Timelines & Chronologies - United States, United States History - Reference, Presidents of the United States - Biography

American Presidents

Name: American Presidents
Author: year
ISBN: 9780765680464

by year

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Overview

This three-volume reference offers an unusual approach to history. In a brief introduction, which is included in each volume, Nelson (whose credentials are not stated) enthusiastically explains his interest in presenting snapshot-like profiles of each year, beginning with 1732 and ending with 2000. For each, narrative entries describe what was happening in terms of the administration's activities as well as what was happening in the lives and careers of former presidents, and of future presidents. Entries range in length from a single line (e.g. "Ulysses S. Grant, 2, was an infant in Ohio") to many paragraphs. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Editorials

Library Journal

Historian Nelson presents an interesting time line, 1732 to 2000, of the lives of American Presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. Readable and engaging, the short descriptive biographical entries portray what the current, former, and future Presidents did in a given year. For example, in 1888, when Grover Cleveland was President, Rutherford B. Hayes was the only living former President and six-year-old Franklin Delano Roosevelt and four-year-old Harry Truman were among the future Presidents. Volume 1 opens with George Washington's birth in 1732; Volume 2 spans 1861-1932; and Volume 3 covers 1933-2000. Each volume contains illustrations and an extensive name and subject index. This resource works well if the reader wants to know who did what in a certain year. However, it is neither a quick reference nor an exploration into political and ideological issues. It lacks useful enhancements, e.g., a selective bibliography, a table giving in one location basic data such as the President's birth and death years, spouse and children's names, education and occupational background, party affiliation, political offices other than the presidency, etc. Libraries would do better to purchase solid, proven, standard references like Alan Brinkley's The Reader's Companion to the American Presidency or Joseph Kane's Facts About the Presidents.-Charles L. Lumpkins, Pennsylvania State Univ., College State Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Nelson's stated purpose is to provide "snapshots frozen in time" as he traces each man's path to the White House in yearly entries from 1732 to 2000. Side-by-side entries note "old man in retirement and a baby in his mother's arms," giving readers a unique picture of the lives of our presidents. There is no listing of the leaders and their terms. Each volume includes an extensive index and scattered, average-quality, black-and-white reproductions. No sources are cited, which is perhaps the set's most significant flaw. Nonetheless, this unique resource will be useful for students looking for information on our presidents and those who must report on the events of specific years.-Karen Sutherland, Bartlett Public Library, IL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.