Catalog of British Columbiana and Pacific Northwest Americana

"In these essays, historians firmly rooted in the Pacific Northwest and the Great Basin share their experiences in bringing a wide variety of resources to bear in the illumination of local community life. The result is a range of techniques of value to all those who accept the challenge to interpret their own local culture and history with fresh insight and perspective." -- Publisher

xviii, 178 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

C. H. Little’s 18th century maritime influences on the history and place names of British Columbia explores the intense early maritime navigation and foundational cartographic integration of the Pacific Northwest's complex coastline. The narrative illustrates how the profound environmental realities of this coastal topography—defined by labyrinthine glacial fjords, treacherous hidden reefs, and unpredictable North Pacific weather systems—required immense nautical resilience and shared navigational adaptation from early European explorers. By detailing the gradual transition from a vast, uncharted maritime frontier to a meticulously mapped and named network of vital navigational corridors, the text highlights how the cooperative, albeit often competitive, efforts of British and Spanish naval expeditions laid the vital groundwork for future settlement. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that patiently charting these severe maritime boundaries and collaboratively standardizing the region's geographical nomenclature were essential steps in transforming a remote, isolated coastline into a structured, globally connected, and enduringly recognized territory of the maritime Pacific Northwest.

133 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Account by botanist on expedition of Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra of the Nootka Indians on Vancouver Island, their environment and adaptation to it. Introduction by Iris Wislon giving historical and anthropological background. This volume, long out of print, is now reissued in a new edition with the approval and support of the hereditary chiefs and elders of the Mowachaht, one of the Nuu-chah-nulth tribes. Included are Mozino's catalog of flora and fauna, his dictionary of the Nootka language, and reproductions of the drawings made by Atanasio Echeverria, the artists who accompanied the expedition

liv, 142 pages, 24 pages of plates : illustrations ; 22 cm

Robert Brown, a twenty-one-year-old Scotsman, arrived on Vancouver Island in 1863 for the purpose of collecting seeds, roots, and plants for the Botanical Association of Edinburgh. Relations with his employer quickly deteriorated, however, and when the opportunity arose in 1864 to head the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition, Brown eagerly accepted the position as its commander. During the four and a half months of the expedition, Brown kept a journal which is published here for the first time. It is remarkable for its record of life on Vancouver Island over a century ago and its description of the island's pristine wilderness as well as for its proposals for future economic development. The accounts of agricultural settlements at Cowichan, Chemainus, and Comox and of the coal-mining town of Nanaimo are among the earliest available. The Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition did not venture north of Comox, but it crossed the island at several points, often by new routes, and in the process left its mark by giving place names to several locations. The expedition's most celebrated achievement was the discovery of gold at Leech River, named after the second-in-command, which resulted in a short but sensational gold rush. Robert Brown was exceptionally interested in the way of life of the native people. His entries on land reserve policies and on the failure to settle land claims are especially pertinent today. Excerpts from his related writings, among them one of the earliest records of a potlatch (at Alberni) and a collection of Indian myths and legends display an appreciation unusual at that time. Most of the known drawings of the expedition by Frederick Whymper, the travelling artist, are included in the book and give a contemporary view of many of the sites the expedition encountered. A checklist of Brown's other writings on the northwest coast completes the book.

xiii, 211 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Published by the Association historique francophone de Victoria and authored by John Greene, French Presence in Victoria, B.C., 1843–1991 chronicles nearly a century and a half of Francophone contributions to the cultural, economic, and religious fabric of Vancouver Island. The book traces the arrival of French-Canadian fur traders, Catholic missionaries, and European immigrants who helped establish and shape the early colonial capital long before Confederation. Through archival records, church registers, and personal accounts, the text illuminates how a distinct Francophone community maintained its linguistic and cultural identity despite the overwhelming dominance of British institutions. A keen insight drawn from the work is how multiculturalism in early Western Canadian cities existed beneath a veneer of British imperial hegemony; by uncovering the vital, behind-the-scenes roles played by French speakers in commerce and governance, the study reveals that the foundational history of British Columbia was far more pluralistic than its overtly Anglo-Saxon administrative facade suggested.

v, 200 pages, [17] pages of plates (1 folded) : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Authored by regional historian Peter Murray, Homesteads and Snug Harbours: The Gulf Islands chronicles the colorful pioneering history, maritime isolation, and rugged settlement of British Columbia's picturesque Strait of Georgia archipelago. The book explores how eccentric pioneers, fishermen, farmers, and self-reliant families carved out sustainable lives across islands defined by sheltered anchorages, rocky terrain, and a remarkably mild maritime climate. Drawing on extensive archival research and local oral histories, the text preserves the vanishing stories of an independent coastal community that lived at the mercy of wind, tide, and steamboat schedules. A keen insight drawn from the work is how the geography of island life fostered an intense culture of self-reliance juxtaposed with deep community interdependence; because these isolated maritime havens lacked roads and mainland infrastructure, early Gulf Islanders relied entirely on mutual aid and maritime mobility to survive the very isolation that drew them to the frontier.

213 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Authored by regional historian Tony Bamonte, Sheriffs, 1911-1989: A History of Murders in the Wilderness of Washington's Last County chronicles the grim true-crime history, law enforcement challenges, and violent frontier legacies of remote Pend Oreille County. The book investigates a series of harrowing homicide cases, missing persons mysteries, and complex investigations handled by local sheriffs operating across a sprawling, densely forested wilderness bordering Idaho and Canada. Through meticulous archival research, newspaper accounts, and police records, the text examines how rural law enforcement struggled to maintain order in an isolated landscape plagued by rugged terrain and transient populations. A keen insight drawn from the work is how regional crime reporting exposes the dark underbelly of wilderness escapism; by documenting how rugged isolation routinely attracted desperate outlaws and shielded violent criminals, the narrative shatters the romanticized myth of the peaceful frontier, revealing instead a lawless hinterland where justice was constantly undermined by vast geography.

251 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Authored by labor historian Ronald Magden, A History of Seattle Waterfront Workers, 1884–1934 chronicles the militant rise and turbulent struggles of the longshoremen and maritime laborers who built the commercial infrastructure of Puget Sound. The book details half a century of grueling port labor, dangerous working conditions, and fierce battles against powerful shipping cartels, culminating in the historic strikes that forged modern union solidarity. Drawing on extensive union archives, oral histories, and local records, the text captures how dockworkers transformed the Seattle waterfront into a crucible of radical American labor politics. A keen insight drawn from the work is how port labor served as the strategic nervous system of the early Pacific Northwest economy; by recognizing that maritime workers held the ultimate power to paralyze regional commerce, the waterfront became the frontline where organized labor successfully challenged corporate dominance during the height of the industrial era.

ix, 292 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Harbor Press [Published date: 1990]. Soft cover, 214 pp. [Excerpt from rear cover] More than 1.5 million people ride the ferry each year to the San Juan Islands. Thousands more visit the archipelago by private boat or plane. All agree the San Juans are a national treasure. Stunningly beautiful, the islands have become a special place to live and visit. How did they become what they are? Who were the first settlers whose decisions shape today? What about the soldiers, the Indians, the smugglers, the pioneer families? Lucile S. McDonaId, one of Washington's most-honored historians, explores the earliest days in the islands and captures the essence of the island spirit that lives today. For those who love the islands, Making History: The People Who Shaped the San Juan Islands is a delightful, fast-paced and fascinating adventure.

214 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Published by the Kendrick-Juliaetta Centennial Committee, A Centennial History of the Kendrick-Juliaetta Area chronicles the agricultural settlement, rugged pioneer endurance, and community-building along the steep, fertile canyon lands of north-central Idaho's Potlatch River valley. The book details how hardy homesteaders transformed an isolated wilderness into a thriving agrarian hub driven by wheat farming, timber harvesting, and the arrival of regional railroad lines. Through extensive family histories, rare photographs, and local archives, the text preserves the granular records of everyday survival in a striking canyon landscape. A keen insight drawn from the work is how topographical isolation forced early farming communities to engineer their own economic survival; by relying on narrow-gauge railroads to bridge the seemingly impassable gorges of the Palouse region, these rural settlements proved that agricultural prosperity in the Inland Northwest depended entirely on conquering hostile vertical geography.

vii, [3], 246 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 29 cm

Wayne P. Suttles and William C. Sturtevant’s edited collection, Handbook of North American Indians Volume 7, Northwest Coast, serves as an exhaustive encyclopedic summary of the prehistory, languages, and cultures of the region's indigenous peoples. Moving beyond broad overviews, the volume is structured into rigorous ethnographic chapters that document the specific histories and cooperative networks of a vast array of sovereign nations—from the Eyak, Tlingit, and Haida in the north, through the Tsimshian, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Nuu-chah-nulth, down to the Coast Salish, Makah, Chinookans, Tillamook, and Coos along the southern shorelines. By synthesizing regional demography with specialized studies on mythology, material art, and the Indian Shaker Church, the Smithsonian reference work catalogs how these distinct communities utilized sophisticated maritime technologies and complex kinship alliances to actively manage their environments. Through its comprehensive indexing of shared economic institutions like the potlatch and diverse linguistic families, the text reveals how intricate social structures were inextricably tied to the material survival of the coastal peoples. Ultimately, this monumental collection functions as a vital repository of anthropological research, documenting the immense resourcefulness of these specific nations and demonstrating how they built complex, enduring cultures long before Euro-American contact.

xv, 777 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 29 cm

Authored by Nancy Stringfellow, Report from Grimes Creek After a Hard Winter captures the isolated, rugged reality of pioneer life and gold-mining culture in the mountainous backcountry of Boise County, Idaho. The book reflects on the punishing aftermath of a brutal winter season, detailing how local homesteaders, miners, and families endured freezing isolation, scarce supplies, and the grueling physical toll of sub-zero mountain living. Through evocative prose and regional historical anecdotes, the text preserves a snapshot of resilient community survival along a historic Idaho creek. A keen insight drawn from the work is how seasonal extremes served as the ultimate equalizer on the mining frontier; by demonstrating how a severe winter instantly stripped away the speculative hype of the gold rush and reduced all residents to a shared struggle for basic warmth and sustenance, the narrative reveals that true frontier survival relied far more on stubborn endurance against nature than on mineral wealth.

34 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Co-authored by Margaret Day Allen and Ladd Hamilton, Lewiston Country: An Armchair History chronicles the rich heritage, geographic crossroads, and frontier development of Idaho’s first territorial capital. The book traces the region's evolution from ancestral Nez Perce homelands into a bustling steamboat and mining hub where the Clearwater and Snake rivers converge. Through engaging historical narratives and archival imagery, the text captures the colorful cast of merchants, miners, and riverboat captains who anchored civilization at the gateway to the inland empire. A keen insight drawn from the work is how river confluences function as natural magnets for geopolitical and economic control; by examining how Lewiston leveraged its strategic waterway access to dominate regional supply lines, the narrative highlights how the geography of river junctions dictated the terms of colonial dominance and urban survival across the Pacific Northwest.

vi, 253 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

Jim Witherell’s History along the Greenbelt: an Idaho centennial project of the Ada County Centennial Committee explores the profound riparian reclamation and evolving civic identity forged along the banks of the Boise River. The narrative illustrates how the dynamic environmental realities of this vital watercourse—defined by its crucial role as a lush, life-sustaining oasis cutting through the arid, high-desert plains of southwestern Idaho—required continuous, shared adaptation from early settlers and modern residents alike. By detailing the gradual transition from an era of unchecked industrial exploitation and severe riverbank degradation to the cooperative, community-driven establishment of a continuous, protected urban greenway, the text highlights how the region's social health and urban development became intimately tied to its environmental stewardship. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that patiently rehabilitating this fragile riparian corridor and collaboratively integrating local historical heritage into accessible public spaces were essential steps in transforming a scarred frontier resource into a cohesive, enduring symbol of modern civic pride and ecological resilience in Idaho's capital.

vi, 131 pages : illustrations ; 18 cm

William Lowell Putnam, Glen W. Boles, and Roger W. Laurilla’s Place names of the Canadian Alps explores the rigorous alpine exploration and foundational cartographic integration of British Columbia's most formidable mountain ranges. The narrative illustrates how the severe environmental realities of this rugged topography—defined by towering glaciated peaks, treacherous high-altitude passes, and deep, isolated valleys—required immense physical resilience and shared navigational adaptation from early mountaineers, geologists, and railway surveyors. By detailing the gradual transition from a vast, unnamed alpine wilderness to a meticulously documented network of charted peaks and corridors, the text highlights how the cooperative efforts of early climbing clubs and mapping expeditions laid the vital cartographic groundwork for regional infrastructure. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that patiently conquering these severe vertical boundaries and collaboratively establishing a standardized geographical nomenclature were essential steps in transforming an impenetrable wilderness barrier into a deeply mapped, culturally recognized, and enduringly connected component of the Canadian Pacific Northwest.

xviii, 383 pages, 25 pages of plates : illustrations (some color), color map ; 24 cm

"Although Mexican migrant workers have toiled in the fields of the Pacific Northwest since the turn of the century, and although they comprise the largest work force in the region s agriculture today, they have been virtually invisible in the region s written labor history. Erasmo Gamboa s study of the bracero program during World War II is an important beginning, describing and documenting the labor history of Mexican and Chicano workers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho and contributing to our knowledge of farm labor."--Oregon Historical Quarterly

xiv, 178 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Layne Sawyer and the Oregon State Archives’ Guide to Oregon provisional and territorial government records explores the foundational legal maturation and cooperative civic resilience required to establish the earliest formal governance in the Pacific Northwest. The narrative—anchored by meticulous archival documentation—illustrates how the severe geographic realities of this isolated frontier—separated from federal authority by thousands of miles of arduous overland trails and towering mountain ranges—required intense self-reliance and shared, structured adaptation from early American settlers. By detailing the gradual transition from precarious, loosely organized homesteads to the cooperative establishment of a provisional legal framework initiated at Champoeg, the guide highlights how regional stability relied entirely on community-driven agreements regarding land claims, resource management, and frontier justice. Ultimately, the archival catalog demonstrates that patiently forging these foundational legislative boundaries and collaboratively building a functioning territorial bureaucracy were essential steps in transforming a remote, vulnerable pioneer settlement into a cohesive, deeply rooted civic society poised for statehood.

125 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm + e 1 computer disc (5 1/4 in.)

Author Hazel Danner Fretwell Johnson was a writer for the Owyhee Outpost for 21 years. An avid history buff, in this book she features the history of Arock, Danner and Rome. All are communities in Southern Malheur County.

vi, 207, [4] pages : illustrations, map ; 21 cm

James E. Meacham and the University of Oregon’s Atlas of Lane County, Oregon explores the profound spatial documentation and cooperative regional planning required to govern one of the state's most geographically diverse jurisdictions. The cartographic narrative illustrates how the contrasting environmental realities of this vast topography—spanning from the rugged, maritime extremes of the Pacific coastline, across the fertile agricultural expanse of the southern Willamette Valley, to the densely timbered slopes of the High Cascades—require immense ecological foresight and shared, structured adaptation from modern civic institutions. By detailing the gradual transition from an era of geographically isolated frontier resource extraction to the cooperative establishment of comprehensive land-use frameworks and urban boundary controls, the atlas highlights how the county’s economic and environmental health relies heavily on collaborative, data-driven governance. Ultimately, the comprehensive geographic catalog demonstrates that patiently mapping these complex ecological borders and collaboratively managing the intersection of booming urban centers like Eugene with fragile natural resources are essential steps in transforming a massive, environmentally varied territory into a cohesive, enduring model of modern civic stewardship in the Pacific Northwest.

1 atlas (iv, 73 pages) : color maps ; 19 x 44 cm

Throughout much of the nineteenth century the Hudson's Bay Company had a virtual monopoly on the core area of the fur trade in Canada. Its products were the object of intense competition among merchants on two continents – in Leipzig, New York, London, Winnipeg, St Louis, and Montreal. But in 1870 things began to change, and by the end of the Second World War the company's share had dropped to about a quarter of the trade. Arthur Ray explores the decades of transition, the economic and technological changes that shaped them, and their impact on the Canadian north and its people. Among the developments that affected the fur trade during this period were innovations in transportation and communication; increased government involvement in business, conservation, and native economic welfare; and the effects of two severe depressions (1873-95 and 1929-38) and two world wars. The Hudson's Bay Company, confronting the first of these changes as early as 1871, embarked on a diversification program that was intended to capitalize on new economic opportunities in land development, retailing, and resource ventures. Meanwhile it continued to participate in its traditional sphere of operations. But the company's directors had difficulty keeping pace with the rapid changes that were taking place in the fur trade, and the company began to lose ground. Ray's study is the first to make extensive use of the Hudson's Bay Company archives dealing with the period between 1870 and 1945. These and other documents reveal a great deal about the decline of the company, and thus about a key element in the history of the modern Canadian fur trade.

xviii, 283 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Gordon B. Dodds, Craig Wollner, and Marshall M. Lee’s The silicon forest: High Tech in the Portland Area 1945-1986 documents the dramatic economic and demographic transformation of the lower Willamette Valley as it evolved from traditional resource extraction into a prominent technology hub. Centering on the rapid suburban expansion across Washington County—particularly within the emerging tech corridors of Beaverton and Hillsboro—the narrative traces how a post-war influx of engineers and their families established new, enduring neighborhoods alongside sprawling corporate campuses. By exploring the closely knit professional networks and foundational companies that spawned generations of spin-off enterprises, the authors illustrate how this modern pioneer workforce collaboratively built a highly interconnected and lasting industrial community in the Pacific Northwest.

xi, 226 pages ; 23 cm

David Richardson’s Pig War islands: the San Juans of Northwest Washington explores the unique geopolitical maturation and enduring maritime resilience forged within this contested archipelago. The narrative illustrates how the demanding environmental realities of this insular topography—defined by the strategic, labyrinthine waterways of the Salish Sea, rugged coastlines, and isolated fertile valleys—required immense self-reliance and shared, pragmatic adaptation from early British and American settlers. By detailing the gradual transition from a tense, heavily armed frontier standoff over international sovereignty to the cooperative establishment of enduring agricultural and fishing communities during the peaceful joint military occupation, the text highlights how the region's daily survival relied on localized neighborly cooperation that frequently defied distant national hostilities. Ultimately, the account demonstrates that patiently navigating this severe maritime isolation and collaboratively building a shared civic framework across disputed diplomatic lines were essential steps in transforming a volatile border flashpoint into a cohesive, deeply rooted island society in the maritime Pacific Northwest.

362 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 22 cm

This book is a collection of the most compelling and beautiful photographs made of early Idaho people, places, and events in Idaho from 1863 through 1913. Virtually nothing had been published on Idaho’s pioneer photographers when Arthur A. Hart began his research a dozen years ago.

201 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Hank Corless’s The Weiser Indians: Shoshoni peacemakers examines the complex settlement patterns and diplomatic efforts of the Native bands inhabiting the Weiser, Payette, and Boise river valleys of southwestern Idaho. Set against the rugged topography of the surrounding mountain foothills, the narrative details how these indigenous kinship networks adapted their traditional seasonal migrations in response to the rapid influx of Euro-American homesteaders and miners. By tracing the leadership of tribal figures attempting to forge peaceful coexistence with encroaching frontier settlements, the text highlights the tribe's struggle to maintain their ancestral land base and social cohesion. Ultimately, the book documents the tragic fracturing of these deeply rooted indigenous families as federal policies forced their removal, forever altering the cultural and demographic landscape of the Idaho territory.

xix, 170 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Stephen Dow Beckham's folklore compilation, Tall tales from Rogue River: the yarns of Hathaway Jones, captures the vibrant oral traditions that connected the remote pioneer settlements and mining camps hidden deep within the steep canyons of southwestern Oregon. Set along the treacherous dirt trails of the Rogue River corridor, the narrative reveals how geographically isolated families and laborers relied on vital communication networks maintained by frontier mail carriers to survive the physical hardships of the dense wilderness. As early inhabitants established permanent homesteads amidst the unpredictable river conditions, these shared local yarns provided essential social cohesion, ultimately transforming a fragmented and demanding geography into a resilient community bound by a common cultural history.

v, 178 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.