Catalog of British Columbiana and Pacific Northwest Americana

Reprint of the 1952 ed. published by the Govt. Print. Off., Washington, which was issued as Bulletin 145 of the Bureau of American Ethnology, Smithsonian Institution

81 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Snake River of Hells Canyon provides a detailed historical and geographic chronicle of North America's deepest river gorge, located along the remote border between Idaho and Oregon. The authors meticulously trace the turbulent course of the Snake River as it carves through towering basalt cliffs, focusing on specific isolated canyon flats, perilous rapids, and historic river crossings. By anchoring pioneer homesteads, Native American encampments, and steamboat wrecks to the exact physical locations where they occurred, the book maps the region's human history directly onto its unforgiving topography. Ultimately, the narrative illustrates how the immense scale and rugged isolation of the Hells Canyon landscape dictated the terms of survival, settlement, and travel in this formidable section of the inland Pacific Northwest.

x, 399 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

The Lake Washington Story offers a rich visual and historical account of the expansive freshwater lake that serves as the geographic heart of the Seattle metropolitan area in Washington State. The narrative meticulously traces the early development along the lake's shores, highlighting the nascent logging and shipbuilding hubs of Kirkland and Renton, as well as the densely forested, isolated enclaves of Mercer Island prior to the modern era of floating bridges. McDonald places special emphasis on the dramatic topographical engineering of the region, particularly detailing the construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and the Montlake Cut, which permanently lowered the lake's water level and physically connected it to the saltwater of Puget Sound. Through its extensive photographic archive, the book captures the physical transformation of this vital aquatic corridor from a remote pioneer waterway navigated by steamboats into the defining geographic boundary separating Seattle from the Eastside suburbs.

160 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm

Pioneer Days on Puget Sound by Arthur A. Denny recounts the grueling overland journey of his pioneer party before focusing squarely on their arrival and settlement along the densely forested shores of Elliott Bay in present-day Washington State. The memoir details the physical challenges of claiming land in this untamed maritime environment, from the party's initial windswept winter encampment at Alki Point in 1851 to their subsequent relocation across the deepwater bay to establish the foundational footprint of downtown Seattle. Denny meticulously describes the original, unaltered topography of the Puget Sound basin, illustrating how the steep coastal bluffs, tidal flats, and massive timber stands directly dictated the placement of early land claims and sawmills. By anchoring his narrative to these specific physical landmarks, the book provides an invaluable firsthand geographic record of Seattle's coastal origins before massive civic regrading projects permanently erased the original shoreline.

100 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm

Index: A Historical Perspective chronicles the founding and development of Index, Washington, a rugged pioneer settlement nestled deep within the North Fork Skykomish River valley of the Cascade Mountains. The narrative highlights how the dramatic surrounding topography—including the sheer granite walls of nearby Mount Index and the dense, steep timberlands—dictated the town's early economy, which relied heavily on precarious logging operations and hard-rock mining. By documenting the specific riverside encampments, isolated granite quarries, and mountain railroad spurs that defined the area, the book directly links the daily survival of early residents to their formidable natural environment. Ultimately, the work preserves the physical and geographic history of a remote wilderness enclave that was carved out of some of the most challenging terrain in the inland Pacific Northwest.

vii, 53 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm

Monte Cristo details the rise and fall of a remote, late-nineteenth-century mining boomtown situated in a spectacularly rugged alpine basin of the western Cascade Mountains in Washington State. The authors focus intensely on the treacherous topography surrounding the South Fork Sauk River headwaters, where sheer granite peaks and heavy winter snowpacks made access incredibly dangerous and prone to devastating avalanches. The narrative chronicles the immense engineering struggles required to push the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway through winding, flood-prone river canyons to extract gold and silver ore from these isolated, high-altitude claims. Ultimately, the book serves as a geographic case study of how the unforgiving mountain environment constantly thwarted human industrial ambitions and eventually reclaimed the townsite back to the wilderness.

307 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

To the Sundown Side explores the grueling era of the early fur trade by focusing specifically on the exploits of mountain men navigating the treacherous, unmapped wilderness of present-day Idaho. The narrative vividly details the physical challenges of traversing the region's formidable topography, from the deep, rushing canyons of the Salmon and Snake Rivers to the high-altitude trapping grounds of the Sawtooth Range and the Teton Basin, historically known as Pierre's Hole. By anchoring historic rendezvous sites and perilous winter encampments to specific mountain passes and sheltered valleys, Byers illustrates how the unforgiving Rocky Mountain landscape dictated both the survival and the economic success of these early trappers. Ultimately, the book serves as a geographic tribute to the rugged individuals who first charted this remote inland expanse long before formal pioneer settlement permanently altered the territory.

214 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.

Historian Carlos A. Schwantes studies the forces that shaped the history of the labor movement on either side of the forty-ninth parallel and the reason for the eventual demise of the socialist movement in Washington State and its continuing vigor in British Columbia.

xviii, 288 pages : maps ; 24 cm. (8vo).

Ancient Modocs of California and Oregon explores the deep prehistoric and cultural heritage of the Modoc people across the rugged Klamath Basin that straddles the modern border of southern Oregon and northern California. The author details how the tribe ingeniously adapted to this severe high-desert environment, focusing on their historical habitation of the vital marshlands around Tule and Lower Klamath lakes, as well as the arid, riverine ecosystem of the Lost River watershed. By anchoring extensive archaeological findings to the stark, fractured basalt formations of the Lava Beds region, Howe connects the tribe's material culture directly to the specific geological constraints of their territory. Ultimately, the book presents a geographically grounded history that illustrates how the unique juxtaposition of rich wetlands and harsh volcanic topography in this southern Pacific Northwest corridor shaped the ancient survival strategies of the Modoc.

xi, 250 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

The Making of Oregon traces the complex spatial evolution of the state, examining how its vastly diverse physical environments dictated patterns of human settlement from pre-contact Indigenous habitation to modern urbanization. The authors extensively detail the agricultural transformation of the fertile Willamette Valley and the maritime economies of the rugged Pacific coastline, demonstrating how early pioneers rapidly utilized these resource-rich, rain-swept western corridors. The narrative starkly contrasts this coastal development with the formidable volcanic barrier of the Cascade Range and the sprawling, semi-arid plateaus of the eastern High Desert, where scarce water resources and sheer distances strictly governed cattle ranching and rail routing. By physically mapping historical migrations and industries onto these distinct topographies, the book illustrates exactly how the natural borders and river networks of the Pacific Northwest actively shaped Oregon's ultimate economic and cultural boundaries.

The making of Oregon a study in historical geography by Samuel N. Dicken, Emily F. Dicken

xiv, 208 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm.

The lighthouse keeper has gone the way of the iceman and blacksmith, but in the case of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, the story remains--a complete history of :Terrible Tilly,: seasoned with salty drama and some hilarious adventure. Gibbs, a former Coastguardsman stationed at the infamous rock off Oregon's northwest shores, knows that wild crag from the inside out, and he has supplemented his account with what happened before he arrived on the scene, and since closure of the light in 1957. Many fine photos keep pace with the action. 145 pages.

xi, 145 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

First Approaches to the Northwest Coast chronicles the fierce late-eighteenth-century maritime competition among global empires striving to chart and claim the treacherous Pacific seaboard of North America. Pethick's narrative closely tracks the perilous navigational challenges faced by early explorers as they probed the fog-shrouded coastal inlets of present-day Washington and British Columbia while searching for the fabled Northwest Passage. By anchoring pivotal geopolitical events—most notably the Nootka Crisis—directly to the remote, deepwater harbors of Vancouver Island and the formidable entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the author grounds grand imperial strategies in specific local topographies. Ultimately, the book demonstrates how the rugged maritime edge of the Pacific Northwest served as a formidable geographic barrier that simultaneously lured and thwarted the first waves of European and American colonial expansion.

xix, 232 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Skagit Memories compiles firsthand pioneer accounts detailing the grueling late-nineteenth-century settlement of the expansive Skagit River Valley in northwestern Washington. The narratives vividly describe the immense physical labor required to reclaim the rich, marshy deltas near Skagit Bay, where early settlers constructed extensive diking systems to hold back the tidal waters of Puget Sound and create fertile farmland. Moving further inland, the compiled accounts focus on the dense, seemingly impenetrable old-growth cedar and fir forests that choked the river corridor, dictating a relentless logging economy as communities pushed eastward toward the rugged foothills of the Cascade Range. By anchoring these personal reminiscences to specific river bends, flood-prone flats, and isolated timber camps, the book provides a visceral geographic record of how early inhabitants carved a thriving agricultural and industrial basin out of a formidable maritime wilderness.

170 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm.

The Island Remembers compiles local pioneer histories detailing the settlement of Harstine Island, a heavily forested, tide-swept landmass situated deep within the sheltered marine waterways of South Puget Sound in Washington State. The narratives emphasize the profound physical isolation of this remote enclave—bordered by the deepwater channels of Pickering Passage and Case Inlet—where early residents relied entirely on local ferries and mosquito fleet steamers to navigate to the nearby mainland hubs of Shelton and Olympia. Contributors vividly recount the arduous labor required to clear dense stands of old-growth timber, slowly transforming the island's secluded, stump-ridden acreage into viable orchards and homestead farms. By grounding these personal anecdotes in specific remote coves, historic ferry landings, and isolated logging camps, the book preserves a deeply localized geographic record of early island life prior to the modern bridge construction that eventually linked this rugged community to the mainland.

160 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

The Great Northern Railway: A Pictorial Study visually documents the monumental engineering feats required to push James J. Hill's transcontinental rail line across the formidable northern tier of the continent and down into the Pacific Northwest. The authors focus heavily on the railway's perilous route through the rugged Washington Cascades, capturing the immense struggles of navigating the steep grades of the Skykomish River valley and the deadly, avalanche-prone elevations of Stevens Pass. Through extensive historical photography, the book highlights the specific topographical challenges that forced the construction of massive timber snowsheds, winding switchbacks, and eventually the monumental Cascade Tunnels to breach the imposing mountain barrier. Ultimately, this visual history illustrates how the railway physically conquered the severe alpine landscapes of the inland Northwest to connect isolated resource frontiers with the deepwater coastal terminals of Everett and Seattle on Puget Sound.

560 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Peter Puget's Sound chronicles the rich maritime history and geographic complexity of the massive, glacially carved estuary that dominates the physical and economic landscape of western Washington. The narrative maps the intricate network of deepwater channels, sheltered bays, and heavily forested islands that comprise this sprawling inland sea, tracing its reach from the turbulent Strait of Juan de Fuca south to the tidal flats of Olympia. By detailing the early European maritime explorations and the subsequent rise of booming timber and shipping industries along these shores, Clausen illustrates how the sound's natural, protected harbors directly dictated the placement of major coastal hubs like Seattle and Tacoma. Ultimately, the book highlights how this vital marine corridor served as the foundational geographic artery that shaped the historic settlement and industrial growth of the Pacific Northwest coast.

a-g, 205 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

In Profanity Hill, Irene Burns Miller recounts her 1940 experience as the sole relocation supervisor tasked with clearing a decaying Seattle neighborhood to make way for the Yesler Terrace public housing project. The book details her daily interactions with the area's diverse and marginalized residents, including sex workers, immigrants, and impoverished families who were facing eviction despite the city having almost no rental vacancy. Through personal anecdotes, Miller highlights the stark power dynamics and emotional toll of dismantling a tightly knit, albeit crumbling, community in the name of urban progress. Ultimately, the narrative chronicles the complete displacement of the neighborhood's original inhabitants to pave the way for a newly constructed vision of public housing.

iv, 139 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Fort Victoria Letters 1846-1851 documents the critical geographic and operational shift of the Hudson's Bay Company as it relocated its primary Pacific Northwest headquarters north of the newly established 49th-parallel border to the southern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The compiled correspondence heavily details the physical challenges and strategic advantages of building the new fort around a deep, sheltered natural harbor, positioned to command the vital maritime shipping lanes of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. As the company transitioned its logistical focus away from the inland river networks of the Columbia Basin, the letters vividly describe the rugged coastal topography and dense timberlands of the island where officials struggled to establish viable agricultural outposts. Ultimately, this collection provides a foundational geographic record of how early British colonial interests pivoted to rely on this isolated maritime fortress to secure their coastal frontier against encroaching American settlement.

xcix, 277, xvii pages, 3 unnumbered leaves of plates (2 folded) : maps ; 24 cm.

This is a brief introduction to the architectural legacy of Idaho's capital city, from its founding in 1863 to the eve of World War II. It is cultural history at its best because it shows that buildings have dimensions beyond descriptions of size or style.

82 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm

This is a collection of some of the finest studies, eighteen of them, which have appeared on aspects of the historical past of New Spain's Far Northern Frontier. It is intended primarily as a reader to supplement a course on the so-called Spanish Borderlands, putting at the easy disposal of the student outstanding bits of scholarship, developed, with one or other exception, in the 1960s and 1970s. The book can be valuable to the scholar, making quickly available as it does these same studies, which other-wise might have to be run down in the file of journals in which each appeared. The editor has prefaced the volume with a thoughtful and thought-provoking Introduction, in which he offers his concept of the place of Spain's borderlands in American history. The editor has also furnished a setting for each piece, along with a mini-biographical note and short bibliography of the works of each author. He has added "Suggestions for Further Reading and Research." Two of the essays-Albert H. Schroeder, "Shifting for Survival in the Spanish Southwest" (1968), and George Harwood Phillips, "Indians and the Breakdown of the Spanish Mission System in California" (1974)-have direct Indian pertinence. Many of the others have valuable insights for the student of the Native Americans. The book is welcome as a student reader and a convenient reference tool for the scholar of Spain in North America. -- JOHN FRANCIS BANNON, Saint Louis University

xix, 321 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

The remarkable story of Ing Hay, the "China Doctor" who became the most famous and capable frontier physician in the John Day country of Eastern Oregon. Serving patients from the late 19th century to 1948, he was a traditional Chinese physician who, with his herbal medicines, worked more cures than the laboratory-oriented doctors of the area. Illustrated. 160 pages.

ix, 118 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

A Walking Tour of Historic Roche Harbor provides a geographically grounded guide to the former company town situated on the sheltered northwest shores of San Juan Island in Washington State. The author directs readers through a coastal landscape fundamentally shaped by the late-nineteenth-century lime industry, highlighting how the deepwater marine harbor and massive inland limestone deposits dictated the town's industrial footprint. By tracing pathways from the waterfront kilns and the historic Hotel de Haro up into the forested slopes holding the imposing McMillin Mausoleum, the tour physically maps the area's historical economic and social hierarchy. Ultimately, the book serves as a localized spatial history, illustrating how this remote maritime enclave in the Salish Sea was physically transformed from a rugged resource extraction site into an enduring architectural landmark.

20 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

256 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

264 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Patrick Wilde’s History of Bear Lake Valley: From Fur Trappers to Modern Times provides an overview of the shifting human geography of the high basin across two centuries. Wilde chronicles the early nineteenth-century mountain man era, focusing on the historic Rocky Mountain Fur Company rendezvous held along the shores of Bear Lake in 1827 and 1828 where figures like Jedediah Smith and William Sublette traded with regional tribes. The text details the subsequent passage of thousands of emigrants along the Oregon Trail and Sublette Cutoff through the Bear River corridor, analyzing the 1860s transition to permanent Mormon pastoral and agricultural colonization across Paris, Montpelier, Dingle, Fish Haven, and Pegram.

136 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm