* History of Mining in Arizona, (2 or perhaps by now 3 parts) Canty & Greeley, 1987 by Mining club of the Southwest Foundation - Tucson, Arizona. A wealth of history from many perspectives, and a decent collection of old photos from some of the less obscure sites. Wonderful stuff covering relatively specific, albeit random, ground.
* Ghost Towns of Arizona, James and Barbara Sherman, 1969 University of Oklahoma Press. Those were the days ... The book that started, and in large part ended it all. Well cataloged list of sites, good original and "present" photos, some history and folklore, *maps* to all sites: I should note, as a student of cartography, that these are by far and away the the most beautiful and representative 1890's-style maps I have ever seen. You will need topo-maps to actually find many of the sites, but these are a lovely way to get you close. Worth the price for the maps alone. Please, if you appreciate maps, click the *maps* link above to see, from their book, THE BEST MAP EVER MADE!
* Arizona Place Names, Will Barnes, 1960 University of Arizona Press. No better source I know for a simple and systematic collection of Arizona places' brief historical information.
* Route 66, Susan Croce Kelly, 1988 University of Oklahoma Press. Wonderful highway history and Quinta Scott and other B&W highway photos too.
* Route 66, the mother Road, Michael Wallis, 1990 St. Martin's Press. History is OK, colour photos make the ghost real: a must-see for highway-buffs. In here is the original Ghost Highway Cafe, an image that Taco Bell used, in concept, for one of its notable TV ads. Others have followed. Note that the binding is amateurish and temporary at best.
* Pump and Circumstance, John Margolies, 1993 Bulfinch Press. Truly the definitive photo-essay of old US gas-stations, with some good history included too. A little shy of prints, but the quality of the ones used almost makes amens.
updated page 24 July 2007
Arizona Ghost Town Hunter's Reading Libray
