Reference Reviews

Doug’s Student Reference Room

The Martin Luther King, Jr., Encyclopedia, by Clayborne Carson, Tenisha Armstrong, Susan Carson, Erin Cook and Susan Englander. 404 p. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-313-29440-2. $65.00.

So much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr., that any project involving this American icon must offer a new angle in order to prove essential library material. This volume, which demonstrates the interconnected nature of King’s associations, ideas and activities, provides a collection that will stimulate readers’ interest while providing opportunities for further inquiry. The authors, led by Clayborne Carson, head of the Martin Luther King Papers Project, draw heavily on primary source documents related to King and the movement he inspired. Some of the categories for inclusion in this volume include King’s theological and political sources of influence, other African-America leaders, members of King’s family, as well as celebrities who supported protest campaigns and political allies and opponents. Such entries are in addition to the major events in which King played a pivotal role, such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington and the passage of key civil rights legislation. Each entry begins with a brief explanation of the subject’s relationship to King, and many feature compelling quotes that are cited within the text. Throughout the volume, names, concepts and organizations are printed in bold type, indicating cross-references to other entries in the encyclopedia. The narrative introduction includes a general overview of King’s life, followed by a chronology of the most significant events in King’s civil rights career. A helpful topical index, an extensive bibliography and a general index conclude the volume. Highly recommended for high school, university and public libraries.
—Doug Achterman