Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Rostand, Edmond

(Encyclopedia)Rostand, Edmond ĕdmôNˈ rôstäNˈ [key], 1868–1918, French poet and dramatist. In 1890 appeared his first volume of verse, Les Musardises. His first plays were light, fanciful, and charmingly poe...

Thomas, Alma Woodsey

(Encyclopedia)Thomas, Alma Woodsey, 1891–1978, American painter, b. Columbus, Ga., B.S. Howard Univ., 1921, M.A. Teachers College, 1934. Thomas grew up in Washington, D.C., and taught (1924–60) in junior high s...

Puig, Manuel

(Encyclopedia)Puig, Manuel mänwĕlˈ pwēg [key], 1932–90, Argentine novelist. He is considered one of Latin America's most creative writers, and his writing reflects the myths and realities of contemporary Arge...

Ride, Sally Kristen

(Encyclopedia)Ride, Sally Kristen 1951–2012, American astrophysicist and astronaut, b. Encino, Calif. With an M.A. in physics (1975) and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Stanford Univ., she joined NASA in 1978, where...

Southcott, Joanna

(Encyclopedia)Southcott, Joanna southˈkət [key], 1750–1814, English religious visionary. Uneducated, even illiterate, she spent her earlier years in domestic service. She began c.1792 to claim the gift of proph...

Simon

(Encyclopedia)Simon, in the Bible. 1 One of the Maccabees. 2 or Simon Peter: see Peter, Saint. 3 See Simon, Saint. 4 Kinsman of Jesus. 5 Leper of Bethany in whose house a woman anointed Jesus' feet. He may have bee...

Simpson-Miller, Portia

(Encyclopedia)Simpson-Miller, Portia, 1945–, Jamaican political leader, prime minister of Jamaica (2006–7, 2012–16). A member of the People's National party (PNP), she was first elected to parliament in 1976....

Straujuma, Laimdota

(Encyclopedia)Straujuma, Laimdota līmˈdōtä strouˈyo͞omä [key], 1951–, Latvian economist and political leader. Straujuma was a division head (1993–97) at the Agriculture Consulting and Education Center of...

Brooks, Gwendolyn Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Brooks, Gwendolyn Elizabeth, 1917–2000, American poet, b. Topeka, Kans. She grew up in the slums of Chicago and lived in that city until her death. Brooks's poems, technically accomplished and writt...

Blackwell, Elizabeth

(Encyclopedia)Blackwell, Elizabeth, 1821–1910, American physician, b. England; sister of Henry Brown Blackwell. She was the first woman in the United States to receive a medical degree, which was granted (1849) t...