This paper introduces topics about the American West to teachers and students of U.S. history and suggests that interested students can pursue the topics at greater length. The report is based on information from the novelist, Tony Hillerman, who states in "The Best of the West" (1991) that there are many firsthand accounts and other texts of historical value and significance including diaries, news dispatches, travelogues, memoirs, letters, government reports, and stone inscriptions that are from and about the American West. The paper offers titles to resources referred to in Hillerman's book and provides short descriptions about their relevancy to the western experience. Topics discussed in the paper are: (1) "Early Exploration"; (2) "The Early Frontier"; (3) "The Hispanic Influence"; (4) "Frontier Life"; (5) "Cowboy Culture"; (6) "Character References"; (7) "Western Mining"; (8) "The Western Women"; (9) "Western Justice"; (10) "Western Transportation"; and (11) "The United States Military." (Contains 73 references.) (BT)