Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

121 results found

Ellison, Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Ellison, Ralph (Ralph Waldo Ellison), 1914–94, African-American author, b. Oklahoma City, studied Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee Univ.). Originally a trumpet player and aspiring composer, he moved...

Nader, Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Nader, Ralph nāˈdər [key], 1934–, U.S. consumer advocate and political reformer, b. Winsted, Conn. Admitted to the bar in 1958, he practiced law in Connecticut and was a lecturer (1961–63) in h...

Neville, Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Neville, Ralph: see Westmorland, Ralph Neville, 1st earl of. ...

Lauren, Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Lauren, Ralph lôrˈən, lərĕnˈ [key], 1939–, American fashion designer, b. New York City as Ralph Lipschitz. He began his career by creating neckties under the name Polo for Beau Brummel. In 196...

Abercromby, Sir Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Abercromby, Sir Ralph, 1734–1801, British general. After serving in the Seven Years War, he returned to service in 1793 against France, where he commanded a brilliant retreat in Flanders in the wint...

Cram, Ralph Adams

(Encyclopedia)Cram, Ralph Adams, 1863–1942, American architect, b. Hampton Falls, N.H. An ardent exponent of Gothic architecture, Cram produced many collegiate and ecclesiastical works in a neo-Gothic style. Amon...

Abernathy, Ralph David

(Encyclopedia)Abernathy, Ralph David ăbˈərnăthˌē [key], 1926–90, American civil-rights leader, b. Linden, Ala. A Baptist minister, he helped Martin Luther King, Jr., organize the Montgomery bus boycott (195...

Inge, William Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Inge, William Ralph ĭng [key], 1860–1954, Anglican prelate and author. He was fellow of King's College, Cambridge (1886–88), fellow and tutor of Hertford College, Oxford (1889–1904), and vicar ...

Hilleman, Maurice Ralph

(Encyclopedia)Hilleman, Maurice Ralph, 1919–2005, American microbiologist, regarded as the father of modern vaccinology, b. Miles City, Mont., Ph.D Univ. of Chicago, 1941. He joined E. R. Squibb and Sons in 1944,...

Gonsalves, Ralph Everard

(Encyclopedia)Gonsalves, Ralph Everard, 1946–, Vincentian political leader. Gonsalves practised law in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for several years, becoming deputy leader of the Unity Labor party (ULP) in ...