1. Queen City of the West, 1850-1860
2. "Our unhappy country," 1860-1870
3. Literary life, 1870-1890
4. "White Voodoo," 1889-1891
5. "A folklorist born, not made," 1891-1895
6. Noble savages and Ozark Gypsies, 1894-1900
7. Vanishing Indians, 1900-1904
8. "Road to Paradise," 1905-1935
Epilogue: "Ever towards the setting sun they push us".