United States Capitol Building ca. 1846.

The Reader's Companion to American History is an excellent one volume encyclopedia of our nation's history. With contributions from nearly 400 historians, scholars, and biographers, this volume explores the history of the United States from social, political, economic, and cultural perspectives. Alphabetically arranged, the entries provide information on key events such as The Boston Tea party and The Dred Scott decision as well as biographies of over 400 Americans from all walks of life. For example, while readers will find George Washington, they will also find Rachel Carson, the writer, biologist, and environmentalist.

What gives The Reader's Companion to American History its depth are the many interpretative essays that cover broad topics such as the Feminist Movement and advertising. These essays provide an excellent backdrop to many of the events and biographies that have been highlighted within this book. Cross references and a brief bibliography are also provided at the end of each entry, directing the reader to additional information.

Edited by noted historians Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, The Reader's Companion to American History is an encyclopedia that can be read not only for scholarly purposes but also for enjoyment.

The Reader's Companion to American History is located on the first floor in the Library's reference section at call number Ref. E 174.R43.

Among the several books that the library has by Eric Foner, The Story of American Freedom (E179 .F69 1998), A Short History of Reconstruction, 1863-1877 (E668 .F662 1990), and Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men: the Ideology of the Republican Party Before the Civil War (E 436 .F6 1970) could be considered his best. For John A. Garraty, the Library has Interpreting American History; Conversations With Historians (E178.6 .G27), The American Nation; A History of the United States (E178.1 .G24 v. 1-2), and American National Biography (Ref.E176 .A45 1999 v. 1-24), for which he was an editor.

This month's Spotlight was written by Jonathan Coe.

Image credit: Library of Congress