Page:Final Report of the Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.pdf/19

 and so far as the writer could make personal inquiry the stores who did put in such displays all felt that those windows had attracted entirely unusual attention and appreciation.

Were we to do this job over again, window displays would be a large factor. They accomplish variety and repetition and are much to the interest of the merchant as well as to that of the celebration.

In its plan for literature the Commission tried to accomplish a well rounded program. To illustrate this point, the map was regarded as the "A. B. C book"—bright, pictures, plenty of color.

The text book might be compared to a reader for grade school pupils.

The standard history was intended as a reference work, and for those adults who might be interested in such non-fiction.

There remained a considerable gap—covering the great mass of people who will be more inclined to read history if it is dressed up in romance.

Publishers stated that if a non-fiction book sold 1,000 copies, the same facts in historical novel form would sell probably 5,000 copies.

The commission felt that such a novel should be by an established author, known and respected not only for his literary ability but also for his accurate treatment of historic fact,

In the negotiations carried on to find such authors. George Palmer Putnam had suggested Meade Minnigerode. After considerable investigation of all the various potentialities. Mr. Minnigerode's qualifications best suited the purpose and he agreed enthusiastically to writing such a novel. The resultant book was "Black Forest"—a standard novel, splendidly based upon historic fact yet thrilling with romance and in the author's inimitable style. It was published by Farrar & Rinehart of New York.

The commission paid no subsidy whatever to either Mr. Minnigerode or to the publisher.

Feeling that the book was so well worth while, copies were later distributed to the 1200 public libraries in the States of Northwest Territory.

"Black Forest" however was only the first of many books, of many sorts, which were to appear concurrently with Northwest Territory Celebration and dealing with that period of history,

Whether, in some cases at least, the negotiations which had been carried on by the commission resulted indirectly in other writers and publishers bringing out books, or whether the consciousness of the unique value and import of this phase of our history struck others as and when it had impressed the commission is not known.

The net result however was the publication of the largest number of current books which have ever appeared in connection with any American historic commemoration.

The books which appeared during the approximate period of the celebration and which relate to it are:

BLACK FOREST—Meade Minnigerode (Farrar & Rinehart).

Dependable history of 1754 to 1787 made readable and ex-