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Chosen by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title of
2002.
Choice
American Reference
Books Annual 2002
Midwest Book Review
Review from: Choice, January 2002
For readers unfamiliar with the "First
Facts" series, this title will seem like a long list of numerical
entries, but the compilers have created a useful reference source of more
than 4,000 entries on important "firsts" that occurred in US
political history. Entries are organized under main categories and
subcategories arranged alphabetically (e.g., "Presidents,"
"Presidents-Assassinations"). Within each category, the
compilers arrange entries chronologically. Topics cover the full spectrum
of US political history, 16th century to the present. Entries include such
events as the first time "Uncle Sam" appeared as a reference to
the US or the first year an issue such as abortion was mentioned in the
national platforms of political parties. The authors assign every entry a
four-digit sequential number that enables them to create five indexes by
subject, year, month/day, personal name, and geographic area, allowing
readers to access information in various ways--e.g., the month/day index
enables users to view all the political firsts for a particular date.
Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries. –E. S.
Danowitz, American University
Review
from: American
Reference Books Annual 2002
Famous First Facts About American Politics
follows the formula that has made the Famous First Facts series a staple
in reference collections since 1933. The authors have compiled more than
4,000 firsts related to American politics. In this work, “politics” is
broadly defined to include such seemingly nonpolitical facts as the first
“First Lady to write a book published by a commercial publisher”
(Helen Herron Taft) and the first “City to own a National Football
League franchise” (Green Bay, Wisconsin). Most entries, however, fit a
more traditional definition of politics, covering topics such as elected
and appointed officials, government at all levels, courts, legislation,
and political parties. Entries begin in 1507 with the first “use of ‘America’
as a geographical designation” and continue through 2000. The facts in
this book are arranged within broad alphabetic subject groupings,
beginning with “American Revolution” and ending with “White House”
and are easily accessible though five separate indexes: subject, year,
month and day, personal name, and geographical.
Much of the information compiled is available in
almanacs, encyclopedias, and other ready-reference sources, but it is
handy to have all of the "firsts” available in a single place.
Although there is some duplication of entries from the 5th edition of Famous
First Facts (see ARBA 99, entry 46), the vast majority of entries are
unique to this work. It is recommended for all reference collections.
Review from: Midwest Book Review
from Oregon, WI
USA
A vast compendium of useful reference materials,
Famous First Facts About American Politics is the latest in the venerable
Wilson Facts Series. With an introduction that clearly explains how
to best find and make use of the political facts you need, and five
different indexes (there is a separate index by subject, years, month/day,
personal names, and geography), Famous First Facts About American Politics
is the perfect book for someone who needs to look up something about
American politics without a second to spare. Highly recommended for
political writers, columnists, debaters, and anyone else charged with
research under a tight deadline (which also aptly describes just
about everyone involved in American politics), Famous First Facts
About American Politics is a strongly recommended, core title for
academic and public library American political science reference
collections.
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