Bradford’s History of Plymouth Plantation, 1606-1646. With a map and three facsimiles

This "Pilgrim Father" was a humorous, self-educated man who studied Hebrew in his old age, and fought to establish a Plymouth college to rival Harvard. His contribution to the Mayflower Compact and his strong leadership role in the colonies (he was elected governor of Plymouth thirty times) make him an icon in American history. Bradford's celebrated documentary of colonial life, Of Plymouth Plantation (wr.1630-1650, pub.1856), was stolen by the British during the Revolution, and only returned to America in 1897.