Mask For Treason

[L Verge]

(12-16-2018 03:49 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Okay, Mr. G, you are getting dangerously close to getting on my last nerve with your pretentious attitude and proclamations. Let's get down to brass tacks and examine your list, and let's make our followers aware that the Surratt Museum gift shop has carried or still carries almost every book on your "recommended" list.

As you state, "If I were working at a taxpayer-funded museum related to the Lincoln assassination and could determine which books, I would ensure that all major points of view were represented, and I would trust my customers to make up their own minds. I would include Shelton's book, along with the following:"

American Brutas, by Kauffman Please spell the title correctly, but we have continued to sell since its first day of publication

Dark Union, by Guttridge and Neff Please list Neff as the prime author. Did sell this, but few buyers and we did not reorder.

Blood on the Moon, by Steers Still sell it and it sells well

Why Was Lincoln Murdered?, by Eisenschiml Long out of print, but we have sold at some of our used book sales

The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies, by Hanchett Still sell it and it sells well

Backstage at the Lincoln Assassination, by Bogar Still sell it and it sells well

Fortune's Fool, by Alford Still sell it and it sells well

It Didn't Happen the Way You Think, by Mills Use to sell it, but could barely give it away.

Avenging Lincoln's Death, by Reed Did sell it, but not sure if we still have it

Lincoln and Booth, by Winkler Believe we still have a few copies, but not that good a seller

Abraham Lincoln's Execution, by Griffin John Chandler Griffin that is, a fairly prolific Southern writer who did this one to
counteract Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team of Rivals." We decided not to sell it

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and Its Expiation, by Dewitt Long out of print and hard to find on secondary market

The Lincoln Assassination Riddle, by Williams and Burkhimer I'm amazed that you chose this one since it is a compilation of
articles on the conspirators and the trial written by many of us recognized experts in the field that you tend to dislike (including me)

Assassination of Lincoln, by Harris Another long out of print and difficult to find

The Suppressed Truth About the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by McCarty Out of print and based on the Pope did it theory.
Instead, I would recommend The Catholics and Mary E. Surratt, written within the past 5-6 years by Kenneth Zanca, a speaker at one of our conferences.

The True History of Lincoln's Assassination, by D'Amico I had never heard of this book or the author until now, but have ordered
a copy. Amazing that no publisher has sent us even a review copy...

The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy Trial and Its Legacy, by Hatch Have sold it since day one and continue to do so. Fred has
other good books on the subject and has spoken several times at our conferences.

Decapitating the Union, by Fazio Another that we have sold since day one and continue to do so. John has also spoken at our
conferences and is a speaker for the upcoming one in April

The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth, by Bates Long out of print, but have sold several on used book sales

Mary Elizabeth Surratt, by James The author is Sidney St. James, who writes historical fiction, much of it based on religious
themes. This one was the last in a five-part series on the Lincoln assassination (in time for the 150th
anniversary). Not on our list

The Assassin's Accomplice, by Larson Have sold from day one and still sell. Author has spoken at our conference

Mary Surratt: An American Tragedy, by Trindal Have sold from day one and still sell. Good to read with Kate Larson's book for a distinction between two opposing views

The Web of Conspiracy, by Roscoe Long out of print, but have sold it at used book sales (both the long version and the short
version), and despite needing updates, I would sell it again.

The Conspiracy Between John Wilkes Booth and the Union Army to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln, by Arnold Much to your
consternation, I skimmed this again today and will still vote no to including it on our bookshelves.

Trial of the Conspirators for the Assassination of President Lincoln, by Bingham Another long out of print

Into the Abyss, by Gillette I just gave up trying to find this book by any author named Gillette. There are several with that title
by other authors, but totally different subject matter.

Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by Luther Baker and Whitford Again, I could not find this book. Rob would definitely be the
one to ask about this, if it exists.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by Oldroyd We sold reprints of this as long as they could be had. The bookseller who privately published them went out of business about ten years ago due to age. Another antiques and semi-book
publisher included it in another publication, which I believe we still sell.

"And I would ensure that the museum's website offered a balanced selection of links on the subject." The problem with "balance" lies in one's perception of what that term means and the documented contents of such links based on facts - not theory. Do you have any idea how many man hours that would take to keep on top of it all? And, how would we handle folks such as yourself who would argue about everything?

Those who have a serious interest in researching visit our James O. Hall Research Center where they find most of the books mentioned as well as others that have long been out-of-print as well as rooms and file drawers filled with pertinent articles, manuscripts, authors' collections, etc. That's where some really great stuff can be found.

Finally, I would invite readers to visit surrattmuseum.org and see the offerings in our gift shop. There are other excellent, good, and somewhat decent offerings on the bookshelves that we did not mention here. I might also say that we have a small gift shop that deals in other history-related things other than Lincoln assassination books. While books take up about 60% of our space, we do have other things that appeal to other people. Surratt House Museum is known for the Civil War, Maryland history, Lincoln history, local history, black history, and Victoriana as well as our trademark history related to the Lincoln assassination. We do a good amount of sales each month.

UPDATE: Avenging Lincoln's Death by Thomas Reed - While I don't agree with his evaluation of the military court, Reed is a law professor and has written a good argument. I also forgot to mention that he, too, has been a speaker at a Surratt conference.

Another book on your list that I admitted to not being aware of is now sitting here beside me. The True History of Lincoln's Assassination by Michael F. D"Amico is one of the strangest little books I have ever seen! So far as I can tell, there is absolutely no original work by D'Amico between its covers.

He states right up front that he has gone through other people's work and chosen snippets to include covering Lincoln, Booth's life, the assassination, the trial of the conspirators, etc. He cites where he took them from (every place from speeches to Asia's book to Weichmann, etc.), but offers no intertwined personal text to weave his intent together or to prove anything.

As I went through it (took less than a half-hour because I knew most of the entries), I kept thinking that it might not be a bad book for a tenth grader of average intelligence - if they had guidance from a teacher or parent who could help put the various "ideas" together.

No, Mr. Griffith, I don't think we will be carrying it in the gift shop.

We have not mentioned some other very good books (and good sellers), such as Tony Pitch's They Have Killed Papa Dead, Tom Goodrich's The Darkest Dawn, Roy Chamlee's Lincoln's Assassins, Ralph Borreson's While Lincoln Lay Dying, and Kathy Canavan's Lincoln's Final Hours. I'll mention others as (and if) I remember them.