The Encyclopedia of New York State - by Peter Eisenstadt (Hardcover)

About the Book

Lavishly illustrated with 500 photographs and figures, 120 maps, and 140 tables, this volume captures the impressive complexity of New York State as a historic crossroads of people and ideas.

Book Synopsis

The Encyclopedia of New York State is one of the most complete works on the Empire State to be published in a half-century. In nearly 2,000 pages and 4,000 signed entries, this single volume captures the impressive complexity of New York State as a historic crossroads of people and ideas, as a cradle of abolitionism and feminism, and as an apex of modern urban, suburban, and rural life. The Encyclopedia is packed with fascinating details from fields ranging from sociology and geography to history. Did you know that Manhattan's Lower East Side was once the most populated neighborhood in the world, but Hamilton County in the Adirondacks is the least densely populated county east of the Mississippi; New York is the only state to border both the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean; the Erie Canal opened New York City to rich farmland upstate . . . and to the west. Entries by experts chronicle New York's varied areas, politics, and persuasions with a cornucopia of subjects from environmentalism to higher education to railroads, weaving the state's diverse regions and peoples into one idea of New York State.

Lavishly illustrated with 500 photographs and figures, 120 maps, and 140 tables, the Encyclopedia is key to understanding the state's past, present, and future. It is a crucial reference for students, teachers, historians, and business people, for New Yorkers of all persuasions, and for anyone interested in finding out more about New York State.

Review Quotes

[A] powerhouse of a book. . . . A superlative service to scholars and citizens, and to New York State, and a model for all states still needing to meet the twenty-first century's information thirst. A stunning achievement.-- "ForeWord Magazine"

Achieving a rare standard of excellence, this encyclopedia contains a wealth of knowledge about the history, culture, politics, sports, flora, fauna, geography, industry, agriculture, and people of this large and diverse state. The entries, written by over 1,200 specialists, are of sufficient length and depth to provide a full sense of the topic's history and importance. The editors have succeeded admirably in maintaining clear guidelines so that entries pertain to the state of New York and do not encompass too broad of a scope-- "Book News Inc."

The contributors and editors have done an excellent job. . . . There is a specificity and depth to the writing that is not often found in a subject encyclopedia. The index is an excellent finding aid for subjects that do not have an entry. . . . This ambitious project is a definite success. . . . Recommended for academic and large public libraries in contiguous states and any library that has former or prospective New Yorkers.-- "Booklist"

This remarkable resource provides comprehensive coverage of New York State and includes information on local history, politics, culture, religion and geography. . . . With entries as electric as curling, mining, egg creams, Rod Serling, spiedie sauce, interstate highways, jazz, Indian reservations, beer and department stores; the editors have succeeded in including every aspect of this diverse state. . . . This encyclopedia is highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries that support the study of New York in their collections.-- "Reference Review"

About the Author

Peter Eisenstadt served as managing editor of The Encyclopedia of New York City and The Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. He is the author of several books on New York State history.

Laura-Eve Moss specializes in the political and constitutional history of New York State. She is the editor of The Papers of Andrew Jackson.