The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis
This extensive work, a comprehensive and detailed study of the city of Indianapolis and its immediate environs, examines the culture, history, economics, and significant personalities of this industrial hub, which grew in importance to the nation throughout its history. In traditional alphabetical arrangement, over 2200 signed articles (with primary sources frequently cited as well) give the user a variety and depth of information that might well become the model for other such efforts. Little-known facts spice the volume, such as John Muir's choosing Indianapolis as his home owing to its hardwood forests. The unfortunate lack of cross references and the placement of entries under arguable alphabetical choices (e.g., music, 19th century; classical music) compromise the quick-reference value of this work, but these drawbacks are easily balanced by the breadth and authority of the articles. Indiana libraries will definitely want this, as will larger U.S. city and state collections.Bruce Alan Hanson, Wayzata East J.H.S. Lib., Minn.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.