Go here for preview of articles The last time West Virginia had a comprehensive, one-volume encyclopedia was in 1929, but the West Virginia Humanities Council plans to remedy that. More than 70 years -- most of a lifetime -- have rolled by since that first Encyclopedia was published. The idea, as the editor wrote in his preface, was "to bring together in one volume a wealth of valuable information that can be found in no other place," and "to present this material in a condensed, readable, encyclopedic style." It was a good idea then, and it remains so today. The need for a solid one-stop West Virginia reference is at least as great now as it was when the first Encyclopedia was published in 1929. It is an exciting time in the Mountain State, a time of economic revival and renewed population growth. The demand for knowledge has never been more pressing than it is today, as West Virginians make their place in the Information Age. In November 1997 the Council embarked on a five-year project to produce a one-volume compendium of information about the Mountain State. The work includes essays on a wide array of topics. "I've thought for a long time that we needed a concise but comprehensive reference on the state," says Council director Ken Sullivan. "The Council proposes to fill this gap by publishing a new West Virginia Encyclopedia." The West Virginia Encyclopedia will be the latest of several distinguished encyclopedias to appear in recent years, as thoughtful Americans take stock of themselves and their heritage. The Kentucky Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture are among outstanding examples published within the last ten years. Both were bestsellers for their respective publishers, suggesting a keen interest in such books among the reading public. The West Virginia Encyclopedia will be an oversized hard-bound volume. A browser's delight, the book will include an estimated 2,200 entries, ranging in length from 200 to more than 2,000 words. These essays will address all aspects of our history, literature, biography, folklore, flora and fauna, industry, education, geology and geography, and Mountain State culture. The material will be arranged alphabetically, fully indexed and cross-referenced for easy use. Hundreds of writers have taken part as freelance contributors. The Encyclopedia will be illustrated with maps and approximately 350 black-and-white photographs. "The book will make a handsome gift -- a real keepsake volume of lasting value," says Sullivan. Sullivan is the editor-in-chief for the project with Debby Sonis acting as managing editor. Associate editors served as special consultants to the West Virginia Encyclopedia, including the distinguished West Virginia historian Otis Rice. back
to Encyclopedia Preview Opening |
