Official Review: The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools o...
Posted: 20 May 2016, 13:08
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864 - 1889" by Dr. O. David Gold, Martha Gold.]
4 out of 4 stars
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War is so much more than just the fighting. It's more than the noblest causes it's defending, and more than the bloodshed left on battlefields. Often, once a war is over and the rebuilding begins, it's the children who become the real casualties. In The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 we learn from the author, Dr. O. David Gold (with assistance from daughter Martha Gold), about the orphanages set up by the state of Pennsylvania to care for children that may otherwise have ended up homeless and destitute. We also learn how corruption and greed can muddy even the purest intentions. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars.
The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 is organized into chapters that clearly outline the need for the orphan schools, the legislation enacted to secure the funding, the organization and curriculum of the schools, the scandals that eventually led to the schools closures, and the politics involved in the running (and closing) of the schools. This book is packed with old photographs from the orphan schools, newspaper clippings, and relevant political cartoons. I really appreciated all these extras, as they helped me better understand the time and place. The end notes and bibliography were also very helpful and easily provided references and resources for readers seeking more information. Clearly the authors spent countless hours doing their research and their care to remain authentic is noticed on every page.
Overall, I thought The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania was very well done. The sheer amount of research done and material presented was impressive. The organization of the chapters was easy to follow and easy to reference back to if needed. Some of the individual stories of Civil War orphans and widows were heartbreaking, as were the stories of abuse and neglect some of the orphans faced.
I enjoyed most of this book immensely, with few exceptions. The chapter dealing with the politics involved in the orphan schools was very confusing to me and difficult to fully understand. I had a hard time keeping all the elected officials, political appointees, and special interest groups sorted out and separated, although that’s certainly true for me with modern-day politics as well. Although I was confused during this chapter, the fact that there was no one “correct and true” political party or politician involved, and that they all were looking for some type of self-gain, was made very evident. Readers who love the ins and outs of politics may find this chapter to be their favorite part of the book. There were some minor inconsistencies with abbreviations and a few punctuation errors, but these could be cleaned up easily and didn’t detract from the overall quality of the book.
I would recommend The Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 to anyone who enjoys American history, Civil War history, or the plight of fatherless children. I could easily see it being thoroughly used as reference material for a high school or college history project or perhaps even serving as a required textbook for a course on post-Civil War America.
******
The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864 - 1889
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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War is so much more than just the fighting. It's more than the noblest causes it's defending, and more than the bloodshed left on battlefields. Often, once a war is over and the rebuilding begins, it's the children who become the real casualties. In The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 we learn from the author, Dr. O. David Gold (with assistance from daughter Martha Gold), about the orphanages set up by the state of Pennsylvania to care for children that may otherwise have ended up homeless and destitute. We also learn how corruption and greed can muddy even the purest intentions. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars.
The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 is organized into chapters that clearly outline the need for the orphan schools, the legislation enacted to secure the funding, the organization and curriculum of the schools, the scandals that eventually led to the schools closures, and the politics involved in the running (and closing) of the schools. This book is packed with old photographs from the orphan schools, newspaper clippings, and relevant political cartoons. I really appreciated all these extras, as they helped me better understand the time and place. The end notes and bibliography were also very helpful and easily provided references and resources for readers seeking more information. Clearly the authors spent countless hours doing their research and their care to remain authentic is noticed on every page.
Overall, I thought The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania was very well done. The sheer amount of research done and material presented was impressive. The organization of the chapters was easy to follow and easy to reference back to if needed. Some of the individual stories of Civil War orphans and widows were heartbreaking, as were the stories of abuse and neglect some of the orphans faced.
I enjoyed most of this book immensely, with few exceptions. The chapter dealing with the politics involved in the orphan schools was very confusing to me and difficult to fully understand. I had a hard time keeping all the elected officials, political appointees, and special interest groups sorted out and separated, although that’s certainly true for me with modern-day politics as well. Although I was confused during this chapter, the fact that there was no one “correct and true” political party or politician involved, and that they all were looking for some type of self-gain, was made very evident. Readers who love the ins and outs of politics may find this chapter to be their favorite part of the book. There were some minor inconsistencies with abbreviations and a few punctuation errors, but these could be cleaned up easily and didn’t detract from the overall quality of the book.
I would recommend The Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 to anyone who enjoys American history, Civil War history, or the plight of fatherless children. I could easily see it being thoroughly used as reference material for a high school or college history project or perhaps even serving as a required textbook for a course on post-Civil War America.
******
The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864 - 1889
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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