Books for the Artist in Your Life

When Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben, a colorful, charismatic, imposing, and gay military leader from Prussia, presented himself to the Continental Congress in 1778, he had one goal in mind: to whip the nascent United States militiamen into shape and turn them into an army fit to face the likes of Great Britain. Baron von Steuben’s military career was almost as famed as his vibrant social life, and as he was lauded for the former, he was scorned for the latter. Von Steuben left his home country as rumors circulated about his sexuality. Abroad, von Steuben met with Benjamin Franklin, who invited von Steuben to volunteer his services for the American cause. Von Steuben set out to the American colonies, where he quickly became part of the inner circle of the Founding Fathers, and of George Washington in particular. Von Steuben brought with him the military skills that he had learned in the military of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, and he now used them to train an elite force at Valley Forge. Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, also called the Blue Book, was the practical military-training manual that von Steuben wrote with the help of Alexander Hamilton. This manual helped win the American Revolution and provided a guide for the United States military until after the War of 1812. Incredibly, some portions of the original Blue Book are still used by the American Armed Forces today.

Opened in 1913, Grand Central Terminal is a world-famous landmark building with a magnificent 48-foot-high, 1,500-ton statuary group on top of the main facade.

Designed by sculptor Jules-Felix Coutan, a 13-foot-wide Tiffany clock serves as the centerpiece.The figure above the clock is Mercury, with Hercules to the left and Minerva to the right.In the late 1990s, a historic restoration was performed on the terminal after which two cast-iron eagle statues were placed over entrances at Lexington Avenue and Forty-Second Street/Vanderbilt Avenue.These eagles were from the 1898 Grand Central Station building that was demolished in 1910 to make room for the construction of the new Grand Central Terminal structure.Penn Station, which opened in 1910, covered two full city blocks and had statuary groups, designed by sculptor Adolph Weinman, on all four sides of the building.After Penn Station was demolished in the mid-1960s, the statuary was dispersed throughout various locations, mainly in the Northeast.

Discover the stories, history and meaning of Cherokee pottery and artists.

The intricate designs and complex patterns of Cherokee pottery have been developed over centuries. Both timeless and time-honored, these singular works of pottery are still crafted by the proud hands of Cherokee women in Western North Carolina. Cherokee Pottery recounts the history of a tradition passed from elder to child through countless generations. Anna Fariello, associate professor at Western Carolina University, explores the method and meaning molded into each piece, along with the stories of the potters themselves.

At the height of America's Arts and Crafts movement, Detroit neighbors Horace J. Caulkins and Mary Chase Perry pooled their talents together to found Pewabic Pottery.

With modest beginnings in 1903, Pewabic transformed from a rented stable in Brush Park to an English Tudor building on East Jefferson Avenue, where it has operated since 1907. Today, the iconic enterprise continues Perry's dedication to handcrafted ceramics and remains known for its iridescent glaze on everything from vessels and architectural tiles to ecclesiastical installations in churches across the country, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Author Cara Catallo illuminates the story behind one of the oldest American handcrafted pottery traditions.

Discover a lost world of farmers cutting hay with scythes and dancing to fiddle music on barn floors through the Long Island paintings of William Sidney Mount.

Explore vivid depictions of people of color, presented with great humanity when racist caricatures were the norm.

This landmark book reveals the lives of Rachel, the eel spearer; Henry Brazier, the left-handed fiddler; George Freeman, model for the jaunty banjo player, and other agricultural laborers, domestic workers, and musicians who posed for the artist.

Authors Katherine Kirkpatrick and Vivian Nicholson-Mueller take readers on a fascinating historical journey as they publicly honor, by name, the once-anonymous Black and mixed-race models whose images have achieved international recognition.

Wicked Bozeman delves into a dangerous and dark past

The Gallatin History Museum, housed in the old Gallatin County Jail, holds many secrets. From the house of ill repute on Mendenhall Street to the earliest jail break in 1873, the historic crimes are replete with con artists, forgers, robbers and the insane each leaving a trail of deceit and mystery. There is laughter, shock and the hard reality of a life lost to time behind bars.

Using the original jail ledgers as a jumping off point, Museum Curator Kelly Suzanne Hartman takes the reader along on an investigative journey through Bozeman’s seedier past.

Syracuse Television features the zaniness of Baron Daemon, lessons from the Magic Toy Shop, and live fun from Jim Deline and the Gang and The Markert Place.

Central New Yorkers have been treated to many memorable television moments since December 1, 1948, when WHEN-TV Channel 8 signed on the air for the first time. In a record 16 days after equipment arrived at its 101 Court Street site, the station was miraculously up and running. Syracuse's pioneer broadcasters were eager to explore this bold, new world with programs that would entertain, educate, and inform.  Over the years, personalities and programs became familiar to Central New Yorkers. There was news coverage from Fred Hillegas, Ron Curtis, Rod Wood, and Carrie Lazarus and weather forecasts from Stormy Meredith, Big Al Roker, Dave Eichorn, and Wayne Mahar.

Detroit broadcasting history is rich with character . . . and characters.

It began atop the Penobscot Building on October 23, 1946, when WWDT shot a signal to the convention center, part of a ""New Postwar Products Exposition."" WWJ-TV offered scheduled programming in June 1947, and WXYZ-TV and WJBK-TV jumped in a year later. The medium has influenced the city's personality and social agenda ever since. Soupy Sales turned getting a pie in the face into an art form. Mort Neff celebrated the state's outdoor charms. George Pierrot showed Detroiters the world. Other beloved personalities include: Milky the Clown, Ed McKenzie, Sonny Eliot, John Kelly, Marilyn Turner, Robin Seymour, Bill Bonds, Dick Westerkamp, Jingles, Bill Kennedy, Lou Gordon, Captain Jolly, Johnny Ginger, Auntie Dee, and many more.

Many Alabamians may not realize how many of their fond memories involve advertising signs.

Although these neon spectaculars, billboards and even signs painted directly onto brick walls were created expressly to persuade customers or tourists to patronize businesses, many such signs remained in place for so long that they became landmarks in their own right. From the California-inspired sign for Art’s Char House and the ubiquitous signage of Bargain Town USA to Tuscaloosa’s famed Moon Winx Motel neon masterpiece, author Tim Hollis guides readers on a hunt for signs that wormed their way into the collective Alabama memory.

Detroit Free Press journalist Robert Allen sifts through these advertising fossils, exposing the gripping stories connected to the Motor City's historic rises, falls and eccentricities.

Across Detroit, fleeting symbols of the past hide in plain sight, behind weeds and under veneers of paint. Demolishing a vacant building among empty storefronts on the west side uncovered the telltale gold and green of a Vernors Ginger Ale sign, preserved almost as vibrantly as the artist intended. In faded red, white and blue, Mac-O-Lac Paint makes an expired pitch to passersby on Gratiot near Eastern Market. On the east side, Mohawk Rock and Rye still declares itself the World's Finest! Carhartt, Stroh's and Faygo appear in odd, deserted places.

Cincinnati Television provides an informative entertaining look at Cincinnati's broadcast history through the images and stories of its participants.

Cincinnati has a distinguished television history. Beginning before WLW-T signed on the air in February 1948, its experimental station W8XCT broadcast from the 46th floor of the Carew Tower. WKRC-TV and WCPO-TV signed on in 1949, WCET in 1954, and WXIX-TV in 1968. Since then, television has become part of the family.

Uncle Al, Skipper Ryle, Batty Hattie from Cincinnati, the Cool Ghoul, Peter Grant, Al Schottelkotte, Nick Clooney, Ruth Lyons, Paul Baby, Bob Braun, and Jerry Springer visited Cincinnati living rooms on television. Remember Midwestern Hayride, TV Dance Party, PM Magazine, Juvenile Court, Young People's Specials, Lilias, Dotty Mack, Bob Shreve, Mr. Hop, Bean's Clubhouse, The Last Prom, and Ira Joe? They are part of the collective Cincinnati history, part of the Cincinnati culture, and part of the Cincinnati family.

Jim Friedman is a Cincinnati native and resident wordsmith who has created television shows since 1979. He has won 56 regional Emmy Awards for writing, directing, and producing television shows for WCPO-TV, WKRC-TV, WLWT, WXIX, and WCET. He created The Celebrate Series, The Dooley Show, Everyday Freedom Heroes, and the Dreambuilder movies. In Cincinnati Television, he shares memories from in front of the camera, behind the scenes, and all over town.

Preserving Appalachian Heritage Through Traditional Crafts

Explore the heart of Southern Appalachia through its master artisans. The Artistic Preservation of Tradition highlights a tight-knit community of craftspeople, ages 32 to 92, who keep centuries-old techniques alive. From woodworking and pottery to music and storytelling, their work honors Appalachian history and culture. Meet legends like Willard Watson and Stanley Hicks, and discover modern innovators like Cory Plott and William Ritter. Author and artist Bob Plott brings these powerful stories to life in a heartfelt tribute to tradition and creativity. Perfect for readers who love local history, folk art, and handmade heritage, this book is a must-read for anyone drawn to the spirit of the mountains.

Explore the Magic City of the Plains with A History Lover's Guide to Cheyenne

Celebrating at their encampment near Crow Creek on July 4, 1867, railroad surveyors named the settlement after the local Cheyenne tribe. By the time the Union Pacific Railroad arrived in November, the town had grown from a tent city to a “Hell on Wheels” town of ten thousand souls. Cattle barons brought herds to graze the open range, while they reposed in mansions on Millionaires Row. By 1890, the gleaming dome of the new capitol building was visible all the way down Capitol Avenue to the majestic Union Pacific Railroad Depot.

Authors Starley Talbott and Michael Kassel explore a rich past, including the origins of the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, the foundation of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and the unheralded history of early aviation that eclipsed Denver.

Since 1925, the John C. Campbell Folk School has invited people to explore their creative potential in the serene setting of Brasstown, North Carolina. Those pursuits began with education, agriculture, and traditional Appalachian crafts, including wood carving and blacksmithing. One hundred years later, the school expanded into more than 50 subject areas, from cooking and clay to shoemaking and stained glass. Friends and cofounders Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler were influenced by the Danish folkehøjskole, or “folk high school,” and set out to create a similar opportunity in Appalachia where learning would be noncompetitive and meals would be communal. The folk school has provided the foundation for the internationally recognized Brasstown Carvers, created a music and dance program with regular offerings for concerts and contras, and now welcomes thousands of students while holding over 800 weeklong and weekend classes per year. 

It continues to be, as Olive once described, “an experiment in adult education” that seeks to enliven and enlighten the world. 

Kitty Taylor served as the programs development manager and creative program advisor for writing. She selected photographs and materials from the Fain Archives to provide a glimpse at the John C. Campbell Folk School’s first 100 years. 

The grit and grandeur of New Orleans helped give rise to an icon of French Impressionism.

Edgar Degas’s mother was from New Orleans and from the time he buried her, he pined for Louisiana. In 1872, when he arrived, he found New Orleans wracked with devastation. He struggled with the conflict of helping his family’ bankrupt cotton business, while pursuing his passion to paint. Amidst this turmoil, blossomed a tragic friendship with his blind sister-in-law, his beautiful muse. Edgar nearly went mad when he discovered his brother had gone through all the family money, and was having an affair with his wife’s best friend. This book rips open the divide between Edgar and his brother that kept them from speaking for ten years, and led Edgar to start a new direction in his work: Impressionism.

As Florida Southern College embarked upon an ambitious building program in the 1930s, the serendipitous arrival of Frank Lloyd Wright transformed the future of the school.

Pres. Ludd Myrl Spivey was a leader with limitless imagination, and he realized the virtue in bringing an architect of Wright's renown to Lakeland. Wright's first visit to the lakeside campus was in 1938. He envisioned a grand 18-unit Child of the Sun campus, where buildings would grow from the Florida sand into the light. The buildings are especially suited to the landscape and are connected thematically by a series of covered walkways Wright called the Esplanade. Over the next 20 years, 12 of these unique structures were constructed at Florida Southern, and today they comprise the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright's work. The campus attracts thousands of visitors annually, and preservation and restoration projects are ongoing. The Florida Southern College Architectural District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Like the Cheshire Cat, much of Chicago’s history fades away while perched in plain sight.

For more than a century, the brick walls of the city served as a ready canvas for advertisements that married artistic experimentation and commercial endeavor. Intrepid painters planted signs for horseshoers and Hamlin’s Wizard Oil in places where they would outlast the way of life they represented. Since author Joseph Marlin began documenting the city’s advertisements more than thirty years ago, many of them have completely vanished beneath the onslaught of blizzard and bulldozer. From national brands to mom-and-pop shops, his collection offers the last glimpse of a bygone era.

Tread the boards with Mockingbird Players as they present Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird burst into the world in 1960, followed by the Academy Award-winning film in 1962. Since then, the story of Scout, Atticus, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley has been an indelible part of American culture. Playwright Christopher Sergel secured Harper Lee’s blessing in 1970 for the stage adaptation of her novel, and in 1991, the Mockingbird Players began the annual ritual of staging the show on its home turf and beyond. Author John Williams chronicles the production’s extraordinary journey along with a wealth of side stories from the deep and colorful histories of Monroeville and Monroe County.

A life in buildings

The son of Oregon pioneers, Walter D. Pugh spent his career as an architect building landmarks throughout his home state. From designing the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and supervising the installation of the State Capitol dome in Salem to drawing the plans for the Crook County Courthouse in Prineville, Pugh had a hand in a wide variety of buildings. In less than twenty-five years, he worked on more than a hundred projects before fading into obscurity. Many of these structures are still standing, a testament to his skill even after his contributions have been all but forgotten.

Join author and historian Terence Emmons as he explores the life and legacy of one of Oregon's foremost architects.

Casting the Cowboy State’s Past

Wyoming’s history is enshrined in the bronze sculptures lining Capitol Avenue and across Cheyenne. The idea, conceived only a decade prior, rapidly grew into the most successful public arts project in city history. Inspired by and committed to preserving the history of the state, private citizens donated bronze sculptures depicting important figures and contributions. Tribal leaders, explorers and governors are represented. The contributions of architects, artists and suffragettes are celebrated. And dedication to service in politics, agriculture and the military are honored. Authors Starley Talbott and Michael Kassel explore the state’s rich past cast in bronze. 

Tour a stunning gallery of Gulf Coast artists that includes the overlooked treasures of nineteenth-century studios, the heroic advocacy of the Galveston Art League and the visual pioneers who earned the island community its overdue acclaim.

Since Audubon visited Galveston in 1837, artists have flocked to the island, some just passing through and others staying their entire lives. But because Galveston remained remote from the nation's cultural centers, its artistic contributions were initially largely ignored. However, the recovery effort from Great Storm of 1900 spurred a new sense of local pride and civic determination. The Cotton Carnivals attracted people throughout the state, the city's artists united to promote local art through the creation of the Galveston Art League, and photographers modernized their practices. In the early 1920s, a new generation, freed from nineteenth century traditions, started to gain attention both on and off the island. Explore Galveston's artistic heritage with Patricia Jakobi, from the landscapes of Boyer Gonzales to the sculptural portraits of Caroline Burton Claassen.

New York's Harlem Valley, with the last stops on the Metro-North train line from Manhattan, has an incredibly eclectic history for a predominantly agricultural region .

A Victorian utopian community claiming to see fairies settled in Wassaic, attracting Japanese samurai and remaking the townscape of Amenia. An early version of the “Borscht Belt” began on the shores of Lake Amenia, where a once-thriving resort community vanished along with the lake itself. Amidst a crisis of dwindling membership, the NAACP was brought together at major conferences held at Amenia’s Troutbeck estate, owned by Joel Spingarn, the organization’s first Jewish president. Young graduates from the Rhode Island School of design and other art schools launched the Wassaic Project, a festival and art residency using a converted agricultural grain elevator as their venue. 

Author Tonia Shoumatoff presents these and other fascinating stories from Life at the End of the Line in the Harlem Valley.

Authors Deb Schillo and Barbara Miller take the reader through the fascinating history of the Southern Highland Craft Guild through a series of charming images and narratives of the craftspeople and artists throughout the 20th and into the 21st century that have made the Guild the world-renown cultural staple that it is today.

Thirteen Master Carvers. One Enduring Legacy

For generations, Cherokee people in North Carolina shaped their world with their hands. Every object needed to live, work, and gather—from tools to ceremonial items—was made through practiced skill and shared knowledge. Rooted in an oral tradition, Cherokee history is preserved not primarily through written records, but through material culture. These objects stand as living evidence of belief systems, values, and continuity passed from one generation to the next.

Wood carving occupies a vital place within this tradition. Although time, environmental loss, and forced disruption have erased much early archaeological evidence, the knowledge itself endured. Unlike many craft traditions that faded with the rise of mass-produced goods, Cherokee carving remained a respected and active practice. Hand skill, technique, and cultural meaning continued to be valued, refined, and taught.

Pipes, masks, figures, sculpture, and bas-relief carvings from the early twentieth century to the present illustrate the depth, craftsmanship, and cultural meaning of Cherokee carving traditions. Each piece was made with intention—whether functional, ceremonial, or ornamental—and reflects a deep connection between the maker and the community. These carvings are expressive and tactile, shaped by both personal vision and shared heritage.

Biographical profiles explore the lives and creative paths of thirteen accomplished Cherokee carvers, offering insight into their training, influences, and responsibilities as cultural bearers. Together, the works and stories presented form a clear record of Cherokee carving as a living tradition—one defined by resilience, innovation, and mastery.

Anna Fariello is a cultural curator and researcher who, through Curatorial insight, has organized more than forty museum exhibitions, heritage sites, and archival collections documenting traditional craft and material culture.

Preserving Pride through Art

Cheyenne’s downtown demonstrates an ongoing appreciation for public art. Melding art and history, bronze statues decorate the streets of Wyoming’s capital city. Following the completion of thirty-five sculptures on Capitol Avenue, the project exploded with the addition of more than fifty bronzes. The citywide installation immortalizes symbols of the American West. The Cheyenne Children’s Museum includes several statues celebrating paleontology. Others pay tribute to remarkable women like Lakota Sioux Princess Blue Waters and Louisa Swain, the first woman to vote in Wyoming Territory. Near Cheyenne Regional Hospital, the Healers of the West monument honors a notable doctor and nurse. And of particular pride is the statue of champion cowboy Verne Elliott riding a wild buffalo, commemorating the visit of President Teddy Roosevelt at the 1910 Frontier Days celebration.

Authors Starley Talbott and Michael E. Kassel return to complete the story behind the city’s inspired and ambitious display of the Cowboys State’s unique culture and heritage.

First published in 1920, this is one of the first and best books on the art of animation. Edward Lutz's classic contains many shortcuts to the process of film animation.

These shortscuts were a trademark of Lutz's teaching. This book offers tips on drawing anatomy and motion and gives detailed instructions on how animated pictures are made and work. Walt Disney used an original copy of this book, relying heavily on its advice and teaching. This is both a valuable guide to animation and an extremely collectible classic.

From the best-selling book "R is for Rocky Mountains" this graphic and colorful print of a ski resort quad lift is the perfect addition to any ski house. Seen from below you can see the colorful soles of the skiers and snowboarders from this unique angle. This colorful print will brighten the decor of all skiers and snowboarders from Aspen to Vail and Steamboat Springs to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Park City Utah and beyond.

From the best-selling book "R is for Rocky Mountains" this graphic and colorful print of a ski resort gondola is the perfect addition to any ski house. Modeled on Aspen, Colorado's famed red gondolas, this colorful print will brighten the decor of all skiers and snowboarders. From Aspen to Vail and Steamboat Springs to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Park City Utah, this gondola print is a must-have.

The iconic home of the Chicago Cubs and one of the greatest American ballparks, Wrigley Field is captured in this bright, graphic print from the best-selling book "C is for Chicago". Featuring the world-famous red and white "Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs" sign and the ivy covered walls of the outfield, this print is perfect for any Cubs fan or anyone who loves Chicago. Printed on high-quality paper, this print is ready for framing.

This graphic print of the Field Museum of Chicago's world-famous "Sue" Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Sue is the largest and most complete T.rex specimen and on display at the museum. This bright, bold print is ideal for anyone who is a dinosaur lover. Printed on high-quality paper, this print is ready for framing and the perfect gift for anyone who loves T.rex Dinos!

A graphic print of Chicago's favorite players' jerseys from the book "C is for Chicago".

The ultimate office, man-cave or fan-cave decoration for the Chicago sports fan, this full-color matted poster print features the jerseys of five Chicago sports legends - Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs legend #14 Ernie Banks, "Sweetness" Walter Payton #34 Chicago Bears jersey, the "Big Hurt" Frank Thomas' #35 of the Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Blackhawks icon, #9 Bobby Hull.

The poster art is from "C is for Chicago," the beloved alphabet book that features the things that make Chicago great, including Chicago Sports Legends. This bold, graphic print is printed on high-quality paper and is ready for framing. This print makes the perfect gift for fans of Chicago sports.

The ultimate office, man-cave or fan-cave decoration for the Boston sports fan, this full-color matted poster print features the jerseys of five Boston sports legends - Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams #9, the great Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics, iconic Boston Bruins player Bobby Orr #4 and the winningest Super Bowl Quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots. The poster art is from "B is for Boston," the beloved alphabet book that features the the things that make Boston so special, including the most iconic Boston players. This bold, graphic print is printed on high-quality paper and is ready for framing. This print makes the perfect gift for fans of Boston sports.