When members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, first arrived in antebellum Indiana, they could not have envisioned the struggle which would engulf the nation when the American Civil War began in 1861. Juxtaposed with its stand against slavery a second tenet of the Society's creed--adherence to peace--also challenged the unity of Friends when the dreaded conflict erupted. Indiana Quakers Confront the Civil War chronicles for the first time the military activities of Indiana Quakers during America's bloodiest war and explores the motivation behind the abandonment, at least temporarily, of their long-standing testimony against war.

Includes Part 1, Number 1: Books and Pamphlets, Including Serials and Contributions to Periodicals (January - June)

The Taming of the Wilderness describes the process of transforming the flora and fauna of nineteenth century Indiana from Hunting Grounds of Native Americans to commercial agriculture and its supporting industry. The book is in three parts: 1800-1825: Living with the Wilderness; subsistence living under primitive conditions; 1825-1850: Bridling the Wilderness; canals and steamboats facilitate trade; and 1850-1875: A Wilderness Vanquished; railroads dramatically change farming and the environment. A dominant theme portrays the fate of Native Americans who were pushed out of their sacred lands by coercion and brute force so the settlers could remake the landscape to their own liking. The author animates the story with personal experiences of genuine pioneer families. The book reads like a novel. It gives the reader a feeling of having been there and experienced the drudgery as well as the joys of taming the wilderness.