The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress, 1789-1989

The first entry in this projected three-volume series was The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts, 1789-1983 , edited by Martis & Ruth Anderson ( LJ 4/1/83). The meticulous scholarship applied in that work is also evident in this second entry. Specialists viewing the detailed multicolored maps will see new possibilities for historical inquiry as the dynamics of local, regional, and national elections are made graphically evident. The party affiliation of each member of Congress is clarified, with sources cited. Martis breaks new ground here, especially in regard to 19th-century figures affiliated with third parties and similar amalgamations. The introductory section helps place the vast amount of information (the bibliography lists 700 sources) conveyed by the atlas's maps and statistical pie charts into proper historical and political context. This outstanding reference tool should be in all academic libraries and is highly recommended for others who can afford the reasonably high cost. --Gary D. Barber, SUNY at Fredonia Lib.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.