The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures [Eight Volumes]

Subjects:

• Popular Culture » Popular Culture (General)
• Anthropology » Cultural Anthropology
• Popular Culture » American Studies
• Multicultural Studies » Multicultural Studies (General)

Awards:

• CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles, 2005
• Library Journal Best Reference Sources 2004

Reviews:

• Exploring both history and culture, this resource offers a comprehensive view of our nation's diverse regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific. With direction from consulting editor William Ferris, former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the narratives focus on distinctive U.S. regions, with subjects ranging from architecture, art, and ecology to fashion, folklore, food, language, literature, music, religion, and sports....With interest in regionalism on the rise owing to increased literary and American studies programs, students conducting research on regional identities and cultural distinctiveness will be well served by the depth of coverage this set provides. Classroom teachers and library media specialists could also utilize it in their own research. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries.
  —Library Journal March 15, 2005
• In recognition of the growing importance of regional studies programs in universities, colleges, and secondary education, this set provides a comprehensive view of America's regional history and culture....[t]his encyclopedia set provides a resource that is compatible with regional studies curricula. Highly recommended. All levels.
  —Choice June 2005
• At a level appropriate for high school students and general readers, each of the eight volumes in this set focuses on a region of the United States: Pacific, Southwest, Rocky Mountain, Great Plains, Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. The editors referred to curriculum standards for US history and for social studies to shape the content. For each region, a volume-specific introductory essay is followed by essays on architecture, art, ecology and environment, ethnicity, fashion, film and theater, folklore, food, language, literature, music, religion, and sports and recreation. Each volume also includes a timeline, bibliography, and index. A smattering of small b&w photos support the text. Each volume is separately edited, and the contributors are generally academics and writers based in the region.
  —Art Book News Annual January 2006
• The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures will find a useful ... place in reference collections...
  —Reference Reviews March 2006
• While some American regions are served by far more exhaustive encyclopedias, these standardized volumes will make regional studies accessible to high school and undergraduate audiences. Each essay provides a list of related print, video, and Web resources. Numerous illustrations and sidebars highlight historical figures, events, festivals and even recipes. Every volume is separately indexed and includes a regional chronology plus a selective general bibliography. The set will serve high school, public and academic libraries.
  —Lawrence Looks at Books July 2005
• This set is an exhaustive resource concerning an under-represented area of study. There are many books on the market about the individual states but few that present the cultural specifics of our nation's unique regions....[t]he information presented is excellent.
  —Library Media Connection October 2005
• This reference set provides an extremely comprehensive collection of historical and cultural knowledge for the variety of regional influences in the United States. The overall organization of each regional volume is consistent and makes navigation fast and simple....This reference set will be a great source for students in grade seven and up, especially for schools and public libraries where states and cultural heritage assignments are frequent and curriculum support is needed.
  —VOYA June 2005
• The scholarly tone of this encyclopedia makes it appropriate for academic and large public libraries. Since it was designed with the National Standards for United States History and the Curriculum Standards for Social Studies, it can be assumed that the publisher has intended this for the high-school market as well. These volumes are both informative and entertaining, useful to the researcher and the pleasure reader as well.
  —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin April 15, 2005
• College-level collections serious about their American cultural or history holdings would do well to consider the Encyclopedia of American Regional Studies....Each book is almost 500 pages in length and features research in the areas of ethnicity, fashion, food, language, literature, music and the arts, religion, folklore and more. An introductory essay provides the overview, with timelines, charts, a bibliography and more packing each book with all the appropriate material for reference and reports. While black and white photos pepper each, the meat of each book lies in its detailed reports and analysis of what makes each regional American culture unique. A highly recommended, indispensable 'must' for any college-level collection strong in American regional studies.
  —MBR Bookwatch/Donovan's Bookshelf April 2005

• Endorsement From William Ferris
  University of North Carolina
  Former Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities: Region inspires and grounds the American experience. Because Americans are so deeply immersed in their sense of place, we use region like a compass to provide direction as we negotiate our lives. The growing importance of regional studies within the academy is an understandable and appropriate response to the need Americans feel to understand the places in which they live. Such study empowers the individual, their community, and their region through a deeper engagement with the American experience. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures provides an exciting, comprehensive view of our nation's regions. Together these volumes offer a refreshing, new view of America's regions as they stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific.