APPENDIX
BOOKS FOR REFERENCE AND READING IN THE STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY
This book is designed to be used either before the formal text-book on American history is begun, or to be read in connection with it. It is also intended to serve as a convenient basis for more extended work on the part of both teacher and pupils. Hence, to the reading of the preceding chapters should be added a systematic course in supplementary reading.
The following plan is suggested, which may be readily modified to meet the needs of any particular class of pupils:
REFERENCE BOOKS FOR TEACHERS
Two books are of special value to teachers. These are Channing and Hart's Guide to American History (Ginn & Company, $2.00), and Gordy and Twitchell's Pathfinder in American History (Lee & Shepard, $1.20. In separate parts, Part I, 60 cents; Part II, 90 cents).
These two works are replete with suggestions, hints, and helps on collateral study, with numerous references, detailed lists of topics, and a wide range of other subjects which make them indispensable to the teacher of American history.
NOTE.—The subject of reference books on American history is treated thoroughly in Montgomery's American History (see "Short List of Books," page xxxiii in Appendix), and Fiske's History of the United States (see Appendix D, page 530, Appendix E, page 539, and Appendix F, page 542).
For original materials pertaining to the colonial period and the Revolution, admirably edited for school use, consult Hart's "Source-Readers in American History": No. 1, Colonial Children; No. 2, Camps and Firesides of the Revolution; No. 3, How our Grandfathers Lived.
In searching libraries for books on the Revolution, the teacher will find Winsor's Reader's Handbook of the American Revolution very useful.
SCHOOL TEXT-BOOKS FOR READING AND REFERENCE
Pupils should have easy access, by means of the school library or otherwise, to a few of the formal school text-books on American history. In connection with this book, Montgomery's Leading Facts of American History, Fiske's History of the United States, Eggleston's History of the United States, and Steele's Brief History of the United States (usually known as "Barnes's History") are especially valuable.
If less difficult and much smaller works are thought desirable, the following five books are recommended: Montgomery's Beginner's American History, McMaster's Primary History of the United States, Tappan's Our Country's Story, Thorpe's Junior History of the United States, and Eggleston's First Book in American History.
These books are useful for additional topics, for dates, maps, illustrations, reference tables, and for filling in subjects which do not come within the scope of this book.
Pupils should also have easy reference to books from which topics may be read, or from which may be read sparingly passages indicated by the teacher. Some of the books which have been suggested are more useful on account of their interesting style than for strict historical accuracy. Read the designated works not as a whole, but only by topics or by selections. They will do much to awaken and maintain a lively interest in American history.
READING AT HOME
While the study of this book is in progress, it is well for the pupils to limit their home reading to such books as bear directly upon the subject. Under this head we have suggested several books which belong to the "storybook" order. Wholesome books of fiction and semifiction may certainly do much to stimulate and hold the attention of young students of American history. Thus, Churchill's Richard Carvel and Cooper's Pilot furnish stirring scenes in the career of Paul Jones.
With the home reading, as with all other collateral reading, the teacher should exercise a careful supervision.
The work in history should be enlivened by reading occasionally, before the class or the school, poems or prose selections which bear directly upon the general topic under consideration.1 For instance, in the appropriate chapters Finch's well-known poem, "Nathan Hale," Simms's "Ballad of King's Mountain," and Holmes's "Old Ironsides" may be read.
1 For a list of books which may be classed as useful under the preceding paragraphs, see Blaisdell's Story of American History, pp. 431-434.
A TOPIC BOOK, OR NOTEBOOK
Teacher and pupil should appreciate the scope and the usefulness of a topic book, or notebook. By this is meant a blank book of a convenient size, with semiflexible or board covers, and of at least forty-eight pages. Into this blank book should be written carefully, with ink, brief notes, as the several chapters of this book are read or studied. It may well be a kind of enlarged diary of the pupil's work.
Make brief notes of the various books read in whole or in part; of topics not treated in this book but discussed in the class, such as the treason of Benedict Arnold, the battle of Bennington, etc.; of references to new books to be reserved for future reading; and of other subjects which will readily suggest themselves.
This notebook should be enlivened with inexpensive photographic copies (sold for about one cent each) of famous pictures illustrating important events in American history. Catalogues giving the exact titles, the cost, and other details are frequently advertised.
The notebook may be illustrated with photographic reproductions of such works as Stuart's "Washington"; Faed's "Washington at Trenton"; Trumbull's "The Surrender of Cornwallis" and "Signing the Declaration of Independence"; Benjamin West's "Penn's Treaty"; Leutze's "Washington crossing the Delaware"; Vanderlyn's "The Landing of Columbus"; Johnson's "Old Ironsides"; Overend's "An August Morning with Farragut"; and many other historical subjects.
Portraits, maps, facsimiles of documents and autographs, etc., etc. are often easily obtained from book catalogues, guide books, advertising pages, and secondhand text-books.
All this illustrative material should be pasted into the notebook at the proper place, neatly and with good judgment, with plenty of space for margins. Such a compilation is, of course, a matter of slow growth. It should be preserved as a pleasant reminder of school days.
REFERENCE BOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING TO BE USED WITH "HERO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY"
[CHAPTER I]
THE HERO OF VINCENNES
For two short articles on George Rogers Clark, read Roosevelt and Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, p. 29, and Brady's Border Fights and Fighters, p. 211. For a more extended account, consult Roosevelt's Winning of the West, Vol. II, p. 31.
A novel by Maurice Thompson, Alice of Old Vincennes, gives a graphic description of Clark's campaign.
[CHAPTER II]
A MIDWINTER CAMPAIGN
For an account of Arnold's expedition to Canada, read articles in The Century Magazine for January and February, 1903, by Professor Justin H. Smith. Codman's Arnold's Expedition to Quebec is a fair-sized volume, and full of interest. Read also Lodge's Story of the Revolution, Vol. I, p. 106.
Tomlinson's Under Colonial Colors, the story of Arnold's expedition to Quebec told for boys, is an interesting and stimulating work of fiction.
[CHAPTER III]
HOW PALMETTO LOGS MAY BE USED
The defense of Fort Sullivan is well described in Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 5, and Lodge's Story of the Revolution, Vol. I, p. 126.
[CHAPTER IV]
THE PATRIOT SPY
Perhaps the most readable account of Nathan Hale is to be found in Lossing's Two Spies (André and Hale). Consult Partridge's Nathan Hale, a character study.
In connection with this story, Chapter XVII, "The Story of Arnold's Treason," in Blaisdell's Story of American History may be profitably read.
[CHAPTER V]
OUR GREATEST PATRIOT
For the everyday life of Washington, consult Paul Leicester Ford's The True George Washington. Refer to sundry sections in Bolton's The Private Soldier under Washington and in Herbert's Washington: His Homes and his Households.
Read the stirring romance about Washington, A Virginia Cavalier, by Molly Elliot Seawell.
[CHAPTER VI]
A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE
For the capture of Stony Point, read Lodge's Story of the Revolution, Vol. II, p. 130; Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 121; and Roosevelt and Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, p. 79. Henry P. Johnston's The Storming of Stony Point is perhaps the best account ever written of this famous exploit.
[CHAPTER VII]
THE DEFEAT OF THE RED DRAGOONS
Read Roosevelt and Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, p. 69, and Lodge's Story of the Revolution, p. 56.
In connection with Chapters VII and VIII, read "The War of the Revolution in the South," in Blaisdell's Story of American History, Chapter XVI, p, 250.
[CHAPTER VIII]
FROM TEAMSTER TO MAJOR GENERAL
Read Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 84, for an account of General Morgan; also Chapter IV, "King's Mountain and the Cowpens," in Lodge's Story of the Revolution, Vol. II, p. 56.
[CHAPTER IX]
THE FINAL VICTORY
For a description of the battle at Yorktown, read Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 143, and Chapter VII in Lodge's Story of the Revolution, p. 165. Henry P. Johnston's The Yorktown Campaign is excellent for collateral reference.
[CHAPTER X]
THE CRISIS
Very little collateral reading should be allowed in reading this chapter on framing the Constitution. Sundry topics may be sparingly selected for reading from the index to Fiske's Critical Period of American History. Fiske's Civil Government in the United States may be utilized for reference.
Read Brooks's Century Book for Young Americans; Chapter II in Elson's Side Lights on American History (First Series, p. 24), on "The Framing of the Constitution"; and Chapter XII, p. 283, in Higginson's Larger History of the United States, on "The Birth of a Nation."
NOTE.—For the War of the Revolution no more interesting books can be read by pupils than Brooks's Century Book of the Revolution and Coffin's Boys of '76. Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, in two large volumes, is interesting, and contains hundreds of illustrations.
[CHAPTER XI]
A DARING EXPLOIT
Read "Decatur and the Philadelphia," in Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 199, and "The Burning of the Philadelphia," in Roosevelt and Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, p. 103.
Read Seawell's storybook, Decatur and Somers; and Barnes's Commodore Bainbridge, a story.
[CHAPTER XII]
"OLD IRONSIDES"
Consult two chapters in Brady's American Fights and Fighters: "The Constitution's Hardest Fight," p. 215, and "The Constitution's Last Battle," p. 304. Hollis's Frigate Constitution is invaluable for reading and reference. Refer to Lossing's History of the War of 1812 and Lodge's A Fighting Frigate and Other Essays.
In connection with this chapter, read "What our Navy did in the War of 1812," in Blaisdell's Story of American History, Chapter XXI, p. 323.
[CHAPTER XIII]
"OLD HICKORY'S" CHRISTMAS
Read "The Battle of New Orleans," in Roosevelt and Lodge's Hero Tales from American History, p. 139, and "The Last Battle with England," in Brady's American Fights and Fighters, p. 287. Chapter XVIII, p. 431, in Higginson's Larger History of the United States is well worth reading.
[CHAPTER XIV]
A HERO'S WELCOME
Concerning Lafayette's visit to this country in 1824, no books are readily accessible. Consult Quincy's Figures of the Past and Brooks's The True Story of Lafayette.