Colonial American Craftspeople

By Bernardine S. Stevens

An entertaining look at the many craftspeople of colonial America. After a discussion of apprenticeship during colonial times, the author explains various craftspeople and their crafts: woodworkers,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 053112536X
• ISBN13: 9780531125366
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Franklin Watts
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

BooksbyCee's Review of "Colonial American Craftspeople"

As an adult Historian I actually enjoyed reading this book, finding it a great resource on a topic most history books only touch base on. Not so here and though it's an excellent book for children, adults might enjoy it if you're not into heavy reading as it's works well for a handy resource, too. Though not a thick book by most accounts, it does however cover information on various crats used during the earliest Colonial era in America, ranging from the tools and techniques used by such tradesmen like coopers, joiners, woodworders to masons, sawyers, bricklawyers, builders, metalworkers. Bernardine S. Stevens includes sections about silversmiths, blacksmiths, farriers, and leather workers, and papermakers, printers, bookbinders, and more. Stevens didn't leave out the knowlege shared by Native Americans either, and how they assisted early settlers - something I found of interest while researching my family history. His thoughtful writing skills would be an easy read for any child, yet older adults might find this book substantial, or even one new to genealogy. As an American, I love my country as this book actually helped me understand about traditional skills this countries pioneer settlers brought with them which helped them survive in unknown territories which Stevens investiges for the reader. I especially enjoyed the various line art depicting colonial craftspeople working at their trade and there is descriptive parts explaining various roles such as indentured servants and enslaved workers. This part actually helped me comprehend a bit more (in more simplier terms) about this type of labor because my 8th great grandfather was indentured, himself. I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing their children or even their family members to understand a bit more on the subject of early colonial period trades, and why they should be referred to as skills - they were. The lessons of Native Americans helping pioneers is invaluable as it lead to very foundation of our labor force today - to them they're hard-learned labors were "crafts," like an "art." At the very least, you and your child will walk away with a much higher respect and appreciation about our early pioneer settlers and just how intelligent, and crafty they were.