Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization dedicated to “enriching the experience of aging”; membership is open to people age 50 or older. Founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus as Americ...

(Encyclopedia) Jósika, Miklós, Baron bäˈrōn mĭkˈlōsh yōˈshĭkŏ [key], 1794–1865, Hungarian novelist and patriot. The originator of the Hungarian historical novel, he was often superficial and inaccurate...

(Encyclopedia) Munn v. Illinois, case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1876. Munn, a partner in a Chicago warehouse firm, had been found guilty by an Illinois court of violating the state laws providing for the ...

(Encyclopedia) physical education and training, organized instruction in motor activities that contribute to the physical growth, health, and body image of the individual. The historical roots of physical education ...

(Encyclopedia) Cartwright, Peter, 1785–1872, American Methodist preacher, b. Virginia. He was a circuit rider in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois for nearly 50 years. In 1846 he was defeated as a c...

(Encyclopedia) Szigeti, Joseph sēgĕtˈē, Hung. sĭˈgĕtĭ [key], 1892–1973, Hungarian-American violinist. After his debut at 13, Szigeti made his first European tour in 1912. Thereafter he achieved worldwide r...

(Encyclopedia) Piqua pĭkˈwā [key], city (1990 pop. 20,612), Miami co., W Ohio, on the Miami River; settled 1797, chartered 1929. It is an industrial city with diverse manufactures, including airplane and automobi...

(Encyclopedia) hot spring, natural discharge of groundwater having an elevated temperature. Most hot springs result from the emergence of groundwater that has passed through or near recently formed, hot, igneous roc...

(Encyclopedia) Williston, city (1990 pop. 13,131), seat of Williams co., NW N.Dak., on the Missouri River; inc. 1904. An early riverboating town, its importance increased with the arrival of the Great Northern Railw...

(Encyclopedia) Saint-Omer săNtômĕrˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 15,304), Pas-de-Calais dept., N France, in Flanders, on the Aa River. The chief manufactures are metals, textiles, paper, and beer. The city grew around...