Intended to help readers develop an appreciation of the contributions of Franco-Americans to the cultural heritage of the United States, this book, the first of six volumes, presents 14 readings representing many perspectives--from the historical to the sociological--illustrating the thinking and feelings of those in the forefront of Franco-American studies. This volume includes the following articles: "What is an American?" (Madeleine Giguere); "One Piece in the Great American Mosaic" (Robert Perreault); "Louisiana's French Heritage" (Truman Stacey); "Haiti" (Thomas E. Weil); "The Huguenots" (Marie-Reine Mikesell); "The Acadians of Maine" (Julie Albert); "The French in Vermont" (Peter Woolfson); "The Rapid Assimilation of Canadian French in Northern Vermont" (Peter Woolfson);"The Franco-American Heritage in Manchester, New Hampshire" (Thaddeus M. Piotrowski); "A History of Franco-American Journalism" (Paul Pare); "Bilingual Living" (Normand C. Dube); "Cajun French and French Creole: Their Speakers and the Questions of Identities" (Dorice Tentchoff); "La Cuisine Chez-Nous" ("Our Cuisine", Sr. Marguerite Cyr); and "Louisiana's Creole-Acadian Cuisine" (Ernest Gueymard). (LH)