The idea of discovery has frequently shaped the way Americans think about themselves and their history. The process neither began nor ended with Columbus. As the contributors here make clear, many forgotten discoveries - of language, self, and nature, for example - have been a part of our national experience.

These essays also suggest that discoveries made by many neglected groups and individuals - among them industrial workers, slaves, Native Americans, and Asian immigrants - can be recalled to construct fresh versions of American history and to introduce a more inclusive vision of the past.