| On July 3rd 1998, the first 150 copies of The Journal of Beaver Island History, Volume IV arrived via overnight UPS, with the balance of the 1500-copy first printing set to be shipped from Benton Harbor on Monday, July 6th, when the trucking companies go back to work after knocking off for the holiday.
This series began in 1976 as a Bicentennial Project. A $5,000 grant paid for most of the printing of Volume I, which contained articles about the Mormons and High Island's Israelites, as well as the fishing, logging, ferries, archaeology, and religions of Beaver Island. That volume was the first serious attempt to focus on the forces that shaped this unusual culture. It was given to the Beaver Island Historical Society, and over the years and through three reprintings it has earned them over $30,000.
Four years later, Volume II appeared. It added music and Native American studies to new aspects of the earlier studies, and included articles on the Biological Station, the Christian Brothers' retreat, and the Beaver Head Light. After another eight years, the third volume in the series was published. Besides new interpretations of some of the areas of established interest, it introduced some topics in natural history: geology, and reptiles and amphibians. It contained book reviews on related topics, and even summarized the history of the Historical Society itself.
Work started immediately on Volume IV, but it was slow to take shape. Some articles were submitted at the onset, but others that were promised were never finished. Then finances became a problem. Much time was spent writing a request for a grant. Ten political leaders and notable professors from a variety of universities recommended that the grant be funded, but the initial high hopes were frustrated when the request was turned down.
This spring, a new approach was taken. The long-promised but still-unfinished articles were replaced with new topics, and the manuscript was gathered together and put into Pagemaker format. The Histrorical Society bought a scanner, and installed the photographs and drawings into the same file. After the completed manuscript was edited four times, it was put on a CD and sent via overnight mail to the printer. This procedure cut the anticipated costs in half and reduced the chance of errors. There were still a few glitches in the cover that had to be worked out, but in a few days, almost all of the problems were solved. The book went to press in less than three months after this approach was undertaken, and eight days later the advance copies were on their way back to Beaver Island.
Copies are available from the Beaver Island Historical Society, Box 263, Beaver Island MI 49782, for $15, including shipping and handling. Everyone who has seen it has been greatly impressed. The four-volume set is also available for $48, postpaid. More information, or the placing of orders, can be done through wcashman@beaverisland.net
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