Reviews and Praise for the ANB

From the Press ...

"With its coverage of people excluded from the [Dictionary of American Biography] and its updated treatment of many others, ANB is an essential addition to the reference collection of any large public and academic library, even if the library already has DAB on its shelves." -- RBB/Booklist

"Offers a single, authoritative, current resource of high quality ... [for] every academic and public library." -- Choice

"The most significant biographical set to be released in a number of years ... a vivid reminder of the richness of the American experience ... will become a standard." -- Against the Grain

"Although written to a high standard of scholarship, American National Biography is designed for the general reader. The writers and editors have sought to make each entry as clear as possible, yet have managed to do so without dumbing things down ... The range of subjects is truly dazzling ... Depth is not sacrificed to breadth ... an invaluable reference tool [that] is also likely to induce compulsive browsing." -- Merle Rubin, Wall Street Journal

"Not since putting a man on the Moon has an American organisation undertaken such an ambitious logistical project ... These volumes are an absorbing panorama of the long, colourful American parade ... the essays are well-written and entertaining [and] the pages are strewn with little nuggets ... its publication is indeed something to celebrate." -- Raymond Seitz, The [London] Sunday Times

"The editors have, in fact, set aside the older DAB and created an altogether new work ... Nearly 40 per cent of the figures in the new ANB—6,802 persons—did not appear in the original DAB or its supplements ... the design of the ANB’s editors to shorten the longer entries and lengthen the shorter ones was eminently wise ... Carl Becker’s article on Benjamin Franklin [in the DAB] remains a graciously written gem. Yet Leo Lemay’s essay on Franklin in the new ANB, though shorter, is more complete, more knowledgeable, and more historically accurate." -- Gordon S. Wood, Times Literary Supplement

"Provides a vibrant picture of our nation’s history as defined by the diversity of American life." -- Curriculum Administrator

"[The ANB] is best used serendipitously…whatever one’s good intentions, once one begins to read several hours slip by, and often do…[the books] could last a joyful lifetime. It is almost worth being dead to be in these pages." -- Financial Times

"Arguably the greatest work of cooperative scholarship ever attempted in this country. A monumental work that does much to present a more balanced portrait of the American people…ANB’s editors don’t gloss over controversial subject areas." -- Steve Neal, Chicago Sun-Times

And from Librarians ...

"Awarded since 1975, the Dartmouth Medal is given to the best reference work published or made available during the previous year ... American National Biography provides a comprehensive examination of the incredible diversity of the men and women who have in some way shaped the history of the United States ... Though published in the waning years of the 20th century, the American National Biography is a reference work for all times." -- Richard Bleiler, chair, Dartmouth Medal Committee, Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association

"It is just excellent. It really filled a need, not just for us here, but for the whole area. We are so impressed with the quality—it certainly lives up to the quality we expect from Oxford." -- Ian Nickerson, Thomas College, Thomasville, Georgia

"There was a junior high school student who needed information on a very obscure African-American woman [and] I thought, this will be the test—and she was [in ANB]. We were both so happy." -- Karen Imarisio, Bloomfield Township PL, Michigan

"Kids are using it a lot. They enjoy the diversity and inclusiveness." -- Phoebe McAlister, Rowlett High School, Texas

"It’s been a godsend to us. Students have found every person they have looked for. All the students, from sixth grade to high school, have been amazed. Since we’re such a small library, it is a great resource for us. It’s very complete and the indexes are perfect." -- Melissa Campbell, Plainville PL, Massachusetts

"I was pleased to find a substantial biography on someone who is rather obscure and difficult to get information on. There was also a very good bibliography. Very useful." -- Deborah Horowitz, Poughkeepskie PL, New York

"We get a good deal of use out of the ANB. It’s very readable and is used by everyone, from the fifth or sixth grade on up to adult. The right people are in it. Grade A!" -- Gail Landy, Heywood PL, Gardner, Massachusetts

"Librarians, teachers, and aides love it!" -- Linda Coleman, Dublin-Scioto PL, Ohio