American Customs Series

    Again, I am discussing a book series, this one about "American Customs." Considered are the customs and folkways of folks living in various regions of the United States. There are three books about the northeast (Cape Cod, Maine and New England), one for the mid-Atlantic area (Pennsylvania), one for the south (New Orleans) and two for the west (California and the Old Wild West.) The seven books were published by Vanguard Press during the years from 1946 to 1949. 

   These are unprofessional social histories, which means you are likely to enjoy them and find a good recipe-or-two, as well as some tales and yarns. The tables of contents of a few of the volumes are presented, as well as a some brief summaries. They are all still protected by copyright, which means that you cannot read complete digital copies of them. All are found on AbeBooks and some are inexpensive. 

It's An Old New England Custom

A listing and exploration of many customs associated with New England. Pie for breakfast, bundling, high excellence in epitaphs, phantom ships, haunted houses-these and many more are explored as to their sources and identification with the locale. A humorous and unusual historical curiosity of a regional nature, amusing prints, gay verses, bits of odd information, curious episodes- a characteristic Mitchell item. In format it has a slightly juvenile flavor which may limit the market. (Kirkus)

It's An Old California Custom

Informal chronicling of California's personality in terms of traits, inherited, adopted and native. Stories of old romances, gambling heritages, the large scale hospitality, the types of messiahs and cults, the pleasures of food and drink, the spirit of fiesta, are combined with material on gold hunting, bandits, hoaxes, real estate, the tendency for self deception, the playtimes of various clubs and groups, the exhibitionism, and the originality in solving problems of public works and civic questions. This traces, from the old land grants and the old families, the roots of California's individuality, independence and pride, and is a pleasant review, in conversational style, of the state's story....One of the numerous California books gauged to the interest generated by the centennial. Of regional appeal largely. (Kirkus)

It's An Old Pennsylvania Custom

There  are  two kinds  of historical writing: one is conceived  and  executed with fine attention  to  accuracy  of  facts  and  validity  of interpretation;  the other  is  conceived  and  executed  with  less  attention  both  to  the  facts  and their  interpretation.  The  former  is designed  to  satisfy  the  demands  of  the specialist, or at least  of the serious student; the other  is designed  to  satisfy the  nonspecialist,  or  the  "general"  reader.  Both  kinds  can  and  should  be attractively  presented, but the latter, having  for its primary  purpose popu-lar  appeal, emphasizes style  even  at  the  expense  of  content.It9s An  Old Pennsylvania Custom is clearly of the second kind. It  is indeed a fine example. It  was written  by Mr. Mitchell  in  an interesting style, is excellently  designed  by  Stefan  Salter,  and  was  well  manufactured  by  H.Wolff. It  presents  a wealth  of  historical  facts,  both  conventional  and  un-usual, relating  to Pennsylvania. At  the same time, it  arrives at  interpretations  of the  facts,  both  in general  and  in particular,  which  clearly  mark  it as  of the  second  kind  of historical  writing. 
(Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography)

It's An Old New Orleans Custom

Companion volume to It's An Old New England Custom and It's An Old Pennsylvania Custom, this somehow manages not to overlap to any considerable degree the other books on New Orleans which have been published in the year past. This is full of human interest bits, anecdotes, slices of history and biography. There's a brief survey of New Orleans history as the changes of flag went on. There's a section on the music  from street cries to the classics. The most interesting chapter, perhaps, is the one on commerce as it is pursued by the citizens, who prefer to cultivate the art of leisure. Some rather ironic comments on the beauty and the frailty of New Orleans women; some entertaining sidelights on gambling from cards to lotteries; the river front and its melodramatic contribution to the city's checkered career; weather, fire and water- and the parts they play; basis for the repute for wickedness --offset by equal repute for hospitality, and a genius for elegant living -- these represent some of the many facets that contribute to the unique flavor of this enchanting city. The section on food has some toothsome recipes; (yes, I copied three for future reference). (Kirkus)

It's An Old Wild West Custom

This book captures the colorful spirit of the American West in its history and quirks. Included are songs and stories, charts of brands used to mark cattle, and sketches of the boom and bust of the Old West. In one chapter, the author informs us that the Westerner left his names casually and naturally on the land and on each other, without ostentation. This led to names like Jerked Beef Butte or Rattlesnake Basin in Arizona, or nicknames for fellow cowboys like Crooked-Nose Pete and Three-Fingered Smith. 

Duncan Emrich was a professor and collector of American folklore, once a ranch hand and historian in the military. The American Art & Portrait Gallery copy of this book is signed by the author, and inscribed under his portrait as "old bag eyes, the Monday morning folklorist."   

It's An Old State of Maine Custom

Without the particular charm of the last in this series, It's An Old New England Custom, this still holds an interest for natives of or visitors to this region. In this miscellany of historical facts and special features, customs, legends, superstitions, you will pick up a good deal of information about the timber country and the logging and shipbuilding it produced; its other industries- quarrying and fishing; the scenic attractions of its gardens, old houses, islands, flowers, birds; the pleasures of the palate- lobsters, seafood, blueberry pies (with recipes); and the character of its native humor... A predictable, regional market for this. (Kirkus)

It's An Old Cape Cod Custom

From the New York Times, June 19, 1949, where the complete review will be found.

For a discussion of this series see: Series Americana: Post Depression-Era Regional Literature, 1938-1980: A Descriptive Bibliography: Including Biographies of the Authors, Illustrators, and Editors 1st Edition, by Carol Fitzgerald.

The Bonus:

  In its early days, Vanguard Press published radical books and during the later ones, such authors as Saul Bellow and Marshall McLuhan. It was bought by Random House in the 1980s.