History of Kentucky

 

The information on publication data alone, or who did the illustrations within, is unique of this time period ie. the who's where's etc...And today, with many of these long out of data classics, found now only in the public domain, is nearly impossible to find.

 

As publishing houses, no longer perse have their authors include in their introductions.. the details and acknowledgements..dedications and prefaces (all of which should always be read) that were as much a part of the work as the work itself. Emphasis, on and by editors, has changed significantly....as much as they came and they went; so to did the houses who published. And all their associated contract employee's, paper suppliers, binders, illustrators, photographers, typesetters etc. 

 

But that's another fascinating topic for another time.

 

 

History was written like this from the 1860's on. And was, what made it easy, prior to the internet and google, for a student or researcher to cross reference; index and determine validity of primary and secondary sources. Alas today, it's not done as well as it once was. Which, imo, makes it all the easier for the 'revisonist'.

 

This a fairly long work. But it's prose style and illustrations make it worth your perusal. Perhaps not famous; ZF Smith was the former superindent of public schools in Kentucy. And as such, as is common of the era, not particulary famous outside his local environs... as however that might be defined.

 

But the era is replete with noted and well respected authors-scholars-teachers and educators and historians, that were indeed published and whose works often found thenselves in the curriculm of local universities....that were not necessarily nationally or internationaly known.

 

That as should be obvious, should be no detractor of their efforts....these gems are replete with examples of how the 'method' was used and should be continued to be used.. even in the 21st ce.

 

It's not and when it's not.. it's because the author is generally in a hurry to make a buck..or lazy.. as much as he-she is interested in providing first rate historical writings

 

Thanks