Featuring more than 80 new entries and hundreds of updates, this second edition of the classic Encyclopedia of American Biography (EAB) is the only in-depth, single volume resource of its kind. Comprehensive in scope and meticulous in detail, it examines more than 1,000 great Americans who have contributed to the historical and cultural richness of the American scene - from the earliest explorers to those making headlines today.

Each entry is comprised of two parts. The first, the objective section, outlines all the notable facts, dates, and events of the figure's career. The second part is a subjective essay written by a prominent scholar or authority who specializes in the biography in question. This section fills in the gaps left by facts alone - it evaluates and puts into context the subject's contributions to American life and thinking, and it discusses his or her style and personality, helping to bring the facts to life.