Overview

Rarely recognized outside its boundaries today, the Pacific Northwest region known at the turn of the century as the Inland Empire included portions of the states of Washington and Idaho, as well as British Columbia. The author of this study traces the history of this self-proclaimed region from its origins through its heyday. In doing so, she challenges the characterization of regions as fixed places defined by their geography, economy and demographics. Regions, she argues, are best understood as mental constructs, internally defined through conflicts and debates among different groups of people seeking to control a particular area's identity and direction. She tells the story of the Inland Empire as a complex narrative of competing perceptions and interests. Applying the theoretical works of cultural studies to historical questions, Morrissey interprets the words and actions of railroad magnates, gravediggers, Indians on reservations, promoters, women homesteaders, union organizers, civic leaders, government agents, novelists, farmers and investors. In the discourse about who belonged and who did not belong to defined communitites or regions, residents participated in important representational struggles which had and continue to have significant material consequences.

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9780801432507

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Reviews

Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. --Choice Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. --Reviews in American History Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling--and Morrissey excels at all three. --Pacific Northwest Quarterly Katherine Morrissey's approach is fresh and distinctive, the scale of the research is enormous, and the case studies and brief biographies are both engaging and instructive. Most important, this book bridges the gap that usually separates the world of social history from the world of elite intellectual history. --Patricia Nelson Limerick, University of Colorado A penetrating, provocative look from the inside at the creation and contestation of regionalism that will give the 'ghostly' Inland Empire new vitality and fame among readers concerned with the rich complexities of a more fully human geography. --D. W. Meinig, Syracuse University A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. --Western Historical Quarterly An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. --Journal of American History A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. --Australasian Journal of American Studies

A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. * Australasian Journal of American Studies * Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling-and Morrissey excels at all three. * Pacific Northwest Quarterly * An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. * Journal of American History * Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. * Reviews in American History * A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. * Western Historical Quarterly * Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. * Choice *

Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. --Choice Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling--and Morrissey excels at all three. --Pacific Northwest Quarterly A penetrating, provocative look from the inside at the creation and contestation of regionalism that will give the 'ghostly' Inland Empire new vitality and fame among readers concerned with the rich complexities of a more fully human geography. --D. W. Meinig, Syracuse University An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. --Journal of American History Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. --Reviews in American History Katherine Morrissey's approach is fresh and distinctive, the scale of the research is enormous, and the case studies and brief biographies are both engaging and instructive. Most important, this book bridges the gap that usually separates the world of social history from the world of elite intellectual history. --Patricia Nelson Limerick, University of Colorado A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. --Western Historical Quarterly A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. --Australasian Journal of American Studies

A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. * Australasian Journal of American Studies * A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. * Western Historical Quarterly * Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. * Reviews in American History * Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling-and Morrissey excels at all three. * Pacific Northwest Quarterly * Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. * Choice * An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. * Journal of American History *

A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. * Australasian Journal of American Studies * An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. * Journal of American History * A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. * Western Historical Quarterly * Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling—and Morrissey excels at all three. * Pacific Northwest Quarterly * Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. * Reviews in American History * Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. * Choice *

Morrissey's book is a synthesis drawn from an extensive geographic literature that ranges from mental mapping and perceptual geographies to exhaustive regional studies.... Good bibliography of primary and secondary sources. --Choice Mental Territories is an intellectual history.... This book is beautifully written.... The best history combines thoughtful analysis, fine writing, and good storytelling--and Morrissey excels at all three. --Pacific Northwest Quarterly A penetrating, provocative look from the inside at the creation and contestation of regionalism that will give the 'ghostly' Inland Empire new vitality and fame among readers concerned with the rich complexities of a more fully human geography. --D. W. Meinig, Syracuse University Mental Territories offers a fresh focus on a part of the country that has long been outside the American mainstream. --Reviews in American History Katherine Morrissey's approach is fresh and distinctive, the scale of the research is enormous, and the case studies and brief biographies are both engaging and instructive. Most important, this book bridges the gap that usually separates the world of social history from the world of elite intellectual history. --Patricia Nelson Limerick, University of Colorado A model case study of the nature of boosterism that was central to the aspirations of many of the West's would-be metropolitan centers. Morrissey's liberal use of a fascinating series of promotional maps and illustrations amply documents that municipal passion.... Mental Territories is a valuable study, and not just for a single community and subregion. It takes an in-depth look at the intellectual process itself and thus offers students of the West a good example of the analytical tools that can be used to examine municipal boosterism and the perceptual construction of region. --Western Historical Quarterly An example of fine interdisciplinary scholarship that draws on a wealth of theoretical support and on an impressive array of primary sources, Mental Territories may be considered a model of a new approach to regional history and geography... It is a book that I will recommend to colleagues and students looking for deeper ways of understanding America's regional diversity. --Journal of American History A thought-provoking work... The book's rich sources, entertaining case studies and eccentric characters make a lively and readable work. --Australasian Journal of American Studies

Author Information

Katherine G. Morrissey is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Arizona.

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