Preface

The Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Primary Documents was created as a companion to the award-winning Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Each ethnic group represented in Primary Documents has an essay in the second edition of Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. The 210 primary documents included in this book bring history to life by providing insight into key events as well as the everyday lives of 90 different cultures. Students and teachers of U.S. history, social studies, and literature will find this book an indispensable tool for research projects, time period exploration, and independent analysis and critical thinking about historical evidence.

SCOPE

Unlike many compilations of primary documents, the Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Primary Documents is not limited to one type of document, one group of people, or a small period of time. We have chosen almost 20 document types, including letters, poems, oral histories, autobiographies, political cartoons, recipes, speeches, and photographs. They represent 90 national, ethnoreligious, and Native American groups. The documents originated throughout the history of North America, from transcriptions of Native American legends—which date from long before European arrival—to periodical articles from 1999.

Each item was chosen for one of the following reasons: it expands upon an individual's American experience or the general immigrant/minority experience in America; or it records the treatment of an entire group. The 198 text documents average a little more than 2,000 words each. The graphical documents have been enlarged to nearly full-page size to maximize legibility. With the exception of articles from scholarly journals, the majority of documents were created by members of the group being highlighted.

FORMAT

The Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Primary Documents is arranged alphabetically by group name. When a group has more than one item, they appear chronologically from oldest to newest date of creation. A commentary of about 800 words introduces each document to provide historical, literary, and/or biographical context.

For more information on the group's experiences in the United States—specifically in the areas of acculturation and assimilation; family and community; language; religion; employment and economics; politics and government; and significant contributions to American society—please consult the second edition of the Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

More than 80 photographs, maps, and other illustrations provide visual cues to the groups and their experiences. A two-level general index follows the last document in the second volume. It cites specific documents by title as well as ethnic groups, concepts, people, and places.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have seen publication in as fine a form as it has without the intelligent guidance and unflagging persistence of Liz Shaw. See the separate "Credits" section for acknowledgment of the copyright holders when cooperation made this collection possible.

SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME

The editor welcomes your suggestions on any aspect of this work. Please mail comments and suggestions to: The Editor, Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America: Primary Documents, The Gale Group, 27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3535; call 1-800-877-GALE [8774253]; fax to (248) 699-8062; or e-mail galegroup.com.