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Bonanno, Joe

(Encyclopedia)Bonanno, Joe (Joseph Bonanno), 1905–2002, American crime boss nicknamed “Joe Bananas,” b. Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily. He came to the United States illegally in 1924, settled in Brooklyn, an...

mass transit

(Encyclopedia)mass transit, public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers. The history of mass transportation is intimately connected to industrialization, urbanization, and the sepa...

Couzens, James

(Encyclopedia)Couzens, James kŭzˈənz [key], 1872–1936, U.S. Senator, industrialist, and philanthropist, b. Ontario, Canada. He moved (1887) to Detroit, and after he entered (1903) into partnership with Henry F...

American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters

(Encyclopedia)American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, honorary academy of notable American artists, writers, and composers. The National Institute of Arts and Letters, founded in 1898, served as the par...

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

(Encyclopedia)Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, mainly at Baton Rouge; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1853, opened as a state seminary 1860 near Alexandri...

Youngstown State University

(Encyclopedia)Youngstown State University, at Youngstown, Ohio; coeducational; est. 1908 as a department of the Youngstown Association School sponsored by the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1921 the school b...

Rural Electrification Administration

(Encyclopedia)Rural Electrification Administration (REA), former agency of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture charged with administering loan programs for electrification and telephone service in rural areas. The REA wa...

Beckham, David

(Encyclopedia)Beckham, David (David Robert Joseph Beckham), 1975–, English soccer player known especially for the power and accuracy of his free kicks. After beginning to play on the Manchester United youth squad...

Healey, Denis Winston Healey, Baron

(Encyclopedia)Healey, Denis Winston Healey, Baron, 1917–2015, British political leader, grad. Oxford (1940). He served in the British army (1940–45), then joined the Labour party and began a long career in parl...

Batlle Ibáñez, Jorge Luis

(Encyclopedia)Batlle Ibáñez, Jorge Luis, 1927–2016, Uruguayan political leader, lawyer, and journalist, president of Uruguay (2000–2005). He was a member of the Colorado party, founded by his great uncle, Jos...