Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Key, Francis Scott kē [key], 1779–1843, American poet, author of the Star-Spangled Banner, b. present Carroll co., Md. A lawyer, he was U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia (1833–41). His w...

(Encyclopedia) Beecher, Catharine Esther, 1800–1878, American educator, b. East Hampton, N.Y.; daughter of Lyman Beecher. She first taught in New London, Conn., and in 1824 founded a girls' school in Hartford. Lat...

(Encyclopedia) cremation, disposal of a corpse by fire. It is an ancient and widespread practice, second only to burial. It has been found among the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, among Northern Athapascan bands i...

(Encyclopedia) Nîmes nēm [key], city (1990 pop. 133,607), capital of Gard dept., S France, in Cévennes. An important market town and rail hub, its products include machinery, textiles and clothing, and tinware. A...

(Encyclopedia) Hilkiah hĭlkīˈə [key], in the Bible. 1 High priest under King Josiah and a leader in his revival of religion. 2 Father of Jeremiah. 3 Father of Eliakim (2.) 4 Merarite Levites. 5 Father of Gemaria...

(Encyclopedia) Ohio State University, main campus at Columbus; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1870, opened 1873 as Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, renamed 1878. There are also cam...

(Encyclopedia) Chaos kāˈōs [key], in Greek religion and mythology, vacant, unfathomable space. From it arose all things, earthly and divine. There are various legends explaining it. In one version, Eurynome rose ...

(Encyclopedia) Coffin, Henry Sloane, 1877–1954, American Presbyterian clergyman, b. New York City. He was pastor of the Madison Ave. Presbyterian Church in New York City (1905–26), lecturer (1904–9), associate...

(Encyclopedia) Kabyles kəbīlzˈ [key], people, predominantly agricultural, of North Africa, whose center is the rugged Kabylia region of Algeria. Of uncertain origin, they form one of the larger divisions of the B...

(Encyclopedia) Yggdrasill ĭgˈdrəsĭl, yo͞ogˈ– [key], in Norse mythology, the great tree of the world. Its branches and roots extended through all the universe—the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. At ...