Reviews and Viewer's Comments
re: this Web-site

4/7/99: This is an excellent location for my students to find most the information I expect them to chase down when doing research. We have had difficulty finding info on small places and events and you have set up extensive sites for them. Thank you.
Al Ingerson
Sixth Grade Social Studies Teacher
Lancaster, NH
4/1/99: First of all, I like your site. I happily spent a lot of time there today.
Regarding Doc Holliday [and the fight at the OK corral]: Sheriff Behan tried to trick Doc and the Earps by implying that he had disarmed the Clantons and the McLowerys...Adds another dimension to the story. Also, have you read Allan Barra's new book "Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends"? It's an excellent source and would provide new information to your site that could only enhance it.
Anyway, that's my $.02. Toni Williams
Nov. 98:
GREAT SITE - Done a lot of surfing but this site is the best I have been to. Thanks for having it. Keep it up.
Jerome
7/25/98: Thanks for your prompt reply. I'll try to catch you sometime on aol. I write historical fiction (American Indian Romance) with Madeline Baker. We use sites like yours to help with research. Thanks for a valuable tool.

SpiritWalker

Hello,
Usually I congratulate someone when I send them my award!
But I feel I should get on my knees and "beg" you to take it :)
What a wonderful, fabulous site!!!! I am an online genealogist and have found your site an excellent resource for online genealogy and history and will be adding it to my Best Links site and will be sharing it will all my genealogically inclined internet friends.
Keep up the good work!!!!

Pam in "Sunny" Palm Springs, Ca

Date: Feb. 14, 1998
From: madcooke
Finally I found the perfect web page that can lead me practically anywhere to help me find things for my report. I know you probably don't like people Emailing just because they wanted to say thank you, but I really appreciate people trying to help us understand what we are learning, for students, and I think that is very considerate of you! Thank you again.

Review by San Diego Union-Tribune's "ComputerLink" (8/6/96):

"GO WEST , YOUNG MAN (AND WOMAN)
Been there, done that - but do you know the West. Internet Engineering Services has created a site at http://www.AmericanWest.com called "The American West" with more links than notches in Wild Bill's pistols. Ghost towns, Death Valley, Indian tribes, missionaires, Kit Carson, cowboys -
THE WHOLE DANG BLANG SHOOTIN' MATCH IS HEAH, BUCCO!"

Quote from a letter written by Richard C. Atkinson, President of the University of California, dated 7/24/96:

"Although I have not yet had a chance to browse your American West website, my staff tells me that it is very impressive, and a fine example of what can be achieved. From what I understand, you have taken on an ambitious project and put it together in an impressive manner. I believe that the California Cyberlibrary will be virtual, linking together virtual sources such as the American West. Of course, one of the strong advantages of the web technologies is that they allow for many different avenues of entry to different sites and virtual collections. I am asking my staff to get in touch with you directly so that we can better understand possible opportunities for collaboration."

An email message dated 11/1/96 from Patricia Carnabuci at American Fidelity's Education World, one of the major publications that reviews educational websites for students and teachers. Here is a summary of the review:

The American West Overall score: A+

CONTENT A+
This site has an extensive amount of information for a variety of subjects and is adding more.
AESTETICS A
There are few graphics but the color scheme is reminiscent of the West and the structure is easy to follow with your eye.
ORGANIZATION A+
The layout of this site is direct and easy to follow. Categories are separated into different sections.
The link to the actual review is at --EDUCATION WORLD

An email message dated 2/17/97 from Valerie D' Aguanno, East Meadow Scool District:

"I would like to use a screen capture of the American West page and Native American page for a handbook I am creating for teachers in my district. You site includes a wonderful selection of material on the American West and Native Americans that would be useful to social studies teachers. I will also include teaching objectives and interdisciplinary connections."

An email message dated 2/13/97 from Paula:

"Thanks for the wonderful information you have provided us via the Internet. I am a homeschool mom of two children, age 12 and 14 and find your web page invaluable! Thanks again. My daughter is doing a research paper on General Custer being defeated by Little Big Horn. What we found just adds a very special touch to her report."

An email message dated 1/25/97 from Bobbie Peachey:

"As I wander through the many strands of web I stumble upon a page or a site that fills me with delight and wonder, or catches my interest and I stay to read, to laugh, to cry or to learn. The Ultimate Diamond Award or the True Gem Award is given to the creators of these family rated pages and sites in sincere appreciation for their dedication and their many hours of work and for generously sharing their art and interests and knowledge with their neighbors in cyborspace. It is my pleasure to present your choice of these awards to you, the creators of American West. This award is presented in my appreciation of your wonderful, fantastic and interesting site."

An email message dated 2/6/97 from Brad Jefferson, SRA International:

"Thanks for posting a really educational and interesting site."

An email message dated 1/20/97 from NetGuide (an Internet publication):

"Congratulations! NetGuide has selected your site as a Gold Site -- one of the best on the Web. The Gold Award recognizes Web sites that meet our stringent criteria for overall excellence. NetGuide has screened over 100,000 URLs and reviewed more than 50,000 sites and our Gold Award goes to only 15,000 of the Web's best sites. Thanks for giving us a great site to review."

An email message dated 1/26/97 from Richard Dolph:

"This site is the best. The design , the information, the facts and the content. I have enjoyed it and plan to visit often. Thank you."

An email message dated 12/11/96 from Yan Kiu Chan, an American History Student at University of Toronto:

"I am researching websites about American History. Your American West website is excellent and informative. Thank you."

An email message dated 12/07/96 from Peter B. Davenport:

"I just visited your site... What a wonderful job you have done, and what a fascinating site you have put together!!!"

An email message dated 12/12/96 from Matthew Sussman:

"Let me compliment you on a certainly exceptional website!"

An email message dated 12/19/96 from Dale Wist:

"I have checked out your Western site. Very impressive! What a massive undertaking that is, however. You're trying to cover so much ground, that I wonder where you'll find enough time in any given day to keep up with the work load. I congratulate you on the extraordinary effort you have already put forth, to create such a fabulous site."

An email message dated 1/2/97 from Cherokee (Roy):

"I am a western fan. I stumbled across your site the American West, the other day. I just wanted to tell you that I think it is a truly wonderful web site. I will continue to visit it constantly. Keep up the good work. A great web site. Just wanted to let you guys know what I thought of the site."

An email message dated 11/2/96 from Julia White:

"I must commend you on the gargantuan effort you have undertaken, and undertaken so well. What a delight, and what a goldmine of information, your site is. Because of this, I must say CONGRATULATIONS----you have been awarded The Golden Feather Award."

An email message dated 11/9/96 from Best Human Awards:

"Congratulations! Our committee has finished the monthly review of Award nominations and has decided that your web-pages, The American West, qualifies as one of the 'Best Human Interest Sites on the World Wide Web.' We were impressed with the great organization on your pages (You made it easy to find each subject area!), your clever use of a Western -style headline font and clever images, the way you presented so much useful information, and the way that your pages were pleasant to view and therefore 'sparked human interest'. We found your pages to be 'inviting'. Again, our compliments. Thanks for doing your part in making the World Wide Web a place that 'sparks human interest'."

An email message dated 11/3/96 from Heinrich Schwella:

"Congratulations! You received a HHH Award. The criteria for receiving this award is: Information available (x/5)
Surfing Quality (x/5)
General Lay-out of page (x/5)
HTML Coding Skills (x/5)
Overall "look/feel" of page (x/5)
Amount of work put into the page (x/5)

Which gives you an amount of 30 which equals 4 stars."

An email message dated 11/25/96 from The Web of Culture:

"Greetings! Congratulations on having been selected as a CULTURE CHOICE site by the Web of Culture! This designation cites you as an online resource providing valuable cross-cultural information to the Internet community. The World Wide Web is truly the global marketplace for educating our neighbors on the diversity of ethnic populations everywhere. Congratulations again on you designation as a CULTURE CHOICE! We wish you continued success in all your Internet and cultural endeavors."

An email message dated 11/2/96 from PRN Radio Network:

"Just wanted to let you know we reviewed your site on the PRN Radio Network's Daily Report on Friday November 1, 1996. In addition, your review were also aired on 7 of our affiliate stations. You've got a great site, stop by and hear the review. Thank you."

An email message dated 12/5/96 from Jennifer Karp, at SAIC, San Diego.:

"I have reviewed your site and will be happy to link yours to our site. Your site is graphically pleasing and seems jam-packed with good information"

A letter dated 11/27/96 from Paige Primak, Permissions Manager at Computer Curriculum Corporation (A VIACOM COMPANY):

"Computer Curriculum Corporation (CCC), a developer of educational software, has launched a World Wide Web site, CCCnet. Our goal is to offer CCC's award-winning interactive curriculum products on the Internet, where education is one of the fastest growing areas. CCCnet currently contains seven topic areas, outlined in the attached copy of our homepage, including sections where CCC will guide teachers and students to recommended resources and educational sites on the Internet. CCC requests permission to include a link to the American West site within CCCnet and to feature a Jpeg GIF graphic file of your logo as the hot link. By including your site, we will be providing users with additional resources of information. Your site will also gain more exposure as a link through CCCnet."

An email dated 11/29/96 from Hans Johansson, Pedagogiskt Forum (a Swedish association of teachers intent on teaching teachers and students alike new methods of learning. Located in Göteborg, Sweden. (Translated from Swedish):

"Thank you for the information about your web-site. I will inform all editors here at Pedagogiskt Forum about your excellent web-site. The way you present the links on your site will be a good example for us to follow."

An email dated 1/3/97 from Ken Martin (Cherokee):

"I looked at your new webpage (on Native Americans) and I think it is excellent -- especially your essay."

An email dated 12/7/96 from Deborah (Cherokee):

"I really enjoyed your webpage. The amount of information is incredible!"

An email dated 1/9/97 from Corky Knebel:

"Great page on Native Americans! I am the state coordinator for the Montana GenWeb Project, affiliated with the USGenWeb Project. With over 2,000 volunteers across the nation, we're attempting to create, maintain and update sites for each state and county offering free genealogical research information and data. On the Montana page, I have linked to a newly created page for Native American Genealogy & history for Montana. Your site provides some excellent historical information and links. May I please link to it from the Montana Native American Page?"

An email dated 11/27/96 from Laura West, Technical Services Librarian at The National Indian Law Library:

"You asked me to take another look at your web-site - I am quite impressed! Thanks for putting together such a good page for Native Americans. Keep up the good work!"

An email dated 11/25/96 from Liz Larson (Cupeno Indian):

"I've looked at your site. Wow, you've got a lot of info there...I got mesmerized...just following some of the links on your pages...you've done a fine job!"

An email dated 11/01/96 from Lucy Chapa, Artsee Media:

"After looking at your site I feel you have a very good resource directory. Your organization is different than ours and only because the direction of our site is different. I actually found the organization of your site very good and something I like to keep in mind as we grow."

An email dated 4/28/97 from Nora Flom, InfiNet:

"I'm working on an endorsement to teach English as a Second Language and am always looking for culturally rich materials to use in my classes. I discovered your site as part of a class assignment, and was completely WOWED by it. I know my future students will enjoy it as much as I am. Great job!"

An email dated 12/12/96 from Dr. Neil Jan Gale, "Everything.Internet" Award Committee:

"Congratulations! Your web-site has won the prestigious "Global Web Site Award". Your World Wide Web site is an excellent example of a high quality presentation. Splendid job!"

An email dated 12/7/96 from Dave Dahl, World Wide Web Associates, Award Committee:

"Congratulations! The site you submitted for an award has been selected by Wold Wide Web Associates as a Top Ten winner in its category. The Top Ten award is based on Organization & Functionality, Graphic Design, Innovation, and Overall Contributionto the Internet. Thank you for your submission and for your contribution to the Internet. Aloha, and good luck!"

An email dated 3/7/97 from S.K. Smurthwaite, University of Teesside, School of Computing and Maths, England, U.K.,:

"Wonderful, exciting and fascinating site. The entire content was amazing and I was completely absorbed in the various sections/sites. I am an English lady by the way, residing in England and cannot thank you enough for the hours of pleasure this site has given me."

An email dated 4/8/97 from Jay Walters, Education Editor of Classroom Connect, Lancaster, PA.,a publishing company specializing in K-12 curriculum material designed to help teachers integrate the Internet to the classroom:

"We write lesson plans, activity sheets and Internet integration ideas for the sites we especially like. I've visited your American West site, and I love it. I think teachers and students would also appreciate it. We'd like your permission to include your American West site on the teacher's companion CD (and all educational material)."
An email dated 3/27/97 from Joe Tastove:

"Hell of a good page you got there, very good reading for us western history buffs, thank you."
An email dated 4/10/97 from Mats Wikberg, Hedemora, Sweden:

"Congratulations to a fantastic home page!"
An email dated 4/15/97 from Jim Myers, J&S Oldwestern Store, Saddle Shop and Museum, Warsaw, Mo.:

"I just stumbled onto your site today and it is just fantastic! You have done a superb job."
An email dated 4/19/97 from Brenda Buzzell:

"Just a note to tell you that I loved visiting you! I needed information for a task analysis workshop I am presenting to the staff at our elementary school. I found more than enough information for the presentation, plus enough to share with our grade 4 teachers to use in their Westward Expansion units! Thanks!"
An email dated 4/19/97 from Russell Clark, England, U.K.:

"May I complement you on the extensive information you provide on the world wide web and wish you continued success and prosperity in all that you do. Many thanks and kindest regards."
An email dated 4/4/97 from Randy Leonard:

"On my web-page I added a link to your page on Dodge City. Hope you don't mind! I found it fascinating and informative and it adds some interest to my little site. Your entire site is AWESOME, a masterpiece in the view of this beginning HTML writer, and sure deserves all the awards you've gotten and more. I love everything you've done there - THANK YOU for creating such an incredible resource!"
An email dated 5/3/97 from Carmen Dyar, Midwest Sign Studio:

"...just wanted to thank you for the excellent webpage. I am in the process of organizing a family reunion in the Black Hills of South Dakota and your links have brought great inspiration for our Old West celebration. I intend to assign each family member a well known westerner to portray in full costume. The information I gathered at your site has been most useful and it has been great fun to learn more about the history of the Hills."
An email dated 5/4/97 from Ilze Zemjanis Choi:

"I am a strong supporter of Native Americans. I want to say your Web page on the Native Americans is rich in all sorts of information. I commend you for being open to suggestions or criticisms. That means your intentions are honest."
An email dated 5/4/97 from RLDLAD & Family:

"It is an excellent site for gathering information of the American West and the expansion. Thanks for the time and effort you have put into creating the site and we will use it for our research needs of the future. Our elementary school children love it. We visited the site earlier when it was under construction and since then so much has been added it's truly amazing."
An email dated 5/12/97 from Roger Busman:

"I don't get to spend enough time working on my site (between work and the family), but it's great to hear from someone that operates such a big and impressive site (like American West). I'll setup a link (to AmericanWest) soon!"
An email dated 5/13/97 from Troy Johnson:

"Hello Bengt, I took a look at your americanwest web site. WOW - what a great collection - and what a huge amount of work. I am going to put a link to your site on my site. Keep up the good work."
An email dated 5/15/97 from Larry Rhodes:

"I just wanted to let you know something that you probably already know, but I just had to tell you anyway.
THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE GREATEST WEB SITE THAT EVER WAS ! ! ! ! OR EVER WILL BE..
I just found (it) a couple of days ago and have already spent several hours here learning about things I thought I already knew.
Thanks for all the great info and keep up the good work..."
A letter dated 5/14/97 from Dr. Roger McGrath, Professor at the Department of History, UCLA, Los Angeles: "I think your work is just great and look forward to you really developing the site".
Return to the American West homepage.