Charles William Overstreet
1 book in the catalogue, published 2002.
Charles William Overstreet wrote Early American Toys and Games, a how-to book of seventy-five toys to build and forty-six games to play. It is the one book of his that Western Reflections Publishing carries, and it was published in 2002. He writes about the early West and about handmade pastimes for children.
About Charles William Overstreet
The catalogue description says Overstreet has been writing about the early West for several years, and that two of his earlier books won first place in the annual writing contests of the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers. It adds that he spent years gathering, assembling and writing about the toys and games in this book, and hopes it brings back some of the fun and values of the past.
Outside sources agree on the book but add little about the man. Open Library records the author as Charles W. Overstreet and lists the first edition as a paperback dated August 2002, with a subject of toymaking. The Internet Archive lists the same book as a how-to guide, with a Montrose, Colorado publisher location. We found no verified birth year, home town or other biography, and we will not supply one.
Books
What the books share
Overstreet's book is about making and playing, not collecting. Each toy comes with instructions, from a scooter and a sailboat to stilts, whistles and a periscope, and each game comes with rules, from London Bridge and Farmer in the Dell to Hopscotch and Mumbly Peg. The common thread is self-reliance: a child who builds a toy learns imagination and creativity, and goes outdoors to use it. The description sets this against buying the newest gadgets and electronic games. Open Library files the book under games, toys, handicraft and history, which neatly sums up where it sits on the shelf.
The subjects this author is catalogued under. Open Library record.
Next steps for readers of this author
Planning a build day for a classroom or troop
Pick one project from the book, gather scrap materials first and test the instructions yourself before the group arrives. Then show the children a museum photo of a similar historic toy so they can compare.
Searching for old toys that match your family's
Search the Strong's database by toy type, such as stilts or whistles, to see how makers sold them. Ask older relatives which toys they built themselves and write down their descriptions.
Go deeper
Handmade toys and games belong to a long tradition of play, and museums keep records of it. These sources show how earlier children played and where to see real examples.
The Strong National Museum of Play, Collections
The Strong says it holds the largest, most comprehensive collection of toys, dolls and games, and offers a searchable database.
Children's Toys, National Park Service
A short article on toys kept in park collections, including 19th century cast iron toy trains excavated at Fort Stanwix.
Frontier Toys, Sharlot Hall Museum
An archive article on playthings used by pioneer and Native children in the Prescott area, such as dolls and a child's toy iron.
Good to know
Is Charles William Overstreet the same person as Charles Overstreet?
What has he written?
Where can I find his book?
Writers like this one are how the list was built
We have published Colorado and Western writers since 1996, and every submission is still read by a person. Send yours, finished or half written.