Catalog of British Columbiana and Pacific Northwest Americana

The Sun Valley Story by Doreen Marsh Dorward is a locally published historical booklet that chronicles the development and charm of the iconic Sun Valley, Idaho resort area. Released through the author's own Ketchum-based photography studio, the work utilizes both original imagery and local history to capture the picturesque landscapes that transformed a remote mountain valley into a world-renowned destination. Ultimately, it serves as an intimate visual keepsake that preserves the pioneering heritage of America's first luxury winter sports resort.

32 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Natural Vegetation of Oregon and Washington by Jerry F. Franklin and C. T. Dyrness is a seminal 1973 ecological reference work that provides an exhaustive classification and description of the diverse plant communities across the Pacific Northwest. Widely considered the definitive text for regional botany, the book meticulously details the distinct environmental zones, major forest types, and steppe landscapes native to the two states. It remains an indispensable foundational resource for ecologists, land managers, and researchers studying the complex flora and ecosystems of the region.

452 pages : illustrations, charts, maps ; 27 cm

Washingtonians: A Biographical Portrait of the State, edited by David Brewster and David M. Buerge in partnership with the Washington Centennial Commission, is a 1988 historical anthology published to commemorate the state's 1989 centennial. The comprehensive book explores the rich history of Washington by profiling the diverse lives, struggles, and achievements of the notable residents who shaped its development. Ultimately, it serves as a deeply humanizing tribute to the Pacific Northwest, framing the region's cultural and political evolution through the personal stories of the people who built it.

vii, 520 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 23 x 25 cm

People, Politics & Public Power by Ken Billington is a 1988 historical and semi-autobiographical account of the public power movement and hydroelectric development in the Pacific Northwest. Sponsored by the Washington Public Utility Districts' Association, the book chronicles Billington’s three-decade career as a lobbyist advocating for public utility districts in both Olympia and Washington, D.C., between 1951 and 1981. Ultimately, it provides an insider’s perspective on the complex legislative battles and grassroots political efforts that shaped the region's municipal energy infrastructure.

x, 475 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Poems and short stories written by Elizabeth Gamble Wahl. From the foreword by David Wahl: “When my grandfather, Daniel Gamble, returned from Goldendale and Victoria to his homestead on Paradise Ridge, he built a new home for his family. Following Irish tradition, he gave his home a name: Brooklawn. It was here that my mother grew up on a farm with the woods nearby. She learned to love the flowers and birds of field and woodland, and the passing seasons. The seasons show themselves distinctly here in the Palouse Country, and sometimes all four seasons come on one March day. Both her father and her brother Bert could write poetry. Before she was eleven, she and her sister Lola would make up their own stories. She decided that she would like to be a writer. She payed close attention to people, seemingly ordinary people, who worked in the fields with her brothers, or helped with chores and cooking. Among these people was “Shorty Hill”, a ranch hand and a real cowboy. Although he was not a writer, he was a master storyteller, and he helped my mother learn how to write the way that people speak. The short stories are fiction, but they have the good times among the hard times, the closeness of nature, and both the mischief and the warmth and caring of real people woven into them. Our family has enjoyed her stories and poems, and it is my hope that this book will bring as much pleasure to many others. Perhaps her words will help you to see that there are no ordinary people, and that today is no ordinary day.”

30 cm : illustrations ; 28 cm

Oregon Mountain Ranges by George Wuerthner is a 1987 photographic journey and ecological overview published as part of the Oregon Geographic Series. Featuring nearly 200 color photographs, the book explores the state's diverse mountainous landscapes, highlighting regions such as the Cascades, Blue Mountains, Siskiyous, Coast Range, and the Basin and Range. Ultimately, it serves as a visually striking and informative resource for anyone interested in exploring the geography and natural beauty of Oregon's high-altitude wilderness.

104 pages : color illustrations ; 22 x 28 cm.

Abraham Lincoln and the Washington Territory by H. D. Smiley is a 1987 historical study published by Ye Galleon Press that explores the 16th president's political and administrative relationship with the remote Pacific Northwest. The book delves into Lincoln's federal appointments, policies, and the legislative actions during the Civil War era that shaped the region, including the 1863 creation of the Idaho Territory that established Washington's modern boundaries. Ultimately, it provides a specialized look at how national wartime leadership and federal governance influenced the early frontier development of the Washington Territory.

38 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Postmarked Washington: Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties by Guy Reed Ramsey and Alan H. Patera is a meticulously researched 1987 reference book that chronicles the complete postal history of two of Washington state's earliest coastal counties. The work catalogs the establishment, operation, and eventual closure of numerous local post offices, while also documenting the pioneer postmasters and early mail routes that connected these remote frontier communities. Ultimately, it serves as an invaluable resource for philatelists, genealogists, and regional historians seeking to understand the pioneer communication networks of the Pacific Northwest.

148 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Washington's Coast by Robert Steelquist is a 1987 natural history and photographic exploration published as part of the Washington Geographic Series. The book offers an in-depth look at the diverse marine ecosystems, rugged shorelines, and unique geological features that define Washington state's Pacific edge. Ultimately, it serves as both a visually engaging tribute and an informative guide for anyone interested in the natural beauty and ecological significance of the region's coastal environments.

95, [1] pages : illustrations (some color), maps ; 22 x 28 cm.

From Trails to Rails: The Post Offices, Stage Stops, & Wagon Roads of Union County, Oregon by Irene Barklow is a meticulously researched 1987 local history that chronicles the evolution of pioneer transportation and communication in Eastern Oregon. The book details the region's transformation from rugged frontier trails and early stagecoach routes into a modernized railway hub, specifically cataloging the establishment of local post offices and settlements along the way. Ultimately, it serves as an invaluable resource for regional historians and genealogists tracing the infrastructural growth and pioneer heritage of Union County.

ix, 300 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 29 cm

History of Polk County, Oregon by the Polk County Historical Society is a comprehensive 1987 regional compilation detailing the pioneer heritage and civic development of this Willamette Valley community. The extensive volume features rich local family biographies, archival photographs, and detailed accounts of early settlements, agricultural growth, and municipal institutions. Ultimately, it serves as an essential genealogical and historical reference that preserves the personal stories and foundational milestones of Polk County's earliest residents.

301 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Oregon East, Oregon West: Travels and Memoirs by Theodor Kirchhoff, 1863-1872, translated and edited by Frederic Trautmann, is a 1987 historical collection published by the Oregon Historical Society. The book gathers English translations of the original 19th-century German travelogues written by Kirchhoff, offering a vibrant, firsthand account of his frontier experiences across the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately, it provides a culturally unique European perspective on early pioneer life, indigenous encounters, and the rugged Oregon landscape during a pivotal decade of western expansion. Translated excerpts from: Reisebilder und Skizzen aus Amerika

xxvii, 195 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

14 autobiographical essays on the "myths of land, manhood, and manifest destiny on which ... American culture was founded. This is a deeply felt and highly informed essay collection about life in the American west by one of the finest writers ever to emerge from that region. As the Seattle Times has said of Owning It All: "You may never again see the American west in quite the same way if you take the time to view it through the eyes of William Kittredge. [This is a] stunning book." Having grown up on his family's cattle ranch in eastern Oregon, Kittredge directly confronts the contradictions and myths that lie at the heart of the Western experience: male freedom and female domesticity, the wild and the tame, self-interest and love of the land.

182 pages ; 22 cm

In and Around Port Ludlow: Yesterday and Today by Pat Thompson and the Port Ludlow Garden Club is a 1987 local history and travel guide dedicated to this scenic waterfront community on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The book chronicles the town's evolution from a bustling 19th-century lumber mill hub into a modern resort and residential enclave. Ultimately, it serves as a charming community-driven tribute that preserves the rich pioneer heritage, local geography, and natural beauty of the Port Ludlow area.

55 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm

The Wilkes Expedition: Puget Sound and the Oregon Country, edited by Frances B. Barkan and published in 1987 by the Washington State Capital Museum, provides a focused historical account of the 1841 American maritime survey of the Pacific Northwest. The book explores the regional activities of the United States Exploring Expedition, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, detailing their extensive mapping of Puget Sound and the expedition's broader role in strengthening American territorial claims. Ultimately, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding how this landmark naval mission shaped the early geographical and political landscape of the Oregon Country.

viii, 134 pages, 2 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations ; 21 x 26 cm

The Mount Adams Country: Forgotten Corner of the Columbia River Gorge by Keith McCoy, edited by David A. James, is a 1987 local history detailing the early development and pioneer heritage of Washington's Klickitat County. The book explores the rugged region situated between the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers, chronicling the area's geography, indigenous populations, and the foundational industries like logging that shaped its growth up to the Second World War. Ultimately, it serves as a deeply affectionate, well-researched tribute to the frontier communities and natural landscapes that defined this scenic stretch of the Cascade Mountains adjacent to the Columbia River.

xiv, 196 pages : illustrations, map, portraits ; 29 cm

Bessie Cammon's who, what, when, where and why on Anderson Island demonstrates that the history of the West is the history of people... Her book is people, the Christensens, Ekenstams, Johnsons, and the other pioneer settlers of Anderson Island... These settlers typified the national groups who found homes in the western wilderness and who successfully adapted to the rigors of frontier life. --Bruce LeRoy, Director Washington State Historical Society

228 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

This Crested Hill: An Illustrated History of the University of Idaho by Keith Petersen is a comprehensive, visually rich chronicle published in 1987 to commemorate the upcoming centennial of the state's flagship university in Moscow, Idaho. The book traces the institution's evolution from a single, uncompleted building in 1889 into a modern, thriving research university, highlighting key academic milestones, student life, and campus architecture. Through a compelling blend of historical narrative and archival photographs, it serves as an enduring tribute to the legacy and development of higher education in the Gem State.

245 pages : illustrations ; 31 cm

Spirit and Ancestor: A Century of Northwest Coast Indian Art at the Burke Museum by renowned scholar Bill Holm, featuring striking photography by Eduardo Calderón, is a stunning 1987 exhibition catalog celebrating the centennial of the Seattle-based institution. The book showcases 100 masterworks from the museum's extensive collection of Indigenous art, offering deep cultural, historical, and aesthetic context for each intricately carved mask, textile, and ceremonial object. Ultimately, it serves as both a breathtaking visual record and a definitive academic resource honoring the enduring artistic traditions of the Pacific Northwest's First Nations.

253 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm.

This volume is the culmination of over two decades of study of Pacific Northwest mushrooms. You will find this guide an essential for your mushroom collection kit. Mushroom enthusiasts are advised on when and where to collect, how to distinguish from toadstools and on the development and parts of the mushroom. Valuable and complete information is provided for 354 species of non-gilled mushrooms in the Northwest, including 119 species of boletes, 119 coral fungi, 12 chanterelles, 121 polypores, and 50 spine fungi. Field and technical keys for the determination of species, along with descriptions and black & white photographs. --Publisher

volumes <1-2> : illustrations (some color) ; 21 cm.

Valuable and complete information is provided for 354 species of non-gilled mushrooms in the Northwest, including 119 species of boletes, 119 coral fungi, 12 chanterelles, 121 polypores, and 50 spine fungi. Field and technical keys for the determination of species, along with descriptions and black & white photographs.

How did people travel in the good old days? Ed Culp traces the history of transportation in the West, particularly into Oregon. Old photos, maps, drawings, advertisements, and transporation schedules illustrate how improvements were made, with emphasis on the development of the railroads. The large majority of the photos were acquired during Culp's forty years in public relations work for one of the large railroads.

viii, 185 pages : illustrations, map ; 28 cm

A History of the Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest, 1743-1983 by Wilfred P. Schoenberg is a monumental 1987 historical volume that provides a comprehensive chronicle of Catholic missionary work, institutional growth, and religious influence across the region. Spanning more than two centuries, the book details everything from the earliest pioneer priests and Native American missions to the establishment of modern dioceses, schools, and hospitals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Ultimately, it serves as an exhaustive and scholarly reference that captures the profound spiritual and cultural impact of the Catholic faith on the broader frontier development of the Pacific Northwest.

xi, 883 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

This book tells the history of San Juan Island mostly through the diaries and letters of the original settlers plus newspaper accounts of various newsworthy events that happened on the island.

x, 194 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 22 cm

The Nootka: Scenes and Studies of Savage Life, originally written in 1868 by colonial magistrate Gilbert Malcolm Sproat and edited by Charles Lillard in 1987, is a foundational ethnohistorical account of the Indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth peoples of Vancouver Island. Based on Sproat's firsthand observations while establishing a settlement at Alberni Inlet, the work provides detailed documentation of the traditions, daily routines, and social structures of the region's First Nations prior to widespread colonization. Ultimately, it serves as a critical, albeit 19th-century-filtered, primary source for modern anthropologists and historians studying the early impacts of European contact on the British Columbia coast.

xxiii, 216 pages ; 24 cm.