NEW BOOK: The Bald Eagle and Its Legacy: An Encyclopedia of a High-Flying American Icon in U.S. History: Nature, Law, and Culture

New Book Breanne Callahan

  • The only comprehensive source detailing the role of the bald eagle in American history and iconography
  • Written in plain language for researchers of any level to understand
  • Arranged in an alphabetical index of more than 200 entries, as well as a topical index of 16 terms, which cross-reference one another
  • Also contains an extensive bibliography of more than 500 entries, featuring articles, books, court cases, and teacher’s resources
  • Provides a detailed timeline of the bald eagle’s progression as an icon from 1492-2022
  • Addresses several myths that surround the bald eagle
  • Authored by an expert in American symbolism

About This Title


This book presents numerous A to Z entries about the bald eagle and its place in American culture. The bald eagle is one of the nation’s earliest and most persistent symbols and has been so even before it was chosen to be placed on the Great Seal of the United States. It remains ubiquitous in American statuary, advertising, art, and rhetoric and is a popular symbol not only for the nation but for a variety of sports teams. It is engraved on the emblems of numerous governmental branches and agencies and is a prominent architectural motif, especially on government buildings.

The eagle is a fitting symbol for the strength and majesty of a freedom-loving nation that seeks not only to protect its own but democracies throughout the world. It serves as a further symbol of the nation’s aspirations, while also representing environmental resilience and the manner in which the nation can intervene to protect its natural resources. This book presents information about all these topics in an easy-to-access format.

Topics Within This Title Include:


  • Art
  • Conservation
  • Environment
  • Legislation & Court Decisions
  • Literary References
  • Memorials
  • Music
  • Nature
  • Popular Cultures
  • Structures
  • Symobolism
  • And more!

About the Author


John R. Vile earned his bachelor’s degree in Government from the College of William and Mary and his Ph.D. in the same subject from the University of Virginia. He taught for 12 years at McNeese State University, during the last eight years of which he headed the Department of Social Science. Vile then served for 19 years as chair of the Department of Political Science at Middle Tennessee State University and has been Dean of the Honors College since 2008. He has been named as the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar for 2020-2022.

Vile has published numerous articles, book reviews, and dozens of books, most focusing on the U.S. Founding Period, the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, the U.S. Constitution and its interpretation, the U.S. Supreme Court, and American symbols. Some of Vile’s recent titles include:

  • America’s National Anthem: “The Star-Spangled Banner” in U.S. History, Culture, and Law (2021)
  • The Bible in American Law and Politics: A Reference Guide (2020)
  • The Liberty Bell and Its Legacy: An Encyclopedia of an American Icon in U.S. History and Culture (2019)
  • The Declaration of Independence: America’s First Founding Document in U.S. History and Culture (2019)
  • The American Flag: An Encyclopedia of the Stars and Stripes in U.S. History, Culture, and Law (2018)



The Bald Eagle and Its Legacy:
An Encyclopedia of a High-Flying American Icon in U.S. History: Nature, Law, and Culture

Author: John R. Vile
Item #
: 1007114
Pages: xxxviii, 388p.
ISBN: 978-0-8377-4265-6
1 Volume, perfect bound…….$99.00
Published: Getzville; William S. Hein & Co., Inc.; 2022

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