American Heritage Dictionary
Date: 1978 1987
Region: North America
Subject: Language
Medium: Literature, Textbook
Artist: American Heritage Dictionary
Confronting Bodies: Missouri Library and Anchorage School Board
Dates of Action: 1978 and 1987
Location: United States of America
Description of Artwork: The two reference books are complete dictionaries of the English language.
The Incident: In 1978, an Eldon, Missouri library banned the dictionary because it contained 39 "objectionable" words. And, in 1987, the Anchorage School Board banned the dictionary for similar reasons, i.e., having slang definitions for words such as "bed," "knocker," and "balls."
Results of Incident: Unknown
Source: Long Island Coalition Against Censorship, "Censorship in Schools and Libraries" exhibit