The Story of American History Part 34

BOOKS FOR REFERENCE AND COLLATERAL READING IN THE STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

This book is designed to be used before the formal text-book on American history is begun in grammar-school grades. It is intended also to serve as a convenient basis for more extended work both on the part of the teacher and of pupils. Hence the reading of the preceding chapters is only one part of the proposed plan. A systematic course in supplementary reading should be added. The following plan is suggested, but it may be modified, of course, to meet the needs of any particular cla.s.s of pupils.

NOTE.--The whole subject of reference books on American History is treated thoroughly in Montgomery's _Student's American History_ [see "Short List of Books," page xxiv in Appendix, and "Authorities Cited," page x.x.x in Appendix], Montgomery's _American History_ [see "Short List of Books," page x.x.xiii in Appendix], and Fiske's _History of the United States_ [see Appendix D, page 518, Appendix E, page 527, and Appendix F, page 529].

REFERENCE BOOKS FOR TEACHERS.

Two books are of special value to teachers. These are Channing and Hart's _Guide to American History_ [Ginn & Company, Publishers, price $2.00], and Gordy and Twitch.e.l.l's _Pathfinder in American History_ [Lee & Shepard, Publishers, complete in one volume, $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, numerous references, detailed lists of topics, and a wide range of other subjects which make them indispensable to the teacher of American history.

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_ and Fiske's _History of the United States_ are especially valuable. The following books are perhaps equally serviceable: Eggleston's _History of the United States_; Steele's _Brief History of the United States_ [usually known as "Barnes's History"]; Thomas's _History of the United States_ and Mowry's _History of the United States_. These books are useful in reading for additional topics, for dates, maps, ill.u.s.trations, reference tables, and for "filling in"

subjects which do not come within the scope of this book.

TOPICS FOR COLLATERAL READING.

For ordinary school work the text-books to which we have just referred will furnish enough and suitable material for these topics. When, however, standard works on history are of easy access, through the school or public libraries, it is well even for pupils of the lower grades to read sparingly by topics from such works. These topics should be carefully selected by the teacher. They should be brief and call only for a few pages of reading.

In the succeeding pages references have been given only to a very few standard works, such as those by Fiske, Parkman, Irving, and McMaster, and such other books as can ordinarily be easily obtained.

REFERENCES FOR READING.

Pupils should also have easy reference to books from which topics may be read or which may be read sparingly by select pa.s.sages indicated by the teacher. Many of these books have been suggested more on account of their interesting style than for strict historical accuracy. Read the designated works not as a whole but only by topics or selections. They will do much to awaken and maintain a lively interest in American history.

OUTSIDE READINGS.

While the study of this book is in progress it is well for the pupils to limit their miscellaneous reading to such books as bear directly upon our subject. Under this head we have suggested many productions which belong to the "story-book" order. Wholesome books of fiction and semi-fiction may certainly do much to stimulate and hold the attention of young students of American history. With this topic, as with all other topics on collateral reading, the teacher should exercise a careful supervision.

FOR READING OR RECITATION.

The work should be enlivened by reading occasionally, before the cla.s.s or the school, poems or prose selections which bear directly upon the general topic under consideration. We have referred only to a very few such extracts from good literature. Other selections will readily suggest themselves.

USE OF A TOPIC BOOK OR NOTEBOOK.

The teacher and pupil should appreciate the scope and usefulness of a Topic book or Notebook. By this is meant a blank book with semi-flexible or board covers, of a convenient size, and of at least 48 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 by topics; topics not treated in this book but discussed in the cla.s.s, such as King Philip's War, the Mexican War, etc., and references to new books to be reserved for future reading and other subjects which will readily suggest themselves.

This notebook should be well ill.u.s.trated. The basis should be the inexpensive photographic copies (sold for about one cent each) of famous pictures ill.u.s.trating important events in American history.

Catalogues giving the exact t.i.tles, cost, and other details are sent to applicants, free of expense.

Portraits, maps, facsimiles of doc.u.ments and autographs, etc., are often easily obtained from book catalogues, guide books, advertising pages, and secondhand text-books.

All this ill.u.s.trative material should be pasted in the notebook at the proper place, neatly and with good judgment, allowing plenty of s.p.a.ce for margins. Such a compilation is, of course, a matter of slow growth.

It should be carefully preserved as a pleasant reminder of school days.

NOTE.--Think of enriching your notebook with photographic reproductions of such works as Stuart's "Washington"; Faed's "Washington at Trenton"; Trumbull's "Surrender of Cornwallis" and "Signing the Declaration of Independence"; Benjamin West's "Penn's Treaty"; Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware"; Vanderlyn's "Landing of Columbus"; Johnson's "Old Ironsides" and Overend's "An August Morning with Farragut."

REFERENCE BOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTARY READING FOR SUCCESSIVE PERIODS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

[Intended for use in connection with the study of this book.]

CHAPTER I. PAGES 1-9.

AMERICA IN THE OLD DAYS.

TOPICS FOR COLLATERAL READING.--The following topics are thoroughly discussed in Fiske's _Discovery of America_:--

The People of Ancient America, Vol. I, pp. 1-19; Origin of the American Indians, Vol. I, p. 19; The Indians of the Pueblos, Vol. I, p. 82; The Mysterious Mound Builders, Vol. I, p. 140; Voyages of the Northmen to Vinland, Vol. I, p. 164.

REFERENCES FOR READING.--For a readable account of the Mound Builders and the American Indians, consult Shaler's _The Story of Our Continent_.

OUTSIDE READINGS.--Starr's _American Indians_; The Voyages to Vinland from the Saga of Eric the Red, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 32; Gla.s.sc.o.c.k's _Stories of Columbia_.

FOR READING OR RECITATION.--Whittier's _Norumbega_ and _Nors.e.m.e.n_; Longfellow's _Skeleton in Armor_.

CHAPTER II. PAGES 10-30.

COLUMBUS AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.

TOPICS FOR COLLATERAL READING.--Topics from Fiske's _Discovery of America_:--

First Voyage of Columbus, Vol. I, p. 419; Last Voyage of Columbus, Vol.

I, p. 505; Vespucius and the "New World," Vol. II, p. 96; The Cabots and their Voyages, Vol. II, p. I; Ponce de Leon, Vol. II, p. 486; Adventures of De Soto, Vol. II, p. 509.

REFERENCES FOR READING.--Read selections from the one-volume edition of Irving's _Life of Columbus_; Abbott's _Life of Columbus_ (Ajax Series); Adams's _Columbus_ (Makers of America); Brooks's _True Story of Columbus_; Adventures of De Soto, Parkman's _Pioneers of France in the New World_, p. 13.

OUTSIDE READINGS.--Griffis's _Romance of American Discovery_; Gla.s.sc.o.c.k's _Stories of Columbia_; The Discovery of America, from the Life of Columbus, by his son, Ferdinand Columbus, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 29; Columbus's Letter to Gabriel Sanchez, describing the first voyage, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 33; Americus Vespucius's Account of his First Voyage, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 34; Death of De Soto, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 36; The Voyages of the Cabots, _Old South Leaflets_, No. 37.

CHAPTER III. PAGES 31-46.