Notable Women in American History: A Guide to Recommended Biographies and Autobiographies »

LYNDA G. ADAMSON is Professor of Literature and Chair of the English Department at Prince George's Community College in Maryland.

The student's and librarian's first-stop resource for recommended biographies and autobiographies of 500 noted women in American history

VOYA

What separates this title from the many other books compiling biographies about American women, and how will it better serve teens looking for information? In winnowing down the more than two thousand women considered to the five hundred included here, Adamson set three major criteria. Each woman must have lived in the United States after 1900, each must have enriched the lives of other Americans in some way, and each must have had a fulllength biography or autobiography published since 1970 that is still available on interlibrary loan. Biographical sketches include general achievements, the date and place of birth, parental heritage, education, occupation, and interests, as well as recognition and awards received in the subject's field. The author includes social and economic backgrounds because of their influence on early learning years. Adamson provides crossreferences to family and married names and uses bold type to indicate names that are included elsewhere in the book. Women are from every walk of life, such as literature or the arts, entertainment, activism, science, sports, education, and government, business, religious, and labor leadership. Each entry provides from one to five annotated biography or autobiography offerings. Letter collections and journals are also listed when available. This resource is an excellent place for students to begin an organized information search. With clear writing and competent editing, the format and selection criteria make this title an easytouse and helpful biographical tool that includes fun facts as well. Notes on the entry for Moses, Anna (Grandma) tell readers that her farmer and inventor father encouraged his children to draw on paperhepurchased for a penny. Because the biographical information is current and complete, the need to search multiple entries using the Internet is unnecessary. Index. Biblio. 1999, Greenwood, Ages 12 to 18, 450p. PLB $49.95. Reviewer: Kitty Krahnke

Introduction

The Guide

Appendix A: Notable Women by Date of Birth

Appendix B: Notable Women by Title, Occupation, or Main Area of Interest

Appendix C: Notable Women by Ethnicity

Index