Daniel Webster: A Bibliography

(Hardback)

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Daniel Webster captured the hearts and imagination of the American people of the first half of the nineteenth century. This bibliography on Webster brings together for the first time a comprehensive guide to the vast amount of literature written by and about this extraordinary man who dwarfed most of his contemporaries. This bibliography also provides references to materials on slavery, the tariff, banking, Indian affairs, legal and constitutional development, international affairs, western expansion, and economic and political developments in general. This bibliography is divided into fifteen sections and covers every aspect of Webster's distinguished career. Sections I and II deal primarily with Webster's writings and with those of his contemporaries. Sections III through X cover the literature dealing with his family background; childhood and education, his long service in the United States House of Representatives and in the Senate, his two stints as secretary of state, and his career in law. Section X provides guidance in locating materials relating to his associates. Finally, Sections XI through XV provide coverage of his personal life, his death, historiographical materials, and iconography.

Reviews

This exhaustive compilation will probably be the standard Webster bibliography for some time to come. It should be considered a necessary companion to The Papers of Daniel Webster. The 5,347 numbered entries are arranged into 14 chapters covering topics such as Webster's service in Congress and as secretary of state, and his presidential campaign. Scholars will be interested in the sections on archival holdings, historiographical materials, Webster's writings, and his associates. Some selected annotations provide further information about obscure materials. Moser searched extensively to dig up the older books, pamphlets, periodical articles, and manuscripts listed here, thus saving future researchers valuable time. At the end are a list of serials consulted and lengthy indexes to authors, editors, compilers, translators, and subjects.Highly recommended. Undergraduates and general readers. * Choice *
This exhaustive treatment lists primary and secondary works documenting the life of the famous orator and politican Daniel Webster. The author's Herculean effort (there are more than five thousand entries) will be of tremendous benefit to future scholars. He has provided a guide to wealth of historical materials, including contemporary periodical articles, manuscripts, pamphlets, and diaries, which would otherwise be difficult and time-consuming to find.This work is enthusiatically recommended for libraries supporting advanced research in nineteenth-century U.S. history, including nationalism, slavery, the tariff, Indian affairs, the Constitution, and Western expansion. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
This bibliography attests to Webster's influence on his contemporaries and on American policies and institutions through the present day. Moser has collected materials contemporary with Webster and scholarship that has accrued since his death in 1852.Moser includes a detailed chronology of Webster's life and in his introduction makes suggestions for further study. * Reference & Research Book News *

Author Bio

Harold D. Moser, is Research Professor Emeritus, The University of Tennessee.