The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 82, July 1978 - April, 1979 Page: 344

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

The study concludes with a description of log cultural regions in
Texas. Based upon different environments and population origins, five
areas are defined in the north, central, and east sections of the state-
areas primarily settled by Germans and Anglo-Americans.
Due to the remote locations of log buildings and the lack of interest
in their preservation and use, this folk architecture is rapidly disappear-
ing. By organizing the TLCR, Professor Jordan has performed an in-
valuable service for posterity. His book, which makes the findings of the
survey available, is an important addition to our knowledge of folk
customs and architecture. With meticulous care and study he has an-
alyzed the evidence and presented conclusions in clear, easy-to-read
text. This is amplified by numerous photographs, both historic and
contemporary, and numerous maps and diagrams. Sensitive observa-
tions on the esthetics of log construction complete the work. This book
is highly recommended to those interested in log construction and
Texana.
Texas Tech University WILLARD B. ROBINSON
Book Notes
Impressions of the Texas Panhandle. By Michael Frary. (College Station:
Texas A&M University Press, 1977. Pp. 112. Illustrations. $24.5-0.)
The Texas Panhandle is a special place that few people know first hand.
Artist Michael Frary, of the University of Texas at Austin, was one of those
who stereotyped the Panhandle as "hot and dusty or cold and icy and just
a lot of flat land" until he spent a few days there, talked with some of the
residents, and painted a few pictures. This book is the result. Like his Big
Thicket book, this is an outsider's view of a distinct region of the state, but
Frary warms quickly to his task and the sixty-four color plates and numerous
black and white illustrations depict various parts of the Panhandle from a
small sunflower silhouetted against the sun to a new moon over Lubbock.
The book is nothing more or less than Frary's impressions transferred to
watercolor and magnificently reproduced in color and delivered to us in a
fine package by the Texas A&M University Press.
Amon Carter Museum RON TYLER
William Henry Gaston: A Builder of Dallas. By Ralph A. Widener, Jr.
(Dallas: Historical Publishing Co., 1977. Pp. vii+50. Foreword, ac-
knowledgment. $3.50.)
In the foreword to William Henry Gaston: A Builder of Dallas, Mr.

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