Jedediah SmithJedediah Smith and the Opening of the West
Dale L Morgan
University of Nebraska Press, 1964
Price: $16.00
This is the classic source historical scholarship about Jedediah Smith and the fur trade era of the American West! It traces his beginnings as a young man of 23, and his explorations and business ventures until his death about a decade later. The appendix contains letters written by Smith himself about his explorations, and to members of his family. Well-researched and documented, it's a great book to dig into if you want to know more about how life really was in America's wild frontier during the early 1800's.The Travels of Jedediah Smith, A Documentary Outline, Including His Journal
Maurice S. Sullivan
University of Nebraska Press, 1961
Price: $9.95
This book begins with Smith's own description of his entry into the fur trade in 1822, when he left St. Louis with an expedition headed by William H. Ashley and Andrew Henry. It continues with Smith's daily record from June 23, 1827, to July 3, 1828, dealing with his remarkable journey on foot over the Utah desert, his second visit to California, and his trip to Oregon. Included is the diary of the fur trader Alex R. McLeod, describing events during the Hudson's Bay Company expedition in 1828 to recover Jedediah Smith's property after the attack of most of his men on the Umpqua River in Oregon on July 14, 1828.
Mountain Men, Fur Trade & The American West
Mountain Men & Fur Traders of the Far West
Leroy R. Hafen, Editor
University of Nebraska Press, 1982
Price: $14.95
The legendary mountain men -- the fur traders and trappers who penetrated the Rocky Mountains and explored the Far West in the first half of the nineteenth century -- formed the vanguard of the American empire and became the heroes of American adventure. This volume brings to the general reader brief biographies of eighteen representative mountain men, selected from among the essays assembled by LeRoy R. Hafen in The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West (ten volumes, 1965-72)
Introduce yourself -- if you dare -- to the likes of . . . Jedediah Smith, Kit Carson, Jim Bridger -- William H. Ashley, John McLoughlin, Peter Skene Ogden -- William Sublette, Benjamin L. E. Bonneville, Joe Meek -- Andrew Dips, Manuel Lisa, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Pierre Chouteau Jr., Wilson Price Hunt, Ceran St.Vrain, Old Bill Williams, Joesph Walker, and Nathaniel Wyeth!Journal of a Trapper
Osborne Russell
Edited by Aubrey L. Haines
University of Nebraska Press, 1965
Price: $9.95 Paper
"Reader, if you are in search of the travels of a Classical and Scientific tourist, please to lay this Volume down, and pass on, for this simply informs you what a Trapper has seen and experienced. But if you wish to peruse a Hunter's rambles among the wild regions of the Rocky Mountains, please to read this and forgive the authors foibles and imperfections, considering as you pass along that he has been chiefly educated in Nature's School under that rigid tutor experience . . . "
Osborne Russell's journal covering the years 1834 to 1843 is, in the words of the editor, "perhaps the best account of the fur trapper in the Rocky Mountains when the trade there was at its peak. It is a factual, unembellished narrative written by one who was not only a trapper but also a keen observer and an able writer." Edited from the original manuscript and originally printed in a limited edition of 750 copies, this classic piece of Western Americana in now available to the general public.Mountain Men, Volume 8, Tales of the Wild West Series
Rick Steber
Bonanza Publishing, 1990
Price: $4.95 (Suggested Retail)
From Daniel Boone to Jedediah Smith, from Indian Trappers to Rendezvous's, this book packs a lot of information for the general reader.
What's great about this book is its ability to tell a story or deliver a chunck of information about the mountain men and the era of the fur trade in a single page. This makes for quick and enjoyable reading, and allows one to gain a basic knowledge of what it was like to live the lifestyle of a mountain in the early history of the American West.
And . . . it's one of a series of books about the "Wild West!"
Click Here For More Tales of the Wild West by Rick Steber
The Fur Trade of the American West 1807-1840
David J. Wishart
University of Nebraska Press, 1979
Price: $14.95
This book focuses not on "personalities," but on "place." It's about the interrelationships between the biological, physical, and cultural environments that formed the basis for the evolution of the fur trade itself.
The first trappers and traders began by learning how they could successfully exploit the fur resources of the West. In the mid 1820s, after twenty years of experimentation, two fur trade production systems emerged -- one involving trappers and beaver pelts, the other Native Americans and bison robes.
This study considers the geographical setting of the fur trade with an analysis of these two production systems, a provides a fascinating look at the annual cycle of fur trapping and trading itself. Finally, it assesses the fur trade era as a stage of frontier occupation, which for almost forty years at the beginning of the nineteenth century was the primary form of Euro-American acitivity in the Trans-Missouri West.A Majority of Scoundrels, An Informal History of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company
Don Berry
Comstock Editions, 1961
Price: $7.95
There was no more exciting era in the history of the West than the early years of exploration, and no saga more fascinating than that of the mountain men and trappers who joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in its brief history from 1822 to 1834.In these pages Jim Bridger, Jedediah Smith, Hugh Glass, James Beckwourth and all the others who names are now legend, come to life in material drawn directly from original sources -- their journal notes, letters, and contemporary accounts.Exploring the American West, 1803-1879
National Park Service
US Government Printing Office, 1982
Price: $7.50
When Thomas Jefferson took office as the third President of the United States in 1801, much of the land between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean was unknown territory belonging to France or Spain. By the time Rutherford B. Hayes left office as the nineteenth President in 1881, this land was not only part of the United States but it had been explored, surveyed, mapped, photographed, and was rapidly being settled.
Exploring the American West, 1803-1879, is the story of how and why all of this came about. The book begins with the lure of the American West and is followed with a consideration of the explorer, mountain man, and scientist in the western landscape. Finally, the pictorial record by artists, mapmakers, and photographers is also highlighted with a visual record of what they saw before and during western settlement. If you want a quick summary of the history of the American West, this is a great introduction with a wealth of visual information!South Coast Pioneer & Native American History
A Guide to Oregon South Coast History, Traveling the Jedediah Smith Trail
Nathan Douthit
Oregon State University Press, 1999
Price: $22.95
This indispensable guide and reference work opens with an overview of South Coast history, from prehistory to the present. This first section features in-depth looks at the region's native peoples, early exploration, White settlement, Indian-White warfare, the forest industry, transportation, and town development.
The second section follows the route taken along the South Coast in 1828 by Jedediah Smith, one of the foremost explorers of the American West. It describes key historic sites from the from the California/Oregon border to Heceta Head. Drawing on journal entries, the author traces the Jedediah Smith Expedition's advance, and recounts its troubled relations with coastal Indians and its tragic ending. Along the expedition's route, the book profiles the region's many historic places.Requiem for a People, The Rogue Indians and the Frontiersmen
Stephen Dow Beckham
Oregon State University Press, 1996
Price: $15.95
This classic history of southwestern Oregon's Rogue River Indian wars is the only complete record of the region's Native Americans and the destruction of their ages-old lifeways in the 1850s. It tells of the penetration of their land by fur seekers, explorers, overland emigrants, and miners. Throughout his study, Beckham strives to relate the Indian view of this tragic history. Ninetyfive hundred strong when Euro-Americans first began to settle on their land, the Indians fell victim to the forces of the newcomers -- their diseases, vices, technology, and prejudice. Within six years, only two thousand survived.
In addition to chronicling this painful story, the book identifies the consequences of white settlement and mining. What had been a land of abundance endured significant ecological upset, driving the Indians from their homes and to the brink of starvation. Finally, the book confirms the failure of federal Indian policy in Oregon, a dismal record of wars, ineffective treaties, and extension of "trust responsibility" to the natives.
A popular and acclaimed work of Northwest history, this book was first published in 1971 and is still the only scholarly treatment of this subject.South Slough Adventures, Life on a Southern Oregon Esturary
Meloday J. Caldera, Editor
The Friends of South Slough, 1995
Price: $20.00
Indians, fur trappers, explorers, sailors from wrecked schooners, gold miners, loggers and farmers have played a part in the history of South Slough. Read about a young Indian girl who won esteem because of her athletic ability, a trapper's wife and child who became stranded with the Coos Indians, epidemics, shipwrecks, gold strikes, massacres, a fued, and bootlegging, all intermixed with information about transportation, cooperation, romance, and industry! The authors of this book are many,and the sources used include ethnological information,journals of fur trappers, books written by gold miners, records left by the first pioneers, a soldier's diary, local history books, and actual interviews with people who lived and worked there.
This book will definitely give you a good taste of what it was like to live on the southern Oregon coast in times past.
Trails
Pioneer Trails Of The Oregon Coast, Second Edition
Samuel N. Dicken
Oregon Historical Society, 1978
Price: $5.95
This unusual book deals with the historical geography of coastal pioneer trails during the period of settlement, for the most part before 1860! The Oregon Coast is presented as it was seen through the eyes of early travelers, and against the background of coastal features, climate, terrain, drainage, and vegetation. Readers, perhaps, may visualize how it was, compared to the ease of reaching many breath-taking scenic vistas today.
The book is richly illustrated with historic and topograghic maps, and old black and white photos of the spectacular Oregon Coast. The author was actually the originator of the the Oregon Coast Trail concept, the idea coming to him while doing the research for this very book.120 Hikes on The Oregon Coast, Second Edition
Bonnie Henderson
The Mountaineers, 1999
Price: $14.95
Undulating sand dunes, primeval forests, rocky headlands, secret beaches: the wild Oregon shoreline is impossible to resist. This guide presents 120 excursions, from easy walks along the beach to hikes that climb to panoramic views. Additional activities such as tidepooling, off-road cycling, wildlife watching, and camping are suggested for further adventures. Whether you're out for just a day or trekking the border-to-border Oregon Coast Trail, use this comprehensive guide year-round to make your coastal visit complete.
Recipient of the 1996 National Coast Trail Association Coastal Education Award
100 Hikes / Travel Guide, Oregon Coast and Coast Range
William L. Sullivan
Navillus Press, 1996
Price: $14.95
Whether you're touring Highway 101or exploring off the beaten path, this guide has everything you'll need to plan a trip to Oregon's spectacular coast.Flip to the book's 18 Travel Guide sections for tips on discovering lighthouses, secluded beaches, campgrounds, and quaint Old Town harbors. Here too are suggestions for birdwatching, kayaking, bicycling, and tidepooling. The 100 Hikes guide features easy-to-read maps and detailed descriptions of best hikes for kids, trails near campgrounds, and old-growth forest paths. There's even a list of 42 paved, planked, or graveled trails accessible to everyone.
This book also includes information just north and south of
the Oregon Coast into both Washington's Long Beach Penninsula
and California's Redwood National and State Parks.Hiking Oregon's History
William L. Sullivan
Navillus Press, 1996
Price: $18.95
Hang on for a rollicking tour of Oregon's grandest musuem -- the great outdoors!
Recounted in a fresh style that's fun for armchair travelers and hikers alike, this guidebook tells the stories behind 56 of the state's most scenic historic sites. Discover paths to fire lookouts, lighthouses, and abandoned gold mines. Relive legends, discoveries, scandals, and triumphs that rocked the West. Come hike Oregon's history!
Richly illustrated with black and white photos and detailed hiking maps, this book is truly one-of-a-kind, and one-quarter of them are on the coast!
Expedition Planning & Leadership
The National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Guide
Mark Harvey
Simon & Schuster, 1999
Price: $15.00
The classic backpacker's handbook -- revised and updated with information on new equipment and techniques -- providing expert guidelines for backpackers, hikers, campers -- anyone who loves the outdoors.
This guide brings the savvy of the world's most famous and respected outdoor organization to everyone -- from the 16 million backpacking Americans to the more than 265 million people, tenderfoot and trail-hardened hikers, who visit out national parks annually. Illustrated throughout with instructional drawings and photos and featuring lists of equipment, this book is a must-have for anyone planning to explore the great outdoors.
This book will serve as the primary source of information, especially for planning the Jedediah Smith Millennium Expedition, and is recommended reading for all expedition members.
Outdoor Leadership, Technique, Common Sense & Self-Confidence
John Graham
The Mountaineers, 1997
Price: $16.95
The only handbook available on the subject, this book is a practical, readable guide to the skills, attitudes, and inner resources you need to be an effective leader, at whatever you are called to lead. The book covers all aspects of leadership, including forming a personal style, finding courage, making decisions, communicating effectively building teams, coping with stress, and inspiring others to be at their best.
While the examples given focus on the outdoors, the lessons in this book can apply to any life situation. Use it to lead a company work team, organize an event or campaign in your community, or guide a family beach walk in the rain. Leadership issues crop up in al aspects of life -- expect this book to affect more than your next hike.
This book will serve as the primary reference for leading the Jedediah Smith Millennium Expedition, and those who read it will gain greater insight about leadership during the expedition itself. Expedition members are encouraged to read it before leaving.The Outward Bound Wilderness First-Aid Handbook, Revised and Updated Edition
Jeffrey Isaac
The Lyons Press, 1998
Price: $14.95
This essential first-aid guide is both accessible and useful. Now thouroughly updated and expanded to include the lastest terminology, methodology, and treatments available, it is invaluable for anyone venturing into the outdoors. Based on techniques used by the world-renowned Outward Bound organization, this concise handbook clearly explains all of the major diagnostic and first-aid procedures you can use in the wilderness. Complete with numerous diagrams and drawings that illuminate concepts and procedures, this book is a must for anyone heading into nature.
This book will serve as a reference for first-aid during the Jedediah Smith Millennium Expedition.
Links to books on "Mountain Men" and the "Fur Trade" era
(Use these key words to enhance your search at the following links.)
