Product Description

Women have been active in American business since the eighteenth century, and while they have made enormous contributions, they have also had to overcome tremendous obstacles. This encyclopedia chronicles the accomplishments of women in American business since the colonial era and discusses the historical events and issues that have concerned them. The encyclopedia additionally summarizes important legislation and organizations and covers such industries as accounting, advertising, banking, and manufacturing. Quotations from the women profiled capture their experiences in their own words.

Included are more than 300 alphabetically arranged entries on such American businesswomen as Lucille Ball, Clara Brown, Hattie Carnegie, Liz Claiborne, Abby Joseph Cohen, Jenny Craig, Carleton S. Fiorina, Jamie Gorelick, Rosa Maria Hinojosa de Balli, Abigail Pierrepont Johnson, Estee Lauder, Christine Liang, Martha Stewart, and many more. Entries discuss the lives and careers of these women and cite works for further reading. The encyclopedia also includes roughly 100 interspersed entries on topics central to American businesswomen, including career planning, childcare, diversity, education, the finance industry, flexible work arrangements, golf, and real estate. Appendices list the most influential businesswomen in America, the top women-owned American companies, and women business leaders from particular ethnic and cultural groups, historical periods, and industries. A chronology details important events in the history of women in business, and an extensive bibliography concludes the encyclopedia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2394716 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Hardcover
• 744 pages

From Booklist
More than 425 entries, most of them biographical, comprise this resource. The women who are covered range from Lady Deborah Moody (1586-1659), who founded and planned the colonial settlement of Gravesend on Long Island, to Louise Kitchen (1969-), who was Enron's chief operating officer. Selection is limited to women in profit--making enterprises and generally excludes government officials and women who are known mainly as artists. The remaining 100 or so entries deal with topics such as Automobile industry, Latina businesswomen, Mommy track, Sexual harassment, and telecommuting.

The biographical entries provide a few personal details, but emphasis is on professional accomplishments. Most are brief, although a few, such as those for Barbara Proctor and Oprah Winfrey, cover more than two pages. All entries conclude with short further reading lists of books, articles, and Web sites, which can be found with fuller citations in the 50-page general bibliography. Other content includes a chronology; Fortune magazine's list of the 50 most powerful American businesswomen, 1998-2003; and lists of businesswomen who are covered in the encyclopedia organized by ethnic heritage, historical period, and profession. We found no entry for colonial printer Dinah Nuthead, even though she appears in the "Businesswomen by Historical Period" appendix.

There is some overlap with other reference sources that treat women in business, among them A to Z of American Women Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (Facts On File, 2002) and Historical Encyclopedia of American Women Entrepreneurs (Greenwood, 2000). Encyclopedia of American Women in Business: From Colonial Times to the Present covers more than twice as many women as either of these, is more up-to-date, and adds depth to its treatment by combining biographies with topical entries. Smaller collections that own one or both of the older titles may not need to acquire the current work, but it belongs in academic and larger public libraries, especially where there is an emphasis on business or women's studies. Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
“Krismann's work consists of 426 well-written entries, including biographies for 327 American businesswomen and entries that describe issues and concerns--e.g., business travel, child care, and the old boys network--that women face. Each entry supplies a bibliography, and there are helpful see references throughout. Besides a comprehensive index and bibliography, the set includes a chronology of important events in American history, with a particular focus on American businesswomen, 1607 to the present....Highly recommended. Public and academic libraries.”–Choice

“Starred Review This excellent reference book is wonderfully readable and should encourage readers to conduct further research of the women profiled. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.”–Library Journal

“This encyclopedia presents an overview of important women in United States business history along with topics relating to women in the workplace. The biographical sketches show the circumstances and obstacles women often encountered and overcame in male-dominated settings. These women successfully turned ideas into products and services, packaged original and innovative marketing campaigns, and shaped the business and financial world around them....This encyclopedic work is complemented by an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive and well-designed index. Index entries appear for time periods, industries, key publications referenced in the text, article topics, and names of people....This valuable resource will make an excellent addition to academic business, biography, and women's studies collections. Krismann's writing is crisp, and she presents enjoyable accounts of these women's lives, which will inspire women of all ages and backgrounds.”–Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship

“[M]anaged to capture to spirit of these remarkable women and to convey essential information about each of them....What sets this encyclopedia apart from other recent publications on American businesswomen is the large number of women it profiles. Well-written and easily understandable, this title is suitable for academic and medium to large public libraries.”–Reference & User Services Quarterly

“[I]t belongs in academic and larger public libraries, especially where there is an emphasis on business or women's studies.”–Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

“This brilliant biographical encyclopedia traces the accomplishments of more than 325 American businesswomen from "profit-making enterprises" over the past 400 years. The author also features the businesswomen's role in areas such as affirmative action, the Civil Rights Act, the accounting and banking professions, and a number of industries.”–Charles J. Popovich, MBA, MSLS, Associate Professor and Head Business Librarian Ohio State University

“Krismann has produced an outstanding and substantial resource on a topic of broad interest. Students and readers at any level will find this Encyclopedia of American Women in Business intriguing to read and a pleasure to use. It is well-conceived, readable, and enjoyable, covering women in business from colonial to contemporary times. The author complements the 327 biographical profiles with a range of entries on social and political issues, concerns, and relevant business topics. This context adds value and enables the reader to enjoy maximum benefit from this impressive volume.... Highly recommended for general and business collections in public and academic libraries and for readers with special interest in the topic.”–Lee Pike, Professor and Head Angelo Bruno Business Library University of Alabama

“An impressive new book. Its biographies of over 300 women are informative, substantive, well-written, and most of all, interesting. Coverage, from clonial through contemporary America, is comprehensive. Biographies, arranged alphabetically are interspersed with almost 100 subject entries that cover specific areas such as 'Accounting' and 'Advertising Industry,' and specific concerns such as 'Work-Life Balance, 'Childcare' and 'Corporate Culture' that provide context for the serious issues these women faced in the workplace. Also included are appendixes that include lists of businesswomen by ethic group, historical periods, and profession. While obviously valuable for business research, its focus on women makes it an outstanding resource for women's studies.”–Allison Cowgill Coordinator, Information/Reference Colorado State University Libraries Fort Collins, CO

“The book is an outstanding resource for students and scholars who want to learn more about these women, for teachers who want to inspire young people, especially young girls, to think about commerce and finance as a logical career choice, and for anyone who wants to learn more about contributions women have made to the conduct of business and to business enterprise in America.”–Catherine R. Friedman Head Librarian, Dewey Library for Management & Social Sciences Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“Inspiring, engaging, intriguing and entertaining are the biogrpahies in Carol Krismann's Encyclopedia of American Women in Business.... The stories resonate with the themes of women's boundless determination to pursue advancement in business in spite of issues and challenges encountered along the way and their persistence to work to overcome barriers in many professions and industries. The spirit of the entrprenuer shines in the account of Sally Ainse, born 1729, who became a famous and prosperous Oneida fur trader after her husband deserted her or that of Linda Alvarado, born in 1951, who not only owns a Denver contrsuction compnay, but is part owner of the Colorado Rockies.”–Wynne Delmhorst Business Services Librarian Greenwich Library Greenwich, CT

About the Author
CAROL H. KRISMANN is head of the William M. White Business Library at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is the author of Quality Control in Business and Industry: A Bibliography (1990), and her work has appeared in such journals as College & Research Libraries and Journal of Academic Librarianship.

Customer Reviews

Entries discuss both their lives and careers
Specialized business collections or those seeking biographies of notable women will find Carol H. Krisman's two-volume reference invaluable: women have been active in American business since the 18th century, but overcoming great obstacles to success in the process. Entries discuss both their lives and careers, plus add topics central to American businesswomen's issues, from career planning and childcare to flexible work arrangements and even golf. The result's a substantial reference key to any in-depth understanding of the American business environment.