Dictionary of American Communal and Utopian History

by Robert S. Fogarty

Product information not available.

271 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1980

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can you expect from a book from 1980? History before that point.
Although there was some interesting tidbits:
> first ten tiny 10'x14' non-square shaped homes, not bigger than a dorm room, of the Harmonia Community (1850)
> highly unusual "complex marriage", male continence (coitus reservatus: stopping before orgasm) (1880) which lead to their other sexual program stirpiculture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneida_...
> hippy genial anarchists of Drop City (60s)
wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_U...

Intro


Biographies


Communities
Besides religions reasons
131 human perfectibility (Bishop Hill)
140 intellectual curious (Fairhope)
143 emphasized good works (Haven City)
148 They all hoped to escape the corrupting influences of the world and lead pure lives. (Jerusalem or The Society of Universal Friends)

Communities that exist today
145 Hutterites (movies, television too worldly)

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN INDISPENSABLE REFERENCE WORK ON UTOPIAN COMMUNITIES

There aren't many "dictionaries" that one feels like reading from cover to cover, but this is one of them. If you are even marginally interested in "utopian communities," communes, or other kinds of "intentional communities," you NEED to get this book. Published in 1980, and about 250 pages long, the book lists (in alphabetical order) not only individual communities (e.g., Oneida, Nashoba), but also individuals associated with such movements (e.g., Robert Owen, Clarence Jordan).

A 50-page Appendix of "Annotated List of Communal and Utopian Societies, 1787-1919" is included, which provides an excellent one-paragraph summary such communities. Most helpfully, the Dictionary itself lists its SOURCES, which is very helpful for persons wanting to get further information.

This book combined with Foster Stockwell's 'Encyclopedia of American Communes, 1663-1963' will give any library a thorough "basic" reference to American utopian communities and experiments.

[Mills College Library]

335.973 F721d 1980