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Urban League, National

(Encyclopedia)Urban League, National, voluntary nonpartisan community service agency, founded in 1910, whose goal is to help end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, especially toward African...

United States Military Academy

(Encyclopedia)United States Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y.; for training young men and women to be officers in the U.S. army; founded and opened in 1802. The original act provided that the Corps of Engineers...

Elks, Benevolent and Protective Order of

(Encyclopedia)Elks, Benevolent and Protective Order of, fraternal and charitable society founded (1868) in New York City. Through the Elks National Foundation, located in Chicago, the group carries on a broad-rangi...

Invalides, Hôtel des

(Encyclopedia)Invalides, Hôtel des ōtĕlˈ dāzăNvälēdˈ [key], celebrated landmark of Paris, France, built (1671–76) by Libéral Bruant as a hospital for disabled veterans. One of the most imposing examples...

corn laws

(Encyclopedia)corn laws, regulations restricting the export and import of grain, particularly in England. As early as 1361 export was forbidden in order to keep English grain cheap. Subsequent laws, numerous and co...

Kesselring, Albert

(Encyclopedia)Kesselring, Albert älˈbĕrt kĕsˈəlrĭng [key], 1885–1960, German field marshal. An artillery staff officer in World War I, he later joined the air force and rapidly rose in rank during the Hitl...

Curtis, Charles

(Encyclopedia)Curtis, Charles, 1860–1936, Vice President of the United States (1929–33), b. near North Topeka, Kans. Of part Native American background, Curtis lived for three years on a Kaw reservation. After ...

Roca, Julio Argentino

(Encyclopedia)Roca, Julio Argentino ho͞oˈlyō ärhāntēˈnō rōˈkä [key], 1843–1914, general who became president of Argentina (1880–86, 1898–1904). Minister of war under Nicolas Avellaneda, he crushed ...

Mussolini, Benito

(Encyclopedia)Mussolini, Benito bānēˈtō mo͞os-sōlēˈnē [key], 1883–1945, Italian dictator and leader of the Fascist movement. Mussolini was at first cool to Adolf Hitler and opposed his designs on Aus...

Oxenstierna, Count Axel Gustafsson

(Encyclopedia)Oxenstierna, Count Axel Gustafsson äkˈsəl go͝osˈtäfsən ŭkˈsənshĕrˌnä [key], 1583–1654, Swedish statesman. Named chancellor in 1612, he was the actual administrator of Sweden because Gus...