This is a wonderful history book disguised as a fast-moving novel.I had no knowledge of Fred Harvey's enterprises,or of the Harvey Girls,and how they affected the settling of the West along the routes of the Sante Fe Railroad. I've read extensively about the settling of the American West, but why have these people not been recognized before now? Lesley Poling-Kempes has done this country a great service by doing her extensive research on the subject of these gutsy ladies who had the courage to hop a train and set out on their own, into the uncertain world of the old West.If you enjoy reading about strong women, the settling of the American West,American entrepeneurship, or the power of the role of the railroads in shaping America, you'll enjoy this fast-paced read.It's something totally fresh and new for history buffs.

From the 1880's to the 1950's, the Harvey Girls went west to work in Fred Harvey's restaurants along the Santa Fe railway--from Chicago to Los Angeles.

At a time when there were "no ladies west of Dodge City and no women west of Albuquerque", they came as waitresses, but many stayed and settled, founding the struggling cattle and mining towns that dotted the region.

Poling-Kempes has created the gold standard for writing and reporting on women in the west. Aside from 10 years research, archival studies, photo retrieval, the author contacted in person and by telephone and correspondence some eighty former employees that once totaled 100,00.

This unique, unduplicated history is alive with color and original narrative. Major reviews by the NY Times, American Heritage, Parade. Writing in the Washington Post Book World Jonathon Yardley sums it up

"A story that seems to have completely vanished from the national memory; for giving it new life, Poling-Kempes deserves gratitude and praise."

Poling-Kempes has other titles on this theme:Far From Home--West By Rail With The Harvey Girls and The Golden Era--West by Rail With the Harvey Girls. Illustrations for this paper doll history are by famous fashion illustrator Lynette C. Ross. Books available from Texas Tech University Press 1-800-832-4042.

Her novel, Canyon Of Remembering and Valley of Shining of Stone-The Story of Abiquiu explore the rich and at times, mysterious, life of the Southwest.

In my quest for literature of women's history, I found the Harvey Girls and fell in love with their adventerous courage and magical charm that tamed the wild west.

Frustrated Santa Fe artist, Whitney Slope, escapes the political games of the Santa Fe art world by heading into the mountain community of Mi Ojo ("My Eye"-a fictitious community representing the real communities that can be found around Santa Fe). He finds his soul in the authentic, rural community and his story is woven with that of his new landlord, Dominga Garcia de Jesus. Slope is brought to a refreshingly honest new way of life as he becomes involved in the stories of other people outside of the affluent community in Santa Fe.

The characters in this book are deep and well developed. The plot carries the reader through a world that is realistic to the area. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the Santa Fe art gallery community contrasted with the rural Hispanic communities in the mountains. The high quality of the writing and the storyline make this book a must read for anyone who is looking for an excellent work of Southwest fiction.

A book that touches the heart and soul and bring the New Mexico culture, people and land alive.

I've been collecting paper dolls for years, and this is one of the best books I've found. There are 6 dolls (4 women and 2 men) with a nice variety of costumes. The clothes are beautifully drawn and obviously well-researched (but kind of tricky to cut out). As an easterner, I know almost nothing about western history, and the diary entries that tell the stories of two sisters who become Harvey Girls are very interesting and definitely made me want to learn more about them.

A story/paperdoll book that even adults love

This paper doll book covers the years from 1922 to 1927. In addition to the five 8-inch dolls and their outfits, there is a journal. The journal tells the story of the characters and the clothing they wear. Each doll has a variety of costumes including uniforms, everyday wear, and dressy clothes. Various hairstyles are provided for the females. This book is very well done. The dolls and clothes are printed on glossy cardstock and paper. The colors appear to be the correct hues for the time. Beside each costume is a short description with fashion notes and the year. The fashion notes vary in contents. They may contain the materials used, the names of the colors, the source of the clothing, or when it was worn. Many of the outfits came from the Sears catalog. Unlike many paper doll books for the Twenties, this one shows ordinary people not movie stars or the rich and famous. The book also includes a brief glossary of fashion terms and a bibliography. The back cover has a map showing where the events of the journal occurred and a picture of Fred Harvey. It packs a lot of information in its few pages. After carefully removing the pages of dolls and costumes you can reassemble the book and have the complete journal. If you cut out the fashion notes and attach them to the back of the outfits, you will have them for future reference. If you're interested in fashion of the Twenties, the history of the West or the Harvey Girls get this book. (I was personally disappointed in the book only because I wanted the Harvey Girls of an earlier period. The description of the book didn't include the dates when I ordered it.)