Theodore C. Blegen

In 1851 Frank Blackwell Mayer, a talented young artist from Baltimore, traveled to Minnesota Territory to attend the signing of the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux between the Dakota Indians and the United States government. "He went," notes Bertha Heilbron in the introduction, "not to participate in the negotiations, but to observe Indian life at first hand and to find subjects for his brush and pencil... With a sure stroke he pictured the scenes and the inhabitants--red and white--of the frontier; with a fluent pen he described all that he saw through the sensitive eye of the artist." Mayer's diary is a travel narrative, an eyewitness account of a critical treaty signing, and a candid personal view of the development of the artist in mid-nineteenth century America. His words and drawings offer a lively and important resource for historians of art and the frontier, as well as readers of regional history. This edition includes an additional section of Mayer's diary that was discovered after the book was first published in 1932. Bertha Heilbron's helpful introductions and annotation provide important historical information for both parts oif this valuable document.

With Pen and Pencil on the Frontier in 1851 is a historical book that features the diary and sketches of Frank Blackwell Mayer, an American artist who traveled to the American West in the mid-19th century. The book is a fascinating account of Mayer's journey through the frontier, where he encountered Native American tribes, witnessed the California Gold Rush, and explored the rugged landscapes of the West.Mayer's diary entries provide an intimate glimpse into his experiences, including his interactions with the people he met, his observations of the natural environment, and his reflections on the challenges and joys of traveling in the West. The sketches that accompany the diary entries offer a visual representation of the places and people Mayer encountered, capturing the beauty and diversity of the American West.This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of the American West, as well as for art enthusiasts who appreciate the work of early American artists. It provides a unique perspective on the frontier experience and offers a glimpse into the life and work of one of America's most talented and adventurous artists.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

""Five Fur Traders of the Northwest: Being the Narrative of Peter Pond"" is a historical non-fiction book written by Charles Marvin Gates. The book is centered around the life and experiences of Peter Pond, a fur trader who played a significant role in the early exploration and development of the North American fur trade industry. The book provides a detailed account of Pond's adventures and challenges as he navigated the rugged terrain of the Canadian wilderness and established trade relationships with indigenous peoples. The author also sheds light on the complex political and economic dynamics that shaped the fur trade industry during this period. Through Pond's story, the book offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Northwest and the people who helped shape it.: Being The Narrative Of Peter Pond And The Diaries Of John Macdonell, Archibald N. McLeod, Hugh Faries, And Thomas Connor.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

"Few questions in American history," writes Theodore C. Blegen, "have stirred so much curiosity or provoked such extended discussions as that of the authenticity of the runic inscription on a stone found near Kensington, Minnesota, in 1898." Swedish-American farmer Olof Ohman discovered the stone clasped in the roots of an aspen tree on a knoll above the surrounding swamp. His young son was the first to notice the strange letters chiseled into the rock face. Since then historians, geologists and runic scholars have entered the debate over the age and meaning of these carvings. Are they genuine 14th-century runes, evidence of a pre-Columbian Viking expedition to North America, or are they a clever 19th-century hoax? In this classic volume, Blegen untangles the circumstances surrounding the unearthing of the Kensington Rune Stone. Marshalling letters, affidavits, newspaper accounts and investigative reports, he lays out in authoritative detail the early history of this controversial artifact and investigates the background and character of Olof Ohman and other men involved in its discovery. He also describes the first cycles of investigation and dispute and devotes a chapter to the role of Hjalmar R. Holand, who acquired the stone in 1907 and was its chief defender until his death in 1963. Fourteen appendixes offer useful primary source materials and supply English translations where needed. This lucid text, together with its footnotes and appendixes, remains a cornerstone for further investigation and discussion.

In an engaging and readable style, renowned historian Theodore Blegen takes the reader on a tour of Minnesota's development, from the geological events that shaped the land to westward movement to twentieth-century modernization. This second edition includes a concluding chapter by Russell W. Fridley that chronicles the impact of turbulent national politics and cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s on the state, as well as an extensive reading list and detailed index. Minnesota is a concise yet comprehensive account of the state's progress, highlighting landmarks in politics, technology, the arts, and architecture.

Minnesota History was first published in 1960. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.Anyone interested in Minnesota history, whether as a teacher, as a student, or as a general reader, will find this an invaluable guide to reading and study. The book contains an outline of the state's history, questions and suggestions for the student, and lists of reading material for each of the 42 topical sections into which the outline is divided.The outline covers the entire history of the state from the time of the Indians, before the French and British explorations, to the present. The reading references include accounts written from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. The aim in preparing the reading lists was to include any article or book bearing upon the Minnesota story which met the qualifications of good historical writing and fair accessibility. Materials of particular interest or importance to the topic under consideration are so designated, and there are liberal annotations to help the reader in his choice of readings. References which are particularly appropriate for young readers are also specially designated. A number of maps are provided for additional guidance.This is a complete revision of a book long out of print, Minnesota History: A Study Outline by Theodore C. Blegen.

Grass Roots History was first published in 1947. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.The pivot of history is not the uncommon, but the usual, and the true makers of history are "the people, yes."Theodore C. Blegen, writing with discernment and vigor, explores in his book the simple essence of grass roots history, the colors and forms and the processes of our daily life and civilization. He uses diaries and letters, songs and ballads of the immigrants and pioneers, everyday speech, and newspaper advertisements to show clearly and sharply the exciting sources of "the literature of the unlettered," to reveal the spirit of the day, and to reconstruct for the reader a segment of the American past."We have need to dig into the folk story of America if we are to bring out the pattern of American development and American culture in all its color and richness of texture and design. Grass roots history is an avenue to that 'social awareness' which the natural scientists, more boldly than the social scientists, have declared to be the most urgent and compelling need of our day."This is the author's own statement of the significance of grass roots history.

Minnesota History was first published in 1931. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.