Greenwood A Guide to The History of Massachusetts (Reference Guides to State History and Research)

This volume is designed as a general reference tool for the study of the history of Massachusetts. The only book of its type, the volume focuses largely on local history, emphasizing the new social history, and containing biographies of leading figures. Since Massachusetts history and U.S. history largely intertwined during the colonial and early national period, the book provides information on trends in early American history, and provides scholars and other interested readers with an up-to-date summary of major works and important interpretations of each period and of relevant themes, such as urban history, women in history, and oral history. Review ?The third of the 'Reference Guides to State History and Research' series, this volume contains primarily nine historiographic essays. Six treat chronological periods: 1620 to 1698, by Francis Bremer; 1689 to 1765 (Puritanism to Revolution), by William Pencak; Revolutionary Massachusetts (limited to writings of the last two decades), by Bruce Daniels; 1790 to 1860 ('the Commonwealth's takeoff period, ' treating immigration, urbanization, and industrialization), by Jack Larkin; late 19th century, including political histories, biographies, and community studies, by Gerald McFarland; and the rise to power of immigrant groups in the 20th century by Robert O'Leary. . . A fine overview of the present state of historical writing on Massachusetts, this book complements Committee for a New England Bibliography's Massachusetts: A Bibliography of its History (CH, Nov 76; scheduleed for revision in 1989).?-Choice "The third of the 'Reference Guides to State History and Research' series, this volume contains primarily nine historiographic essays. Six treat chronological periods: 1620 to 1698, by Francis Bremer; 1689 to 1765 (Puritanism to Revolution), by William Pencak; Revolutionary Massachusetts (limited to writings of the last two decades), by Bruce Daniels; 1790 to 1860 ('the Commonwealth's takeoff period, ' treating immigration, urbanization, and industrialization), by Jack Larkin; late 19th century, including political histories, biographies, and community studies, by Gerald McFarland; and the rise to power of immigrant groups in the 20th century by Robert O'Leary. . . A fine overview of the present state of historical writing on Massachusetts, this book complements Committee for a New England Bibliography's Massachusetts: A Bibliography of its History (CH, Nov 76; scheduleed for revision in 1989)."-Choice About the Author MARTIN KAUFMAN is Professor of History at Westfield State College, where he also serves as Director of the Institute for Massachusetts Studies and Editorial Director of the Historical Journal of Massachusetts. JOHN W.IFKOVIC is Associate Professor of History at Westfield State College and has served as Associate Director of the Institute for Massachusetts Studies. JOSEPH CARVALHO III is Director of the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, of the Springfield Library and Museum Association.