Evidence is Lacking. Yet I Still Hope.: A Primary Source Glimpse into a World War I Soldier's Life.Home to Camp Lewis to France

Joshua Henry Bates, a young teacher in a country school, wondered what he shall do with his life. He enjoyed summers away from the farm, attending the University of Utah, dancing at Saltair, watching pictures shows and enjoying ice cream on bone dry summer days. In his journal he questioned his future. He found a young woman to love, but she was an ever-mutating mystery. He tried to change his life: cooling the relationship with his girlfriend, teaching in a new school, and registering for service in the American Expeditionary Forces. Still, Joshua was filled with self-doubt. Readers will evaluate primary sources about Joshua, an everyman doughboy of World War I, in which so many European and American lives were lost in this “war to end all wars.” Included are documents and photography from his youth, his journal and Camp Lewis diary and a plethora of other materials about him. Readers will know him well after reading and interacting with the materials presented, and learn much about the experiences of one in the American Expeditionary Force. Will Josh marry the girl? Will he find a dazzling life mission? Will he be victorious in war?

Joan Enders is an educator with a B.A. in English, secondary education and sociology. Once the children entered school, Joan returned to school herself, earning a Master's of Education in librarianship and educational media.  She has had positions as a teacher-librarian at middle school and high school levels, winning substantial grants to further her students' research skills. Joan is a past recipient of the American Library Association's Francis Henne Award, which inspired her to move forward implementing reading advocacy, research programs, technology training and author programs for her students. Sharing her expertise with other professionals is a must for Joan, speaking at library, social studies, genealogy and literacy conferences and local genealogical societies and community groups. She contributes articles to professional journals such as The Medium, Book Report and Teacher-Librarian. She also contracts as a webinar trainer of new librarians. She has contributed years of community service through teaching and music and events organization. This is her first book, grown from a successful inquiring learning lesson in American history classes; a culmination of six years of case study research, testing and teaching.  When teachers asked how they could possibly replace this learning activity they loved, Joan outlined and created Evidence is Lacking. Yet I Still Hope.  She hopes that this encounter with inquiry learning, primary sources and critical thinking sparks the investigator in every history student and history buff.  If working with adults in community groups is any indication, readers of history, World War I, and autobiographies will be entranced as were her students.  Joan and her husband Jerry are the parents of three daughters, six grandchildren and two granddogs.  They are both amazed at having lived in the same city all their married lives.