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Lazarsfeld, Paul F.

(Encyclopedia)Lazarsfeld, Paul F. läˈzərsfĕltˌ [key], 1901–76, American sociologist, b. Vienna. After beginning as a mathematician, he established a research center for social psychology. Emigrating to the U...

Robinson, Jackie

(Encyclopedia)Robinson, Jackie (Jack Roosevelt Robinson), 1919–72, American baseball player, the first African-American player in the modern major leagues, b. Cairo, Ga. He grew up in Pasadena, Calif., where he b...

Virginia Military Institute

(Encyclopedia)Virginia Military Institute (VMI), at Lexington; state supported; chartered and opened 1839 as the first state military college in the United States. Although one of the leading U.S. military institut...

Brown, Helen Gurley

(Encyclopedia)Brown, Helen Gurley, 1922–2012, American writer and editor, b. Green Forest, Ark. A child of poverty, she became a successful advertising copywriter and wrote the best-selling Sex and the Single Gir...

bull-roarer

(Encyclopedia)bull-roarer, an instrument consisting of slit board or chamber attached to a cord. When swung around in the air, it emits a deep, vibrant, “whirrrrrr”-like sound. The mythology of some Native Sout...

Peterson, Martha

(Encyclopedia)Peterson, Martha, 1916–2006, American educator, b. Jamestown, Kans., grad. Univ. of Kansas (A.B., 1937; Ph.D., 1959). She served as instructor in mathematics, assistant dean of women, and dean of wo...

prostitution

(Encyclopedia)prostitution, act of granting sexual access for payment. Although most commonly conducted by females for males, it may be performed by females or males for either females or males. Prostitution in A...

Croly, Jane Cunningham

(Encyclopedia)Croly, Jane Cunningham krōˈlē [key], pseud. Jennie June, 1829–1901, American journalist and feminist, b. England. She came to the United States at the age of 12 and in 1857 married author and edi...

Greer, Germaine

(Encyclopedia)Greer, Germaine, 1939–, Australian feminist and writer. She moved to England (1964), studied at Cambridge (Ph.D, 1968), and taught (1967–73) at the Univ. of Warwick. Her book The Female Eunuch (19...