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Vintage History & Biographies

There is a subtle difference between "history" and "current events." At the time of this writing, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and Israel is engaged in a conflict with Hamas. Our world has just resurfaced from the fear spread by COVID-19 and the reactions it spurred, and the United States government is trying to figure out how to combat (or not) a surge of illegal immigration on our Southern border. These are all "historical events" and much is being written about them even as I type. But while facts are facts, we currently don't have them all and lack perspective. 

Two common quotes immediately jump to mind.

The first: "hindsight is 20/20." The idea behind this is that we can see more clearly things that are in our past; as we unearth information and take the time to understand multiple points of view, histories will be written. Many of these will be excellent, though never completely without bias, because of the second saying: "history is written by the victors." The primary sources—and the propaganda—of today will influence the histories of tomorrow.

So vintage history books are a funny thing. Being closer to the original events, some authors had the opportunity to witness the events they write about, or meet their subjects. As such, many of these authors were writing about what, for them, were essentially current events, and thus the books have primary (or secondary) source value. But they are products of their time, and were not immune to propaganda or inaccuracies themselves: the worldviews and prejudices of the authors influenced their work. Others, writing with longer perspective, often had access to sources or witnesses who have since passed away. Either way, views on race, gender, colonization, climate change and many other topics were often vastly different than those of people today; some for the good, and some not so good.

Many of the books here were written in the 1940s-60s, when the USA was fresh from victory in WWII. You might say America was at the peak of her power and glory, though she was then competing for world dominance with the USSR. That isn't to say she was always at her best, but there was a huge drive to educate her youth about her past and her heroes. The Landmark Books, Signature Books, Julian Messner biographies, and many others brought excellent authors and their topics into view of children. Not all of the books are about America, but most of them are, and it's a fair criticism that the selection here is Ameri- and Eurocentric. Looking at the world with a broader lens is generally a blessing of newer publications.

As with anything, when using history books for the education of children, care has to be taken. Keep in mind that good history is question-driven, not philosophy-driven. It's honest about the past, and doesn't whitewash horrible events. It doesn't impose biases onto primary sources or promote a certain perspective by manipulating data; good history lets the historical facts speak for themselves. We won't say all of the books here are good; we WILL say they provide different viewpoints, both for texts from their own time and for those of today. But it is important to read a range of books, both older and newer, to truly understand a diversity of perspectives.

We're working to add more books to this list all the time, and we want to make them as accessible as possible, so we're linking to online versions whenever we can. Look for links to Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, and other sources!

Introduction by Eli Evans
Formerly home educated and now father of five, Eli loves discovering amazing books, new and old, and is an artistic curator at heart. The owner and manager of Exodus since 1998, his focus is on offering thoughtful and well-written books that inspire the imagination and promote creativity and diligence while living for God. Read more of his reviews here.
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Active Filters: North America, 5th grade (Ages 10-11)
54-40 or Fight!
by Bob & Jan Young, maps & drawings by Barry Martin
from Julian Messner
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Alaska Gold Rush
Landmark #92
by May McNeer
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
California Gold Days
by Helen Bauer
1961 Printing from California State Department of Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
California Gold Rush
Landmark #6
by May McNeer & Lynd Ward
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
California Gold Rush
Spencer Press Landmark #7 (RH#6)
by May McNeer & Lynd Ward
from Spencer Press
for 5th-8th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Camel Express
Winston Adventure Books
by Olive Burt, illustrated by Joseph C. Camana
First Edition from John C. Winston
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Camels West
by James Ralph Johnson
from David McKay Company
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Champlain of the St. Lawrence
by Ronald Syme, illustrated by William Stobbs
from William Morrow & Company
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces
by Shannon Garst, illustrated by Douglas Gorsline
from Julian Messner
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Circle of Seasons
by Ann Nolan Clark; illustrated by W. T. Mars
from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$10.00 (1 in stock)
Continent We Live On
Landmark Giant #2
by Ivan T. Sanderson
from Random House
for 4th-8th grade
in Landmark Giants (Location: VIN-LAN)
Copper Kings of Montana
Landmark #95
by Marian T. Place
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Disaster at Johnstown: The Great Flood
Landmark #109
by Hildegarde Dolson
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Empire Builders
by Robert Ormond Case
for 5th-Adult
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Flag of the Dreadful Bear
from G.P. Putnam's Sons
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Flatboats and Wagon Wheels
by Mildred Houghton Comfort, illustrated by Dirk Gringhuis
from Beckley-Cardy Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
General Brock and Niagra Falls
World Landmark #28
by Samuel Hopkins Adams
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in World Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Gold in California
North Star Books #2
by Paul I. Wellman, illustrated by Lorence F. Bjorklund
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Gold Rush
by May McNeer, illustrated by Lynd Ward
from Grosset & Dunlap
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Hawaii's Queen
by Adrienne Stone
5th printing 1962 from Julian Messner
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Hawaii, Gem of the Pacific
Landmark #49
by Oscar Lewis
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
Here Rolled the Covered Wagons
by Albert Salisbury
from Superior Publishing Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Hudson's Bay Company
World Landmark #24
by Richard Morenus
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in World Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Jamestown: First English Colony
by Marshall W. Fishwick
from American Heritage Publishing Co.
for 3rd-8th grade
in American Heritage Junior Library (Location: VIN-HIS)
Jessie Benton Fremont
North Star Books #32
by Marguerite Higgins, illustrated by Bea Holmes
from Houghton Mifflin
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Joe Meek
by Shannon Garst
from Julian Messner
for 4th-7th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Kit Carson
A Discovery Book
by Nardi Reeder Campion, illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis
from Garrard Publishing Company
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Marcus and Narcissa Whitman
A Discovery Book
by Marian T. Place
from Garrard Publishing Company
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Mark Twain on the Mississippi
by Earl Schenck Miers, illustrated by Robert Frankenberg
from World Publishing Company
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Narcissa Whitman
Real People
by Carol Ryrie Brink, illustrated by Samuel Armstrong
from Row, Peterson and Company
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
O Canada!
by Isabel Barclay, illustrated by Cécile Gagnon
from Doubleday Canada, Limited
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Peter Stuyvesant of Old New York
Landmark #43
by Russel & Anna Crouse, illustrated by Jo Spier
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Picture Book of Oregon
by Bernadine Bailey, illustrated by Kurt Wiese
Revised Edition from Albert Whitman & Company
for 2nd-5th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
Pirate Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans
Landmark #19
by Robert Tallant
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Pocahontas and Captain John Smith
Landmark #3
by Marie Lawson
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
World Landmark #8
by Richard L. Neuberger
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in World Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Rush for Gold
by Frank L. Beals, illustrated by Jack Merryweather
from California State Department of Education
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$30.00 (1 in stock)
Sam Houston: The Tallest Texan
Landmark #32
by William Johnson, illustrated by William Reusswig
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Sea Tiger
by Frank Kolars, illustrated by Craig Pineo
from Hawthorn Books, Inc.
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Silver Strike
by William T. Stoll and H.W. Whicker
from Little, Brown & Company
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Slave Who Freed Haiti
World Landmark #15
by Katharine Scherman
from Random House
for 5th-8th grade
in World Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAN)
Story of Davy Crockett
Grosset & Dunlap Signature #3
by Enid LaMonte Meadowcroft, illustrated by C. B. Falls
from Grosset & Dunlap
Biography for 4th-8th grade
in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
Story of Eli Whitney
by Jean Lee Latham, illustrated by Fritz Kredel
1st edition from Aladdin Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Story of Kit Carson
Grosset & Dunlap Signature #16
by Edmund Collier, illustrated by Nicholas Eggenhofer
from Grosset & Dunlap
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
Story of Oklahoma
Landmark #100
by Lon Tinkle
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in American Landmark Books (Location: VIN-LAND)
Story of Oregon
by Oscar Lewis, illustrated by John N. Barron
from Garden City Books
for 4th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$20.00 (1 in stock)
Story of Pocahontas
Grosset & Dunlap Signature #21
by Shirley Graham, illustrated by Mario Cooper
from Grosset & Dunlap
Biography for 5th-9th grade
in Grosset & Dunlap Signature Books (Location: VIN-SIG)
Story of San Francisco
Landmark #59
by Charlotte Jackson; illustrated by Kurt Werth
from Random House
for 5th-9th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Story of the Great Lakes
by Marie Gilchrist, illustrated by C. H. DeWitt
for 2nd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
Talking Totem Poles
by Glenn Holder
from Dodd, Mead & Co.
for 3rd-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Texas and the War with Mexico
by Ralph K. Andrist
from Harper & Row
for 5th-8th grade
in American Heritage Junior Library (Location: VIN-HIS)
This Dear-Bought Land
by Jean Lee Latham
from Harper & Row
for 3rd-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
$56.00 (1 in stock)
To Far Places
by Eva K. Betz, illustrated by Peter Landa
from Hawthorn Books, Inc.
for 4th-6th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
We Were There at the Battle of the Alamo
We Were There #18
by Margaret Cousins, illustrated by Nicholas Eggenhofer
from Grosset & Dunlap
Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade
in We Were There Series (Location: VIN-HIS)
We Were There at the Oklahoma Land Run
We Were There #12
by Jim Kjelgaard, illustrated by Chris A. Kenyon
from Grosset & Dunlap
Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade
in We Were There Series (Location: VIN-HIS)
We Were There on the Oregon Trail
by William O. Steele
from American Home-School Publishing
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
We Were There on the Oregon Trail
We Were There #1
by William O. Steele, illustrated by Jo Polseno
from Grosset & Dunlap
Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade
in We Were There Series (Location: VIN-HIS)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
We Were There with Lewis & Clark
by James Munves
from American Home-School Publishing
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
We Were There with the California Forty-Niners
We Were There #9
by Stephen Holt, illustrated by Raymond Lufkin
from Grosset & Dunlap
Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade
in We Were There Series (Location: VIN-HIS)
We Were There with The Pony Express
by William O. Steele
from American Home-School Publishing
Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
Young Man in a Hurry
by Jean Lee Latham, illustrated by Victor Mays
from Harper & Row
for 5th-8th grade
in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
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