The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia (Midwestern History and Culture)

This first-ever encyclopedia of the Midwest seeks to embrace this large and diverse area, to give it voice, and help define its distinctive character. Organized by topic, it encourages readers to reflect upon the region as a whole. Each section moves from the general to the specific, covering broad themes in longer introductory essays, filling in the details in the shorter entries that follow. There are portraits of each of the region’s twelve states, followed by entries on society and culture, community and social life, economy and technology, and public life. The book offers a wealth of information about the region’s surprising ethnic diversity—a vast array of foods, languages, styles, religions, and customs—plus well-informed essays on the region’s history, culture and values, and conflicts. A site of ideas and innovations, reforms and revivals, and social and physical extremes, the Midwest emerges as a place of great complexity, signal importance, and continual fascination. The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia Seeks To Embrace This Large And Diverse Area, To Give It Voice, And Help Define Its Complex, Yet Distinctive Character. Organized By Topic, The Encyclopedia Encourages Readers To Reflect Upon The Region As A Whole. Each Section Moves From The General To The Specific, Covering Broad Themes In Longer Introductory Essays, Filling In The Details In The Shorter Entries That Follow. There Are Portraits Of The Region's Twelve States, Their Geography And People: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, And Wisconsin. These Are Followed By Entries On Society And Culture, Community And Social Life, Economy And Technology, And Public Life. Even If You Are A Casual Browser, You Will Discover In The Encyclopedia Facts That Will Engage, Inform, And Enlighten. It Will Introduce You To The Region's Ethnic Diversity, Its Vast Array Of Foods, Languages, Styles, Religions, And Customs. You'll Discover Somalis In Ohio, Hmong In Wisconsin, Hispanics In Iowa, And Muslims In Michigan. You'll Find Research On The History Of The Region, Its Culture And Values, And Its Conflicts.--jacket. General Overview -- Landscapes And People -- Portraits Of The Twelve States -- Images Of The Midwest -- Geography -- Peoples -- Society And Culture -- Language -- Folklore -- Literature -- Arts -- Cultural Institutions -- Religion -- Education -- Sports And Recreation -- Media And Entertainment -- Community And Social Life -- Rural Life -- Small-town Life -- Urban And Suburban Life -- Economy And Technology -- Labor Movements And Working-class Culture -- Transportation -- Science And Technology -- Health And Medicine -- Public Life -- Constitutional And Legal Culture -- Politics -- Military Affairs. General Editors, Richard Sisson, Christian Zacher, Andrew Cayton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes portraits of each of the region's twelve states, followed by entries on society and culture, community and social life, economy and technology, and public life. Essays and entries portray and analyze the ways in which Midwesterners have historically lived and thought