration (Columbus, Cabot, Cartier, Champlain, Joliet, Marquette, LaSalle, Duluth, Frontenac, Washington, Pontiac, Mackenzie) into six chapters. The second half employs firsthand accounts to discuss the voyageurs, settlers, and Native Americans in a considerably more involving manner. Throughout, black-and-white photos of sites and reproductions of period artwork, maps, and documents illustrate the text and sidebars. The extensive back matter includes a detailed time line, notes for the many quotes, a source bibliography, a suggested reading list, and descriptions of a dozen places to visit. This will fill a gap in many history collections. Grades 6-9. --Carolyn Phelan