The American Book of Days Stephen G. Christianson

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The American Book of DaysStephen G. Christianson

• Library 150
• Reference 300s
• Winter 2003
• Holly Maxim

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? Call Number Citation ?
Call . R394.26973 The American book of days /
Stephen G. Christianson. 4th ed.
New York H.W. Wilson, 2000. xxvi, 945 p. ill.
, ports. 26 cm. Includes Index. ISBN 0-8242-
0954-0. Notes Rev. ed. of The American b
ook of days / compiled and edited by Jane M.
Hatch. 3rd ed. 1978. Additional Authors Hatch, J
ane M. American book of days. (Found in preface
.)
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? Reviews ?
Booknews First published in 1937, this volume pre
sents some 850 brief essays marking important
legislative, historical, religious, cultural, and
other anniversaries and the birthdays of
significant individuals throughout the 366 days
of the year (including February 29th). New essays
cover important events that have occurred since
the publication of the last edition in 1978.
Older articles have been extensively rewritten,
with less emphasis on local festivities and more
attention to the diversity of US heritage.
Organized by day and month, with moveable events
included (for example, those based on the day of
the week rather than the date), each event is
described and explored, often with genuinely
fascinating details that are important but often
overlooked. Includes both well-known and truly
obscure commemorations. Appendices contain
historical information as well as
cross-referencing, an extensive index, and some
100 photographs and illustrations. Annotation c.
Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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? Reviews ?
The Booklist The previous edition of The
American Book of Days was published in 1978, so
an update was overdue. . . Generally, there are
at least two events listed for each day, for a
total of more than 1,000 entries. Treatment
ranges in length from one-half, for the founding
of the Boy Scouts of America, to almost four
pages, for the beginning of the Civil War. New
events added since the third edition include the
explosion of Space Shuttle Challenger, the
beginning of Operation Desert Storm, the
birthdays of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill
Gates, the attack on the Branch Davidian Compound
in Waco, Texas, and the bombing of the Alfred P
Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City (both of
which occurred on April 19). Some entries have
been updated. Chicago Apr 1, 2001 Mary Ellen
Quinn
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This Day In American History. Rev. ed. By Ernie
Gross. 2001. 342p. index. McFarland, 55
Many of the same events are documented in the re
vised edition of Gross' This Day in American
History, which is also arranged month by month
and then day by day. . . Instead of the extended
treatment found in The American Book of Days,
entries are just a sentence or two in length. But
what Gross lacks in depth he makes up in numbers.
. . Libraries that have found the previous
editions useful will want both these updates. The
American Book of Days is more helpful if one
needs background information on holidays and
observances, while Gross is the better quick
"what happened when" source. Booklist, Chicago
Apr 1, 2001 Mary Ellen Quinn
? Comparisons ?
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? Arrangement Chronological ?

• By month, with each chapter offering an
  introduction that covers the derivation of the
  month's name and its significance throughout
  history.
• Followed by a day-by-day survey of important
  anniversaries, celebrations, and movable feasts.
  
• New appendixes contain the texts of documents
  such as the Constitution and the Declaration of
  Independence other appendixes cover the days of
  the week, the signs of the zodiac, and more.

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? Indexing ?

• Cross-referencing Index
• For great navigation, essential for reference
  usage.
  
• This extensive reference allows themes to be
  traced throughout several articles.

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• The scope of this work is primarily historic, and
  specifically American. However, Christianson has
  enhanced this information with flourishes of
  ancient reference like
• how the names of the days of the week evolved
• a brief history of the calendar
• is gives background and relevance in the larger
  scheme of western history, and makes the material
  appear to be broader than just American History.

? Scope ?
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? Currency ?
A Distinguished tradition Book of Days was first
published in 1937 by George W. Douglas. His
daughter, Helen Douglas Compton, took on the
project of editing the second edition, appearing
in 1948. The third edition was edited by Jane M.
Hatch in 1978. Stephen G.Christianson counts it a
privilege to be the fourth edition editor and
has taken great care with detail and hopes the
tradition will continue for many more editions.
I found it to be a useful reference and the
layout made more difficult material accessible
for the average reader.
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? Intended Purpose ?
? Format ?

• Christianson states a two-fold purpose in his
  Preface
  
• To inform the reader of the most important events
  in American history.
  
• To apprise the student or researcher of
  significant events that occurred before 1978 but
  were not included in the third edition like
  Malcom X.

• Book of Days only comes in hardback format. Here
  is a wide cost range
  
• New 120 from H.W.Wilson
• New 95.00 from Barnes and Noble online
• Used 65.00 Powells City of Books

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• Book of Days is loaded with features
• List of Days Events acts as Table of
  Contents
  
• Note on Movable Feasts
• Appendix A The Calendar
• Appendix B The Era
• Appendix C Days of the Week
• Appendix D Signs of the Zodiac
• Appendix E U.S. Constitution
• Appendix F Declaration of Independence
• Appendix G Articles of Confederation
• Appendix H Mayflower Compact
• Appendix I Important Public Holidays Events

? Special Features ?
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H. W. Wilson is well known for its reference
publishing and contribution to Libraries
everywhere. They are know for giving out the
prestigious award, the John Cotton Dana Award,
honoring outstanding library public relations.
As a bookseller looking to stock available titl
es, Wilson faced tedious searches through
publishers' catalogs several times a year. But he
had a better idea. He decided to publish a ca
talog of new books that would remain current
throughout the year by combining new entries with
old type, merged in a single alphabet, in monthly
issues. To save the cost of resetting type,
Wilson would store and file the old type and
combine it with the new for the cumulated
numbers. It was a revolutionary idea. -from the
History of H.W. Wilson, www.hwwilson.com
? Authority ?
"The name Halsey William Wilson is to
bibliography what Webster is to dictionaries,
Bartlett to quotations."
The Saturday Review
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? My Thoughts Improvements ?
I think this book ought to be published in a much
less expensive format, like CD COM, and be
encouraged to be purchased and in the homes of
most Americans. When it comes to Information
literacy, Americans of all ages are in trouble.
It is no secret that Americans lack basic
knowledge about the United States. Citizens in
other nations often know more than Americans
about their own country. I grew up in a home
that provided me and my siblings with
encyclopedias and the OED. This handy reference
would have fit neatly into our collection. I
couldnt stop reading!
CHOICE, March 2001 .. the book might be improved
by listing without essays additional birth dates
and events important to US history that occurred
on the 366 days. . .W.P. Hogan, Eastern
Michigan Univ.
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? Reference Usage ?
CHOICE, March 2001 ..Days is unique in presentin
g basic US history and popular culture by day of
occurrence. Since the events and birth dates
chosen are highly selective, the book might be
improved by listing without essays additional
birth dates and events important to US history
that occurred on the 366 days. Probably most
valuable for school, community collage, and
undergraduate libraries. W.P. Hogan, Eastern
Michigan Univ.
Most valuable for school, community college, and
undergraduate libraries.
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? Google Jeeves ?

• I found all of this material in other places, and
  in more depth. The example questions I used on
  Ask Jeeves and Google were
  
• What is the difference between the Gregorian
  Calendar and the Julian Calendar?
  
• What is a Movable Feast?

The value of this volume is that it is a quick
reference and can give you a starting point in
your search.
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? Finé ?