Reference Reviews

Reference Unbound

The Forties in America edited by Thomas Tandy Lewis 1282 p. Pasadena: Salem 2011. 978-1-58765-659-0

The cover of the three-volume set from Salem Press juxtaposes World War II bombers and atomic mushroom clouds with Joe DiMaggio and Betty Grable, suggesting the balance of content between the martial and the cultural contained within the text. Ordered by date, the entries open with an introductory paragraph, are brief and cover most topics in a page or less, with annotated references and cross-references to related articles. Illustrations are ample with a half-page devoted to many of the iconic images, and black-and-white works for most of the photographs.

The general culture-related articles, ranging from immigration to travel to theater, often pair the U.S. and the Canadian perspectives in two national articles. Entries on gangsters, zoot suits, sexually transmitted diseases, and even mention of Kinsey keep the content edgy. From the origins of Superman and Wonder Woman to Ayn Rand and Reader’s Digest (a particularly typical 1940s juxtaposition), to the construction of the Pentagon, lynching, Levittown, and Eames chairs, there is ample fodder for student historians. Other topics, such as the White House renovations revealed during Truman’s administration and the Texas City cargo ship explosion in 1947, capture moments on the verge of disappearing.

Though necessary to provide a full sense of the decade, the World War II content included replicates that most likely to be found in other reference works. It is in the area of cultural information where this book shines. The book features articles on theatrical and cinematic touchstones like South Pacific, Stormy Weather, and A Streetcar Named Desire. Coverage extends to Alfred Hitchcock, Hank Williams, even hairstyles — featuring Veronica Lake demonstrating the hazards of the peekaboo look for war workers in a cautionary photograph.

The range of information contained in the third volume’s appendices and indexes in considerable. Lists include Broadway shows opening by season, Academy Awards and major films for each year of the decade, popular musicians with notable songs and biographical facts, and top ten bestsellers for each year and the major literary awards, from the Pulitzer to the Caldecott. There are also descriptions of legislation, and historical information about the Second World War, including wartime agencies, battles, and biographical information about military leaders.

There is an annotated bibliography, a glossary, and articles grouped by category. While the limited length of the articles means serious students will likely continue their research in more specialized sources, the timeline format makes this book quite readable, and history buffs could devour the entire three volumes from cover-to-cover. Recommended for school and public libraries.