Category: Local Interest

Local Painter George Caleb Bingham

Local Interest

George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879) spent his youth in Arrow Rock, Missouri, and became one of America’s greatest nineteenth-century painters. His famous paintings of American frontier life along the Missouri River include: Fur Traders Descending the Missouri, The County Election, Stump Speaking, The Verdict of the People, and Daniel Boone Escorting Settlers through the Cumberland Gap.

At the Marshall Public Library we have numerous books and one video documentary detailing Bingham’s biography and paintings. Click the links to visit each title in our catalog:

Biography of Justice John Marshall, Whose Namesake is Marshall, MO

Local Interest
“John Marshall” by Richard Brookhiser is available at Marshall Public Library.

This book from award-winning biographer Richard Brookhiser vividly chronicles Chief Justice John Marshall, of whom the town of Marshall, Missouri was named.

In 1801, a genial and brilliant Revolutionary War veteran and politician became the fourth chief justice of the United States. He would hold the post for 34 years (still a record), expounding the Constitution he loved. Before he joined the Supreme Court, it was the weakling of the federal government, lacking in dignity and clout. After he died, it could never be ignored again. Through three decades of dramatic cases involving businessmen, scoundrels, Native Americans, and slaves, Marshall defended the federal government against unruly states, established the Supreme Court’s right to rebuke Congress or the president, and unleashed the power of American commerce. For better and for worse, he made the Supreme Court a pillar of American life. (description from Amazon)

Richard Brookhiser is a senior editor of National Review and the author of eleven books, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, American, and Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington.

“Blue Licker” Stories From the Blue Lick Area of Saline County

Local Interest

“Blue Licker: A Garden For Mama” by Charles Petty and Beverly Petty.

Enjoy this tale about growing up in the Blue Lick bottoms near the Blackwater River, not far from the town of Blue Lick, MO.

A charming collection of stories about growing up along the Missouri River in the years following World War II. Chuck and Beverly take you back in time to tell a story of a time almost forgotten, by a generation never to be seen again. A time where life was hard but simple. Story of two small children and a Mother that meant the world to them (description from Amazon).

“Writing Local History Today,” A Guidebook

Local Interest
‘Writing Local History Today: A Guide to Researching, Publishing, and Marketing Your Book’ by Mason and Calder is available at Marshall Public Library.

Writing Local History Today guides local historians through the process of researching, writing, and publishing their work. Mason & Calder present step-by-step advice to guide aspiring authors to a successful publication and focus not only on how to write well but also how to market and sell their work. Highlights include:

  • Discussion of how to identify an audience for your writing project
  • Tips for effective research and planning
  • Sample documents, such as contracts and requests for proposals
  • Discussion of how to use social media to leverage your publication
  • Discussion of the benefits and drawbacks to self-publishing
  • An essay by Gregory Britton, the editorial director of John Hopkins University Press, about financial pitfalls in publishing

This guide is useful for first-time authors who need help with this sometimes daunting process, or for previously published historians who need a quick reference or timely tip.