Frank Zeidler transformed Milwaukee during his three terms as mayor of the Wisconsin city. However, the kind of change that Zeidler, a member of the Socialist Party of America, brought […]
Category: biography
You the Mancini
Successful beyond belief in his chosen trade of making soundtrack music, Henry Mancini also enjoyed good fortune (made one, too) with forays into the pop charts. When he hit, he […]
200 Years of Illinois: Black Hawk Eternal
Lorado Taft was at the height of his powers when he created The Eternal Indian, the towering concrete statue that watches over the Rock River in Lowden State Park near Oregon. […]
Throwbacklist Thursday: The Story of the Smiths
Often overlooked in the literature written about American families, the Smiths of Western New York nonetheless have a claim over the Rockefellers and Adamses and all the other subjects of […]
Modern Masters of Science Fiction series recognized by Locus
The Locus Science Fiction Foundation announced the winners of the 2016 Locus Awards on Saturday, June 25, 2016 in Seattle WA. Some fantastic books were honored including Letters to Tiptree, edited […]
The Word Warrior and the Greatest
Richard Durham’s varied career reflected his work ethic and tireless dedication to the many causes that drew him in. Putting aside his community and labor organizing, Durham’s writing included stints […]
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Biography honored
Since its initial publication, Michael Hicks‘s book The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Biography has attracted raves for telling the fascinating inside story of the beloved American institution. We are pleased […]
Release Party: Foggy Mountain Troubadour
With his trademark mandolin style and unequaled tenor harmonies, Curly Seckler has carved out a seventy-seven-year career in bluegrass and country music. Written in close collaboration with Mr. Seckler and […]
Jane Bernstein on Rachel in the workplace
Jane Bernstein, author of the UIP books Loving Rachel and Rachel in the World, has a new essay on Vice about her daughter Rachel’s job. As in both her acclaimed memoirs, Bernstein pulls […]
An often overlooked observance
In 2015, the State of Illinois designated May 19 as Malcolm X Day. It doesn’t always show up on the list of official state holidays, interestingly enough, perhaps due to […]
Sweet home Chicago
May 11-13, 2016, the publishing industry will descend upon the City of Big Shoulders for the textapalooza that is BookExpo America. BEA, held at Chicago’s McCormick Place this spring, is […]
Honoring a Pioneer
On Monday, April 25, The College at Brockport, State University of New York, honored alum Fannie Barrier Williams, its first African American female graduate. The institution dedicated a plaque to […]