Professor F. A. Ogg of the University of Wisconsin, and a member of
the State Historical Society, is the author of a new volume entitled
_National Progress, 1907 to 1917_. All students of American history
are familiar with the monumental coöperative history of our country
edited by Professor Hart of Harvard, entitled _The American Nation_.
This work in twenty-seven volumes was completed in 1907. Professor
Ogg’s new book is designed to bring the work down to date by covering
the history of the nation for the decade ending with 1917.
The recent volume by Dr. Kellogg, Research Associate in the State
Historical Society, entitled _Early Narratives of the Northwest
1634-1699_, is reviewed in the _American Historical Review_ in part as
follows:
“If the early history of Wisconsin and neighboring regions
is not adequately accessible to future generations, it will
be through no fault of a group of zealous and competent
students who, perhaps inspired by the examples of Draper,
the collector, and Thwaites, editor and collector, continue
the work in true historical spirit and scientific method. If
Wisconsin is fortunate in her students, she is also
abundantly rich in material for study. * * * For all of the
journals Miss Kellogg’s abundant annotation is helpful. We
wish she had added one more note, explaining Raddison’s
wonderful word _auxotacicae_ (p. 65). The clearly-penned
introduction to each narrative not merely summarizes it, but
informs the student of what printing it has already had,
either in French or English, and makes plain the editor’s
choice of text. Not the least interesting feature of the
work is a facsimile of a contemporary map drawn to
illustrate Marquette’s discoveries, here reproduced from the
original in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris. A portion of
Franquelin’s map of 1688 is also given. Few typographical
slips are noted; even La Salle (Cavelier), recorded in more
than one work as ‘Chevalier,’ gets through safely here, with
but one transformation into ‘Cavalier’ (p. 164).
“The volume as a whole bespeaks scholarly care and regard
for the needs of a large class of students to whom rare
volumes or obscure texts may not be available; and admirably
presents the essential original material of the first
half-century and more, from the first known advent of the
white man in the _pays d’en haut_.”
_Wisconsin’s Social Democracy_ is a forty-six page pamphlet by Hon.
Frederick W. von Cotzhausen, of Milwaukee, printed in advance from a
projected volume containing the author’s “Historic Reminiscences and
Reflections.” The pamphlet now issued consists of three parts written
respectively in 1906, 1914, and 1917, and aims at “Sketching a few
Episodes” in the history of Socialism in Wisconsin “which may be of
future historical interest and of which I may speak from personal
observation.” The tone and sentiments of the author are strongly
antisocialistic in character.
_Henry Baird Favill, A.B., M.D., LL.D., 1860-1916_, is the title of a
memorial volume, privately printed, to this noted son of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has produced many great physicians but of them all none has
achieved worthier fame than did Doctor Favill. Born in Madison in
1860, the capital city continued to be his home until 1894. He then
removed to Chicago where in a few years he gained recognition not only
as one of the city’s leading physicians but also as one of the most
industrious civic workers and useful citizens. The memorial volume,
compiled by his son, contains two parts: one devoted to tributes and
resolutions, the other to addresses and papers by Doctor Favill. The
wide range of topics covered by the latter and the charm of style and
breadth of vision manifested in their treatment afford a glimpse, at
least, of the intellectual and human greatness of their author.
To the La Crosse _Tribune_ for November 4, 1917, E. S. Hebberd
contributes a proposal that the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth
of Cadwalader C. Washburn, which occurs in 1918, be observed in
fitting manner. The Washburn family is remarkable for the ability and
the public careers of its members. All of the seven brothers achieved
distinction. Four were members of Congress, each representing a
different state. Two were governors of their respective states, and
two, including one of the congressmen, were ministers of the United
States to foreign countries. Wisconsin owes a debt of gratitude to C.
C. Washburn, and it would seem fitting that appropriate recognition
should be made of the centennial of his birth.
_The Wisconsin Archeologist_ for July, 1917, has as its leading
article a survey of Lake Shawano and the Wolf River, by George R. Fox
and H. O. Younger. As a water route the Wolf River was long used by
the American Trading Company in reaching its trading stations in
northern Wisconsin. The survey here presented constitutes a valuable
historical and archeological discussion of this region. The October
number is chiefly devoted to a survey of Chetek and Rice lakes written
by Charles E. Brown and Robert Becker.
Charles A. Eastman’s _From the Deep Woods to Civilization_, published
by Little, Brown and Company, is a fascinating volume. The author, a
full-blooded Sioux, began life as a barbarian of the plains, his
family having fled to Canada after the Sioux outbreak of 1862 in
Minnesota. The present volume tells the story of his life from the
time when his father determined to dedicate him to a civilized career.
It is interesting to note that from an enthusiastic believer in the
superiority of civilized life as compared with savagery, the author
has come gradually to doubt the correctness of his earlier view.
Apparently the present world cataclysm, which has swept many another
thinker from his accustomed moorings, has had some influence upon Mr.
Eastman’s views concerning the respective merits of the civilized and
the savage states. Wisconsin readers of the book will take special
interest in the chapter “College Life in the West,” describing the
author’s experiences at Beloit College, to which place the young
neophyte in the arts of the paleface turned on leaving the Santee
Agency Mission School.
_Methodist Heroes of Other Days_ by Samuel Gardiner Ayer has been
issued by the Methodist Book Concern. It is a slight volume containing
some thirty-six short appreciative sketches of as many “heroes” of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination. Wisconsin readers will be
particularly interested in the short account of “Alfred Brunson, the
Soldier Preacher,” one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal
church in Wisconsin. Readers of the MAGAZINE will be interested still
further, perhaps, to learn that a daughter of Reverend Brunson is at
the present time engaged in writing a biography of her father for the
State Historical Society.
The December, 1917, number of the _Mississippi Valley Historical
Review_ maintains the high standard of excellence which readers have
been led, by the character of previous numbers, to expect in this
periodical. The three leading articles are: “Howell Cobb and the
Crisis of 1850,” by R. P. Brooks; “A Larger View of the Yellowstone
Expedition, 1819-1820,” by Cardinal Goodwin; and “The Beginnings of
British West Florida,” by C. E. Carter. Dan E. Clark contributes the
annual review of historical activities in the trans-Mississippi
Northwest, and to complete the number are departments devoted to
“Notes and Documents,” “Book Reviews,” and “Notes and Comments.”
Announcement has recently been made of the resignation of Clarence W.
Alvord as managing editor of the _Mississippi Valley Historical
Review_, in which capacity he has acted since the founding of the
magazine in 1914. The _Review_, largely because of the efforts of Mr.
Alvord, now ranks among the best of American historical publications.
Its readers will greatly regret Mr. Alvord’s resignation.
The leading article in the October, 1917, issue of the _Iowa Journal
of History and Politics_, describes the Iowa war loan of 1861. By
reason in part of a doubtful provision in the state constitution, in
part of the concerted efforts of the southern sympathizers living in
Iowa, the state administration encountered greater difficulty in
floating a war loan than was the case in any other northern state.
Through the columns of the distant _New York Herald_ the enemies of
the loan conducted their campaign to defeat it. The manner in which
Governor Kirkwood and his assistants overbore the opposition and saved
the reputation of the state is vividly described.
The life of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa’s war governor, by D. E. Clark,
has been issued as one of the Biographical Series of the Iowa
Historical Society. The study of Governor Kirkwood’s life takes the
reader into the history of three commonwealths, but it is with the
development of Iowa that his name is inseparably associated. As Civil
War governor, United States senator, and secretary of the interior
under Garfield, his name is perhaps more widely known than that of any
other person in Iowa history. In preparing the biography, Mr. Clark
had access to seven _Civil War Letter Books_ and three letter books
for the period when Kirkwood was secretary of the interior. Use was
also made of a large collection of letters, covering the period from
1850-1890. From these sources the author has given us a sketch of
Iowa’s noted war governor which is both timely and valuable.
In a two-volume work on _Burrows of Michigan and the Republican Party_
published by Longman, Green and Company, 1917, William Dana Orcott has
presented a detailed career of one of Michigan’s most famous men. As
lawyer, college professor, military hero, and United States senator,
Burrows gained an acquaintance that was nation wide. In ability he
ranked with Blaine, Garfield, Reed, and McKinley; and had he not been
so blindly devoted to the partisan principles which he represented, in
all probability he would have occupied a higher office.
The _Michigan Historical Magazine_ for October, 1917, contains an
interesting group of Civil War letters written by Hon. Washington
Gardiner while serving as a volunteer in 1863-64. The letters were all
written from the front, and depict the conditions observed by this
youthful soldier of sixteen years.
Those who enjoy reading a frontier narrative will welcome a little
volume recently published, entitled _A Soldier Doctor of our Army:
James P. Kimball_. The book was written by Maria B. Kimball, wife of
Dr. Kimball, and is published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. Dr.
Kimball served in the Civil War and later for a number of years at
Fort Buford and other places on the western frontier. He was an
intimate friend of General Custer, by whom he was chosen to act as the
chief medical officer on the campaign which ended in Custer’s death in
1876. But for his inability to meet the appointment, his career would
doubtless have terminated at the same time as Custer’s in the disaster
which overwhelmed his army.
_The Myth Wawataw_ is the subject of a brief dissertation, beautifully
printed, by H. Bedford Jones of Santa Barbara, on the unreliability of
Alexander Henry’s account of the events in the Northwest connected
with Pontiac’s war. A brief discussion is also included in the booklet
on the historical remains at old Michilimackinac.
The October, 1917, number of the _Ohio Archeological Historical
Quarterly_ has an article on Muskingum River pilots by Irven Travis
which many of our members would take pleasure in reading. The palmy
days of small river transportation have long since become a part of
history, and any information bearing upon the part they played in our
social and economic development is treasured by all students of
pioneer days.
Two articles comprise the contents of the _Indiana Magazine of
History_ for September, 1917. The first, “Lincoln in Indiana,” is the
first installment of an interesting and suggestive account of the
obscure period in the great Emancipator’s life of which it treats. The
second article is the concluding section of a history of the origin
and rise of the Republican Party in Indiana from 1854 to 1860.
A history of _Western Influences on Political Parties to 1825_, by
Homer C. Hockett, formerly of the University of Wisconsin, is the
title of Ohio State University _Bulletin_, vol. 22, number 3, issued
in 1917. Dr. Hockett sketches the growth of political parties in this
country from about the middle of the eighteenth century down to the
close of the first quarter of the nineteenth. Chief emphasis is placed
upon the new political issues that arose out of western conditions
during this period, and the manner in which they affected national
policies.
Among the important historical periodicals of the country is the
_Catholic Historical Review_ of Washington, now in its third year of
publication. Its sponsors are valiantly sounding a clarion call to
their fellow religionists to awake to the importance of their
priceless historical heritage, and to put the preservation and study
of its records on a thoroughly scholarly basis. That these matters
have been all too little attended to heretofore can hardly be
gainsaid. If the campaign waged by the _Catholic Historical Review_
shall meet with a reasonable measure of success, however, we may
expect to witness in the not distant future a radical change in the
attitude and actions of the adherents of Catholicism in America with
respect to the cultivation of their historical domain. For the most
part the writing of sectarian religious histories in the United States
has been (and now is) conducted on a regretably low plane of
scholarship. Historians of all the denominations (and, indeed, of
whatever other social groups) would do well to take to heart the
principles of scholarly procedure which the _Review_ advocates.
The broadly objective viewpoint of this church organ may be concretely
illustrated by citing two or three items from a single issue (that for
October, 1917). It is argued that the records of the several dioceses
be administered on a scientific basis, and be “easily accessible to
all qualified students whether Catholic or non-Catholic.” A generous
tribute is paid to the work of the several state historical societies
in conserving the Catholic history of the land, notwithstanding the
membership rolls of these societies contain “very few Catholic names,
and very little Catholic generosity finds its way into their
treasury.” In passing it may be observed that our own Society may
appropriate to itself a fair portion of this tribute, for much has
been done, from its earliest days, to conserve the history of the
oldest of Christian denominations in Wisconsin. Again, a recently
published meretricious life of George Washington, written by a certain
priest, meets with castigation as thorough at the hands of the
reviewer as any historical periodical free from church connections
could have administered. The example of the _Review_ may well be
emulated by the historians of all religious denominations.
The preliminary report of the California Historical Survey Commission,
issued in February, 1917, sets forth one of the most ambitious
undertakings in the field of local history that has ever been launched
in this country. An act passed by the legislature of that state in
June, 1915, provided for the appointment of a commission of three
members to make a survey of all local historical material in
California. An appropriation of ten thousand dollars was made to cover
the expense of the work. The work mapped out by the commission in its
preliminary report includes a careful survey of the several county
archives in the state, of the state archives, and of those of the
local federal offices. Reports are also being gathered from all the
public libraries, from the collections of historical societies and
other similar institutions. Manuscripts in the possession of private
individuals are being listed and the files of early newspapers,
records of the religious and social organizations and large business
concerns of the state are all being examined. Already archival records
antedating the organization of the state government have been found,
the existence of which had been hitherto unsuspected, while records
pertaining to land claims under the Spanish and Mexican governments
have been brought to light.
[Illustration: COLONEL ELLSWORTH AND MISS CARRIE SPAFFORD
The picture of Colonel Ellsworth is reproduced from an
original photograph in the Wisconsin Historical Library; that
of Miss Spafford from a photograph supplied by Mrs. Charles H.
Godfrey, Rockford, Illinois]