|
|
These are some good books I've read about birchbark canoes. You can get most of them from the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association or from Amazon.com
|
Birchbark Canoes of the Fur Trade A two volume set that examines many birchbark canoes in great detail. Lots of photographs and illustrations of contruction details. |
 |
The Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America This is the book on birchbark canoes. Edwin Tappan Adney studied birchbark canoes from the 1880's to 1950 when he died. He measured them, made detailed drawings of them, described their construction methods and made models of them. The book covers canoes from Newfoundland to the Pacific Ocean as well as umiaks and kayaks from the arctic. If you want to make an exact replica of an Ungava-Cree crooked canoe or a Malecite paddle, the information is here. |
 |
Bark Canoes: The Art & Obsession of Tappan Adney A wonderful book about Tappan Adney with excellent photographs of 110 of his canoe models. |
 |
Building a Birchbark Canoe - The Algonquin Wabanaki Tciman David Gidmark Vanwell Publishing Ltd., 1994 ISBN 1-55068-053-6 The best how-to book. It gives a history, general constructions techniques, and then detailed looks at the methods of 5 famous Algonquin canoe builders with lots of photographs. |
 |
Birchbark Canoe - Living among the Algonquin David Gidmark Firefly Books,1997 ISBN 1-55209-150-3 This is the story of how David Gidmark learned to build birchbark canoes. It is funny, entertaining and also full of valuable information. |
 |
The Survival of the Bark Canoe John McPhee Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1975 A great little book about Henri Vaillancourt of Greenville, New Hampshire. It tells the story of a canoe trip by the author and Henri and along the way describes the canoe-building process. Henri comes across as a bit of a dweeb but you have to admire his canoes. They are simply beautiful. Read a review by Jim Lacey |
 |
Crafts of the North American Indians - A Craftsman's Manual Richard C. Schneider R. Schneider, Publishers, 1972 ISBN 0-936984-00-7 In this book, the author explores many native crafts. The chapter on building a birchbark canoe is wonderful because he describes all his problems and setbacks as well as his successes. This is very reassuring for those of us who are just starting out. |
Back to birchbark canoes
© Judy Kavanagh, 2005
