When We Were Young in the West: True Histories of Childhood

Historians have considered the contributions of many groups--from outlaws and lawmen to Harvey Girls and railroaders--in the making of the modern American Southwest. But few writers have considered the unique role of children or the powerful impact this vast region of the United States has had on these youngsters through value-forming adventures as they make their transitions to adulthood. Richard Melzer has taken a large step in filling this void with a major examination of the diverse experiences of children growing up in different regions, in different cultures, and in different periods. Using New Mexico as a focus, and drawing on memoirs, oral histories, diaries, and autobiographies, Melzer has compiled the most thorough, captivating, and compelling set of true stories about childhood ever to appear in print. His collection, ranging from Billy the Kid to Douglas MacArthur, is destined to become a classic in American Southwest historical literature.