Almanac of Anniversaries - Hardcover

Grade 8 Up-- A straightforward guide to significant occasions, organized by impending important milestones between the years 1993-2001. While the United States is the focus, people and events from elsewhere in the world that "literate Americans might acknowledge as having an important influence on subsequent generations" are included. Additional material in sidebars ranges from the foundings of museums, zoos, and business organizations to the release of popular movies. A sampling of 1993 entries includes: the death of Senator Robert Kennedy (25 years ago), the discovery of streptomycin (50 years ago), the construction of the hydrofoil by Alexander Graham Bell (75 years ago), the use of the word millionaire for the first time (150 years ago), and the arrival of the first horses in the New World (500 years ago). Useful for those who maintain calendar displays, trivia quizzes, and time lines, and for all those potential promoters among us.
- Mary H. Cole, Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School, Brooklyn
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This is an interesting and useful concept for anyone wanting to plan a theme party or a happening or even for a journalist looking for filler. The years covered are 1993-2001. The anniversaries are the "big" ones, presented in 20-year increments for the first 100 years and in 50-year increments from 100 to 500 years. Each anniversary year has sections that include founding dates of organizations (private and public); popular books, music, etc., of the time; and a few famous birth and death notes. Each year also contains a chronological list of the major events by day of the month (a kind of "famous firsts" list). This is a quasi-reference book somewhat like The People's Almanac or the Book of Lists. Given its price, it is unlikely that any library can afford more than one copy to be kept in reference. The publication of a paperback copy for circulating collections would have been a good idea. Indexes not seen.
- Paula M. Zieselman, Fulbright & Jaworski, New York
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.