Paul A. Wallace gathers the diaries and journals of John Heckewelder to prepare this engrossing account of a man who traveled extensively in the Western frontier in the service of the Moravian Church and the United States government; and recorded a great deal of early American history along the way. Heckewelder also lived among the Indians for nearly sixty years; learning their languages; sharing their activities; and wrote vividly of his life with them. Between 1762 and 1813 he crossed the Allegheny Mountains thirty times and made numerous trips down the Ohio River as far south as Kentucky; and along the Great Lakes to Detroit. Heckewelder tells of the first great migration of whites into the West; and also wrote of the early settlements in many important cities; including Detroit; Louisville; Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; Harrisburg; Schenectady and Albany.
#602870 in Books Duke University Press Books 2007-11-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.00 x 6.00l; 1.35 #File Name: 0822340739424 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. An important historiography of Harriet TubmanBy C. Ellen ConnallyThis is an every interesting analysis of Harriet Tubman and her place in history. Set up as a series of essays; the author shows the ebbs and flows of Tubman in American history. While not diminishing her importance; Sernett correctly points out that Tubman has in a sense become an icon - representative figure for a woman that challenged the system. Accounts of the number of trips that she made to liberate enslaved peoples have been vastly overrated; especially as to the number of trips and the number of people.As the author correctly points out; Tubman went back to rescue members of her family. He also points out that she had help from the community of free blacks in Maryland; along with whites.Unfortunately; Tubman was illiterate so she was never able to tell her own story in her own words. There have been many fictional accounts of her life that have in a sense made her a mythical character.Sernett traces the historiography of Harriet Tubman and how she has been depicted in various accounts. This is an excellent companion piece to any account of the life of Harriet Tubman and allows the reader to understand the depiction of Harriet Tubman in American history.9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Clarifying TubmanBy David W. ConnellyI occasionally lead bus tours to the Harriet Tubman Home complex; so I thought I knew a lot about her. Sernett's "Harriet Tubman: Myth; Memory; and History" surprised me with a realm of Tubman history I had barely even though about.Sernett; an emeritus professor of African-American studies at Syracuse University; has written a lucid; thoughtful; fascinating book that reveals how we Americans have thought and still think about Tubman.It's a story about her and the people who framed her story from their own prejudices and purposes; and about our American racial stereotypes and prejudices.As heartbreaking as it is to read how the Auburn; New York; community treated her during the last decades of her life; but my admiration for her grows as I realize that despite such treatment she marched along selflessly; lovingly and forgivingly.It's no wonder Tubman's fame continues to grow.
