Given the relative paucity of materials on this topic, especially the lack of any other biographical guide to Americans in Africa, and the fact that this information was assembled from widely scattered sources, this book should prove useful in larger collections. Library Journal
Preface Place Names Chronology Introduction The Dictionary Chiefs of American Diplomatic Missions in Africa, 1863-1986 List of Individuals by Profession and Occupation Bibliographical Essay Index
DAVID SHAVIT is Associate Professor of Library and Information Studies at Northern Illinois University. He is the author of The Politics of Public Librarianship (Greenwood, 1986) and The United States in the Middle East: A Historical Dictionary (Greenwood Press, 1988). His articles have appeared in such journals as The Journal of Library History, Library Journal, and Public Library Quarterly.
?Shavit is also the author of The United States in the Middle East:
A Historical Dictionary. The work under review aims to be something
more than a biographical dictionary of missionaries, academics,
artists, leaders, diplomats, educators, soldiers, engineers, etc.
(dead and alive), who established relationships between the US and
Africa. The entries include information on institutions,
organizations, business firms, even ships that were involved in
these contacts . . . recommended for most libraries.?-Choice
?The more than 700 entries in this volume are mostly for individual
Americans who have been to Africa and left behind either a
publication or manuscript papers. Institutions and events are also
covered. The author, an experienced compiler of reference works,
recently completed a companion volume on the United States in the
Middle East. That probably explains why Northern Africa (but not
the Azores) are excluded from the volume under review. Missionaries
account for about one-third of the references, with diplomats and
authors trailing far behind. Among the modern scholars included,
one finds many anthropologists but very few historians or political
scientists. Perhaps a third of the entries will not be found in
other biographical directories. The author did a fine job
extracting data on minor figures from manuscript collections,
apparently having made good use of various directories. The author
had hoped to be comprehensive, but selectivity became necessary and
specialists will find significant omissions. Entries are well
written and end with references to further information. . . . The
bibliographical essay is quite good and current. . . .?-African
Studies Review
?This book lists over 700 people, events, and organizations that
have affected U.S.-African relations, although the emphasis is
definitely on people, especially anyone who left any sort of
written or visual record of his or her encounter with Africa, no
matter how seemingly trivial it may have been. Also appended is a
list of chiefs of American diplomatic missions in Africa, a brief
bibliographical essay, and an index to individuals by profession or
occupation. Given the relative paucity of materials on this topic,
especially the lack of any other biographical guide to Americans in
Africa, and the fact that this information was assembled from
widely scattered sources, this book should prove useful in larger
collections.?-Library Journal
"Shavit is also the author of The United States in the Middle East:
A Historical Dictionary. The work under review aims to be something
more than a biographical dictionary of missionaries, academics,
artists, leaders, diplomats, educators, soldiers, engineers, etc.
(dead and alive), who established relationships between the US and
Africa. The entries include information on institutions,
organizations, business firms, even ships that were involved in
these contacts . . . recommended for most libraries."-Choice
"This book lists over 700 people, events, and organizations that
have affected U.S.-African relations, although the emphasis is
definitely on people, especially anyone who left any sort of
written or visual record of his or her encounter with Africa, no
matter how seemingly trivial it may have been. Also appended is a
list of chiefs of American diplomatic missions in Africa, a brief
bibliographical essay, and an index to individuals by profession or
occupation. Given the relative paucity of materials on this topic,
especially the lack of any other biographical guide to Americans in
Africa, and the fact that this information was assembled from
widely scattered sources, this book should prove useful in larger
collections."-Library Journal
"The more than 700 entries in this volume are mostly for individual
Americans who have been to Africa and left behind either a
publication or manuscript papers. Institutions and events are also
covered. The author, an experienced compiler of reference works,
recently completed a companion volume on the United States in the
Middle East. That probably explains why Northern Africa (but not
the Azores) are excluded from the volume under review. Missionaries
account for about one-third of the references, with diplomats and
authors trailing far behind. Among the modern scholars included,
one finds many anthropologists but very few historians or political
scientists. Perhaps a third of the entries will not be found in
other biographical directories. The author did a fine job
extracting data on minor figures from manuscript collections,
apparently having made good use of various directories. The author
had hoped to be comprehensive, but selectivity became necessary and
specialists will find significant omissions. Entries are well
written and end with references to further information. . . . The
bibliographical essay is quite good and current. . . ."-African
Studies Review
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