Witnessing America: The Library of Congress Book of First-hand Accounts of Life in America

by Noel Rae (editor), James H. Billington, Douglas Brinkley

What was it like to live in log cabin, face a stampede, pan for gold, or work in a sweatshop? Or to be a Civil War nurse or a prisoner of frontier Indians? Witnessing America weaves intimate eye-witness accounts into an extraordinary collective cultural memory, a patchwork quilt of American life--from the telling of an Native American creation story to a prairie wedding to the memories of a sod house builder in the 19th century. Handsomely illustrated with unusual and rare pieces of art from the Library of Congress.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Suzanne LaPierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did someone say "primary sources"? This compilation from the Library of Congress brings together first hand accounts from 1600-1900- situations ranging from courtship to illness and immigration. The chapter on "pairings," for example, includes first hand accounts ranging from Benjamin Franklin trying to wrest a dowry out of the family of a young woman he was interested in (they said no, a printing press was not likely to be lucrative), to two very different accounts of the pairing of enslaved people- one a joyous wedding by choice and one of a teenager being forced into common-law marriage to produce enslaved children for her master. The "eating" chapter includes some of John Smith's writing from Jamestown settlement days recounting the Native American and settlers' food practices, early 1800's recipes for Election Cake and Dyspepsia Bread, and Jack London's account of prison fare from late 1800's New York (where he had been held for vagrancy). I would recommend this as a source for high school or college students doing history reports that require primary source material, as well as interesting reading for history buffs in general.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book I had to force myself to finish but others I was sad whn the stories were done. Eyewitness accounts to the founding of the American West.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, it's good read to have different sources from different eyewitnesses in the American History.

[Sarah Beth Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Heavy. Gave me my history fix for a bit and makes me thankful to be alive now instead of any other time.

[Jessica Gowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book, that gives eye witness information about different important events throughout American History, although some of the writing can be a bit dry and hard to follow. I overall enjoyed the book.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but didn't exactly help me with my research

[Oakdoorframe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book single handedly ruined my life. I have beef with this book. It's gotten personal. If this book ever comes across me in a dark alleyway, it should be prepared to get jumped.