Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 6/Reviews (Number 3)
REVIEWS.
A Short History of Oregon. By Sidonia V. Johnson. Chicago, A. C. McClurg and Co. 1904. 329 pp.
A History of the Pacific Northwest. By Joseph Schafer. New York, The Macmillan Co. 1905. xvi, 321 pp.
The interest in the Pacific Northwest aroused by the recent Lewis and Clark Exposition attaches to the history of the region as well as its resources and scenery. This renders timely the appearance of several new books upon Oregon and the Northwest which should properly receive attention in a historical quarterly published by a historical society which desires to encourage the study of the history of a section which has much of interest and importance to offer to the student and reader. These new books deserve mention also because there has been nothing satisfactory in brief enough form to be of utility to the general reader or in literary style suitable for the young reader.
A Short History of Oregon by Miss Sidonia V. Johnson of Portland was published by A. C. McClurg of Chicago in 1904. This firm has already become known for its interest in books connected with the Northwest. This book is a neat volume, of size suitable for the general reader. The text is accompanied by attractive illustrations. The author professes to have written only a compilation and resume" of the subject-matter contained in other books of larger scope. It is her purpose to make what has already been written more accessible to the general reader. This is a worthy purpose and the book will prove a useful one in that it accomplishes its purpose. It must be remembered, however, that a compilation is of less value than a book written directly from the sources, and that it is a difficult matter to preserve a thoroughly logical arrangement of material and subordination of detail. The book necessarily suffers somewhat from the fact that it is a compilation. The story, however, is well told, the essential incidents are included. The reader feels that the author, though not a trained historical writer, is enthusiastically interested in the subject. It is a book that may be read with profit and will awaken an interest in the history of the Northwest.
A History of the Pacific Northwest by Professor Joseph Schafer of the University of Oregon has been published by the Macmillan Co. This is the first book connected with this region published by that firm, so far as the reviewer knows, and it is to be hoped that it may lead to other publications. The book aims, according- to the author, to "narrate in simple, readable style" the impressive story of civilization-building- in the region once called Oregon, but now known as the Pacific Northwest. This book is not a compilation, but a new writing and arrangement of the materials of history. In following the title of the Pacific Northwest the scope is somewhat broader than the history of a commonwealth. The reader gains much from this broader scope, although he may miss some of the detail which he would expect in a history of a State. The development of the eastern empire and of the Puget Sound country thus receives a place in the narrative as well as the Willamette Valley. The breadth of treatment and the selection of material has been well sustained and the book should appeal not only to the student of local history, but to the student of American history in general. The beginnings in the Northwest are surely as interesting and as important in the story of American history as the beginnings in New England or Virginia. A reading of this book will surely lead the reader to feel this.
The book has been written from the sources and reflects the influence of new sources that have come to light through the work of the Oregon Historical Society, and it well illustrates the value of that organization to the cause of history. It is without doubt the work of one trained in the methods of history study and writing. The material is judiciously selected, the arrangement is thoughtfully and logically made, the historical perspective is preserved, the details are properly subordinated to the general divisions of the narrative. The book gains in dignity and in usefulness by confining itself to a narrative and not being argumentative. It is peculiarly free from many of the prejudices that have characterized so many other books. It is a well balanced narrative of the subject. In treating of disputed points the author says only so much as the sources warrant and does not draw unwarranted inferences.
The language of the book is exceedingly plain and interesting, and it will prove of utility to the young reader because of that fact. It is preeminently a book for the young, but will also be appreciated by the older readers. In the judgment of the reviewer, and in light of his own habits of mind and study of the field, this book is the best narrative in brief form yet made of the Pacific Northwest.