Native America in the Twentieth Century: An Encyclopedia

by Mary B. Davis (Editor)

Overview

First Published in 1996. Articles on present-day tribal groups comprise more than half of the coverage, ranging from essays on the Navajo, Lakota, Cherokee, and other large tribes to shorter entries on such lesser-known groups as the Hoh, Paugusett, and Tunica-Biloxi. Also 25 inlcludes maps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781135638610
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	832
File size:	53 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Mary B. Davis

Table of Contents

Preface; Contributors; Articles by Subject; List of Maps; The Encyclopedia; Index

Editorial Reviews

As the title implies, this reference focuses on contemporary topics and thus does not offer, for example, as much history of removal from tribal lands but how the victims have adjusted and coped with their forced relocation. Though a few entries are concise paragraphs, most are several pages long, and all are followed by brief bibliographies for further reading. The text is written in a firm, unemotional manner that loads each sentence with factual matter. Some maps are interspersed throughout to show tribal locations, and a few photographs illustrate such visually oriented sections as film and video and the arts. The book is useful in presenting up-to-date overviews of subjects of current concern, like casino ownership and fishing rights, in addition to offering sociological entries on such topics as alcohol abuse and image. At 58 pages, the index is extensive but could have been more comprehensive; in a fact-filled volume such as this, some useful information in the text could not be located through the index. However, the encyclopedic format makes finding pertinent topics easy, and a separate list of entries by subject makes related entries accessible. All entries are signed, and 40 percent are by Native Americans. Close competitors are The Native North American Almanac (LJ 5/1/94) and The Native American Almanac (LJ 11/1/93). The almanacs are more historically oriented and include directory information, while the new volume is preferable for current articles describing concerns for Native Americans. Highly recommended for all libraries.-James Moffet, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, Mich.

Library Journal

An alphabetical reference that contains signed articles, written by historians, anthropologists, and other specialists--40% of whom are Native American--on 20th-century American Indians and Alaska Natives. There are overview articles on such subjects as art, economic conditions, educational policy, government policy, health, languages, law, public opinion, Red Power, religion, and reservations. In many cases, there are also articles on specific facets of these broad subjects. Articles on present-day tribal groups comprise more than half of the coverage, usually with a single article devoted to a single Indian nation, but sometimes organized by geographic area, language, or political grouping. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

More than 300 signed articles by 282 contributors make this a first-stop reference source for material about contemporary Native Americans. It is important to note that more than 40 percent of the articles were written by Native Americans. Overview articles appear on such topics as art, education, government, and health, which contain "see also" references. Other articles cover such topics as the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Bureau of Indian Affairs schools, the National Congress of American Indians, and Red Power from an Indian perspective. The largest number of articles are on individual tribes; these are often accompanied by charts and graphs and vary in length from less than one-half page for "Nanticoke" to five pages for "Navajo". Extensive bibliographies accompany every entry. In addition, there are more than 20 full-page line maps and many black-and-white photographs. All entries are signed, and the authors' credentials are provided. At the beginning of the work, a classified list of articles lists them under such headings as "Art", "Government Policy", "Law", and "Religion". The detailed index provides subject access This is an easy-to-use reference work. It is an excellent source for hard-to-find information about lesser-known such tribes as the Hoh and the Tunica-Biloxi, but it has limited coverage of individuals. The editor indicates that biographical material is beyond the scope of the work, as is coverage of Canadian Natives. Since this work provides up-to-date information on tribal groups, it could easily replace books with limited coverage. "Native American Almanac" ["RBB" Ja 15 94] is a more popular treatment of the topic and does not provide detailed information on individual tribes. "The Native North American Almanac" ["RBB" My 1 94] has both historical and contemporary coverage. It also contains biographies and directory information. Libraries, high school and up, in need of a scholarly treatment of this topic will want to consider "Native America in the Twentieth Century".

Zom Zoms

"Very useful as a source of information on lesser-known tribes, as well as for its overviews of general topics." — VOYA
"This encyclopedia is an essential, recommended reference at the high school and college library levels for any school featuring Native American studies." — The Bookwatch
"A very considerate achievement...The entries contain much information of importance..I do not know of any other publication that undertakes to be so inclusive of topics important to all of those who seek to have a fuller understanding of American Indians today." — Daniel K. Inouye, Former Chairman, Unitd States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
"One of the best overall reference sources on Native Americans... Well researched easy-to-use and authoritative." — Native American Reference Sources

From the Publisher