Preface
Historians of the American Frontier
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.
.,."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
students and faculty at research institutions."-Choice
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