Native American Women : A Biographical Dictionary (Biographical Dictionaries of Minority Women) [Library Binding]

Gretchen M. Bataille (Author), Laurie Lisa (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0824052676 | ISBN-13: 978-0824052676 | Publication Date: February 1, 1993 | Edition: 1

This A-Z reference contains 275 biographical entries on Native American women, past and present, from many different walks of life. Written by more than 70 contributors, most of whom are leading American Indian historians, the entries examine the complex and diverse roles of Native American women in contemporary and traditional cultures. This new edition contains 32 new entries and updated end-of-article bibliographies. Appendices list entries by area of woman's specialization, state of birth, and tribe; also includes photos and a comprehensive index.

--This text refers to an alternate Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Previously published by Garland in 1993, this biographical dictionary includes new entries and an updated bibliography for nearly 250 Native American women born between 1499 and 1965. More than 85 contributors researched tribes ranging from Abenaki to Zuni, with a preponderance of entries related to Cherokee and Sioux women. Alphabetically arranged by surname or the first word of a native name, this well-organized work features familiar historical figures (e.g., Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Woman Chief) and lesser-known contemporary women (e.g., medical illustrator Bonita Wa Wa Calachaw Nunez, linguist and MacArthur fellow Ofelia Zepeda, librarian and author Velma S. Salabiye, activist Shirley Hill Witt). Typical entries are concise and well referenced, with occasional high-quality illustrations. Appendixes organize names by decade of birth, state/province of birth, tribal affiliation, and primary areas of specialization, from activism to medicine to storytelling. The index is organized alphabetically by name, tribe, and related subject (e.g., Lewis and Clark expedition). Even libraries that already own A to Z of Native American Women (LJ 8/98) may wish to purchase this newer work because it features many more women, especially lesser-known contemporary women with interesting stories. Recommended for libraries collecting in women's history and/or Native American studies. Elizabeth Connor, Ross Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Commonwealth of Dominica
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This second edition of Native American Women is much enlarged over the first edition, published by Garland in 1993. As always with works by Bataille, who has been writing about native Americans for nearly 25 years, great attention has been paid to detail, and the list of contributors is a veritable who's who of persons working in the field of Native American studies.

The volume contains A-Z biographies of more than 270 women with diverse roles within their cultures, from fur trader Sally Ainse (c. 1728-1823) to lawyer Melody McCoy (1960-) and from traditional medicine practitioner Coocoochee (early 1740s-post 1800) to tribal leader Wilma Mankiller (1945-). Entries are generally less than a page in length and conclude with bibliographic references. The volume has four valuable appendixes: "Primary Areas of Specialization," "Decades of Birth," "State/Province of Birth," and "Tribal Affiliation." The index is a little slim and does not include many of the names and organizations mentioned within the entries. Less than one tenth of the entries have illustrations. The bibliography has citations for several new items published since 1993.

Overall, this volume is exceptional. It offers more than twice the entries of Liz Sonneborn's A to Z of Native American Women (Facts On File, 1998), although Sonneborn's entries are generally longer and include more illustrations. Recommended for academic libraries as well as public and high-school libraries that need a new resource in this area. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Library Binding edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 384 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (February 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824052676
• ISBN-13: 978-0824052676
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,304,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)