Great Lives from History: Latinos features 518 essays from the eighteenth century to the present. The majority of the individuals included in this set have never been covered in this series before. Many individuals are household names, famous for such high-profile professions as entertainment, music, politics, and sports, while others have received less attention but made important contributions to civil rights and science or helped pave the way for others in their community in areas such as education, law, and business. For purposes of this publication, the term "Latino" includes all persons of at least partial Hispanic ancestry who were or are American citizens or who have resided or worked in the United States long enough to become identified with the Spanish-speaking Latino community. By this definition, a person such as the Mexican baseball player Fernando Valenzuela may be considered a "Latino." - Publisher.