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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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 Posted - September 08 2003 : 11:44:03 PM
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Just ran across one of my all-time favorite books, and was reminded what a great author and artist Eric Sloane was. I know most of you guys are probably familiar with his work. But if anyone with even a passing interest in early America, is not familiar with Sloane I urge you to get to the nearest library or used bookstore and check out his work. One of the best Sloane books you can get is Sketches of America Past, which is really three books in one. It contains "Diary of an American Boy" which explores the 1805 diary of Noah Blake. "A Museum of Early American Tools" which illustrates hundreds of early American hand tools and their uses. You'd be amazed how many different hand tools early Americans used. Every job had a unique tool designed just for that job. And one of his very best "A Reverence for Wood" explores the early American's knowledge and use of woods. In the Author's Note for "A Reverence for Wood" Sloane explains:
"As a painter of clouds and sky, my greater interests were in flying and in meteorology. I beleive I was the first weatherman on television; I built the Hall of Atmosphere in the American Museum of Natural History (Willetts Memorial) in 1945, and later wrote several books about weather. When World War II came along I did manuals and three dimensional models of weather for military flyers. The more research I did in meteorology, the more impressed I became with the weather knowledge of the early American. I found an amazing source of information in old diaries and almanacs, and before long my own interests in weather became submerged in the lore of the early American countryman. His manner of living with the seasons instead of battling to overcome them, his regard for natural resources, and his amazing reverence for wood seemed to be worth recording."
Eric Slaone was a meteorologist, artist, enviromentalist, anthropologist, historian and in short an incredibly talented and knowledgable man. His books are illustrated with his great pen and ink illustrations and record long forgotten ealry American folk lore and knowledge, and are an absolute treasure. So if for some reason you are unfamiliar with Eric Sloane's work, check it out!
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YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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 Posted - September 10 2003 : 6:05:48 PM
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"A Declaration of Self-Dependence
1976
One night while reading about the Declaration of Independence, I dozed off wondering what it must have been like to have taken part in its writing. Suddenly I was there. With a quill pen I was writing the great words, " When in the course of human events....". The rest I do not recall, but I remember the title being different-- A DECLARATION OF SELF-DEPENDENCE.
As I think now of my dream, the title made more and more sense. The 1776 proclamation referred so much to the American revolutionists that it lacked the flavor of a personal statement. Now, two centuries later, the population and its government have become so vast and complicated that the voice of the individual is vague, weak and less heard. Perhaps a more pertinent, personal declaration is in order, and herewith I present my declaration for today.
When in the course of human events, the material well-being of a society obscures the spiritual principles upon which that society was founded, it becomes proper to review our heritage and redeclare its reason for being. Only by such recollection can a true renaissance of the original American spirit occur.
My Nation was born with a declaration of independence, but to be free, I must also practice an individual independence.
The statement of 1776 had unique worth because it was the first government manifesto to totally respect the independence of the individual. Different from other national statements of purpose, it was not a declaration of domination but one of liberation.
I hold these truths to be self-evident, that within our democracy the exact principles which rule the conscience and the economy of the individual must also govern the conscience and economy of the government. I hold therefore that government waste in any form is intolerable, because just as no family can for long spend more than it earns, neither can a government do so. As frugality is part of the family economy, so must thrift be important to national revenue. The practice of thrift is insurance against greed, which had no part in the original American philosophy.
I believe that self-dependence produces self-respect. Therefore, helping a man to be self dependent is an admirable pursuit. But helping a man while taking way his initiative and independence is degrading. Permanently doing for a man what he can do for himself is contrary and destructive to the American tradition. I believe in the dignity of labor and the pursuit of excellence. Therefore, I believe that striving for the most pay for the least amount of work is an immoral aim. It is a principle that cannot endure without eventual demoralization of the worker and decay of workmanship.
Just as you cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong, I believe that the wage earner cannot profit by destroying the wage payer. Both capital and labor have equal rights in the American system, and the independence of both is equally deserving of recognition. For either to strike against public welfare or violate the innocent is immoral and against American tradition.
I believe that the moral strength of the nation is only as strong as the moral strength of its individuals. I therefore commit myself to the pursuit of labor, respect, independence, thrift, excellence, and peace. I hold that self-dependence of the individual is a reflection of self-dependence of the nation, that the American heritage is not only something bestowed upon the individual but equally what the individual contributes to his country.
I consider "In God We Trust" a profound statement of national commitment. I believe that democracy without commitment to God is a departure from the original American concept.
I believe that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights, and that the forgoing creed renders not only independence to the nation but self-dependence for each American."
Eric Sloane
Inserted in his book, "Spirits o |
YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 10 2003 : 6:23:50 PM
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Here is a list of some of Slone's books:
ABC Book of Early Americana: A Sketchbook of Antiquities and American Firsts
American Barns and Covered Bridges
American Yesterday
A Museum of Early American Tools
An Age of Barns
A Reverence for Wood
Camouflage Simplified
Clouds, Air and Wind
Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake-1805
Dos & Don'ts of Yesterday
Double Barrel
Eighty: An American Souvenir
Eric Sloane's Almanac and Weather Forecaster
Eric Sloane's America
Eric Sloane's Weather Book
Eric Sloane's Weather Library
Folklore of American Weather
For Spacious Skies: A Meteorological Sketchbook of American Weather
Gremlin Americanus
I Remember America
Legacy
Look At the Sky and Tell the Weather
A Museum of Early American Tools
Mr. Daniels and the Grange
Once Upon a Time: The Way America Was
Our Vanishing Landscape
Recollections in Black and White
Return to Toas: A Sketchbook of Roadside Americana
Return to Taos: A Twice Told Tale
Skies and the Artist
Spirits of '76
The Book of Storms
The Cracker Barrel
The Little Red Schoolhouse
The Seasons of America Past
The Second Barrel
There is a new biography of Sloane titled Aware: A Retrospective of the Life and Work of Eric Sloane
Check out the Slaone-Stanley museum in Kent, Connecticut. It exhibits Sloane's collection of early American tools, a recreation of the 1805 cabin Noah Blake lived in, and a recreation of Sloane's Warren, Connecticut studio. http://www.chc.state.ct.us/sloaneshop.htm
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"The weather is with us wherever we are, yet nothing is more taken for granted than the daily drama of the skies."
"I believe that the sky was created for pure beholding; that one of man’s greatest pleasures can be simply looking at the sky."
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YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Chris
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 25 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 10 2003 : 9:42:34 PM
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Wow! I am not familiar with Eric Sloane or his books, but I do like that painting! I'll have to look him up when I'm Outside.
Thanks.
Chris |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 10 2003 : 10:29:51 PM
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I agree, that painting is really beautiful... but so are his words!
I used to know someone who had his book "A Reverence for Wood" and I remember admiring his drawings. I think perhaps I shall be looking for more of his books. "American Barns and Covered Bridges" appeals to me... |
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Gadget Girl
Gatherer of Gathering Gadgets
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 11 2003 : 02:36:46 AM
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Hmmmm, Gremlin Americanus - That was my first car, a turquoise blue AMC Gremlin with the loudest plaid seat cloth you ever saw. I loved that ugly little car. Didn't see a book on the list though for Pinto Fordus - now THAT, was an ugly car...dependable, but UGLY!
Just being silly of course here CT. Thanks for the list and quote. I often look at the sky with the same awe and reverence that he seemed to. I'll definitely be adding Mr Sloane to my "check it out" list!!
Thanks CT - GG  |
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Bill R
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
July 03 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 11 2003 : 12:34:19 PM
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| I had NO IDEA he was so prolific! I have several of his books - those relating to woodworking and old tools (they're around here somewhere, lord knows where) and one on early Americana...but had no idea he had written so much. I did love his philosophy incorporated into his works....always seemed to be the very core of what I considered truly American founding principles. I am gonna have to investigate our library! See what other gems I might be able to find of his there! |
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 14 2003 : 5:23:22 PM
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Ellis River Bridge
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Last Harvest
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Vermont February
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Vermont Spring
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YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Chris
Colonial Settler
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 25 2002
Status: offline
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richfed
Sachem
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 13 2002
Status: offline
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
November 27 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - September 15 2003 : 08:06:49 AM
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I don't dwell in artistic circles, but why wasn't this man touted as a highly paid and respected contemporary painter? (Or was he?)
His work is beautiful! I love the covered bridge...
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 07 2004 : 11:02:57 AM
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Three of Sloane's books have recently been republished by Dover Publications. American Yesterday, A Museum of Early American Tools, and American Barns and Covered Bridges are all now easily available at book stores or online. For Christmas I recieved American Yesterday and American Barns and Covered Bridges. Both excellent books, but my favorite is the former.
The Author's Note for American Yesterday:
"This is a book about our national attic of vanishing ways and obsolete occupations. As always, when sorting through things of the past, we have an uncontrollable urge to save that which we believe to be good and to discard that which we regard as undesirable. Too often, the apparently worthless later reveals its true value.
In observing some of our collections of Americana, a child might picture America's past as a strange world of hand-made artifacts in the possesion of people who spent half their lives creating them and the other half living with them. I have collected many of the wondrous things which great-grandfather made, but I have always felt that the old gentleman himself was slighted. If only some of his ways of life might be preserved or his thoughts better recorded, my collection would then be more complete. I am sure that I would prefer that my descendants find in my life a graciousness worthy of perpetuation than simply to decorate their houses with the obsolete implements of my everyday life and regard them only as quaint curiosities."
The five chapters of the book are titled;
"How Different was Great-Grandfather?"
"Great-Grandfather's Church"
"Great-Grandfather's Home"
"Great-Grandfather's Town"
"Great-Grandfather's Occupations"
I can not recommend this book enough. It is truly excellent. Full of wise commentary on the changing times and the differences between the past and the modern age. And wonderfully illustrated by Sloane's pen.
"Great-Grandfather enjoyed the proud life of an artist living among artists; everything about him he had created himself. He made farms out of forests and he built his house with tools fashioned by his own hands. In simply living his own life, he was creating villages and towns. But, alas, everything we touch nowadays has been created by others. We have been robbed of our creativeness and the result is often moral emptiness. Yet, like unemployed actors who continue to live in the glory of their pasts, modern men will never give up the dream of returning to that wonderful world of great-grandfather. Meanwhile, most of us must be content to be the healthiest and wealthiest audience to the mechanical greatness in all history." |
YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - January 07 2004 : 11:08:53 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Wilderness Woman
I don't dwell in artistic circles, but why wasn't this man touted as a highly paid and respected contemporary painter? (Or was he?)
His work is beautiful! I love the covered bridge...
Most of Sloane's work was done during the 1950s. When most Americans were too intersted in modern progress. He has always been praised by those who value the ways of the past. In many ways the '50s are still very much with us today. |
YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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