RONALD NAIRN... Chancellor

BY: Walt Reed

HAROLD VON SCHMIDT DRAWS AND PAINTS THE OLD WEST

by Walt Reed (Northland Press, Flagstaff, 1972. 230 pages, 13 x 10 inches, $40)

EDITOR'S BOOK REPORT This too, is Arizona!

Arizona's Press In The Pines documents the work of America's most versatile and most accomplished artists, who portray many scenes and incidents involving the people and ways of life related to the great westward movement of our civilization. We consider this to be one of the most significant books related to the romance of the winning of the West and predict a year of great homage to the author, artist and publishers.

This book is about a real Western Man and his art. Harold Von Schmidt is a giant in his field of illustration, particularly that of the West. His is a legacy that is unmatched and not likely to be, the way the slick magazines have gone. If publishers had stayed with the Von Schmidts, Philip Goodwins, John Clymers, and Bob Lougheeds, their publications might have gone farther down today's road.

It's a privilege to browse through the pages of this book, put together by a talented Walter Reed. More than that, it's a privilege to have forty Von Schmidt oils hanging for a special exhibition in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Great illustration is great art. You can see it all in his work and in Reed's book; difficult perspectives, character likeness, historical accuracy, complex action, foreshortening, color control, and without fanfare and the noise of "how great I am." Von's contributions ought to serve as a goal for some of today's would-be painters of the West.

In undertaking this book, Paul Weaver and his Northland Press have entered the ranks of publishers of major western art books. Like Harold Von Schmidt, Paul Weaver has guts. I salute both of them. Do the real West and yourself a good turn buy a copy.

- Dean Krakel Managing Director National Cowboy Hall of Fame

A SPECIAL SERVICE FOR OUR READERS ONLY

We are generally not in the book selling business, and we sincerely urge our readers to patronize their favorite book sellers. As a special service to those readers who are remote from convenient shopping facilities we have reserved a limited supply of "Harold Von Schmidt" by Walt Reed, in the regular edition only, and because of our later-thanusual release date of our January magazine, our readers may purchase this book from us at the price of forty dollars ($40.00) per copy postpaid. Offer expires February 15, 1973.

ROUGH GOING OVER THE SIERRAS Oil on canvas. "Toward the end of the long westward trek, the wagon trains came to Carson Pass. Many immigrants had to unload and dismantle their wagons, hoist them up the cliff with block and tackle, and reassemble them on top."

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE BOOK, "HAROLD VON SCHMIDT"

THE WATCHER Oil on canvas. "In this painting of a wagon train about to camp, enroute to the settling of Prescott, Arizona, I wanted to show the situation from the Indian's point of view."

Lost America, From the Mississippi to the Pacific contains a general introduction, keyed with illustrations, to the development (or lack thereof) of the preservation movement in the Western United States. The introductions, head notes and captions in each of the seven major sections provide a running documentary history of architectural styles. James Biddle, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has contributed an important Foreword to the volume.

CONSTANCE M. GREIFF is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians and its Preservation Committee. A former instructor in the Department of Art, Vassar College, she is the author of Lost America, From the Atlantic to the Mississippi, the co-author of Princeton Architecture and a consultant on state and federally-assisted preservation projects. A graduate of Vassar College, Mrs. Greiff lives in Princeton, N.J., with her family.

Lost Arizona Documented in Photographs

Throughout the United States the restoration and preservation of historic build-ings and landmarks has been a rewarding experience for the people and communities involved.

In Arizona, state, county and municipal agencies are cooperating with the appeals and efforts of cultural and historically oriented citizens. The results are evident by a feeling of pride in the heritage of the community and an aware-ness of historical significance for the tourist from older parts of our land. They feel that though this is a newer area, it is nevertheless a part of the legacy of America.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is the only national private organization charged with the responsibility to encourage public participation in the preservation of inanimate objects significant in American history and culture. Created in 1949 by a charter of the United States Congress, the National Trust has long served as advisor to groups in the Western communities, including Virginia City, Nevada and Tombstone, Arizona.

The Roland Rasson House, downtown Phoenix, was a social center and essence of elegance. Built in 1882, the structure and adjoining area are a historic municipal landmark.

Photo by Lisle Updike from the Herb and Dorothy McLaughlin Historical Collection