Encyclopedia of Immigration and Migration in the American West

Editor/Author: Bakken, Gordon Morris and Kindell, Alexandra
Publication Year: 2006
Publisher: Sage Publications

ISBN: 978-1-4129-0550-3
Category: social sciences
Image Count: 30
Book Status: Available

The Encyclopedia of Immigration and Migration in the American West provides much more than ethnic groups crossing the plains, landing at ports, or crossing borders; this work makes the history of the American West an important part of the American experience. Through sweeping entries, focused biographies, community histories, economic enterprise analysis, and demographic studies, the Encyclopedia presents the tapestry of the West and its population during various periods of migration.

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Encompassing most of the states west of the Mississippi, this encyclopedia offers many examples, primarily from the 19th and 20th centuries, of the interaction among varying people, landscapes, climates, natural resources, and events. Over 100 authors, mostly from educational institutions and museums, contributed to this work, which is edited by two professors from California State Univ.--Fullerton. Particular strengths reside in separate entries on Indian tribes and on the internal migrations of African Americans and women. The encyclopedia devotes less coverage to its urban sketches, which are presumably meant to be representative rather than comprehensive, and to its articles on European and Asian groups. Although Frisians, Basques, Italians, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans receive separate essays, information on Germans, Poles, Russians, Filipinos, and others must be gleaned, with the help of the index, from larger articles. Although the straightforward, noninterpretive entries will satisfy most readers, others might wish for more information (such as the origins of the names of several towns and the inclusion of other communities). Nevertheless, as the West is currently the fastest growing part of the US and arguably where the future of America lies, this is a noteworthy contribution to regional research that will be indispensable for area studies collections.
F. J. Augustyn Jr.
Library of Congress
Where does the American West begin? In this work it begins in North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas, and ends in Alaska and Hawaii. The "Americanization" of the West has been dominated by California, and the state continues its domination in this work, including the number of Californian contributors and subjects, starting with "African American Communities in California" and ending with "Yokuts" (a Central California Indian tribe). Nevertheless, it is an excellent reference work. Some 114 of the 230 entries (essays and articles) contain a suggested reading list, which are compiled into a 41-page list entitled "Appendix-Master Bibliography," duplicated at the end of each volume. A list of entries, a reader's guide, and a list of contributors (98) are published in the beginning of each volume. The majority of the contributors are historians affiliated with 41 institutions of higher education. A 51-page index is provided only at the end of the second volume. There are 114 see references in the list of entries and throughout each volume. There are also see also references following many entries.The coverage of western Indian tribes is impressive. Some enlightening, well-researched essays particularly enjoyed by this reviewer were "Okies," "Boyle Heights, California," and "Visalia, California." This 848-page encyclopedia is recommended for all reference collections.
J. Carlyle Parker
Librarian and Univ. Archivist Emeritus, Library, California State Univ., Turlock