July/August 2000

Editor's Note

Land of Hope and Glory

The Ways of Empire
How the new Oxford History of the British Empire gives voice to both colonizers and the colonized is discussed by Wm. Roger Louis and NEH Chairman William R. Ferris.

American Music

The Armstrong Collection
Candid backstage recordings and a gold-plated trumpet from a king share the space at the Louis Armstrong house. By Michael Cogswell

Jazz--An American Exixir
A jamboree of blues, ragtime, gospel, and country combine into a unique brew. By Pedro Ponce

Melodic Invention
Fats Waller's flair for pipe-organ and piano solos showcases his skill not only as a vocalist but as a composer. By Stephen Budiansky

Worldly Goods

High Finance Parisian Style
For clients ranging from courtesans to Voltaire, notaries served as financial advisers in eighteenth-century France. By Philip T. Hoffman

Money and Power: Lessons from the 5th Century B.C.
A Greek historian first noted the connection between wealth and power. By Anna Maria Gillis

Antioch: The Lost Ancient City
Greek urban life, entertainment, and religion come to life in Worcester. By Sara E. Wilson

Around the Nation

In Focus: Dorothy Schwartz of Maine The director of the Maine Humanities Council speaks about community-driven programs and renewing civic culture.By Richard Carter