As noted in the general schedule, we've selected three books for participants to read prior to their arrival, in order to develop a shared background and to facilitate our work together. The books are:

• Conrad Bahre, A Legacy of Change: Historic Human Impact on Vegetation in the Arizona Borderlands (Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1991);
• Samuel Truett, Fugitive Landscapes: The Forgotten History of the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2006); and the classic short historical geography,
• D. W. Meinig, Southwest: Three Peoples in Geographical Change, 1600-1970 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1971).

For each of our institute days, we have carefully selected shorter excerpts, primary documents and articles that will serve as the basis of discussion among the participants and visiting faculty. We've set aside time for reading and reflection during the institute, but based on our experience, we recommend reading as much as possible in advance. The daily readings are available on line, through a Google Docs password protected site. Our preliminary bibliography, including both required and recommended readings, will also be available at that site for download as a .pdf file.