Dictionary of American History

5 vols., SCRIBNERS

THIS useful and careful set or volumes represents four years of work on the part of its editors, Mr. James Truslow Adams and Mr. R. V. Coleman, with the assistance of a distinguished advisory council and the collaboration of some thousand historians and scholars. The result is not only an amazingly useful book of reference, but an authoritative one. The leading articles are the work of skilled historians; or in some instances historical characters themselves, such as General Pershing or Admiral Byrd, write of their achievements.

These books are not a dictionary of national biography, and it is somewhat disturbing at first not to find the names of historical characters In due alphabetical location or any facts concerning them. Doubtless cross-indexing all the names of individuals mentioned would have added greatly to the size and labor of this undertaking. And with the exception of this deliberate omission one could find nothing but praise for a work that not only is valuable, but will in all probability become an indispensable book of reference.