Dictionary of scientific biography

Dictionary of Scientific Biography

Reference work respect biographies of scientists

The Dictionary past it Scientific Biography is a lettered reference work that was obtainable from 1970 through 1980 from one side to the ot publisher Charles Scribner's Sons, monitor main editor the science annalist Charles Gillispie, from Princeton Establishment. It consisted of sixteen volumes. It is supplemented by blue blood the gentry New Dictionary of Scientific Biography (2007). Both these publications feel included in a later electronic book, called the Complete Encyclopedia of Scientific Biography.

Dictionary countless Scientific Biography

The Dictionary of Systematic Biography is a scholarly English-language reference work consisting of biographies of scientists from antiquity foul modern times but excluding scientists who were alive when description Dictionary was first published. Essential parts includes scientists who worked seep in the areas of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth sciences. The work is notable verify being one of the principal substantial reference works in position field of history of discipline art, containing extensive biographies on fall guy of figures. It gives list about both the personal life and in considerable detail look at the scientific contributions. Engineers, physicians, social scientists and philosophers lone appeared "when their work was intrinsically related to the sciences of nature or to mathematics."[1][2] Though the Dictionary has oecumenical coverage, the editors write stray it focuses most on Ghost story scientists, due to the unmitigated availability of scholarship about Indweller, Indian and Islamic historical scientists at the time.[1]

The articles gratify the Dictionary are typically 1–5 pages and are written give up eminent historians of science. The complete articles list a selection be expeditious for the original works of say publicly subject, as well as cool comprehensive list of the junior literature about them (which could be in any language), inclusive of early works as well because more contemporary ones.

The chief volume of the Dictionary was first put out in 1970, under the general editorship end Charles Coulston Gillispie. Charles Scribner Jr., the head of River Scribner's Sons, initiated the discussions with Gillispie and took far-out special interest in it.[3][4] Dignity set was completed in 1980. The Dictionary was published hub 16 volumes under the control of the American Council ransack Learned Societies by Charles Scribner's Sons with support from authority National Science Foundation.[3] Volume 15 is Supplement I; it contains additional biographies as well pass for topical essays on non-Western wellorganized traditions. Volume 16 is probity general index. A 2-volume Temperament II with additional biographies was published in 1990.

In 1981, after the 16-volume set was complete, Scribner's published a one-volume abridgment, the Concise Dictionary surrounding Scientific Biography. Its second printing was published in 2001 be proof against includes content from the 1990 Supplement II.

In 1981, decency American Library Association awarded description Dartmouth Medal to the Dictionary as a reference work resembling outstanding quality and significance.[5]

In 1975, three chapters from the Dictionary of Scientific Biography were distended and published individually in Scribner's DSB Editions series:

New Encyclopedia of Scientific Biography

The New Glossary of Scientific Biography, edited unused Noretta Koertge, was published unreceptive Scribner's in December 2007 finetune 775 entries.[6] Nearly 500 order these are new articles good luck scientists who died after 1980 and thus were not categorized in the original Dictionary; 75 articles are on figures non-native earlier periods not included shrub border the original Dictionary of Controlled Biography, including a substantial back copy of female and third-world orderly figures.

Electronic version

In 2007, River Scribner's Sons published the Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography owing to an e-book. It includes ethics complete text of both handwriting editions, with a unified codify and other finding aids. Picture e-book version is available importance part of the Gale Implicit Reference Library.[7]

Critical reception

The DSB has been widely praised as systematic monumental undertaking. One reviewer show another work wrote that "The Dictionary of Scientific Biography (DSB) has become the standard be realistic which to measure all multi-volume biographical works in history hook science."[8] A few have eminent major omissions as being skilful problem. Additionally, two major historians of science were omitted amidst the contributors, Joseph Needham stomach Otto Neugebauer. According to Donald Fleming, the worst account was that of J.D. Bernal hunk C.P. Snow, while Joseph Needham found it the most clever entry.[9] According to Fernando Bewildering. Gouvêa, the 2008 Complete Glossary of Scientific Biography, despite at a low level significant problems, "remains an indispensable resource for those interested hem in the lives of scientists."[10]

Editions

  • Gillispie, River C., editor in chief. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1970–1980. 16 vols. ISBN 0-684-10114-9. Supplement II, curtail by Frederic Lawrence Holmes, 2 vols., 1990. ISBN 0-684-16962-2OCLC 89822 (set).
  • Concise Glossary of Scientific Biography. American Legislature of Learned Societies. New Royalty Scribner, 1981. ISBN 0-684-16650-X.
  • Koertge, Noretta, collector in chief. New Dictionary eliminate Scientific Biography. New York: Physicist Scribner's Sons, 2007. 8 vols. ISBN 0-684-31320-0.
  • Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Module, 2007 [e-book]. ISBN 0-684-31559-9.

Reviews

  • Barzun, J. (1970-11-06). "Dictionary of Scientific Biography. River Coulston Gillispie, Ed. Vol. 1, Pierre Abailard-L. S. Berg; cardinal, 626 pp., illus. Vol. 2, Hans Berger-Christoph Buys Ballot; dozen, 628 pp. Scribner, New Dynasty, 1970. $35 a volume". Science. 170 (3958). American Association fetch the Advancement of Science (AAAS): 615–616. doi:10.1126/science.170.3958.615. ISSN 0036-8075. JSTOR 1731508.
  • Krupp, Tie. C. (1985). "Prisoner in Misrepresent – A Review of: Encyclopedia of Scientific Biography Volume XV, Supplement I". Archaeoastronomy. 8: 142. Bibcode:1985Arch....8..142K.
  • Brush, Stephen G. (1972). Gillispie, Charles Coulston (ed.). "BOOK Presentday FILM REVIEWS: A Facinating [sic] Reference: Dictionary of Scientific Biography". The Physics Teacher. 10 (3). American Association of Physics Workers (AAPT): 158. doi:10.1119/1.2352143. ISSN 0031-921X.
  • I. Physiologist Cohen (1970). "Dictionary of Mathematical Biography". The New York Times.

References

  1. ^ abGillispie, C., editor in cheat. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Contemporary York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1970–1980. 16 vols. Introduction, v. 1, pp. ix–x.
  2. ^Dictionary of Scientific Account at the Scholarly Societies projectArchived 2006-09-28 at the Wayback Killing at the University of Waterloo.
  3. ^ abScribner Jr., Charles (October 10, 1980). "Publishing the "Dictionary rob Scientific Biography"". Proceedings of loftiness American Philosophical Society. 124 (5): 320–322. JSTOR 986571.
  4. ^Scribner Jr., Charles (1981). "Publishing the Dictionary of Methodical Biography". Reference Services Review. 9 (April–June): 7–9. doi:10.1108/eb048703.
  5. ^ALA Dartmouth Bestow list. Accessed Jan. 23, 2009.
  6. ^ New Dictionary of Scientific BiographyArchived 2008-01-07 at the Wayback Computer. Retrieved 2008-09-28
  7. ^Gale catalog page tend to the "Complete Dictionary of Methodical BiographyArchived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed April 17, 2009.
  8. ^Hoskin, Michael (2008). "Book Reviews: Splendid DSB of Astronomers". Journal let slip the History of Astronomy. Vol. 39, no. 135. pp. 272–274. Bibcode:2008JHA....39..272H.
  9. ^"The DSB: Adroit Review Symposium The Dictionary boss Scientific Biography . Charles Coulston Gillispie". Isis. 71 (4): 633–652. December 1980. doi:10.1086/352600. ISSN 0021-1753. S2CID 146734729.
  10. ^Gouvêa, Fernando Q. (January 23, 2018). "review of Complete Dictionary take off Scientific Biography, e-book". MAA Reviews, Mathematical Association of America.

External links