This first reference work of its kind ever published in the United States is a splendid and unique achievement created by hundreds of historians and writers who cooperated to narrate the saga of American Catholicism. Beginning with Columbus, this comprehensive work spans half a millennium and covers the men, women, and events that shaped Catholic life in a vast and diverse nation. Over1,200 articles, 300 photographs, and a million words comprise this elegant volume, which provides American Catholics with a panoramic and extraordinary education in their identity and heritage.

Edited by Michael Glazier and Thomas J. Shelley, The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History recounts the struggles and status of American Catholics in every generation of the nation's history. It also narrates and charts the phenomenal growth of the Church in each of the fifty states. It contains hundreds of factual biographies of men and women from all stratas of society. It focuses on the explorers; the pioneering Spanish, French, and English missionaries; the struggles of the colonial and revolutionary era; the turbulent and transforming nineteenth century with its waves of immigrants; the industrial revolution; and the challenges and crises of this century, down to our day.

All the major events and movements which united or divided Catholics are covered: The Revolution, Lay Trusteeism, slavery and the Civil War, the arrival of immigrants, Nativism and bigotry, Americanism, Modernism, the Labor Movement, the Knights of Columbus, wars, anti-semitism, the New Deal and Prohibition, anti- Communism, McCarthyism, the Women's Revolution, civil rights, Vietnam, Human vitae, liturgy, and capital punishment. Other subjects, which were often neglected by past historians, are given greater consideration. These include the role of women and Native Americans and the growth of Catholicism in the United States. The great personalities men and women from each decade and era are perceptively portrayed, and rewarding attention is given to the women lay and religious who played a major role in educating and forming the Catholic children of America for over five generations.

Entries are arranged alphabetically for convenient use by those who preach, teach, or study. The primary aim of each entry, whether it reflects some original research or summarizes existing scholarship, is to provide basic information while its bibliographical citations open the road to further study.

The American Catholic Church has been the home to a vast variety of people. The notable men and women who appear in these pages represent countless millions who are little known. But American Catholicism today is the living monument to their lives and labors. Knowing their history gives today's Americans confidence, and The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History is a celebration of their faith.

The contributors to this work have been selected for their scholarship and competence. Among the hundreds of distinguished contributors are: James Hennesey, Kathleen Neils Colzen, Mary Oates, Karen Kennelly, James Pula, Philip Gleason, Steven Avella, Dominic Monti, Jaime Vidal, Kenneth Baker, Sandra Yokum Mize, David O'Brien, Thomas Spalding, Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, Gerald Fogerty, Clyde Crews, Christopher Kauffman, Robert Trisco, Patrick Carey, and Mary Elizabeth Brown.

The Encyclopedia of American Catholic History

• is the first reference work of its kind ever published in the U.S.A. was created by hundreds of historians and writers covers al the major events which united or divided Catholics recounts the struggles and triumphs of American Catholics in every generation of the nation's history includes extensive coverage of American dioceses, religious communities, and saints charts the growth of the Church in each state contains hundreds of biographies of men and women from all stratas of society includes over 1,200 articles, 300 photographs, and a million words includes entries arranged alphabetically for convenient use by those who preach, teach or study includes cross references and bibliographies to direct further study merits a place in academic, public, and personal libraries

  Some of the over 1200 topics and entries include:
  African Americans and Catholicism
  Americanism
  Anti-Catholic Bigotry in United States
  Augustinians in United States
  Baltimore Plenary Councils
  Baltimore Provincial Councils
  Benedictines in United States
  Bishop, W. Howard, Founder of Glenmary
  Brownson, Orestes
  Burke, John J., CSP
  Cabrini, Mother Frances Xavier
  Calvert, George, First Lord Baltimore
  Capuchins in United States
  Carey, Mathew
  Carmelites in United States
  Carroll, Archbishop John
  Christian Family Movement
  Catholic Relief Services
  Catholic University of America, The
  Catholic Worker Movement
  Catholic Writers
  Catholic Book Publishing
  Catholic Magazine Publishing
  Catholic Newspaper Publishing
  Catholics and Wars
  Catholics and the Civil War
  Cistercians of the Common Observance in United States
  Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) in United States
  Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s
  Columbus, Christopher
  Communism and American Catholics
  Conference of Major Superiors of Men
  Conscientious Objectors and American Catholicism
  Corrigan, Archbishop Michael A.
  Coughlin, Reverend Charles
  Croation Immigrants and Croatians in United States Church
  Cushing, Archbishop Richard J.
  Czech Immigrants and Czechs in United States Church
  Day, Dorothy
  DeHueck, Baroness Catherine
  Democratic Party and American Catholics
  Dominicans (OP) in United States
  Dred Scott Decision
  Drexel, Mother Katherine
  Duchesne, Mother Philippine
  Duffy, Reverend Francis P.
  Ecumenism and American Catholics
  Education (elementary, secondary, college) and United States Catholics
  Ellis, Monsignor John Tracy
  England, Bishop John
  Franciscans in United States
  French-Canadian Immigrants and United States Church
  German Immigrants and Germans in United States Church
  Gibbons, James Cardinal
  Government Aid to Education and United States Catholics
  Guilday, Monsignor Peter
  Halinan, Archbishop Pal
  Hawthorne, Mother Rose Lathrop
  Hecker, Issac, CSP
  Hispanic Immigrants and Hispanics in United States Church
  Holy Cross Fathers in United States
  Holy Ghost Fathers in United States
  Hungarian Immigrants and Hungarians in United States Church
  Ireland, Archbishop John
  Irish Immigrants and Irish in United States Church
  Italian Immigrants and Italians in United States Church
  Jesuits in United States
  Jewish-Catholic Relations in United States
  Josephite Fathers in United States
  Keane, Archbishop John
  Kennedy, President John F.
  Kino, Father Eusebio
  Knights of Columbus
  Labor Unions and American Catholics
  Lamy, Archbishop Jean Baptiste
  Lay Trusteeism in United States Church
  Lithuanian Immigrants and Lithuanians in United States Church
  Liturgical Movement in United States Church
  Marist Fathers in United States
  Marquette, PFre Jacques, SJ
  Maryknoll Fathers and Sisters
  Mazzuchelli, Reverend Samuel, OP
  McCarthy, Senator Joseph, and American Catholics
  McGlynn, Reverend Edward
  McIntyre, James Francis, Cardinal
  McQuaid, Bishop Bernard J.
  Merton, Reverend Thomas, OSCO
  Michel, Virgil, OSB
  Maguires, Molly
  Mundelein, George Cardinal
  Murray, John Courtney, SJ
  Music and American Catholics
  National Conference of Catholic Charities
  Native Americans and American Catholicis