Encyclopedia of North Carolina - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807830712 ISBN 13: 9780807830710

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press, 2006

Synopsis

The first single-volume reference to the events, institutions, and cultural forces that have defined the state, the Encyclopedia of North Carolina is a landmark publication that will serve those who love and live in North Carolina for generations to come. Editor William S. Powell, whom the Raleigh News & Observer described as a “living repository of information on all things North Carolinian,” spent fifteen years developing this volume. With contributions by more than 550 volunteer writers — including scholars, librarians, journalists, and many others — it is a true “people’s encyclopedia” of North Carolina.

The volume includes more than 2,000 entries, presented alphabetically, consisting of longer essays on major subjects, briefer entries, and short summaries and definitions. Most entries include suggestions for further reading. Centered on history and the humanities, topics covered include agriculture; arts and architecture; business and industry; the Civil War; culture and customs; education; geography; geology, mining, and archaeology; government, politics, and law; media; medicine, science, and technology; military history; natural environment; organizations, clubs, and foundations; people, languages, and immigration; places and historic preservation; precolonial and colonial history; recreation and tourism; religion; and transportation.

An informative and engaging compendium, the Encyclopedia of North Carolina is abundantly illustrated with 400 photographs and maps. It is both a celebration and a gift — from the citizens of North Carolina, to the citizens of North Carolina.

About this title

About the Author

William S. Powell is professor emeritus of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is author or editor of many reference books about the state, including the six-volume Dictionary of North Carolina Biography and The North Carolina Gazetteer, both from the University of North Carolina Press. Jay Mazzocchi is an experienced managing editor who was previously a developmental editor and writing fellow for the 24-volume American National Biography.

From the Back Cover

The first single-volume reference to the events, institutions, and cultural forces that have defined the state, this volume was developed by William S. Powell, whom the Raleigh News & Observer described as a "living repository of information on all things North Carolinian." With contributions by more than 550 volunteer writers?including scholars, librarians, journalists, and many others?it is a true "people's encyclopedia" of North Carolina. The volume includes more than 2,000 entries, presented alphabetically, consisting of longer essays on major subjects, briefer entries, and short summaries and definitions. Most entries include suggestions for further reading. Abundantly illustrated with 400 photographs and maps, it is both a celebration and a gift?from the citizens of North Carolina, to the citizens of North Carolina.

Reviews

Powell, professor emeritus of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, spent 15 years compiling this first single-volume encyclopedia of the Tarheel State. The encyclopedia is intended to serve "those who love and live in North Carolina," and it is clearly a product of great affection as well as scholarship. It completes a trilogy of reference works on North Carolina, following Powell's North Carolina Gazetteer (1968) and Dictionary of North Carolina Biography (1979-96).

The encyclopedia consists of more than 2,000 signed, alphabetically arranged entries written by 600 contributors. There are brief entries (Cardinal, Cheerwine ); substantive articles (Biltmore House, Pirates, Pottery ); and in-depth surveys (American Revolution, Lumbee Indians, Mining ). The expected historical, political, and economic topics (Civil rights movement, Wine and winemaking ) are included, but also here are articles about food (Barbecue, Okra, Ramps, Scuppernong grape ); popular dance (Buck dancing, Clogging, Step dancing ); and words with North Carolina etymology (Hooker, Mooning ) that make the encyclopedia fascinating to browse. Four hundred illustrations and 22 maps enhance the articles. Many articles conclude with references that would have been otherwise difficult to identify. The detailed index pulls together scattered information on broad topics such as music and railroads.

There are indications that articles were not updated after their initial submission. The article on Ice hockey mentions the Carolina Hurricanes' loss in the 2002 Stanley Cup finals but not the team's 2006 victory. The article on Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation mentions its reaching "icon status" in 1997 but not its difficulties of the last few years. Southern Indian Studies is cited as a publication of the North Carolina Archaeological Society, but that publication became North Carolina Archaeology in 1997.

The only comparable encyclopedia is the Encyclopedia of North Carolina, edited by Frank Gille (Somerset Publishers, 1999). The State Library of North Carolina [http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/] offers the free, online EN*CYCLOPEDIA, which is a fine source for many factual out-of-state school assignments. Neither of these sources approaches the scholarship of the new work. The University of North Carolina Press plans to offer Encyclopedia of North Carolina Online eventually but focused first on this print edition. No date for the electronic version has been announced.

Its scholarship, abundance of engaging details, and reasonable price make the Encyclopedia of North Carolina an essential purpose for academic and large public libraries and for secondary school libraries supporting regional interests. Christine Whittington
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807830712
• ISBN 13: 9780807830710
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1328
• Editor: Powell William S.