David R Montgomery - Crafts and skills of the Native Americans : tipis, canoes, jewelry, moccasins, and more

Abrams, Harry N. The West of Buffalo Bill (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers), 289 pp. Contains three sections of Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art.

Adney, Edwin & Chapelle, Howard. The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1964), Smithsonian Institute , 242 pp. A very concise book of drawings and instructions on the building of canoes and kayaks.

Ahlbron, Richard E. Man-Made MobileEarly Saddles of Western North America (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1980), 147 pp. Photographs and history of western saddlery of the Indian and the white men.

Appleton, Leroy H. American Indian Design and Decoration (New York: Dover Publications, 1971), 277 pp. 700 drawings with stories from various tribes.

Baldwin, Gordon C. How Indians Really Lived (New York: G. P. Putnams Sons, 1967), 233 pp. Contains black and white photographs and a good general survey of the history of the American Indian.

Belitz, Larry. Brain Tanning the Sioux Way (Hot Springs: 1979), 16 pp. Written for knowledgeable tanners, lacks some important steps.

Capps, Benjamin. The Indians (Alexandria: Time-Life Books, Inc.), 240 pp. Well-illustrated in-depth view of the lives and confrontations of the American Indians. Color photography.

Culin, Stewart. Games of the North American Indians (New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1975), 846 pp.The most comprehensive book on Indian games that is in print; very well researched, illustrated and written.

Densmore, Frances. How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1974), 114 pp. A good technical book with charts of plant names and their uses.

Dockstader, Fredrick J. Indian Art in America (Greenwich: 1961). Illustrated works of Indian art and commentary.

Gilbert, E. W. The Exploration of Western America 1800-1850 (New York: Cooper Publishers, 1966), 233 pp. An account of the Indians, Lewis and Clark and the fur trade of the Americans and British.

Grant, Bruce. American Indians,Yesterday and Today (New York: E. P.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1960), 352 pp. An encyclopedia of Indian names, customs, etc., with short explanations.

Grinnell, George Bird. Blackfoot Lodge Tales (Lincoln/London: University of Nebraska Press, 1962), 310 pp. Adventure, ancient times, social life, hunting, and other stories which give an overview of the life of the Blackfoot Indian.

Hassrick, Royal B. The George Catlin Book of American Indians (New York: Promontory Press, 1981), 206 pp. Short introduction with captioned color plates of Catlins works as he traveled the West in the 1830s.

Hudson, Charles. The Southeastern Indians (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1978), 573 pp. Contains history, religion, social organization and crafts. There are few illustrations but it is well-written and researched.

Hunt, W. Ben. Indian Silver Smithing (London: Collier MacMillan Pub., 1960), 160 pp. An elaborately illustrated book on how to do silver smithing.

Kennard, A. Edward. Hopi Kachinas (New York: Museum of the American Indians Heye Foundation, 1971), 120 pp. The history and role of Kachinas in Hopi life with color illustrations.

Ketchum,William C. Western Memorabilia Collectables of the Old West (Maplewood: Rutledge Book, Hammond Inc., 1980), 256 pp. Types and styles of collectable western items with a price guide. A good resource manual for collectors.

LaFarge, Oliver. A Pictorial History of the American Indian (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1974), 288 pp. A good cross section of history and pictures of Indians then and now.

Lyford, Carrie A. Quill and Beadwork of the Western Sioux (Boulder: Johnson Publishing Co., 1979), 116 pp. Illustrated techniques of quillwork and beadwork with patterns to use.

Lowie, R. H. Indians of the Plains (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1954). Written summary of life and travels of the Plains Indians.

Mails, Thomas E. The Mystic Warriors of the Plains (New York: Doubleday & Co., 1972), 618 pp. Well Illustrated and written book on religion, social customs, clothing, etc., of the Plains Indians.

Mails, Thomas E. The People Called Apache (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1974), 447 pp. Exceptional drawings and well-researched book on the life and history of the Apache.

Mason, Bernard S. The Book of Indian Crafts and Costumes (New York: The Ronald Press Co., 1946), 116 pp. Illustrated Indian Crafts.

Mason, Otis. Aboriginal Skin-Dressing (Seattle: The Shorey Book Store, 1971), 100 pp.The best historically documented book on Indian and Eskimo tanning tools and methods based on material in the U.S. National Museum. Illustrated.

Miles, Charles. Indian & Eskimo Artifacts of North America (New York: Bonanza Books, 1973), 243 pp. Numerous photographed artifacts of tools, weapons, travel, games, and musical instruments.

Murphy, Dan. Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery (Las Vegas: K. C. Publications, 1977), 64 pp. Color photography by famous David Muench shows a pictorial trip of Lewis and Clark as Dan Murphy takes excerpts from the journals and recreates the expedition.

Naylor, Mario. Authentic Indian Designs (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1975), 219 pp. 2500 drawings and photos from reports of the Bureau of American Ethonology on pottery, baskets, pouches, etc.

Salomon, Julian H. The Book of Indian Crafts and Indian Lore (New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1928), 418 pp. Illustrated lightly with extensive body copy which is well-written. A good selection of Indian names and meanings.

Scholz-Peters, Ruth. Indian Bead Stringing and Weaving (New York: Sterling Publishing, 1974), 63 pp. Basic illustrated book on beading.

Sides, Dorothy Smith. Decorative Art of the Southwestern Indians (New York: Dover Publications, 1961). 50 plates of illustrations of pottery and blanket designs.

Sorensen, Cloyd. Glass Trade Beads Arizona Highways. (Phoenix: July, 1971), 28 pp. Most pages in color; history and photographs of original trade beads.

Turner, Geoffrey. Indians of North America (Blandford Press Ltd., 1979), 261 pp. A good cross section of Indian history and living. Illustrated and sectioned by tribe.

Waldorf, D. C. The Art of Flint Knapping (Cassville: Litho Printers, 1979), 52 pp. Step-by-step illustrated instructions on various methods of making arrowheads and spear points.

White, George M. Craft Manual of Northwest Indian Beading (Ronan: 1972), 163 pp. Illustrated pages of techniques, patterns and designs of beadwork.

Whitford, Andrew H. North American Indian Arts (New York: Golden Press Publishing Inc., 1970), 160 pp. Small color drawings of crafts and explanations of each. Very good.

Wright, Barton. Hopi Kachinas (Flagstaff: Northland Press, 1977), 129 pp. Photographed guide to collecting Kachina dolls. It explains the names and functions of the dolls.