The bulk of this four-volume set comprises essays describing the experiences of specific immigrant groups, an approach commonly employed by reference works on immigration. The twist is the chronological focus. Rather than the standard A-Z arrangement, each volume covers immigrants during a specific time period; Volume 1 covers immigrant populations before 1870. Volume 2 covers 1870-1940 and Volume 3,1940 to present. The fourth volume addresses broader issues such as the “Economic Impact of Immigration,” and “Nativism.” There is no attempt at comprehensive coverage. For each time period, the most numerous or historically significant populations are profiled. As with any selective work, there are occasional surprises – the volume on immigration after 1940 does not include Afghani, Iraqi, or Sudanese immigrants, groups which although numerically small had significance beyond their numbers. Volumes 2 and 3 contain substantially more essays, reflecting the changing face of American immigration.

The segmentation by time period can take some getting used to—initially the content felt needlessly chopped up. To get a full accounting of German American migration users need to consult three volumes which can be unwieldy. After a period of adjustment, the benefits of a chronological arrangement became more apparent. Focusing on a specific time period allows the authors to explore in detail topics that might be omitted or overshadowed in an essay covering a broader time span. Each author is able to focus on temporally specific context—an important aspect of immigration history. A Chinese migrant in 1890 faced a different legal, social, and political landscape than a Chinese national contemplating immigration after World War II. The stated goal of the chronological arrangement is to facilitate group comparisons and shed light on immigrant opportunities and conditions at similar points in time. There is some merit to this approach– a perusal of the essays can reveal themes. As one example, in later volumes the essays for established (largely European) ethnic groups tell similar narratives of efforts to retain ethnic identity in the face of dwindling numbers. These stories reinforce and complement each other, while starkly contrasting with experiences of the rising immigrant populations originating from Latin America.

This work is recommended primarily for libraries receiving significant inquiries relating to immigration history. What separates this work is the analysis by time periods which adds some valuable insights, but outside of the chronological arrangement the work does not offer much new. The same basic information can be found for many immigrant groups in recent reference works such as Multicultural America: An Encyclopedia of the Newest Americans (Greenwood Press, 2011) or the Encyclopedia of American Immigration (Salem Press 2010). The encyclopedia would have been more valuable if the goal of cross-comparison had been more fully implemented. A standard format would have further encouraged cross-group comparisons. Each author is left to explore different aspects of their topic—one essay might focus on Americanization or residential patterns, while another examines family dynamics, benevolent societies, or political participation. Some entries contain data tables, many do not. Given the diversity of immigrant experiences it is only natural that there would be some divergence, but a set of common core elements would have furthered the goal of comparing the experiences of different ethnic groups. Additional cross-references between essays would have also encouraged this goal. A second edition that more explicitly compares immigrant experiences would be welcome.