State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide [Hardcover]

Benjamin F. Shearer (Author), Barbara Smith Shearer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0313288623 | ISBN-13: 978-0313288623 | Edition: 2nd

This reference source for information about state symbols has been revised and updated. It doubles the coverage of the original 1987 volume. Four new chapters cover such topics as state and territory fairs, festivals and legal holidays.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This update of an excellent source originally published in 1987 boasts 14 chapters, four of which are new, and extends coverage to the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Chapters on mottoes, flowers, trees, birds, songs, holidays, and license plates are just a sampling of what is covered, and the format is such that the concisely written material can be found as expeditiously as possible. Even though the book is touted predominantly as a reference tool, the information provided makes fascinating and enlightening reading for anyone wishing to peruse independent sections at leisure. However, those who read all the information provided on one state will gain much insight into its history. The scope of the coverage, the obvious extent of research, and the book's long shelf life justify the price. A useful addition to any library, this book will appeal to a broad range of users.
Jo-Anne Mary Benson, Osgoode, Ontario
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The title hardly indicates the full scope of this greatly expanded second edition. New chapters cover legal holidays and observances, automobile license plates, festivals and fairs, and U.S. postage stamps issued in honor of states and territories. Chapters from the 1987 edition on names and nicknames, mottoes, seals, flags, capitols, flowers, and other topics have in many cases been revised or expanded. The result is a book nearly double the length of the first edition (but still shorter than George Shankle's 1951 State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols, upon which the first edition was based). U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia are now covered in addition to the 50 states. In most cases, not merely listings, but useful explanations are provided; the 30-page chapter on birds, for instance, provides information on size, range, physical description, and behavior comparable in coverage to that found in the standard field guides.

Other features make this a valuable reference. A 32-page four-color insert has illustrations of all state and territory symbols, seals, flags, flowers, trees, birds, automobile licenses plates, and selected commemorative stamps. The previous edition contained a 20-page color insert showing seals, flags, flowers, trees, and birds. Ample source notes at the end of chapters and a selected bibliography of state and territory histories provide excellent documentation. A detailed index follows.

Upper elementary and secondary school students would probably constitute the greatest audience for this work, but due to the difficulty of finding so much information on these topics in any other single source, public and academic libraries will be interested, too.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 482 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press; 2nd edition (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313288623
• ISBN-13: 978-0313288623
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,959,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference book for state names, etc., October 24, 2008

By 

Deborah A. Wagner "I Teach13" (Jersey Shore, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols (Hardcover)

Great resource for students who are doing state projects. A must have in every upper elementary classroom.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For looking up anything state-related!, March 17, 2002

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols (Hardcover)

Collaborative written by Benjamin and Barbara Shearer, and now available in an updated and expanded third edition, State Names, Seals, Flags, And Symbols: A Historical Guide is a comprehensive, authoritative, superbly presented reference on everything from American state legal holidays, fairs, and festivals to individual state capitols and mottoes. With a full-color section featuring illustrations of every state's seal, flag, flower, tree, bird, commemorative postage stamp and license plate, State Names, Seals, Flags, And Symbols is a first-rate, highly recommended reference for looking up anything state-related!