Best of the best 2013

We are proud to announce that Lincoln and Medicine by Glenna R. Schroeder-Lein was recently chosen as one of the "Best of the Best" University Press Books for Public and Secondary School Libraries by the American Library Association.

Committee member Gay Ann Loesch said "The controversies over the mental and physical conditions of the 16th presidential family are examined in light of today's medical knowledge, making the title informative, approachable, documented, and fascinating reading, shedding new light on the health issues of Lincoln's family. This medical history of Abraham Lincoln and his family lends itself to integrating this period of history and the practices of medicine of the times, providing a core resource for allied health curriculum in high schools, thus enhancing the study of both areas. Readers will learn about sixteenth century American history, culture, medical remedies and practices and be able to compare them to modern medical treatment and knowledge."

Also honored as "outstanding" was Walter Frank's Making Sense of the Constitution: A Primer on the Supreme Court and Its Struggle to Apply Our Fundamental Law. Hilary Albert called it "a marvelous introduction to the constitution and how the Supreme Court and our governmental structure are supposed to work, while still being mindful of different or varying opinions. A great deal of the book focuses on the bill of rights and the amendments, both the history and the evolving views of the various justices. There is also a discussion about how the court itself works. Overall, this is a great start for someone interested in learning about constitutional law who has no background at all."

Several other titles were selected for inclusion in the 2013 edition of University Press Books for Public and Secondary Schools, an annual collection published with the support of the American Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, and a committee of Public Library Reviewers. Included in the bibliography are: 

Heavenly Bodies, by Cynthia Huntington

Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit, by Guy C. Fraker
Lincoln and the Constitution, by Brian R. Dirck

Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln, by Jason Emerson 

The Madness of Mary Lincoln, by Jason Emerson
Lincoln and Race, by Richard Striner
Lincoln as Hero, by Frank J. Williams
The Mary Lincoln Enigma: Historians on Americas Most Controversial First Lady, edited by Frank J. Williams and Michael Burkhimer (Enigma)
The Chattanooga Campaign, edited by Steven E. Woodworth and Charles D. Grear
Mending Broken Soldiers:The Union and Confederate Programs to Supply Artificial Limbs, by Guy R. Hasegawa

ISHS Recognizes Seven SIU Press Books and Authors at Annual Awards Banquet

The books of Southern Illinois University Press received honors at The Illinois State Historical Society's annual awards banquet in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, April 27. Of the sixteen awards given for scholarly books, seven were awarded to SIU Press titles, including Book of the Year, an honor bestowed upon Jason Emerson's book, Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln, an in depth look at the life of Abraham Lincoln’s son.

"Our judges felt that this 600-page tome had all of the elements that make a great history book:  an interesting and popular topic with wide appeal; excellent narrative writing style; extensive, exhaustive research from sources never used before; and well-organized bibliographic citations that make it a source for scholars now and in the future.  As one reviewer stated, 'Emerson sweeps away a century of myths and misinformation about Robert T. Lincoln, including the musty, old canard that he had no respect for his famous father and no sympathy for his emotionally fragile mother.  This is an intimate, in-depth portrait that will be praised, quoted and consulted for years to come.'"

In addition to Emerson's win, two other SIU Press books were finalists for the Book of the Year award and took home awards for Superior Achievement: Guy C. Fraker's Lincoln's Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit and Dr. David A. Joens's From Slave to State Legislator: John W. E. Thomas, Illinois' First African American Lawmaker.

Fraker's book explores Lincoln's years as a lawyer traveling Illinois' Eighth Judicial Circuit, where he not only gained respect as a skilled attorney and mesmerizing speaker, but also built a political base and refined his views on the important issues of the day, many of which he would face in the White House.  Lincoln’s Ladder to the Presidency: The Eighth Judicial Circuit shows how Lincoln's experiences from 1837 to 1860 on muddy roads, in homes of friends, and in courtrooms on the circuit guided him when he became president. 

From Slave to State Legislator: John W. E. Thomas, Illinois’ First African American Lawmaker examines the life of the first African American elected to the Illinois general assembly and a recognized leader of the state's African American community for nearly 20 years.  He paved the way for those that followed.  The judges cited Dr. Joens's "ability to explain a highly complex issue" and "highly praised the author’s scholarship," stating that he, "does a great job in recreating the life and times of Thomas using hundreds of newspaper accounts and government documents from 1870 to 1899."

Two other SIU Press books were given the distinction of the Award of Superior Achievement: the late Robert S. Eckley's Lincoln’s Forgotten Friend, Leonard Swett and Herbert K. Russell's The State of Southern Illinois: An Illustrated History.

About Lincoln's Forgotten Friend, Leonard Swett, one of the judges said "It shows great scholarship in research and compilation. I loved this book and could not put it down." Dr. Eckley’s wife, Nell Eckley, accepted the award on her late husband’s behalf.  

The State of Southern Illinois: An Illustrated History was praised by the judges as well for "present[ing] the history of Southern Illinois from the glacial period to the present in a lively and well-written style. The author uses a variety of sources to show that 'Egypt' was not just an extension of Dixie, that most of Southern Illinois residents did not want to secede during the Civil War, and that many African- Americans lived in peace in the region for many years."

Finally, two SIU Press books were awarded a Certificate of Excellence: The Essential Paul Simon: Timeless Lessons for Today’s Politics, edited by John S. Jackson, and the second edition of The Poorhouse: Subsidized Housing in Chicago by Devereux Bowly, Jr. 

About The Essential Paul Simon one judge stated, "This collection offers compelling, relevant, timeless insights into the challenges Americans and their elected officials face today." The second edition of The Poorhouse: Subsidized Housing in Chicago updates and provides five new chapters to the author's 1978 publication. With dozens of black-and-white  photographs and commentary about who designed the buildings how the architecture affected the residents, the new book provides an architectural record of public housing in the City of Chicago.

"The ISHS Awards Program continues to recognize the best of the best in the broad canvas of historical interpretation," said ISHS President Russell Lewis. "The Society seeks out what is exceptional in the state—the best books, the best exhibits, the best teachers—and the nominations we get always surprise us with their creativity, insight, and resourcefulness. This year's harvest is no exception. Congratulations to all!"