Historical Dictionary of New England

by Peter C. Holloran

Overview

New England, the most clearly defined region in the United States, includes the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. First colonized by the French in 1604 and the British in 1607, the New England colonies were the first to secede from the British Empire and were among the first states admitted to the union. No region has claimed more presidents as native sons (seven) or produced more men and women of exceptional accomplishment and fame. Many Americans see New England as a touchstone for the founding ideas of the nation, and the region served as a source of inspiration for many artists and writers.

This second edition of Historical Dictionary of New England contains a chronology, an introduction, appendix, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, places, institutions, and events. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about New England.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538102190
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/2017
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of Cities, States, and Regions
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	660
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Peter C. Holloran is a professor of history at Worcester State University in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is the former executive director of the New England Historical Association and former president of the Northeast Popular Culture/American Culture Association.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword Jon Wornoff
Preface
Acknowledgments
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Appendix
Bibliography
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Beneficial in a public or high school library reference section in order to give a brief overview of a topic. It is also helpful for a quick look up confirm birth and death dates, locations of events, or to clarify an occurrence. It is only one volume and a relatively small book but is packed with subjects and locations. Overall, it is a respectable reference to have on hand.

New England Archivists Newsletter

Longer by more than 100 pages, this second edition of a 2003 work by Halloran whets the appetite of general readers and beginning scholars alike. Expansions include a dictionary section now offering approximately 300 additional entries and a longer chronology section. Necessarily selective in order to encompass much essential material about a variegated region in one convenient volume, the author acknowledges that those seeking further information on events, literature, persons, and places should consult the augmented bibliography (still apparently print-based rather than also including web sources)…. Imparting historical perspective and regional context, Halloran includes politicians who have presumably completed their public careers alongside certain characteristic words (e.g., moxie, wampum, and scallop) and phrases (red tide, Route 1, or Great Migration—here referring to Puritans from England to the colonies in the 17th century)…. [T]his expanded volume is a helpful, albeit not singular, source for details about the region—a valuable prompt to further study by seldom-sated, inquiring readers.

Summing Up: Recommended. All libraries. All levels.

Choice Reviews

Longer by more than 100 pages, this second edition of a 2003 work by Halloran whets the appetite of general readers and beginning scholars alike. Expansions include a dictionary section now offering approximately 300 additional entries and a longer chronology section. Necessarily selective in order to encompass much essential material about a variegated region in one convenient volume, the author acknowledges that those seeking further information on events, literature, persons, and places should consult the augmented bibliography (still apparently print-based rather than also including web sources)…. Imparting historical perspective and regional context, Halloran includes politicians who have presumably completed their public careers alongside certain characteristic words (e.g., moxie, wampum, and scallop) and phrases (red tide, Route 1, or Great Migration—here referring to Puritans from England to the colonies in the 17th century)…. [T]his expanded volume is a helpful, albeit not singular, source for details about the region—a valuable prompt to further study by seldom-sated, inquiring readers. Summing Up: Recommended. All libraries. All levels.

Choice

Longer by more than 100 pages, this second edition of a 2003 work by Halloran whets the appetite of general readers and beginning scholars alike. Expansions include a dictionary section now offering approximately 300 additional entries and a longer chronology section. Necessarily selective in order to encompass much essential material about a variegated region in one convenient volume, the author acknowledges that those seeking further information on events, literature, persons, and places should consult the augmented bibliography (still apparently print-based rather than also including web sources)…. Imparting historical perspective and regional context, Halloran includes politicians who have presumably completed their public careers alongside certain characteristic words (e.g., moxie, wampum, and scallop) and phrases (red tide, Route 1, or Great Migration—here referring to Puritans from England to the colonies in the 17th century)…. [T]his expanded volume is a helpful, albeit not singular, source for details about the region—a valuable prompt to further study by seldom-sated, inquiring readers.

Summing Up: Recommended. All libraries. All levels.

CHOICE

This title is an excellent ready-reference tool to the New England states....This dictionary is recommended for all libraries in New England and for larger public and academic libraries in other parts of the country.

American Reference Books Annual

...filled with smiles and smirks and hard information. It should be on everybody's coffee table.

Journal of American Culture - Ray B. Browne

...produces a rich and eclectic yield of knowledge on the region. The first of its kind, the Historical Dictionary of New England offers both novice and scholar an authoritative and updated perspective on arguably the most celebrated portion of the United States.

"American Reference Books Annual" - Maria Vagianos

This title is an excellent ready-reference tool to the New England states....This dictionary is recommended for all libraries in New England and for larger public and academic libraries in other parts of the country.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

...filled with smiles and smirks and hard information. It should be on everybody's coffee table.
— Ray B. Browne

The Journal Of American Culture

...produces a rich and eclectic yield of knowledge on the region. The first of its kind, the Historical Dictionary of New England offers both novice and scholar an authoritative and updated perspective on arguably the most celebrated portion of the United States.
— Maria Vagianos

Reference Reviews