John Francis Snyder: Selected Writings

Springfield: The Illinois State Historical Society, 1962. Hardcover. Edited by Clyde C. Walton. Small 4to. Blue and orange cloth with gilt spine lettering. v, 329pp. Frontispiece, illustrations. Fine. First edition, tight and nice, of this collection of articles by this influential Illinois historian and archaeologist, with a biographical essay by Phyllis E. Connolly and appraisal of Snyder's archaeological work by Melvin L. Fowler. Includes a fine autograph addition: Tipped to an inner flyleaf is a Typed Letter Signed from CLYDE C. WALTON, 1p, 8½" X 11", Iowa City, IA, 1955 April 5. Addressed to noted Lincoln/Civil War scholar Arnold F. Gates (1914-93). Near fine. On "Civil War History" letterhead citing Walton as editor of this distinguished scholarly quarterly, he thanks Gates for acquiring subscribers to "Civil War History" through his position as officer of the Civil War Round Table of New York, then goes on: "I am greatly honored to become a member of the New York Civil War Round Table. I know quite a few of your members and I look forward with great anticipation to visiting New York and attending a meeting.... I am enclosing the announcement of the March 25 meeting of the Chicago Civil War Round Table. From it you can see that I was on the hot spot for the evening on the subject of Indians during the Civil War. Somewhat to my surprise, I got away with a whole skin." Signed boldly in full in jet black. Walton (1926-2000) served as librarian at Northern Illinois University, head of special collections at University of Iowa, Illinois State Historian (1956-67), executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society and director of the Illinois State Historical Library. Laid in is printed transmittal slip.