Most Popular Books by Raymond Bial

Presents a brief history of the one-room schools that existed in the United States from the 1700s to the 1950s.

Text and photographs depict the way of life of the Amish.

The Cajun people have a long history of having to leave their homes: first in France, then later in Canada, and even in America, families were broken apart by exile and were scattered across the continent. They were pushed farther and farther south, finally into the swamps and marshes of southern Louisiana. Here, deep in the bayous and backwaters, they have created a home for themselves that is unlike any other place on earth. In beautifully composed photographs and lucid text, Bial illuminates the spirit, resiliency, and warmth of the Cajun people.

The low-lying prairie on which Champaign came to be established was once described as "one vast pond where the mud turtle and water moccasin luxuriated, the mosquito wound his bugle, and the frogs gave a rival symphony." From humble origins as a stop on the Illinois Central Railroad called West Urbana, the cluster of buildings quickly became a bustling town of square storefronts, with horses and wagons hitched along wood-plank sidewalks. Gradually rising above muddy thoroughfares, Champaign grew into a charming city in which trolleys rumbled along brick streets. Elegant homes were built and churches established, along with shops and stores, and municipal services and utilities, not to mention parks, opera houses, and confectioneries.

Discusses the nature and importance of soil and the many forms of life it supports.

Publisher Description

Chronicles Washington''s path from the farm he inherited at age eleven, to the forests and marshes where he battled against the British, to the halls of government where he made his political mark, and finally, to the fields of Mount Vernon, where he spent

Looks at the problem of dog overpopulation in America; discusses the role of puppy mills, pet stores, and independent breeders; and includes a profile of a local animal shelter.

Text and photographs describe the United States Corn Belt region and its harvest season.

Describes how slaves were able to preserve some elements of their African heritage despite the often brutal treatment they experienced on Southern plantations.

Describes the history, social structure, and customs of the People of the Longhouse.

HISTORY, TRADTIONS, CULTURE AND CURRENT DAILY LIFE OF THE CHOCTAW INDIANS.

The Shaker faith is estimated to have had a total of fewer than 20,000 members across its 250-year history, yet more than 100,000 people visit the various Shaker villages and museums scattered across the eastern United States every year. We are still fascinated with the world of the Shakers, and authentic examples of Shaker architecture, furniture, and crafts are prized wherever they remain. In The Shaker Village, author and photographer Raymond Bial brings readers the history of the Shaker religion and an examination of the Shaker way of life, which was based on cooperation and self-sufficiency. Each Shaker village was built with the goal of creating a heaven on earth for its inhabitants. The Shaker people were among the first in America to apply science and new learning directly to traditional farming and homekeeping. They invented or improved significantly upon designs of many farm and household items, including some still used today: the flat broom, the slotted spoon, the circular saw, and the idea of selling gardening seeds in packets. Although each Shaker community was self-supporting, the Shakers'' success at applying their core values—simplicity, utility, and tranquility—carried Shaker villages to a point of abundance: they were able to export their beautiful furniture, delicious foods, and superior wares to the outside world, where they have been appreciated ever since. The Shaker Village is generously illustrated with Bial''s evocative photographs of buildings and artifacts from the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, one of the largest and best-preserved Shaker sites. The Shaker movement reached its peak in the mid-nineteenth century. Membership began to drop with the onset of the Civil War, and as the new promise of industrialization began to take hold in America, Shaker numbers steadily dwindled. Although the Shaker religion has all but departed, The Shaker Village captures a revelatory glimpse of a legacy that still resounds with modern Americans.

The story of the island where the immigrants went when they came to America looking for a better way of life and the museum that preserves these memories.

If there is any such thing as a "super" plant, that plant is the soybean. Used for an amazing variety of things--plastics, fuel, soap, and medicine--soybeans are also a healthy food source for animals and people.

Founded as a humble trading post along the Mississippi River 250 years ago, St. Louis has since grown into a thriving metropolis. It appears to be a calm city, but like the mighty Mississippi, it has powerful undercurrents. Known as the "Gateway to the West," St. Louis was a port city and home to many manufacturing businesses making everything from shoes to ships. St. Louis, though, is perhaps best known for its breweries and distilleries. St. Louis: Out and About in the Gateway City captures the energy of people bustling along the street, dining out and going to movies, hopping a trolley, swimming, picnicking, clip-clopping along in horse and carriage, ice skating, or driving an automobile. It also touches upon issues of the day that had to be overcome--suffrage, the Great Depression, and civil rights, to name a few--and shows the resilient spirit of the people of St. Louis.

Travel to the sites where colonial villages, longhouses, missions and presidios, frontier settlements, and cow towns once thrived. Bial''s photography captures the amazing spirit of the many different people who carved communities from our rugged land. Discover how they built homes and started businesses, made and traded goods,m and worked incredibly hard to realize their dreams.

The Shawnee have lived for many centuries in North America. Their nomadic lifestyles brought them from the East Coast to the Midwest, and eventually to the South. Over time, their way of life changed. Today, the Shawnee continue their traditions and customs. This book explores the history of the Shawnee people and discusses what the various tribes of the Shawnee are like today.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Wampanoag.

Learn about this city that many Mormons consider the birthplace of their religion.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Pueblo.

In Building America, noted author-photographer Raymond Bial provides an absorbing account of how technology helped shape and define the American landscape from colonial through frontier times. Under discussion are forts, mills, canals, farms and houses -- their form, purpose and significance in United States history. Of particular note are the ways in which each structure contributed to the survival and growth of America, be it as a method of defense, manufacture, transportation or housing. A medley of the author''s and period photographs, archival paintings and line drawings from artist Eric Sloane''s celebrated works further enhance a distinguished achievement of historical, architectural and technological interest.

Discusses the history of the farm and all of the changes that life style has gone through.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Navajo.

The Arapaho is a tribe with ancient origins. Their ancestors populated North America and spread their influence throughout the continent. Eventually, their encounters with Europeans challenged their way of life and transformed their communities forever. This book discusses the tribeu0092s beginnings, its history, and its presence today, celebrating the men, women, and children who have made up the tribe throughout its existence.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Chumash.

Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and notable people of the Tlingit.

Native Americans first came to settle North America many thousands of years ago. The Cree is an ancient group that chose to set up their communities in Quebec, Canada. Their ancestors passed down their history from one generation to the next through word of mouth. As years passed, the Cree built communities and faced many challenges. This is the story of the Cree nation, how they survived hardships and obstacles, and continued into the present day.

If it is abandoned by all or most of its inhabitants, a settlement becomes a ghost town. The buildings and dirt streets may remain, but the character and soul of the place change entirely. And so it was with mining camps, lumber camps, and cowboy towns scattered across America, particularly in the West: places with names like Gregory’s Diggings, Deadwood, Bodie, Calico, Goldfield, and Tombstone, some of the over 30,000 deserted towns in the United States. Why did people come to these isolated places? Why did they leave? As Raymond Bial’s narrative explores the history of our ghost towns, his well-composed photo-graphs silently tell their stories: of bustling, muddy streets, of large mercantile stores, and, ultimately, of short-lived dreams of gold, fertile land, or simply a good place to call home.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Apache.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Mandan.

Grade level: 5, 6, 7, 8, e, i, s.

Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and customs of the Cherokee people.

Examines the origins, beliefs, language, and culture of the Sioux, also known as the Dakota Indians.

Discusses the history, culture, beliefs, changing ways, and notable people of the Menominee.

Discusses the history, culture, social structure, beliefs, and notable people of the Cheyenne.

In the Building American series, noted author-photographer Raymond Bail provides an absorbing account of how technology helped shape and define the American landscape from colonial through frontier times. The form and purpose of farms, forts, and mills are discussed, as is the significance of these buildings in United States history. A medley of the author''s and period photographs, archival paintings, and line drawings from artist Eric Sloane''s celebrated works further enhance a distinguished achievement of historical, architectural, and technological interest.

Photographs and text profile the history and life of the Nez Perce Indians.