BOOK NOTES
Women In Kentucky. By Helen Deiss Irvin. (Lexington: The University
Press of Kentucky, 1979. 134p.;
photographs, source listing.) Another con-
tribution to the Kentucky Bicentennial
Bookshelf series, this work outlines
the history of the Kentucky women from
1775 through the 1930s. The six
chapters focus on the lives of settlers,
workers, and reformers without dot-
ing on the contributions of exceptional
Kentucky women. Based upon pub-
lished diaries, autobiographies,
biographies, and newspapers, the book is an
example of solid research presented in a
clear, concise, and quite readable
manner. Other states might do well to
emulate this fine series of publica-
tions sponsored in part by the Kentucky
Historical Events Celebration
Commission.
Frank R. Levstik
Local History Today: Papers Presented
at Four Regional Workshops for
Local Historical Organizations in
Indiana, June, 1978 - April, 1979. By
Richard Jensen, Robert M. Sutton, Thomas
D. Clark, Thomas J. Schlereth,
with an introduction by Thomas K.
Krasean. (Indianapolis: Indiana Histor-
ical Society, 1979. viii + 86p.;
illustrations, notes, appendix.) This is a
compilation of four keynote addresses
presented by Professors Richard Jen-
sen, Robert M. Sutton, Thomas D. Clark,
and Thomas J. Schlereth at a
series of workshops for local historical
organizations in Indiana. The themes
of the addresses were focused on local
history and its value in the under-
standing of state and national heritage.
While three of the addresses pre-
sent the traditional academic
historian's approach to the theme, Professor
Schlereth focuses on "aboveground
archaeology." He calls upon the reader
to recognize that the environment, both
natural and man-made, is an im-
portant historical document. Much local
history can be learned through
geological/geographic features,
landscape, vegetation, place and street
names, buildings or working places.
These papers are a useful contribution
to the literature of local history.
Frank R. Levstik
William Oliver Littick: Newspaper
Publisher Extraordinary. By Clay Lit-
tick. (Baltimore: Gateway Press, Inc.,
1979. xii + 82p.; illustrations.) This
is an informal biography of the late
manager and owner of the Zanesville
Times-Recorder. While detailing the career of a young newspaperman at
the turn of the century, William
Oliver Littick: Newspaper Publisher Ex-
traordinary seeks to record the efforts of one man to bring civic
improve-
ments and advancements to his Ohio town
through active community lead-
ership. Perhaps the most interesting
aspect of this volume is the history of
96 OHIO HISTORY
the newspaper itself and the local
Zanesville history, including early pic-
tures of the town and a few of its
famous residents.
Laura Russell
Snowbound With Mr. Lincoln. By John A. Lloyd. (New York: Vantage
Press, Inc., 1979. 125p.; illustration.)
Written during the blizzard of 1978,
Snowbound With Mr. Lincoln is John A. Lloyd's lively discussion and ex-
amination of much of the lore
surrounding our 16th president. A welcome
addition to Lincoln literature, this
carefully researched book highlights
events before and after Lincoln's
election as president and chronicles the
post-assassination period.
Laura Russell
Phoenix: The Decline and Rebirth of
the Indian People. By William E.
Coffer (Koi Hosh). (New York: Van
Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1979. v +
281p.; illustrations, footnotes,
bibliography, appendix, index.) The purpose
Mr. Coffer gives for writing this book
is to set the record straight, to give the
Indian side of the disastrous conflict
between the multi-cultured Indians of
North America and the land-hungry
Europeans who exploited and finally
sought to destroy the Indians. There is
so much history to cover that the
book reads at times like a list, but it
is valuable for its review of what
amounts to a policy of genocide carried
on by local and national govern-
ments and by individual Americans. The
subject demands a more humanis-
tic treatment. The value of this book is
that Coffer draws upon his consider-
able expertise to provide materials
(history, bibliography, notes, and copies
of treaties, for example) for further
study. This would be a good text for
Indian History/Indian Rights courses on
the secondary and university
levels.
R. M. Weatherford