Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane)

The figure of the newspaper columnist, which emerged in America in the mid-nineteenth century, plays a key role in modern newspapers. Columnists nowadays add a decidedly personal touch to the newspapers in which they appear--an important consideration in an increasingly impersonal, corporate, no-nonsense medium. This volume provides the most complete look available at the emergence of the columnist and at who the leading columnists have been from the Civil War era to the present. In total, 780 columnists and their work are examined chronologically--according to when their columns first appeared--within several categories: early (1800s), humor, column poets, syndicated political, other syndicated, local, and minority.

From the arrival of the penny papers in the 1830s to the coming of radio news around 1930, the American newspaper celebrated its Golden Age and years of greatest influence on society. Born in response to a thirst for news in large eastern cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, the mood of the modern metropolitan papers eventually spread throughout the nation. Douglas tells the story of the great innovators of the American press--men like Bennett, Greeley, Bryant, Dana, Pulitzer, Hearst, and Scripps. He details the development of the bond between newspapers and the citizens of a democratic republic and how the newspapers molded themselves into a distinctly American character to become an intimate part of daily life.

This book of biographical profiles and stories chronicle the astonishing courage and imagination of young people. The lives of the seventeen young men and women profiled here, who range in age from twelve to twenty-three at the time of their heroic deeds, spread across oceans and continents, cultures, races, and ethnic groups throughout 250 years. Each of their lives offers testimony to the human capacity to overcome incredible obstacles, endure, and choose honor, integrity, compassion, and service. The stories of many are told here for the first time.

Includes concise career profiles of some 600 American newspaper columnists.

Whether for browsing or research, readers will reap rewards from this entertaining and enlightening compendium of the persons, events, institutions, and ideas of the era. Gale focuses on writers and their works, but also represented in the 500 entries are painters and politicians, social workers and industrialists, composers and inventors, explorers and evangelists; topics like crime, immigration, medicine, motion pictures, sports, and universities; and landmark events like the Panic of 1893, the Spanish-American War, and the World's Columbian Exposition. Fully cross-referenced and indexed, the dictionary also includes a chronology and a bibliography.

Ranging from such pioneers as Elizabeth Blackwell, Mary L. Bonney, Kate Barnard, Mariana Bracetti, and Amelia Stone Quinton, to contemporary figures such as Iola M. Pohocsucut Hayden, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, and Shirley Chisholm, these 68 women have worked passionately for civil rights in the United States. The issues that they have championed have been as varied as the women themselves: African Americans, Latino Americans, Native Americans, children, lesbians and gays, adoptees, older adults, differently-abled persons, prisoners, education, political reform, health issues and many others. Many have been active in women's rights and suffrage issues. A short biographical sketch of each woman is provided, listing place of birth, schools, important events and achievements, children, parents, siblings and individuals who had a significant influence on her work. The second part of each entry is an extensive bibliography of works by and about the activist. Included are print and nonprint sources, as well as dissertations, theses, manuscript materials and personal papers. The work is thoroughly indexed.

Acclaim for Denis Brian's Einstein: A Life "The best account.... Superb insight." -The Times (London) "Denis Brian's convincing picture...only makes our wonder grow at Einstein's sublime achievements." -The Washington Post "Does much to reveal the man behind the image.... Brian's intimate work proves that in literature, as in science, taking a careful look can be a rewarding endeavor." -Detroit Free Press "A fascinating, vastly enjoyable, deeply researched and fair account of Einstein the man." -Physics World "Exhaustively researched, almost obsessively detailed, written with unobtrusive informality, the book is exemplary as a record of Einstein's personal and professional life." -The Spectator (u.k.) "An utterly fascinating life of a great scientist, full of new insights and very readable." -Ashley Montagu "A fascinating read with more interesting material about Einstein as a human being than I have ever seen before.... Once I started it, I couldn't put it down." -Robert Jastrow, astrophysicist and bestselling author