Opis: Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana - Cottman George S.

Excerpt from Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana: The Story of the State From Its Beginning to the Close if the Civil War, and a General Survey of Progress to the Present Time, and a Survey of the State by Counties

This work, first of all, aims to supply a popular need. The rescuing of history from documentary sources, the seeking of new facts and the discussion of debatable questions is a field to which the writer has here given but secondary attention, the plan of the work being purposely different. This plan has been to put into easily available form and in the compass of one volume a wide range of facts, past and present, that will convey an intelligent and tolerably complete idea of the story of Indiana and the thread of its development on which the facts are strung.

These facts have been accumulating in published historical material until they are quite sufficient to tell the story in all its essentials, but they are in a scattered form, practically inaccessible except to the student who can search them out from the shelves of the larger libraries. But few existing works aim to cover the history of the State. Of these some are fragmentary, some present but skeleton outlines too meager to impart much information, and none satisfies the repeated demand for a comprehensive reference work. If this volume falls short of such ideal, it can at least be claimed that it is an advance in that direction.

The prime thing in the history of this or any other commonwealth or society, is not a mass of detached facts, however picturesque they may be in the recital. The chief thing of interest is the organic growth and the facts in perspective as revealing that growth. Any stage or condition is but the "balance of preceding forces," and the culminating interest of it all is in the Present, which we sadly need to understand better. With this idea in view the undersigned, in his authorship of the historical portion of the book, has endeavored so to group his data as to convey a sense of the chronology and development of cause and effect. Those developments since the Civil War period have not been traced historically, as he would wish, but the general survey, dealing with the results of the historic processes is, it may be held, the vital thing.

It may be added, in this connection, that in filling out his various chapters, the author has drawn freely upon such other writers as have standing, especially those who have made especial studies of the theme in hand. He has taken their reasonable accuracy for granted, and, in most instances, accepted them as reliable. The aim has been to give credit in every case properly calling for it.

The county sketches, compiled by Mr. Hyman, with whom this work originated, constitute an important part of this work, and the more so, because there is a great dearth of comparative information giving the relative standing of the various sections of the State. This treatment of the county units will thus subserve something broader than mere local history.

Not the least interesting feature of this work is the numerous maps and illustrations. These not only depict conditions as they existed at the dawn of the State's history, but will help the reader to a better understanding of present-day developments; revealing to many for the first time, more fully than has heretofore been done in any other work, much that is historic and picturesque within the borders of Indiana.

Among the authorities drawn upon by Mr. Hyman in the preparation of the "Survey of the State by Counties," and to whom especial credit is due for valuable assistance are Jacob Piatt Dunn: Ernest V. Shockley. Ph. D.; Demarchus Brown, State Librarian; Edward Barrett, State Geologist; John I. Hoffmann, Assistant State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Amos W. Butler, Secretary State Board of Charities and Correction: Eugene C. Shireman, Commissioner of Fisheries; Elijah A. Gladden, Secretary Sta

Szczegóły: Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana - Cottman George S.

Nazwa: Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana The Story of the State From Its Beginning to the Close if the Civil War, and a General Survey of Progress to the Present Time, and a Survey of the State by Counties (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Cottman George S.
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331650669
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 530
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Centennial History and Handbook of Indiana - Cottman George S.