African-American History and Culture.

 
 The Underground Railroad
Official National Park Handbook
Here is an excellent, concise overlook of the Undergound Railroad gleaned from court records, buildings, letters, and memories of former slaves. Contains period photos and expuisite paintings.This handbook was written and published by the National Park Service to fulfill a Congressional directive. Therefore this book is not normally on sale in regular bookstores, except for bookshops at national parks and other governmental facilities.
6" x 8¼" 88 pages, illustrated, paperbound
#50 Undergound RR $16.00

 
 Washington’s U Street A Biography
by Blair A. Ruble
During the segregation era, U Street was the center of African American social, business, and cultural life. Here were nightclubs and theaters where the who’s who of black entertainers performed, authors wrote books, and athletes played. The neighborhood was the focal point of the civil rights movement. Mr. Ruble, a jazz aficionado, prominent urbanist, and longtime resident of Washington, DC is eminently qualified to research and write this compelling text.
The book is loaded with terrific photos and fascinating sidebars about some of the most interesting people who lived, played, and worked on U Street.
6” x 9”410 pages, index, illustrated, paperbound
# 527 U Street $24.95

 
Challenging Slavery in the Chesapeake
Black and White Resistance to Human Bondage, 1775–1865

by T. Stephen Whitman
Here is the no-holds-barred story of the conflicts and struggles of African-Americans to gain their freedom in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. Of particular note is the efforts of African, both slave and free who were caught up in two underground railroads in the 1850s, both violent. As one spirited runaways northward to freedom, the other kidnapped blacks for sale in the South.
6" x 9" 301 pages, index, photos, paperbound
#496 Challenging Slavery on the Chesapeake $20.00

 

Built By Blacks - Africah American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond
by Selden Richardson
Before the Civil War, black slaves comprised most of Richmond's manual labor. After emancipation free blacks continued their uphill climb in education, business, and the arts. They became contractors, designers, and one woman, Ethel Baily Furman, became Virginia's first African American female architect. Other great black architects worked here including John A. Lankford, Charles T. Russell, and Harvey Nathaniel Johnson. Stories about the owners, builders, and occupants make this an informative and entertaining read.
6¾" x 9¾" 192 pages, index, illustrated, paperbound
#56 Built By Blacks $25.00
 

 
 A Hard Road To Glory The African-American Athlete in Boxing
by Arthur R. Ashe, Jr..6
Putting the record straight. Forgotten facts. Boxing has given the African-American athlete an opportunity to catch the national imagination through physical prowess. This book describes both the triumph and tragedy, the elation and suffering, of blacks as they met not only the physical challenges of their sport, but also the gratuitous challenges of racism.
6” x 9” 152 pages, indes, paperbound
#472 Hard Road - Boxing $9.95

 
The Messman Chronicles –African Americans in the U.S. Navy, 1932–1943 by Richard E. Miller
Despite racial discrimination and second-class status with in the enlisted corps, the U.S. Navy's mess attendants, officers' cooks, and stewards compled aproud legacy of combat servicein World War II. The heroism of a few like "Dorie" Miller, became well known to the American public, but most have long been forgotten. This book tells the story of these thousands of unheraldedsailors of African descent who served in frontline combat with fellow messmen of Filipino,Guamanian, and Chinese ancestry.
6" x 9" 391 pages, index, photos, hardbound
#467 Messman Chronicles $32.95

 

 
 The Buffalo Soldiers
by William H. Leckie
Negro soldiers who wanted to remain in the U.S. Army after the Civil War were organized into the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. These remarkable fighting units controlled hostile Indians on the Great Plains during the next twenty years (1865–1885). Invaluable and unrecognized, they endured harsh living conditions, prejudicial treatment by higher army officials and prejudice in frontier towns.
5¼” x 8” 290 pages, index, illustrated, paperbound
#333 Buffalo Soldiers $19.95

 
 The Black Infantry in the West, 1869-91 by Arlen L. Fowler
Six regiments of African-American soldiers were organized in 1866. The two cavalry regiments were described in The Buffalo Soldiers. The others were the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st infantries. In 1869 the four infantry regiments were merged into two–the 24th and 25th–and were assigned to the turbulent Texas frontier. In 1880 the 24th was transferred to New Mexico and Arizona while the 25th moved north to the Dakotas.
5¼” x 8¼” 167 pages, index, photos, paperbound
#349 Black Infantry $19.95

 
 Alley Life in Washington–Family, Community, Religion, and Folklife in the City, 1859-1970 by James Borchert
The only book of its kind. Early in the 19th century, many people bought large building lots along the streets and avenues in Washington. To make extra money, they built narrow, two-story houses in the back of their lots which they rented to immigrants, and later, to freed slaves. Narrow streets provided access to these houses, creating a maze of odd-named lanes where a unique subculture evolved.
5¾” x 9” 329 pages, index, photos, maps, drawings, paperbound
#198 Alley Life $36.80

 
 Negro Folk Music, U.S.A. by Harold Courlander
According to the author, “Negro folk music...is the largest body of genuine folk music still alive in the USA...” Courlander wrote this well-researched exploration of the origins and development of this rich and varied musical tradition which, of course, includes jazz. The book also has authentic versions of over 40 folk songs such as “Wake up Jonan,” “ Traveling Shoes,” and “John Henry.” Chapters include Anthems & Spirituals, Cries, Calls, Hollering, Blues, Creole Songs, and more.
5¼”x 8½” 324 pages, index, paperbound
#229 Negro Folk Music $9.95
   Black Roots by Tony Burroughs
A step-by-step guide to tracing the African-American family tree. Burroughs, an expert in the field of genealogy, gives a lot of advice on where to find rrecordsof black ancestors, and how to avoid dead ends. Trace, document, record, and write yoiuir family's history with this easy to read, authoritative guide.
6" x 9" 464 pages, index, paperbound
#451 Black Roots $28.00

 
 The Emergence of a Black Catholic Community. Augustine's in Washington by Morris J. MacGregor
Since the early days of the Republic, Washington has nurtured an increasingly prosperous and articulate community of black Catholics. For much of that time the spiritual welfare of these citizens as well as their material aspirations centered on St. Augustine's parish. Popularly called "The Mother Church of Black Catholics," it provides a beacon of hope for its parishioners, and its history offers a unique lens through which to view the emergence of an important Washington community. MacGregor traces the history of St. Augustine's from its beginning asa modest chapel and school to its recent years as one of the city's most imposing and active churches.
6" x 9" 543 pages, index, photos, paperbound ISBN 0-80132-0943-9
#474 Emerg. Black Catholic Community $24.95
See also Washington Books
Civil War Books

  If you prefer to order by mail, our address is: The Red Rose Studio 358 Flintlock Drive, the town of Willow Street, PA 17584
Telephone 717 464-3873
FAX: 717 464-3250
e-mail: redrosestudio@dejazzd.com

Return to Catalog Contents