Oregon's Promise: An Interpretive History - Softcover

Peterson Del Mar, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0870715585 ISBN 13: 9780870715587

Publisher: Oregon State University Press, 2003

Synopsis

The first history of Oregon to appear in twenty-five years, "Oregon's Promise explores familiar and neglected people and movements in the state's history, while challenging readers to view Oregon's past, present, and future in a new way. David Peterson del Mar recognizes that the words "Oregon history" conjure up images of Lewis and Clark and rugged pioneers. But he argues that the explorers' impact was both different from and less significant then commonly assumed, and that the state's settlers were much more varied, contentious, complicated, and interesting than conventional heroic stereotypes would suggest. "Oregon's Promise is a concise general history spanning the period from that of the region's earliest inhabitants to the present. It moves beyond the more familiar episodes of Oregon history to discuss indigenous peoples before and after contact with whites, the profound and evolving impact of broad forces like industrialization and suburbanization, and the varied fortunes of a growing stream of people form across the world who have sought the good life in Oregon. It explores the tensions behind contemporary disagreements rending our political, social, and cultural fabric. The book's many themes revolve around Peterson del Mar's consideration of how Oregonians have attempted to build a prosperous and just society. He examines both the traditional center of Oregon history and its often overlooked margins--the people who have struggled to be included in Oregon's promise. Each chapter includes brief biographies of noteworthy Oregonians. David Peterson del Mar is both a respected historian and an engaging writer, with a talent for explaining Oregon's past in a way that will appeal togeneral readers as well as to scholars and students.

About this title

About the Author

David Peterson del Mar is author of the award-winning book, "What Trouble I Have Seen: A History of Violence against Wives" and of "Beaten Down: A History of Interpersonal Violence in the West." He has taught many courses on Oregon and Pacific Northwest history at universities and colleges in Oregon and British Columbia. He lives in Portland.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oregon State University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0870715585
• ISBN 13: 9780870715587
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320