A new sample of large angular size radio galaxies - II. The optical data

We constructed and presented in the first paper of this series a new sample of 84 large angular size radio galaxies by selecting from the NRAO VLA Sky Survey objects with angular size greater than or equal to 4', declination above +60 degrees and total flux density at 1.4 GHz greater than or equal t o 100 mJy. In this paper we present optical spectra and images of those gal axies associated with the radio emission for which no redshift was known pr ior to our observations. Optical counterparts have been identified for all (but one) members of the sample. After our observations, a reliable spectro scopic redshift is available for 67 objects (80%) from the sample. This pap er, the second of a series of three, contributes to increase the number of well-defined samples of radio galaxies with ample spectroscopic information .