The Way It Was is a popular series of books carried at the Historical Society bookstore. This is Volume III. The series comprise compilations of stories that were done for writing contests in the 1980s held by the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Humboldt State University.  The aim was to record reminiscences of then senior Californians.

       The result was a series of books that give a deep humanity to the presentation of history.  The stories touch on all aspects of life from minor yet personally significant events such as school plays, to perspectives on historically important happenings such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

       Some of the writers were native Humboldters and told of local subjects such as Amelia Carson's many cats, fishing on the Eel or a notorious Fortuna bank robbery. Others related events from before life brought them here such as heading west over the prairies or farming struggles  in the Midwest. Some of the most powerful give us personal perspective on war: both World Wars One and Two, the aftermath of the Civil War, or wars in foreign lands that drove refugees here. 

       The book is divided roughly into sections focusing on subjects such as places, people or animal friends.  Among the most relevant today are those telling of immigrants - Russian, Japanese, Jewish, Italian, Chinese or Danish.  These writers tell personally of the life led before they left home and the reception, warm or otherwise, that they received here. 

       One of the most satisfying things about this book is that it does not have a single plot or narrative that compels you to sit down and devote hours to reading it. You can delve into it a few minutes or a couple of stories at a time - immersing yourself in snippets of the past and deepening your realization that "history" is really just an accumulation of individual human stories.    For again expanding our realization of this fact, we thank those who have donated such books for resale at the Historical Society and bringing the past alive for even more of us.  Be part of this too - donate history!

The book has slight staining on the covers, and writing on the inside front cover. Otherwise, it is in good condition, with clean pages and tight binding.