Frontier children /

Probably one of the most neglected subjects relating to the American frontier is the children. This is surprising in that children were as integral a part of frontier life as adults, and to a large extent they were a major incentive for many of the families seeking a better future there. Written records and journals are a necessary component of historic research, but in the case of children, especially Indians and African Americans, such resources are virtually nonexistent. Despite this limitation, the authors have been able to reconstruct stories of children on the frontier from later-life memories and from oral history transcripts. They have wisely verified, when possible, the accuracy of their sources, for such reports are often heavily filtered through the passage of time and thus misleading. Excellent use is made of photographic evidence, which is quite extensive. Reproduced in this volume are more than 200 vintage photographs as well as several line illustrations. All of the many facets of the frontier experience are examined in relation to how they affected the world of children. --Fred Egloff

In this latest collaboration between Peavy and Smith (Pioneer Women; Women in Waiting in the Westward Movement), the pair shift their focus to children and coming of age in the late 19th- and early 20th-century American West. The resulting work is less analytical than Elliott West's Growing Up with the Country (Univ. of New Mexico, 1998). Instead, it centers on nearly 200 engaging and captivating period photographs of children at work or play, drawn from a variety of libraries and collections. The well-written text, which is based primarily on secondary sources, is ably supported by the visuals. A particularly noteworthy feature of this book is the coverage given to children of color. Another bonus is that sidebars discussing issues ranging from Indian schools to clothing are included. Providing a unique window on a historical aspect of childhood, this book will appeal to a wide segment of readers.ÄDaniel D. Liestman, Kansas State Univ. Lib., Manhattan (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.