John Upton Terrell

In this volume Ruth Underhill presents the absorbing and authoritative account of the Navajos, from the time of their myth-shrouded appearance in the Southwest to their present-day position as America's largest Indian tribe, with a population of 100,000 occupying a reservation of fifteen million acres. The Navajos, blood relations of the Apaches, once virtually ruled the area now known as Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, which they robbed with impunity. Unable to tolerate their depredations any longer, Anglo-Americans, Mexicans, and other Indians rose up in protest, demanding the subjugation of the Navajos, who were accused of every crime and held responsible for almost every Indian attack in the area. The job was given to Colonel Kit Carson, who defeated the Navajos in 1864 and moved them to a small reservation at Fort Sumner, where they remained for nearly four years before being returned to their original home. It was upon their agriculture, sheepherding, and artistry in blanket weaving and silversmithing that the Navajos, now unable to continue their profitable raiding, became dependent during the early, trying days of reservation life. Miss Underhill's careful examination of the complex mythical aura that surrounds the early Navajos offers an interesting insight into their colorful history and rich cultural background, but it is her sensitive portrayal of their adjustment to a new way of life that distinguishes her account of this great tribe.

A revealing account of the West's development that details the way in which land was taken from the Indians and then abused and destroyed.

The adventures of the explorers who first entered the northwest coastal area that became known as California.

Outlines the running of the State Department and the duties of the employees on all levels.

Describes the hardships experienced by Cabeza de Vaca, Estevanico the Black, and Coronado while searching for the seven cities of gold.

Describes the status of women in various tribes, marriage and divorce laws, and daily life at the beginning of recorded history.

Describes the work of the Department of Commerce in the following areas: shipping, patents, weather, roads, depressed areas, navigation, measurement, and business.

Relates the history of mail service in the United States, including the Pony Express and standardization of international mail; and describes current operations and problems of the Post Office Department, such as budget deficits, detection of mail frauds, and manufacture of stamps.

A leading historian recaptures the splendors of the American West, creating an intimate portrait of a vanishing style of life.