Books in the Keystone Books series

Hailing from the Keystone State's western counties, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Reserves was one of the Civil War's most heavily engaged units, suffering the most battle deaths which earned it the name of "Bloody Eleventh". This is the divisions story from before the war up through 1864.

A biography of David Franks, an American Jewish merchant in Philadelphia during the colonial period and the War for Independence. A supplier to the British army since the French and Indian War, Franks, though acquitted of treason, was forced out of Pennsylvania.

A collection of essays by poet Julia Spicher Kasdor focusing on aspects of Mennonite life. Essays examine issues of gender, cultural, and religious identity as they relate to the emergence and exercise of literary authority.

Joins together thirty-three short essays on nature, science, country living, and self. Based on hours spent hiking, skiing, botanizing, and observing wild creatures, this work features insightful pieces that the author wrote for his monthly column, "Thornapples," which ran in "Pennsylvania Game News" magazine from the late 1970s until early 1990s.

A photographic essay and narrative documenting the value, ecology, and importance of hemlock and beech trees in eastern North America. Describes the pests and pathogens that are killing them, and addresses solutions that are being sought by scientists and resource stewards.

Explores the aftermath of 9/11 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Describes how the local community remembered the event and how it was affected by national media attention. Follows the creation of the national memorial built at the site to honor those aboard Flight 93.

A revised and expanded field guide providing descriptions and photographs of more than three hundred types of mushrooms, including details such as their scientific and common names, diagnostic features, size and color, edibility, primary habitats, similar species, and information from recent scientific studies.

The story of Pennsylvania's premier vacationland from its earliest days to the present. Poconos resort owners recognize the cutthroat competition inherent in the vacation business. This work illustrates the strategies by which resorts in northeastern Pennsylvania responded to market forces.

The story of Abraham Lincoln in the Keystone State - a chronicle of where he went, what he did, and what he said in the state. The trail begins with Lincoln's Pennsylvanian ancestors, moves on to his travels, public appearances and speeches, and concludes with his funeral train in 1865.

More than four million people a year visit Valley Forge, one of America's most celebrated historic sites. This text examines how the site of Washington's 1778 winter encampment evolved into the tourist mecca it is today and what, exactly, it is supposed to represent.

A collection of photographs and essays focusing on postindustrial landscapes and abandoned buildings in Pennsylvania.

Explores, in poetry and photographs, the effects of the natural gas boom and fracking in the small towns, fields, and forests of Appalachian Pennsylvania.

A collection of essays on nature observations at the Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, focusing on deepening the connection of personal and cultural meanings to a specific place through a process of sustained close attention.

A guide, geared toward all levels of botanical knowledge, to identifying over 300 species of grasses found in four physiographic provinces within the Mid-Atlantic Region.

The last half of the 20th century was a time of great social and economic change for Pennsylvanians. It was also a tumultuous time in state politics. Vincent Carocci offers a colorful and honest look at the ups and downs of state politics, Pennsylvania-style.

Describes the evolution of Penn State's Beaver Stadium (originally Beaver Field) and its iconic status for the Penn State community. Traces the history of the stadium within the context of the university's history and explores how fans have experienced football games from 1887 to the present.