The Columbia Encyclopedia began its existence in the 1920s when Clarke Fisher Ansley and Columbia University Press recognized the need for a first aid for those who read. They envisioned and created…
J. K. Rowling Trivia Learn more about the author of the Harry Potter books by Ann-Marie Imbornoni and Dana Quigley Did you know: J.K. Rowling BiographyHer last name rhymes with "bowling."Has…
Notable African-American Visual and Performing Artists
Browse more African-American biographies by category: A-Z List Government Officials Civil Rights Leaders Religious…
(Encyclopedia) Rasputin, Grigori YefimovichRasputin, Grigori Yefimovichrăspy&oomacr;ˈtĭn, Rus. grĭgôˈrē yĭfēˈməvĭch rəsp&oomacr;ˈtyĭn [key], 1869–1916, Russian holy man and courtier, a…
(Encyclopedia) papal election, election of the pope by the college of cardinals meeting in secret conclave in the Sistine Chapel not less than 15 nor more than 18 days after the death of the previous…
(Encyclopedia) Vanbrugh, Sir JohnVanbrugh, Sir Johnvănbr&oomacr;ˈ, vănˈbrə [key], 1664–1726, English dramatist, architect, soldier, and adventurer, b. London, of Flemish descent. In 1686 he…
(Encyclopedia) Yekaterinburg or EkaterinburgYekaterinburgboth: yĭkäˌtĭrēmb&oobreve;rkˈ [key], formerly SverdlovskYekaterinburgsvyĭrdlôfskˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 1,365,000), capital of the…
(Encyclopedia) Westminster Abbey, originally the abbey church of a Benedictine monastery (closed in 1539) in London. One of England's most important Gothic structures, it is also a national shrine.…
(Encyclopedia) tap dance, theatrical dance form in which the dancer, wearing shoes with metal heel and toe taps, beats out complex, syncopated rhythms on the floor.
After a slump in popularity in…