3 photo journals capture diversity in the Southwest

Millicent Rogers (1902-53), a legendary woman of style whose bold, avant-garde taste played a significant role in the history of modern fashion, was a passionate collector of Navajo and Zuni silver and turquoise, Hopi silverwork and Pueblo stone and shell jewelry. She did her collecting during the late 1940s and early '50s when fine late-19th century and early 20th century work could still be found.

Author Shelby Tisdale gives us a more than capable account of Rogers, her collection and the creation of her museum, but the real joy of this book is the photography of the individual jewelry pieces.

For those of us only familiar with the contemporary, inexpensive Navajo costume jewelry strewn along Arizona highways and truck stops, this book is a real eye-opener; the beauty and craftsmanship of these Native American adornments is astonishing.

The book is also beautifully printed and all information well documented. It is yet another excellent publication by the Museum of New Mexico Press.

• "Mesa Verde National Park: The First 100 Years" is organized like a history book — only better than any history book you've ever encountered. Replete with photographs, illustrations, essays, journal entries and more, you can't help but appreciate the time and energy spent in collecting the required paraphernalia.

It is nicely packaged as a large, trade paperback and is something anyone would enjoy perusing again and again. It is truly interesting.

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