Herman J. Viola Books

An artistic community unique in American history flourished in St. Augustine, Florida, between 1875 and 1878. Some 70 Plains Indians, imprisoned for their refusal to accept life on the reservations, produced an extraordinary body of work that chronicled their history, their lives, and their experience of exile from the freedom so central to their heritage. Called "ledger art" after the large lined books that in most cases were the first form of paper they used, these remarkable pencil and ink depictions are vivid evocations of a poignant chapter in American history.A superbly annotated reproduction of one such ledger, originally presented to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the late 19th century, Warrior Artists presents more than 50 eloquent drawings by two of the finest practitioners of this traditional narrative art.

The book highlights the significant contributions of Native Americans in the U.S. military, showcasing a rich tapestry of heroism, humor, and conflict throughout history. It features compelling stories, including that of the last Cherokee Confederate general and the code talkers of World War II, alongside contemporary accounts from soldiers in Iraq. With personal narratives and unique artifacts, it explores the enduring warrior tradition within Native culture and honors their legacy, making it a distinctive resource on this often-overlooked aspect of American history.

For decades, American schoolchildren have learned only a smattering of facts about Native American peoples, especially when it comes to service in the US military. In Warrior Spirit, Herman Viola sets the record straight by highlighting the military service of Native American soldiers and veterans in the US armed services.

"Here is...one of the most important books in modern times on Indian-white relations." ---Western Historical Quarterly "Dr. Viola has...provided us with what will undoubtedly be the last word on the topic." ---American Indian Quarterly "Diplomats in Buckskins is loaded with historical fact, but this does not make it dry reading. Beyond being extremely entertained we can be educated by a work that tells us a lot more about ourselves as a nation. We are a people of so many origins. It gives perspective to know that a part of us once negotiated with another part as separate and soverign nations." ---Minnesota History "This volume is a soundly-represented and imaginative study of the delegations of tribal representatives who visited Washington largely between 1800 and 1900....The diligence with which Dr. Viola pursued his research has enabled him to write a most rewarding book which captures the agonies and pleasures, successes and defeats, and humor and pathos of the delegates as they conferred with Washington's sympathetic bur mostly patronizing and diffident bureaucracy." ---Journal of the West

The author recounts her childhood experiences as a Japanese prisoner during World War II.