COVERED WAGON WOMEN: DIARIES AND LETTERS FROM THE WESTERN TRAILS 1840-1890, 11 VOLUMES

Glendale: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1983-1993., 1983-1993. First edition. First editions, first printings. Teal cloth, Illustrations, portraits, maps, (including large folding map), index. The letters and diaries of many brave women who were part of the great western, overland migration of the 19th century. "The women cooked meals every day under dire circumstances. They sewed, wove, knitted and mended clothes and bedding. They washed up when they had enough water but went dirty for weeks if required. They walked miles over some of the roughest terrain America possesses - rocks, sand, dust, mud - over flat rutted trails and up and down mountain paths. They fed and milked cows, helped keep oxen and horses alive, birthed babies and buried them. They wrote back to relatives giving them advice about what to bring if they made the trip. Many included prices of items they purchased from the occasional store or farmer they came across and told of trading with various Indian tribes." "Here are the voices of Tamsen Donner and young Virginia Reed, members of the ill-fated Donner party; Patty Sessions, the Mormon midwife who delivered five babies on the trail between Omaha and Salt Lake City; Rachel Fisher, who buried both her husband and her little girl before reaching Oregon." A very informative, and often touching record of exceptional importance. "The diaries are reprinted verbatim, with no changes in spelling, punctuation, etc. Each is introduced by the editor with historical background and identification of characters whenever possible. Minor footnoting to clarify the text is included."--Clark/Brunet. Volume XI includes index and a large folding map showing the overland routes taken. This work is essential for any library of Western Americana. This outstanding work is destined to become as avidly sought as many other, well-known sets by The Arthur H. Clark Co. Fine in original plain dust jackets. Highly recommended.