The Journal of American History

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Journal of American History, dated September 1995, features book reviews. The content is primarily analytical, focusing on scholarly works related to history and social phenomena.

Book Reviews

Review of "Watch the Skies! A Chronicle of the Flying Saucer Myth" by Curtis Peebles

This review, authored by David M. Jacobs of Temple University, critically examines Curtis Peebles's book on the UFO controversy. Jacobs notes that despite the significant public and governmental attention UFOs have garnered since 1947, few scholarly works have addressed the topic. While acknowledging the subject's warrant for serious examination, Jacobs contends that Peebles's book fails to fill this void. The book covers the UFO controversy from 1896 to the present, detailing events like the Air Force's projects Sign, Grudge, and Blue Book, the Robertson panel, and the Condon committee. It also touches upon peripheral aspects such as hoaxes, charlatans, and figures like Donald Keyhoe, James McDonald, and J. Allen Hynek.

Jacobs points out that Peebles is not a professional historian and displays a limited understanding of historical research methods, relying heavily on secondary sources. He notes the similarity in chapter titles and even word usage between Peebles's book and earlier works by Edward J. Ruppelt and Jacobs himself. For instance, the description of the 1948 Thomas Mantell case shows striking parallels in phrasing between Ruppelt's and Peebles's accounts.

The reviewer asserts that the first two-thirds of Peebles's book merely rehases existing information without adding new insights. The latter part focuses on fringe characters in the UFO lore, which Peebles describes as eccentric theories rather than representing the core of UFO research. Jacobs criticizes Peebles for rendering scholars who have studied the phenomenon under pressure virtually invisible.

According to Peebles, as quoted by Jacobs, the UFO phenomenon is a "myth." Peebles attempts to explain it by linking UFO sightings to significant American historical events from 1947 to 1992, a connection Jacobs finds unsubstantiated and lacking explanation of the psychological mechanisms involved.

Jacobs concludes that Peebles adopts a "debunking" stance, showing no sympathy for UFO proponents and admiring those who have criticized debunkers. Peebles readily accepts government public relations statements and trusts those who view the phenomenon as illegitimate. Consequently, Jacobs finds the book filled with historical distortions that confuse rather than clarify the controversy. He states that Peebles is neither a historian nor a UFO researcher, producing amateur history that is factually incorrect and biased.

Review of "Timber Statesman" by Charles E. Twining

This review, written by Ronald A. Smith of Pennsylvania State University, discusses Charles E. Twining's biography of George S. Long, "Timber Statesman." The book, published by the University of Washington Press, focuses on Long, who served as Weyerhaeuser's Pacific Northwest manager from 1900 to 1930. Smith notes that the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company has maintained its business records with exceptional thoroughness, a testament to Twining's expertise as the company's former head archivist.

This biography is presented as a prequel to Twining's 1985 book on Phil Weyerhaeuser. Together, these works offer an insightful history of the industrial company that, along with Boeing, significantly impacted the Pacific Northwest throughout the twentieth century. Frederick Weyerhaeuser's bold move in 1900 to purchase nine hundred thousand acres of timberland from the Northern Pacific Railroad and his subsequent hiring of Long, a midwestern timberman with modest credentials, are highlighted.

Long, operating from Tacoma, Washington, was given considerable autonomy by his superiors in St. Paul, Minnesota, and personally supervised all aspects of the company's operations. This involved rationalizing timber holdings through buying and selling lands, with the original purchase eventually doubling in value.

Smith describes the book as a business biography of industrial strength, primarily because the author relies almost exclusively on company records, leaving the reader to supply historical context. The narrative perspective is that of Long dealing with issues as they arose, leading to a potentially fragmented account that jumps between personnel problems, mill construction, and forest fires. The book demands significant reader engagement but rewards persistence with an understanding of the industry from a key participant's viewpoint.

Smith notes that the focus on company records, with their sometimes stilted prose, tends to obscure Long's personality. However, by all accounts, Long was a capable leader.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal's editorial stance, as reflected in these reviews, favors rigorous historical scholarship and objective analysis. The negative review of Peebles's book underscores a preference for well-researched, balanced historical accounts, particularly when dealing with controversial subjects like UFOs. The positive review of Twining's biography highlights the value of detailed business history and the importance of primary source materials in understanding industrial development and the contributions of key figures.

The themes explored in the reviewed books include the history of sport, cultural diffusion, the UFO phenomenon, and industrial business history, particularly in the American West. The journal appears to promote critical engagement with historical narratives and encourages the publication of works that contribute meaningfully to academic discourse.