Canal Mania in Indiana - Bibliography

Barnhart, John D., and Dorothy L. Riker. Indiana to 1816: The Colonial Period. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau and Indiana Historical Society, 1971.
A standard reference for this period.

Baudendistel, R. Paul. The Whitewater Canal Boat Log: Notebook No. 1. Metamora, IN: R. Paul Baudendistel, 1995.
Booklet contains excerpts from many sources about canal boats on the canal, as well as drawings by the author.

Benton, Elbert Jay. The Wabash Trade Route in the Development of the Old Northwest. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1903; reprint [1958].
Standard source for the history of the Wabash and Erie Canal, reprinted by the Public Library of Fort Wayne and Allen County.

Buley, R. Carlyle. The Old Northwest: Pioneer Period, 1815-1840. 2 vols. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1950; reprint, 1983.
Pulitzer Prize winning book is excellent source for overview of Indiana's canal history in context of Old Northwest; reprinted by the Society and Indiana University Press.

Carruth, Gorton. What Happened When: A Chronology of Life and Events in America. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1989.
A handy, abridged edition of The Encyclopedia of American Facts & Dates.

Dunbar, Seymour. A History of Travel in America. 4 vols. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1915.
Canals are discussed in Volume 3; informative and readable.

Esarey, Logan. A History of Indiana: From Its Exploration to 1850. 2 vols. Fort Wayne: The Hoosier Press, 1924 (third edition).
A standard resource originally published in 1918; page numbers differ in the various editions.

Fatout, Paul. Indiana Canals. West Lafayette: Purdue University Studies, 1972.
Valuable source; easy-to-read history of canals in Indiana.

Garman, Harry O. "Whitewater Canal, Cambridge City to the Ohio River." Indiana History Bulletin, 39:9 (September 1962), 127-38.
A useful article for an overview.

Gray, Ralph D. "The Canal Era in Indiana." Transportation and the Early Nation. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1982, pp. 113-34.
A paper presented at an Indiana American Revolution Bicentennial Symposium in 1981, it provides a more positive approach to the history of Indiana's canal era.

Madison, James H. The Indiana Way: A State History. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press and Indiana Historical Society, 1986.
Good general work from prehistory to late twentieth century.

Shaw, Ronald E. "The Canal Era in the Old Northwest." Transportation and the Early Nation. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1982, pp. 89-112.
Provides useful context for studying Indiana's canals. See Gray preceding.

Taylor, George Rogers. The Transportation Revolution, 1815-1860. White Plains, NY: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 1951.
Detailed, well-researched history of the many forms of transportation and their social and economic impact upon American society.

Additional resources

Barnhart, John D., and Donald F. Carmony. Indiana: From Frontier to Industrial Commonwealth. 4 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1954, reprint 1979.
Volume 1 is a valuable source for information on Indiana's internal improvements from 1816 to 1836.

McCord, Shirley S., compiler. Travel Accounts of Indiana, 1679-1961. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1970.
First-hand observations, comments, and adventures of early Indiana travelers.

Suggested student resources

Boyer, Edward. River and Canal. New York: Holiday House, 1986.
Design, construction, and operation of imaginary canal presented in text and line drawings; for any age group.

McNeese, Tim. America's Early Canals. New York: Crestwood House, 1993.
Readable history of the development of canals; for intermediate and advanced readers; includes glossary, resources, and index.

Nirgiotis, Nicholas. Erie Canal: Gateway to the West. New York: Franklin Watts, 1993.
Beginning history of building the Erie Canal and its impact on America; for elementary and middle school readers; includes references, glossary, and index .

Oxlade, Chris. Canals and Waterways. New York: Franklin Watts, 1994.
Craft and science demonstrations with brief text; for example, how a lock system works; for elementary and middle school readers.

Stein, R. Conrad. The Story of the Erie Canal. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1985.
Readable account with several illustrations useful to student understanding; for elementary and middle school readers.