Marquis Who's Who (/ˈmɑːrkwɪs/ or /mɑːrˈkiː/) is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies. The books usually are entitled Who's Who in... followed by some subject, such as Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Science and Engineering, Who's Who in American Politics, etc. Often, Marquis Who's Who books are found in the reference section of local libraries, at corporate libraries, and are also used for research by universities.[1][2]
In 2005, while Marquis was owned by News Communications, Inc., publishers of The Hill; The New York Times referred to the sixtieth edition of Who's Who in America as "a librarian's Vanity Fair".[3]
Marquis states in its preface that Who's Who in America "endeavors to profile the leaders of American society; those men and women who are influencing their nation's development".[4]
Entries in Marquis Who's Who books list career and personal data for each biography, including birth date and place, names of parents and family members, education, writings and creative works, civic activities, awards, political affiliation, religion, and addresses.[5] The content also is provided online to libraries and other paid subscribers.
Founded in 1898 by Albert Nelson Marquis as an American counterpoint to the UK-oriented publication of the same name (published by A.C. Black since 1849 and, notably, including substantial biographies since 1897), the first edition of the publication contained concise biographies of more than 8,500 "distinguished Americans". Albert Marquis wrote that the book's objective was to "chronicle the lives of individuals whose achievements and contributions to society make them subjects of widespread reference interest and inquiry."[4][6]
Originally independent, it was acquired by the conglomerate ITT. Macmillan bought ITT's publishing division in 1985. Reed Publishing bought Marquis and National Register from Macmillan in 1991.[7] Reed Elsevier sold Marquis and National Register to Commonwealth Business Media in 2001.[8] News Communications, Inc., which owns The Hill, bought Marquis in 2003.[9][10][11]
In 2016, the company's assets, including all the trademarks were transferred to Marquis Who's Who Ventures LLC, which is privately owned.[12]
Marquis Who's Who states that selection of individuals for listing in its publications "is based on reference value. Individuals become eligible for listing by virtue of their positions and/or noteworthy achievements that have proved to be of significant value to society. An individual's desire to be listed is not sufficient reason for inclusion. Similarly, wealth or social position are not criteria. Purchase of the book is never a factor in the selection of biographees".[4][13]
A 2005 The New York Times feature describes some aspects of the selection process: "An editorial team of 70, including 12 researchers, make the call on who's notable and who's not".
Marquis calls its selection criteria "stringent" and claims that biographical data on candidates for listing are reviewed by its editors to confirm that its requirements are met. Their chief executive, Gene M. McGovern, told The New York Times that "the fundamental standards here are position and accomplishment".[3] Once selected, a biographical draft is sent to biographees for pre-publication checking. In cases where notable individuals decline to submit biographical data, Marquis proceeds to compile all of the information to be published.[4]
Criticism
In 2007, referring to the International Biographical Centre, the American Biographical Institute, and Marquis Who's Who, Jan Margosian, consumer information coordinator for the Oregon Department of Justice, lumped all biographical reference volumes together in a "warning to consumers" to be wary, labeled all such companies "pretty tacky", and added that "I don't know why they would put you in there if they weren't hoping to get you to buy the book. You truly have to look at how they are marketing and what the spin is. It's something you might want to watch out for".[14]
In 1999, Forbes magazine published "The Hall of Lame" by Tucker Carlson, in which Carlson reported that the selection process was neither rigorous nor meaningful; self-nominators and thousands of people who are not particularly notable were included; and that Marquis profited by selling subscriber addresses to direct mail marketers.[15]
As reference source
Forbes adopted Who’s Who in America as a source for compiling information on post-graduate success when it began ranking America's most prestigious colleges in 2007.[16]Forbes stopped referencing Marquis Who’s Who in 2013, replacing it with various of its own lists, such as Power Women, 30 Under 30, CEOs on the Global 2000, Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners, Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellows, those elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and winners of major Arts awards.[17]
Two statisticians with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company used inclusion in Who's Who in America in a study conducted 1950–1961, which concluded that people listed in the publication lived longer than their unlisted peers.[18]
^Bates College Library Recommended Resources 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
^ abHamilton, William L. (November 13, 2005). "Who Are You? Why Are You Here?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
^ abcdMarquis Who's Who. Who's Who in America 1994. Chicago, Ill: Marquis Who's Who. pp. vi. ISBN0-8379-0151-0.
^"Marquis Who's Who Bluesheet". Thomson Reuters. 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
^Leonard, John. W., ed. (1900). WHO'S IN AMERICA; A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men and Women of the United States 1899-1900 (1 ed.). Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Company. Retrieved September 14, 2016 – via Internet Archive.
^"Macmillan directories go to Reed for $146 million". Publishers Weekly. 1991-10-18. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
^"Commonwealth to pick up Reed titles". Dayton Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
^Center for College Affordability and Productivity staff (11 August 2010). "Methodology". Forbes.
^Caroline Howard, “Ranking America's Top Colleges 2013", Forbes, July 24, 2013
^Lawrence K. Altman, "Who's Who [in America] linked to longer lives. Listed American Men Are Found to Outlast Others," The New York Times, July 26, 1970, p. 60.
External links
Library Journal eReview of Marquis Biographies Online, September 15, 2011
marquis, ɑːr, ɑːr, american, publisher, number, directories, containing, short, biographies, books, usually, entitled, followed, some, subject, such, america, american, women, world, science, engineering, american, politics, often, books, found, reference, sec. Marquis Who s Who ˈ m ɑːr k w ɪ s or m ɑːr ˈ k iː is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies The books usually are entitled Who s Who in followed by some subject such as Who s Who in America Who s Who of American Women Who s Who in the World Who s Who in Science and Engineering Who s Who in American Politics etc Often Marquis Who s Who books are found in the reference section of local libraries at corporate libraries and are also used for research by universities 1 2 Marquis Who s WhoFounded1898FounderAlbert Nelson MarquisCountry of originUnited StatesHeadquarters locationBerkeley Heights New JerseyDistributionWorldwideKey peopleErica Lee CEO and editor in chiefNonfiction topicsBiographiesOfficial websitewww wbr marquiswhoswho wbr comIn 2005 while Marquis was owned by News Communications Inc publishers of The Hill The New York Times referred to the sixtieth edition of Who s Who in America as a librarian s Vanity Fair 3 Marquis states in its preface that Who s Who in America endeavors to profile the leaders of American society those men and women who are influencing their nation s development 4 Entries in Marquis Who s Who books list career and personal data for each biography including birth date and place names of parents and family members education writings and creative works civic activities awards political affiliation religion and addresses 5 The content also is provided online to libraries and other paid subscribers Contents 1 History 2 Publications 2 1 General publications 2 2 Historical series 3 Selection process 4 Criticism 5 As reference source 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditFounded in 1898 by Albert Nelson Marquis as an American counterpoint to the UK oriented publication of the same name published by A C Black since 1849 and notably including substantial biographies since 1897 the first edition of the publication contained concise biographies of more than 8 500 distinguished Americans Albert Marquis wrote that the book s objective was to chronicle the lives of individuals whose achievements and contributions to society make them subjects of widespread reference interest and inquiry 4 6 Originally independent it was acquired by the conglomerate ITT Macmillan bought ITT s publishing division in 1985 Reed Publishing bought Marquis and National Register from Macmillan in 1991 7 Reed Elsevier sold Marquis and National Register to Commonwealth Business Media in 2001 8 News Communications Inc which owns The Hill bought Marquis in 2003 9 10 11 In 2016 the company s assets including all the trademarks were transferred to Marquis Who s Who Ventures LLC which is privately owned 12 Publications EditGeneral publications Edit Marquis publications include Who s Who in America ISSN 0083 9396 Who s Who in the World ISSN 0083 9825 Who s Who in American Art ISSN 0000 0191 Who s Who in American Politics Who s Who in the East Who s Who in the West Who s Who in the Midwest Who s Who in the South Southwest Who s Who in Medicine and Healthcare Who s Who in Asia Who s Who in American Law Who s Who in Corporate America ISSN 2159 9955 Who s Who in Science and Engineering Who s Who of American WomenHistorical series Edit Who Was Who in America ISSN 0146 8081 Who s Who in 20th Century AmericaSelection process EditMarquis Who s Who states that selection of individuals for listing in its publications is based on reference value Individuals become eligible for listing by virtue of their positions and or noteworthy achievements that have proved to be of significant value to society An individual s desire to be listed is not sufficient reason for inclusion Similarly wealth or social position are not criteria Purchase of the book is never a factor in the selection of biographees 4 13 A 2005 The New York Times feature describes some aspects of the selection process An editorial team of 70 including 12 researchers make the call on who s notable and who s not Marquis calls its selection criteria stringent and claims that biographical data on candidates for listing are reviewed by its editors to confirm that its requirements are met Their chief executive Gene M McGovern told The New York Times that the fundamental standards here are position and accomplishment 3 Once selected a biographical draft is sent to biographees for pre publication checking In cases where notable individuals decline to submit biographical data Marquis proceeds to compile all of the information to be published 4 Criticism EditIn 2007 referring to the International Biographical Centre the American Biographical Institute and Marquis Who s Who Jan Margosian consumer information coordinator for the Oregon Department of Justice lumped all biographical reference volumes together in a warning to consumers to be wary labeled all such companies pretty tacky and added that I don t know why they would put you in there if they weren t hoping to get you to buy the book You truly have to look at how they are marketing and what the spin is It s something you might want to watch out for 14 In 1999 Forbes magazine published The Hall of Lame by Tucker Carlson in which Carlson reported that the selection process was neither rigorous nor meaningful self nominators and thousands of people who are not particularly notable were included and that Marquis profited by selling subscriber addresses to direct mail marketers 15 As reference source EditForbes adopted Who s Who in America as a source for compiling information on post graduate success when it began ranking America s most prestigious colleges in 2007 16 Forbes stopped referencing Marquis Who s Who in 2013 replacing it with various of its own lists such as Power Women 30 Under 30 CEOs on the Global 2000 Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellows those elected to the National Academy of Sciences and winners of major Arts awards 17 Two statisticians with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company used inclusion in Who s Who in America in a study conducted 1950 1961 which concluded that people listed in the publication lived longer than their unlisted peers 18 See also EditWho s Who Other publications and scamsReferences Edit Marquis Biographies Online Bates College Library Recommended Resources Archived 2012 04 25 at the Wayback Machine a b Hamilton William L November 13 2005 Who Are You Why Are You Here The New York Times Retrieved 2022 07 28 a b c d Marquis Who s Who Who s Who in America 1994 Chicago Ill Marquis Who s Who pp vi ISBN 0 8379 0151 0 Marquis Who s Who Bluesheet Thomson Reuters 2008 04 21 Retrieved 2008 04 22 Leonard John W ed 1900 WHO S IN AMERICA A Biographical Dictionary of Living Men and Women of the United States 1899 1900 1 ed Chicago A N Marquis amp Company Retrieved September 14 2016 via Internet Archive Macmillan directories go to Reed for 146 million Publishers Weekly 1991 10 18 Retrieved 2019 12 22 Commonwealth to pick up Reed titles Dayton Business Journal Retrieved 2020 05 25 Trademark Assignment Cover Sheet USPTO 2016 05 03 Entity Filing Details 2016 04 25 Who s Who Of Who s Who Scams About the Database www marquisbiographiesonline com Retrieved 2020 11 23 Compiling the Forbes CCAP Rankings PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2011 09 19 Retrieved 2011 11 21 Paying for prestige the cost of recognition Vanguard Portland State s student run newspaper 2007 Archived from the original on 2017 05 29 Tucker Carlson March 8 1999 The Hall of Lame Forbes Magazine Retrieved 2007 10 17 Center for College Affordability and Productivity staff 11 August 2010 Methodology Forbes Caroline Howard Ranking America s Top Colleges 2013 Forbes July 24 2013 Lawrence K Altman Who s Who in America linked to longer lives Listed American Men Are Found to Outlast Others The New York Times July 26 1970 p 60 External links EditLibrary Journal eReview of Marquis Biographies Online September 15 2011 Library Journal Reference Reviews August 2011 Who s who in America at the HathiTrust Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marquis Who 27s Who amp oldid 1122424477, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
