Originally published in 1978. Drawing on a wide range of sources from social, intellectual, and political history, W. Andrew Achenbaum analyzes the changing fates and fortunes of America's elderly in the course of its history. By providing a historical perspective on society's conceptions of aging--and its effects on human lives--Achenbaum's work offers valuable insights for historians, sociologists, gerontologists, and others interested in the graying of America.