Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Thomas, George Henry

(Encyclopedia)Thomas, George Henry, 1816–70, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Southampton co., Va. He served in the Seminole War and in the Mexican War. Later he taught at West Point and served in Texa...

Rush-Bagot Convention

(Encyclopedia)Rush-Bagot Convention rŭsh-băgˈət [key], 1817, agreement between the United States and Great Britain concerning the Canadian border. It consisted of the exchange of notes signed by Richard Rush, A...

Interior, United States Department of the

(Encyclopedia)Interior, United States Department of the, federal executive department established in 1849, delegated custodian of U.S. natural resources, and whose head, the Secretary of the Interior, has cabinet r...

Rogers, James Gamble

(Encyclopedia)Rogers, James Gamble, 1867–1947, American architect, b. Kentucky. He designed many buildings for Yale, his alma mater. Among them are the Sterling Memorial Library, the Sterling School of Graduate S...

Cobb, Irvin Shrewsbury

(Encyclopedia)Cobb, Irvin Shrewsbury, 1876–1944, American author, b. Paducah, Ky. He was a noted New York humorist and columnist. Although he wrote over 60 books, Cobb is best known for his humorous stories of Ke...

yodel

(Encyclopedia)yodel or yodle both: yōˈdəl [key], type of wordless singing, joyous in nature, usually associated with the Swiss. It is, in fact, practiced throughout the Alps and, as an importation, in the mounta...

Defense, United States Department of

(Encyclopedia)Defense, United States Department of, executive department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to nationa...

Air Force, United States Department of the

(Encyclopedia)Air Force, United States Department of the, military department within the U.S. Dept. of Defense (see Defense, United States Department of). The Air Force traces its roots to the founding of the Aeron...

Harrison, Benjamin, President of the United States

(Encyclopedia)Harrison, Benjamin, 1833–1901, 23d President of the United States (1889–93), b. North Bend, Ohio, grad. Miami Univ. (Ohio), 1852; grandson of William Henry Harrison. After reading law in Cincinnat...

Owensboro

(Encyclopedia)Owensboro, city (1990 pop. 53,549), seat of Daviess co., W Ky., on the Ohio River; settled c.1800, inc. as a city 1866. It is an important tobacco market and a shipping point for a farm and oil region...