Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Dewdney, Anna

(Encyclopedia)Dewdney, Anna, 1965–2016, American children's book author and illustrator, b. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., as Anna Elizabeth Luhrmann, B.A. Wellesley, 1987. After illustrating adult and children's books ...

Denison Dam

(Encyclopedia)Denison Dam, 17,200 ft (5,243 m) long, on the Red River along the Texas–Okla. border, NW of Denison, Tex. The dam, built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for flood control and hydroelectric power, was...

Drew, Charles Richard

(Encyclopedia)Drew, Charles Richard, 1904–50, African-American physician, b. Washington, D.C. A surgeon and a professor at Howard Univ. (1935–36; 1942–50), he developed a means of preserving blood plasma for ...

Basmachi

(Encyclopedia)Basmachi bäsmäˈchē [key], revolt against Communist rule in Central Asia by Muslims and bandits, 1917–30. The Basmachi fought a guerrilla war against the Red Army, leading uprisings in the Fergan...

pigmentation

(Encyclopedia)pigmentation, name for the coloring matter found in certain plant and animal cells and for the color produced thereby. Pigmentation occurs in nearly all living organisms. Almost all plants synthesize ...

Delaherche, Félix Auguste

(Encyclopedia)Delaherche, Félix Auguste fālēksˈ ōgüstˈ dəläârshˈ [key], 1857–1940, French potter. He is considered the greatest ceramist since Bernard Palissy. Working alone in the village of La Chapel...

Doctrine of Signatures

(Encyclopedia)Doctrine of Signatures, the concept that the key to humanity's use of various plants was indicated by the form of the plant. The red sap of the bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), for instance, was be...

Clarksville

(Encyclopedia)Clarksville, city (2020 pop. 166,722), seat of Montgomery co., NW Tenn., on the Cumberland and Red rivers, in a farm, livestock, and tobacco region; pla...

Cobb, Irvin Shrewsbury

(Encyclopedia)Cobb, Irvin Shrewsbury, 1876–1944, American author, b. Paducah, Ky. He was a noted New York humorist and columnist. Although he wrote over 60 books, Cobb is best known for his humorous stories of Ke...

Grayson, Cary Travers

(Encyclopedia)Grayson, Cary Travers, 1878–1938, American naval officer and surgeon, b. Culpeper co., Va. As a physician he entered (1903) the U.S. navy, was graduated (1904) from the navy medical school, and afte...

Browse by Subject