This was my American history text for the school year 1958-1959. I remember only two things about it:
1. Among the illustrations was the usual Thomas Nast cartoon of the Tweed Ring, but what I really liked was the “Through History With J. Wesley Smith” cartoons by Burr Shafer.
2. It was the only textbook I’d come across that seemed to have been written by an actual person, with actual ideas, and maybe even a sense of humor!
Aside from that, I think it had a blue cover, and there were questions after the chapters. Not much to go one, but the Shafer cartoons were memorable.
Per a search in Hathi Trust for books with phrase “Through History with J. Wesley Smith” somewhere in text, my best guess is this (as it was the only 1950s example that looked to be a history text — of course, many books are not in Hathi, so this may or may not be the one you seek):
Title: Fable, fact and history /
Author(s): Thornton, Willis.
Publication: Philadelphia ; New York : Chilton,
Edition: 1st ed.
Year: 1957
Description: 242 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ; 22 cm.
Language: English
Standard No: LCCN: 57-5807
SUBJECT(S)
Descriptor: History — Errors, inventions, etc.
Not Fable Fact and History, but thank you so much.