"Although Southern Illinois University in many ways may be a typical large public university, its unique location, history, and culture make it a distinct institution of higher education. This book is designed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the university's founding by documenting its history and development from 1969 to 2019"--

"This book includes photographs and descriptions of the twenty-three snake species that may be found at Snake Road, as well as notes about their physical characteristics and the likelihood of seeing a particular species on a single trip"--

In this collection of articles describing the people, places, and folkways of southern Illinois, John W. Allen provides entertaining and informative glimpses into the region’s past. Included here are sketches of the early pioneering days when wolves were literally chased from the door, stories about the many Indian artifacts discovered among the rolling hills and valleys of the area, and articles pertaining to the strategic role the region played during the Civil War. Allen also describes the activities of such infamous outlaws as Samuel Mason and the Harpe brothers as well as the famous Illinois-born heroes “Bat” Masterson, “Wild Bill” Hickok, and Wyatt Earp. In his warm and friendly style, Allen reminisces about the self-sufficient and satisfying rural life of a previous generation with its oxcarts, pie suppers, threshing machines, kerosene lamps, and blacksmith shops. Any reader interested in southern Illinois and its history will delight in this collection of stories from John W. Allen’s popular newspaper column, “It Happened in Southern Illinois.”

In The State of Southern Illinois: An Illustrated History, Herbert K. Russell offers fresh interpretations of a number of important aspects of Southern Illinois history. Focusing on the area known as “Egypt,” the region south of U.S. Route 50 from Salem south to Cairo, he begins his book with the earliest geologic formations and follows Southern Illinois’s history into the twenty-first century. The volume is richly illustrated with maps and photographs, mostly in color, that highlight the informative and straightforward text. Perhaps most notable is the author’s use of dozens of heretofore neglected sources to dispel the myth that Southern Illinois is merely an extension of Dixie. He corrects the popular impressions that slavery was introduced by early settlers from the South and that a majority of Southern Illinoisans wished to secede. Furthermore, he presents the first in-depth discussion of twelve pre–Civil War, free black communities located in the region. He also identifies the roles coal mining, labor violence, gangsters, and the media played in establishing the area’s image. He concludes optimistically, unveiling a twenty-first-century Southern Illinois filled with myriad attractions and opportunities for citizens and tourists alike. The State of Southern Illinois is the most accurate all-encompassing volume of history on this unique area that often regards itself as a state within a state. It offers an entirely new perspective on race relations, provides insightful information on the cultural divide between north and south in Illinois, and pays tribute to an often neglected and misunderstood region of this multidimensional state, all against a stunning visual backdrop. Superior Achievement from the Illinois State Historical Society, 2013

Student life at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has undergone remarkable changes since the Second World War. What had been Southern Illinois Normal University became Southern Illinois University, which in turn became Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The university grew from a campus with 2,000 students principally drawn from the immediate region to a university 10 times that size with students coming from throughout the nation and from overseas. This history focuses on the changes in student life during this era, including fashions and fads, homecoming parades and politics, and housing and hangouts. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is about students who have attended the university over the past seven decades. Student life at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has undergone remarkable changes since the Second World War. What had been Southern Illinois Normal University became Southern Illinois University, which in turn became Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The university grew from a campus with 2,000 students principally drawn from the immediate region to a university 10 times that size with students coming from throughout the nation and from overseas. This history focuses on the changes in student life during this era, including fashions and fads, homecoming parades and politics, and housing and hangouts. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is about students who have attended the university over the past seven decades.