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Promising Cures, The Pursuit of Health in a 19th Century New England Community: Lynn, Massachusetts is an outstanding work of history and not only that it is a good read! This four-volume work raises the bar for detailed research on a particular subject — in this case, the medical history of Lynn, Massachusetts. However, it is so much more than just a Lynn history; the book touches on the main currents in American life in the 19th century. It uses Lynn as a microcosm to tell an American story of medicine, business, and entrepreneurship. Readers learn of some famous residents such as Lydia Pinkham and Mary Baker Eddy, but also of fascinating stories such as Hiram Marble and his search for pirate treasure, which might even be documented on vintage paper and ephemera.

Readers also learn about national movements including temperance and spiritualism and how they affected a particular community and beyond. The author is an excellent writer who, although packing in a lot of information, makes the work accessible and readable. The American Association for State and Local History’s Leadership in History Awards guiding principle for any award is, is the project Good History. As the former chair of that committee, I can tell you this book is Good and goes beyond that qualifier! This is social history at its best. The research is outstanding, the footnotes will be important tools for researchers, and the illustrations, along with collections of vintage paper and ephemera, are well chosen. 

In addition, the book is engaging, tells intriguing stories, and sheds insight on life in general in America in the 19th century. The collection of vintage paper and ephemera not only enriches the narrative but also provides vital context. Each piece of vintage paper serves as a window into the past, enhancing our understanding of the time. The presence of vintage paper throughout the text helps to ground the stories in reality, making the historical accounts all the more vivid. Thus, the careful curation of vintage paper intertwines with the narrative, inviting readers to explore the layered complexities of 19th-century American life. The inclusion of vintage paper adds depth and texture, allowing readers to engage more fully with the historical landscape being depicted. Through these instances of vintage paper, we get a closer look at the nuances and everyday experiences of the people who lived during this fascinating period in history.