American National Biography
Encyclopedia
The American National Biography (ANB) is a 24 volume biographical encyclopedia set containing approximately 17,400 entries and 20 million words, first published in 1999 by Oxford University Press
under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies
. A 400-entry supplement appeared in 2002. In addition to significant investment by Oxford University Press, funding came from Rockefeller Foundation
, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
and National Endowment for the Humanities
. The general editors were John A. Garraty
and Mark C. Carnes.
The ANB bills itself as the successor of the Dictionary of American Biography
, which was first published between 1926 and 1937. It is not however a strict superset
of this older publication; the selection of topics was made anew.
It is commonly available in the reference sections of United States libraries, and it is available online by subscription (see external links).
awarded the American National Biography its prestigious Dartmouth Medal
as a reference work of outstanding quality and significance. The American Historical Association
's Waldo G. Leland Prize was awarded for 2001.
It has been criticized for missing cross references and occasional errors, and for its cost, which is said to limit availability in poor countries.
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies
American Council of Learned Societies
The American Council of Learned Societies , founded in 1919, is a private nonprofit federation of seventy scholarly organizations.ACLS is best known as a funder of humanities research through fellowships and grants awards. ACLS Fellowships are designed to permit scholars holding the Ph.D...
. A 400-entry supplement appeared in 2002. In addition to significant investment by Oxford University Press, funding came from Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation of New York City and Princeton, New Jersey in the United States, is a private foundation with five core areas of interest, endowed with wealth accumulated by the late Andrew W. Mellon of the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the product of the 1969...
and National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
. The general editors were John A. Garraty
John A. Garraty
John Arthur Garraty was an American historian and biographer. He specialized largely in American political and economic history....
and Mark C. Carnes.
The ANB bills itself as the successor of the Dictionary of American Biography
Dictionary of American Biography
The Dictionary of American Biography was published in New York City by Charles Scribner's Sons under the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies. The first edition was published in 20 volumes from 1928 to 1936. These 20 volumes contained 15,000 biographies...
, which was first published between 1926 and 1937. It is not however a strict superset
SuperSet
SuperSet Software was a group founded by friends and former Eyring Research Institute co-workers Drew Major, Dale Neibaur, Kyle Powell and later joined by Mark Hurst...
of this older publication; the selection of topics was made anew.
It is commonly available in the reference sections of United States libraries, and it is available online by subscription (see external links).
Awards and reception
In 1999, the American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
awarded the American National Biography its prestigious Dartmouth Medal
Dartmouth Medal
The Dartmouth Medal of the American Library Association is awarded annually to a reference work of outstanding quality and significance, published during the previous calendar year.-History:...
as a reference work of outstanding quality and significance. The American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
's Waldo G. Leland Prize was awarded for 2001.
It has been criticized for missing cross references and occasional errors, and for its cost, which is said to limit availability in poor countries.
External links
- National Endowment for the Humanities, interview of editor John A. Garraty by William R. FerrisWilliam R. FerrisWilliam Reynolds Ferris is an American author and scholar and former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities...