Not all interest in the Pinelands has been literary. Local residents and historians have written detailed accounts of the area, at least one that dates back several hundred years. Gabriel Thomas published An Historical Description of the Province and Country of West-New-Jersey in America (1698) to encourage immigration to West (we would say South) Jersey. Thomas portrays the area, including the Pine Barrens, as a land of plenty. In 1889 H. W. Wilbur and W. B. Hand wrote an Illustrated History of the Town of Hammonton that sold for twenty-five cents. William McMahon wrote a more up-to-date history of the town in 1966 (but still nearly 50 years old!); he followed up with a history of Smithville published in 1967.
Alfred M. Heston’s Absegami: Annals of Eyren Haven and Atlantic City, 1609-1904, though dated, is still a useful history of early Atlantic City and Atlantic County. Jack E. Boucher’s Absegami Yesteryear (in the display case by the entrance to the library) was published for New Jersey’s tercentenary in 1964 and describes the Atlantic County area from the pre-colonial period through 1875. Sarah W. R. Ewing and Robert McMullin’s Along Absecon Creek documents the history of Absecon. Wendel White, Professor of Art at Stockton, has contributed a photographic record of African American communities in South Jersey, including Port Republic, Morris Beach, Whitesboro, Gouldtown, Springtown, Lawnside and other small towns.
Thomas, Gabriel. An Historical Description of the Province and Country of West-New-Jersey in America. London, 1698; reprint: Lithographed for Henry Austin Brady, Esq., 1848.
Wilbur, H. W. and W. B. Hand. Illustrated History of the Town of Hammonton. Hammonton, N.J.: The Mirror Steam Printing House, 1889 [reprinted, Hammonton Historical Society, 1977].
McMahon, William. Story of Hammonton: A History of the Town of Hammonton. Egg Harbor City, N.J., Laureate Press, 1966.
McMahon, William. Historic Towne of Smithville. Egg Harbor City, N.J.: The Laureate Press, 1967.
Heston, Alfred M. Absegami: Annals of Eyren Haven and Atlantic City, 1609-1904. [Camden, N.J.: A. M. Heston,] 1904. 2 vols.
Boucher, Jack E. Absegami Yesteryear. Egg Harbor City, N.J., Laureate Press, 1963.
Ewing, Sarah W.R. and Robert McMullin. Along Absecon Creek: A History of Early Absecon, New Jersey. Bridgetown, N.J.: Cowan Printing, 1965.
White, Wendel A. Small Towns, Black Lives: African American Communities in Southern New Jersey. Oceanville, N.J.: The Noyes Museum of Art, 2003.