Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Ride, Sally Kristen

(Encyclopedia)Ride, Sally Kristen 1951–2012, American astrophysicist and astronaut, b. Encino, Calif. With an M.A. in physics (1975) and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Stanford Univ., she joined NASA in 1978, where...

Hemings, Sally

(Encyclopedia)Hemings, Sally, 1773–1835, African-American slave owned by Thomas Jefferson, b. Charles City co., Va.; her original name was probably Sarah. Her father was John Wayles, Jefferson's father-in-law; he...

Mann, Sally

(Encyclopedia)Mann, Sally, 1951–, American photographer, b. Lexington, Va., as Sally Munger, studied Bennington College, Hollins College (B.A. 1974, M.A. 1975). Interested in older photographic techniques, Mann u...

Narayan, R. K.

(Encyclopedia)Narayan, R. K. (Rasipuram Krishnaswami Narayan) nərīˈyän [key], 1906–2001, Indian novelist, b. Madras (now Chennai). Narayan, who wrote in English, published his first novel, Swami and Friends, ...

Narayanan, K. R.

(Encyclopedia)Narayanan, K. R. (Raman Kocheril Narayanan) näräyänänˈ [key], 1921–2005, Indian government official. An “untouchable” or Dalit (see Harijans), he nonetheless graduated from the Univ. of Tra...

Dick, Philip K.

(Encyclopedia)Dick, Philip K. (Philip Kindred Dick), 1928–82, American science-fiction writer, b. Chicago. Dick often wrote of the psychological states of individuals caught in altered realities where the everyda...

Oli, K. P. Sharma

(Encyclopedia)Oli, K. P. Sharma (Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli), 1952–, Nepalese political leader. Opposed to the antidemocratic Nepalese monarchy, he joined the Nepal Communist party (1970), was arrested on charges o...

Fisher, M. F. K.

(Encyclopedia)Fisher, M. F. K. (Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher), 1908–92, American culinary writer, b. Albion, Mich. Raised in California, Fisher lived in France for three years, where she was inspired by Brillat-Sa...

Rowling, J. K.

(Encyclopedia)Rowling, J. K. (Joanne Kathleen Rowling) rōlˈibreve;ing [key], 1965–, English author known for her popular children's books. While unemployed she completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone...

Browse by Subject