Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) near-death experience, phenomenon reported by some people who have been clinically dead, then returned to life. Descriptions of the experience differ slightly in detail from person to person, but usua...

(Encyclopedia) domino theory, the notion that if one country becomes Communist, other nations in the region will probably follow, like dominoes falling in a line. The analogy, first applied (1954) to Southeast Asia ...

(Encyclopedia) Alsop, Richard ôlˈsəp [key], 1761–1815, American author, b. Middletown, Conn. Best remembered as one of the Connecticut Wits, he collaborated with Theodore Dwight and others in writing light sati...

(Encyclopedia) Dean, James (James Byron Dean), 1931–55, American film actor, b. Marion, Ind. After a few stage and television roles, Dean was chosen to play the moody, rebellious son in the film East of Eden (1953...

(Encyclopedia) Grimké, Angelina Emily grĭmˈkē [key], 1805–79, American abolitionist and advocate of women's rights, b. Charleston, S.C. Converted to the Quaker faith by her elder sister Sarah Moore Grimké, sh...

(Encyclopedia) Lowell, Francis Cabot, 1775–1817, pioneer American cotton manufacturer, b. Newburyport, Mass.; son of John Lowell (1743–1802). A merchant in Boston, he traveled (1810) to England, where he studied...

(Encyclopedia) Bethune, Mary McLeod bəthyo͞onˈ [key], 1875–1955, American educator, b. Mayesville, S.C., grad. Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, 1895. The 17th child of former slaves, she taught (1895–1903) in ...

(Encyclopedia) Derain, André äNdrāˈ dərăNˈ [key], 1880–1954, French painter. He studied for a short time under Carrière. Derain's friendship with Vlaminck and Matisse led to his association c.1905 with the...

(Encyclopedia) Stowe, Calvin Ellis stō [key], 1802–86, American educator, b. Natick, Mass., grad. Bowdoin College, 1824, and Andover Theological Seminary, 1828; husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe. He was professor ...

(Encyclopedia) Porter, Noah, 1811–92, American educator and philosopher, b. Farmington, Conn., grad. Yale, 1831. He entered the ministry in 1836. In 1846 he became professor of moral philosophy and metaphysics at ...