A SUMMER IN ALASKA

Okay, maybe it is too late to contact the cruise company and pack your suitcase and stop your mail and for one more trip before the kids go back to school.

Perhaps you need to put this on your "to think about list" and then stop by the Bullis Room and look through the book A Summer in Alaska by Frederick Schwatka (1849 to 1892).

J.Y. Huber Company, Philadelphia,  published this book in 1891, just one year before Schwatka's death. During his lifetime, Schwatka earned degrees in medicine (from Bellevue Medical College in New York) and law, served as a lieutenant in the United States Army, and explored northern Canada and Alaska...all of this accomplished in 43 years. (We almost forgot to mention that he received world-wide recognition: the Roquette Arctic Medal from the Geographical Society of Paris and a medal from the Imperial Geographical Society of Russia.)

The subtitle, "A popular account of the travels of an Alaska exploring expedition along the great Yukon river, from its source to it mouth, in the British Northwest territory, and in the territory of Alaska," tells you what to expect when you open this 120-year-old book. You won't be disappointed. Please plan to stop by and spend some time enjoying this book and others in the Bullis Room.