Historians of the American Frontier: A Bio-Bibliographical Sourcebook

(Hardback)

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As a group, American frontier historians have been uniquely influential within and beyond their profession. Frederick Jackson Turner in particular stands out, but many others in the field contributed theories, hypotheses, and pivotal works that have permanently altered American conceptions of history. This new reference is the first volume to provide comprehensive information on the most prominent historians of the frontier. Fully annotated, it presents individual analyses of more than 50 historical scholars who helped to shape research, writing, and critical thought on the American frontier and American history in general. Each chapter is prepared by a different specialist and includes a brief biography, a complete summary of articles and books, and a detailed analysis of the historian's work. Historians of the colonial, trans-Appalachian, and trans-Mississippi frontiers are represented together with scholars who were primarily concerned with agricultural history, the Spanish Borderlands, land policy, railroad history, Native American studies, or other specialized subject areas. A valuable resource for students and scholars working in American frontier history and related fields, this book is an appropriate selection for historical societies and academic and public libraries.

Reviews

.,."this is, in aggregate, a volume that will encourage and inspire."-The Annals of Iowa
.,."Along with two recent historiographical anthologies on the frontier editied by Michael P. Malone and Roger L. Nichols, this fine collection will prove of great value to students of the American frontier. It will likely prove useful as a sourcebook to students of American education as well."-Indiana Magazine of History
.,."As in any multiauthored book, the chapters vary widely. Some deal with relatively minor people who made only minor contributions. Others discuss giants of the historical profession. Editor Wunder gave his contrbutors wide latitude. Generally the result is what one might have wanted. The essays give a clear discussion of where frontier history came from and what it accomplished through the careers under discussion. From the criticisms levedled by the chapter authors, it is clear that historians now consider different issues than did most of these deceased scholars. At the same time, the presenty collection is an excellent resource for people interested in American frontier history. The chapter bibliographies give a quick introduction to many topics the writers considered. The editor has made a valuable contribution to understanding how American history is written. This book helps its reader realize where many of the ideas we hold about the frontier originated."-The Western Historical Quarterly
.,."The value and importance of this work to both the scholar and the general reader cannot be minimized. Although it was designed as a reference tool, reading it through from beginning to end is a richly rewarding experience. Wunder has documented the first and second generation of frontier historians, including what might be termed the 'heroic age' of American frontier historiography. And 'heroes' many of them were-individuals of imagination, energy, and insight who literally changed the direction of historical writing about American's past. Looming over all the field, however, is the towering figure of Frederick Jackson Turner, whose shadow falls on nearly every page of this compendium. Rightly or wrongly, for better or worse, no historian has ever done so much to shape American historiography. 'He was a new historian when the 'new history' was actually new.'"-Oregon Historical Quarterly
...this is, in aggregate, a volume that will encourage and inspire.-The Annals of Iowa
...Along with two recent historiographical anthologies on the frontier editied by Michael P. Malone and Roger L. Nichols, this fine collection will prove of great value to students of the American frontier. It will likely prove useful as a sourcebook to students of American education as well.-Indiana Magazine of History
...As in any multiauthored book, the chapters vary widely. Some deal with relatively minor people who made only minor contributions. Others discuss giants of the historical profession. Editor Wunder gave his contrbutors wide latitude. Generally the result is what one might have wanted. The essays give a clear discussion of where frontier history came from and what it accomplished through the careers under discussion. From the criticisms levedled by the chapter authors, it is clear that historians now consider different issues than did most of these deceased scholars. At the same time, the presenty collection is an excellent resource for people interested in American frontier history. The chapter bibliographies give a quick introduction to many topics the writers considered. The editor has made a valuable contribution to understanding how American history is written. This book helps its reader realize where many of the ideas we hold about the frontier originated.-The Western Historical Quarterly
...The value and importance of this work to both the scholar and the general reader cannot be minimized. Although it was designed as a reference tool, reading it through from beginning to end is a richly rewarding experience. Wunder has documented the first and second generation of frontier historians, including what might be termed the 'heroic age' of American frontier historiography. And 'heroes' many of them were-individuals of imagination, energy, and insight who literally changed the direction of historical writing about American's past. Looming over all the field, however, is the towering figure of Frederick Jackson Turner, whose shadow falls on nearly every page of this compendium. Rightly or wrongly, for better or worse, no historian has ever done so much to shape American historiography. 'He was a new historian when the 'new history' was actually new.'-Oregon Historical Quarterly
All of the essays are well-written, soundly researched, and balanced accounts; and most are critical in the best sense of the word. . . . Wunder is to be complimented for his role as editor. Other fields of American history cry out for similar treatment.-Pacific Northwest Quarterly
Through individual essays that average 12 pages in length, this biobibliography work traces the contributions and forces that have influenced the lives of 57 now deceased scholars in the field of American frontier history. Wunder has selected for inclusion those who made significant discoveries that shaped further research and writing about the frontier, and who contributed to history even though associated with other disciplines such as anthropology. Although one may quibble about the historians selected, coverage appears to be fairly comprehensive. Authors of the essays come from diverse academic backgrounds and include prominent historians as well as new members of the profession. Essays are arranged alphabetically by historian and are divided into four subsections: an extensive bibliography; major historiographical themes and forces that shaped the scholar's interpretations; a lengthy analysis of the historian's works; and a bibliography listing all books, articles, selected book reviews, and historiographical studies of the historian. The accurate index facilitates use of the volume. A high-quality scholarly publication aimed at graduate students and faculty at research institutions.-Choice
..."this is, in aggregate, a volume that will encourage and inspire."-The Annals of Iowa
..."Along with two recent historiographical anthologies on the frontier editied by Michael P. Malone and Roger L. Nichols, this fine collection will prove of great value to students of the American frontier. It will likely prove useful as a sourcebook to students of American education as well."-Indiana Magazine of History
..."As in any multiauthored book, the chapters vary widely. Some deal with relatively minor people who made only minor contributions. Others discuss giants of the historical profession. Editor Wunder gave his contrbutors wide latitude. Generally the result is what one might have wanted. The essays give a clear discussion of where frontier history came from and what it accomplished through the careers under discussion. From the criticisms levedled by the chapter authors, it is clear that historians now consider different issues than did most of these deceased scholars. At the same time, the presenty collection is an excellent resource for people interested in American frontier history. The chapter bibliographies give a quick introduction to many topics the writers considered. The editor has made a valuable contribution to understanding how American history is written. This book helps its reader realize where many of the ideas we hold about the frontier originated."-The Western Historical Quarterly
..."The value and importance of this work to both the scholar and the general reader cannot be minimized. Although it was designed as a reference tool, reading it through from beginning to end is a richly rewarding experience. Wunder has documented the first and second generation of frontier historians, including what might be termed the 'heroic age' of American frontier historiography. And 'heroes' many of them were-individuals of imagination, energy, and insight who literally changed the direction of historical writing about American's past. Looming over all the field, however, is the towering figure of Frederick Jackson Turner, whose shadow falls on nearly every page of this compendium. Rightly or wrongly, for better or worse, no historian has ever done so much to shape American historiography. 'He was a new historian when the 'new history' was actually new.'"-Oregon Historical Quarterly
"All of the essays are well-written, soundly researched, and balanced accounts; and most are critical in the best sense of the word. . . . Wunder is to be complimented for his role as editor. Other fields of American history cry out for similar treatment."-Pacific Northwest Quarterly
"Through individual essays that average 12 pages in length, this biobibliography work traces the contributions and forces that have influenced the lives of 57 now deceased scholars in the field of American frontier history. Wunder has selected for inclusion those who made significant discoveries that shaped further research and writing about the frontier, and who contributed to history even though associated with other disciplines such as anthropology. Although one may quibble about the historians selected, coverage appears to be fairly comprehensive. Authors of the essays come from diverse academic backgrounds and include prominent historians as well as new members of the profession. Essays are arranged alphabetically by historian and are divided into four subsections: an extensive bibliography; major historiographical themes and forces that shaped the scholar's interpretations; a lengthy analysis of the historian's works; and a bibliography listing all books, articles, selected book reviews, and historiographical studies of the historian. The accurate index facilitates use of the volume. A high-quality scholarly publication aimed at graduate s

Author Bio

JOHN R. WUNDER is Director of the Great Plains Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. His previous works include Inferior Courts, Superior Justice, rking the Range and At Home on the Range (Greenwood Press, 1979, 1985). He has contributed articles to the Pacific Historical Review, Western Historical Quarterly, and Pacific Northwest Quarterly.