Daniel H. Thomas – författare

Situated at the head of the Alabama River system—at the juncture of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers—Fort Toulouse in 1717 was planned to keep the local Indians neutral, if not loyal, to the French and contain the British in their southernmost Atlantic colonies. Unlike the usual frontier settlements, Fort Toulouse was both a diplomatic post, since its officers acted as resident ministers, and a military post. Because it was located in a friendly territory adjoining an area under a rival (British) influence, the post participated in psychological warfare rather than in blood-letting. It used trade and aid, and was familiar with spies and double-agents—welcoming and debriefing British defectors; no cannon was discharged in anger at Toulouse.

The most eminent figure to have been connected directly with Fort Toulouse was General Andrew Jackson, who established a military post there during the War of 1812 after his victory over the Indians at Horseshoe Bend. The outpost was named Fort Jackson in his honor and played a key role in the treaty negotiations and eventual settlement of the Indian land by Americans.

In addition to discussing geopolitical and military affairs and diplomatic relations with Indian chiefs, Thomas describes daily life at the post and the variety of interactions between residents and visitors. Waselkov''s introduction places the original 1960 book within the context of the existing scholarship of that time and adds an extensive and enlightening review of the most recent archaeological and historical research to Thomas'' pioneering work.

This is a scholar''s Baedeker for locating and using most efficiently the documents in the diplomatic archives of Western Europe, including Greece and Finland. Some 22 historians and archivists collectively provide chapters on 16 countries, four international organizations, and the Vatican.Countries and organizations covered by the Guide:The NetherlandsSwitzerlandLuxemburgGermanBelgiumFinlandFranceSpainItalyGreat BritainVatican CityPortugalDenmarkSwedenNorwayAustriaGreeceItalyThe United NationsThe League of NationsThe International Labour OrganisationThe International Telecommunication UnionUNESCOThe New Guide to the Diplomatic Archives of Western Europe is a comprehensive, up-to-date tool for locating and using most efficiently the documents in the depositories of Western Europe (with Greece and Finland included). Besides its obvious utility for doing research in diplomatic and political history, the Guide is most useful in such fields as political and commercial history, biography, and organizational behavior. Some 22 historians and archivists collectively provide chapters on 16 countries, 4 international organizations, and the Vatican.