Title: Twelves years in America
Subtitle: being observations on the country, the people, institutions and religion, with notices of slavery and the late war, and facts and incidents illustrative of ministerial life and labor in Illinois, with notes of travel through the United States and Canada
Description: James Shaw, a Minister from northern Ireland, traveled to the U.S. in 1854 and spent 12 years there. While there he traveled a great deal, and also stayed in Illinois for a number of years. The book was written along the lines of a series of addresses he gave in 1866 and 1867, after his return to Ireland. Chapter headings, and some of the topics listed there, are:

-The Voyage Over.
-Westward Travel. Chicago, Bloomington.
-The Country and its Resources. Physical aspects, Climate, Minerals and Metals.
-Fauna and Flora, Zoology and Ornithology.
-The South and West, the Future Field of Emigration. Texas, New Mexico, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas (and other states).
-Illinois, the Garden State. Development of the North-West, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Commercial Facilities.
-American Life and Character. Aborigines, African, Anglo-Saxon, Marriage and Divorce, Parents and Children.
-The Late War and its Lessons. Slavery, Cherokee Indians, Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims.
-Old and New America. Nations Second Birth, Emigration.
-The American Churches. Evangelical Churches, Temperance, Bible, Missionary Societies, Colleges, Press.
-American Revivals. The Great Awakening and Revival of 1857-58. Public Prayer Meetings.
-The Randolph Grove Circuit. Illinois Conference.
-Bloomington West Charge. Church Courts in America, Revivals, Methodist Episcopal and Protestant Episcopal churches.
-Petersburgh Station. Financial Crisis and Indian Rebellion.
-Oldtown Circuit.
-Decatur Circuit.
-Clinton Station. Revival and Conversions, Death and Funerals of Soldiers.
-Rushville Station. Travels through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio by Railroad.
-Atlanta Station.
-The Church of a Hundred Years. Generic and Specific Forms, Historical Development.
-Methodist Centenary Celebrations.
-The Canada Confederation.
Subjects: Description and travel, Social life and customs, Religion
Places: United States, Canada, Illinois
Time periods: 19th century