ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FRONTIER BIOGRAPHY by Dan L. Thrapp. University of
Nebraska Press, 901 N. 17th St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0520. The
University of Nebraska Press online catalog is available on the
Internet by telneting to CRCVMS.UNL.EDU, username INFO, choosing
UNIVERSITY PRESS, and ONLINE CATALOG. Bibliography, supplemental
index. In three volumes, 1698 pp., $60.00 paper. 0-8032-9417-4
REVIEW
It's hard to pin down just what Thrapp defines as the frontier
in this reissue of the 1988 edition. Consequently, it's hard to
understand who qualifies for inclusion in this series. The
frontier, most believe, refers to the geographical area west of the
Mississippi River from the late 1700s to the early 1900s.
Thrapp tears that notion apart by defining the frontier as
"that region or point in time where individuals of European, or
African, or Asian origin explored what seemed a freshly created
land, and often came into contact with aboriginal inhabitants for
whom that same land was a well-known home."
Candidates for inclusion are: no longer living, of any sex or
race, who performed significant deeds or who were of interest in
some connection with the evolving drama. It would seem that there
would be a multitude of candidates, and there are, almost 4,500
main entries, with thousands of others mentioned within them.
A typical entry, listed alphabetically (Native Americans are
usually alphabetized by first name), gives the name, vital
statistics, a summary of the person's life with a brief assessment,
and bibliographical notes. Many of the names are cross-referenced.
Especially helpful is the 73-page Supplemental Index, which
gives information on the location of mentions of supplemental
individuals. The index also gives subject groupings, such as
Pike's Peak, Colorado, or Indian Tribes.
On every page are numerous adventures from a time when life
seemed more exciting. This reference is essential for the
researcher looking for biographical information, and the casual
reader will be pleasantly surprised. This was Thrapp's life work,
and it shows.