William Graebner Livres

This two-volume reader consists of twenty-nine original essays, each one crafted by a scholar who is an expert in a particular field of historical inquiry. Each decade of American history is represented by at least one essay. The stories cover a wide range of topics including popular culture, women's history, urban history, and the history of science and technology. The essays also shed light on political, social, economic, and cultural trends. After reading these engaging pieces, students will be left with a sense of a living past, not abstract historiographical debates.

The narrative explores the aftermath of devastating mine disasters in December 1907, particularly the Monongah tragedy that claimed 361 lives, which momentarily awakened public concern over industrial safety. William Graebner examines the subsequent push for mine safety reform during the Progressive Era, focusing on the Bureau of Mines and attempts at uniform state legislation. Despite the idealism behind these efforts, Graebner argues that they ultimately fell short, highlighting the tension between hope and failure in the quest for improved coal-mining safety.