Frederick R. Rinehart, publisher
"It is most unusual and stunning in format. I don't think I've ever seen so successful a use of reverse lithography."


Lester Singer, Chairman, Division of Social Sciences, New School for Social Research
"'It Happened in Woodstock' would serve well in my course 'Individual and Society' -- in which the focus is on the 'interface' between a person and society as well as on the inter-penetration of the two."


Paul Smart--Woodstock Times
IT HAPPENED IN WOODSTOCK…Legendary Artifact The book charms...as something special and apart from everything else in publishing.


Robert E. Carlson, musician, Woodstock artist and son of John F. Carlson
"It should easily become the standard Woodstock handbook."


Alf Evers, regional historian and author of "The Catskills, From Wilderness to Woodstock"
"'It Happened in Woodstock' provides a wonderful overview of Woodstock for the centennial celebration visitor."



"An idiosyncratic recounting of the town's history."



This title "is a fun-filled retelling of how the celebrated town became such a famed and fabled place."


Book Description
Popularized and updated version of Anita M. Smith's classic, Woodstock: History and Hearsay. Completely executed in reverse lithography, with cobalt blue ink. Tells the story of Woodstock, New York from the time of the Amerindian up through the 1969 Woodstock Festival, drawing on history, legend, and the actual words of local artists. Contains over 70 illustrations, including halftones, a map, and original work by such well-known artists as George Bellows, John F. Carlson, Konrad Cramer, Lucille Blanch and Henry Mattson.


About the Author
Anita M. Smith (1893-1968) was born into a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family, and began taking art lessons at the age of 16. In 1910 she embarked on a study-journey with her mother through Europe, Asia Minor and North Africa. The tour allowed her to visit museums, galleries and archeological sites to observe classical and contemporary styles of art. She also took art instruction in Paris, Cairo, Verona and Rome. In 1912, with money intended for a ball gown, she journeyed to Woodstock for the first time. She continued her studies with William Merritt Chase, Frank DuMond and John F. Carlson, and she began to paint seriously. Today her work is classified as impressionist and post-impressionist, and she is best known for her landscapes. Her art hangs in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and her paintings have been exhibited throughout the country in such places as the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Academy of Design, and the J. B. Speed Museum. In 1934 AMS embarked on a second career, as an herbalist. By 1938 she had over sixty herbs under cultivation and clients across the continental United States—including such corporate accounts as H.J. Heinz. In that year she self-published As True As the Barnacle Tree and was later dubbed "Herb Lady of the Catskills" in an article that appeared in the New York Herald Tribune. The Second World War intervened, and AMS helped her country by constructing a plane spotter post on her property at Stonecrop. From 1941 to 1942 she was the Chief Observer and served 1200 hours. In 1945 Columbia Professor of History James T. Shotwell prevailed upon AMS to compile the service record of all Woodstockers who had fought in the war. With this effort she began a third career as a writer/historian. She drew on her personal files and conducted a great deal of additional research, and by 1959 was able to publish the town’s first official history: Woodstock History and Hearsay. Shotwell said of this book, "Miss Smith has a challenging theme. She has met it splendidly." In 1972, the Blelock Family published a popularized artbook version of Anita M. Smith’s Woodstock History and Hearsay, titling the publication It Happened in Woodstock.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

About The Author

Anita Miller Smith traveled to Woodstock, NY from Philadelphia in 1912 to study art-with money intended for a ball gown. She painted in the impressionistic style and one of her paintings hangs in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Her works were exhibited internationally at such prestigious venues as the Woodstock Artists Association, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Pennsylvania Academy, the Toronto Gallery of Art, and the National Academy of Design.

Later in her career Miss Smith was an herbalist and writer. In 1959 she published the town's first official history and titled it Woodstock History and Hearsay.

SYNOPSIS

It Happened in Woodstock is based on the town's first history by Anita Miller Smith. It tells the story of the legendary town through lively tales of Indian lore, farmers' encounters with witches, and anecdotes from the early days of the art colony. The book places in perspective the generation-defining Woodstock Festival of 1969 in a remarkable "Psychic Portrait." It was recently re-released by WoodstockArts to honor the centennial Byrdcliffe arts and crafts colony. The book's appeal rests in its quirky art folio design. It is completely executed in reverse lithography (white text on cobalt blue) and the book comes with post and screws to allow the reader to remove any of the 70 illustrations from the book and thumbtack them up in the home or office. The woodcuts, halftones, paintings and art reproductions are by such well-known artists as George Bellows, John F. Carlson, Ethel Magafan and Henry Mattson.

FROM THE CRITICS

Blue Iris Journal