Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Peggie Barker and Cheryl Hundley of Stanley Library
at Ferrum College for the cheery year-in-and-year-out assistance they provide
in getting research materials to me and also John Bruton and Leslie Lambert
of the Ferrum College administration for their support. I would also like to
thank the anonymous staff in the interlibrary loan section of Aldermann
Library at the University of Virginia for sharing their largesse so generously.
I appreciate the suggestions made at the outset of this project by Professors
Stephen S. Gosch of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Jerry Bentley of
the University of Hawai’i, and Patrick O’Brien of the London School of
Economics. To my mentor, Peter N. Stearns, I say once again, thank you for
your direction, your wisdom, and above all your friendship.