Riche was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[3] She studied labor economics at the University of Michigan,[5] where she earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1960. She stayed at Michigan for another year, earning a master's degree in 1961.[4] Being female made her unable to obtain interviews at the banking firms she had been aiming for,[5] so instead she worked on productivity statistics at the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1961 to 1976.[4][5]
In 1976, she married Steven Marston, an economist at Cornell University, and left Washington to move to Ithaca, New York.[5] In 1977, she completed a Ph.D. in French literature at Georgetown University.[4] She writes that the subject is more strongly connected to her census work than it would seem, through "narrative structure" and "the story the data tell".[5]
For the next 13 years, from 1978 to 1991, she worked at American Demographics magazine, where she was one of the founding editors.[4] She also became editor of another publication, The Numbers News, where she documented numerical trends such as the declining proportion of white men in the American population.[6][7] In 1983, her husband, then working at the Federal Trade Commission, was killed in a home invasion robbery in Alexandria, Virginia; Riche was shot as well, and ran screaming and bloodied to the house of a neighbor. She survived the shooting,[6] and returned to Ithaca.[7] In 1991 she became director of policy studies at the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C.[4]
One of her priorities as census director was the replacement of the Standard Industrial Classification, which she had used at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the North American Industry Classification System.[5] Although she cited only personal reasons in her resignation, it was seen as a sign that Congressional Republicans were winning in their fight to prevent the Census Bureau from using sampling techniques to correct for persistent undercounting of minorities and other underrepresented groups.[8] Riche had been among a group of officials pushing sampling, but was frequently frustrated by interruptions from higher-ups in the Commerce Department when she would speak to Congress on the issue.[10]
Later life
After her resignation, Riche went into private consulting and took a research faculty position at the University of Maryland, College Park.[3] Later, she became a fellow at Cornell's Center for the Study of Society and Economy.[11]
^ abKoenenn, Connie (December 27, 1989), "Though their past gaffes haven't faded away, those fearless pro forecasters, heading into a new decade, have no hestitation in putting a finger on fate", The Changing U.S. Beat, Los Angeles Times
^ abFiore, Faye (January 13, 1998), "Census Director Resigns Amid Sampling Furor", Los Angeles Times
^, American Statistical Association, archived from the original on 2017-12-01, retrieved 2017-11-25
^Vobejda, Barbara (November 11, 1997), "For census chief, More than she counted on", The Washington Post
^Murtha, William (2010), 100 Words: Two Hundred Visionaries Share Their Hope for the Future, Conari Press, p. 118, ISBN9781609251628
martha, farnsworth, riche, ritch, born, october, 1939, american, economist, directed, united, states, census, bureau, from, 1994, 1998, 19th, director, census, bureauin, office, 1994, 1998presidentbill, clintonpreceded, bybarbara, everitt, bryantsucceeded, byk. Martha Farnsworth Riche ˈ r ɪ tʃ i RITCH ee 1 2 born October 16 1939 is an American economist who directed the United States Census Bureau from 1994 to 1998 3 4 Martha Farnsworth Riche19th Director of the U S Census BureauIn office 1994 1998PresidentBill ClintonPreceded byBarbara Everitt BryantSucceeded byKenneth PrewittPersonal detailsBorn 1939 10 16 October 16 1939 age 83 Ann Arbor MichiganAlma materUniversity of Michigan Georgetown University Contents 1 Early life and pre census career 2 Census 3 Later life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and pre census career EditRiche was born in Ann Arbor Michigan 3 She studied labor economics at the University of Michigan 5 where she earned a bachelor s degree in economics in 1960 She stayed at Michigan for another year earning a master s degree in 1961 4 Being female made her unable to obtain interviews at the banking firms she had been aiming for 5 so instead she worked on productivity statistics at the Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1961 to 1976 4 5 In 1976 she married Steven Marston an economist at Cornell University and left Washington to move to Ithaca New York 5 In 1977 she completed a Ph D in French literature at Georgetown University 4 She writes that the subject is more strongly connected to her census work than it would seem through narrative structure and the story the data tell 5 For the next 13 years from 1978 to 1991 she worked at American Demographics magazine where she was one of the founding editors 4 She also became editor of another publication The Numbers News where she documented numerical trends such as the declining proportion of white men in the American population 6 7 In 1983 her husband then working at the Federal Trade Commission was killed in a home invasion robbery in Alexandria Virginia Riche was shot as well and ran screaming and bloodied to the house of a neighbor She survived the shooting 6 and returned to Ithaca 7 In 1991 she became director of policy studies at the Population Reference Bureau a non profit organization in Washington D C 4 Census EditRiche was appointed by Bill Clinton as director of the census in October 1994 and continued there until her resignation in January 1998 4 8 While she was census director Riche was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association in 1995 9 One of her priorities as census director was the replacement of the Standard Industrial Classification which she had used at the Bureau of Labor Statistics by the North American Industry Classification System 5 Although she cited only personal reasons in her resignation it was seen as a sign that Congressional Republicans were winning in their fight to prevent the Census Bureau from using sampling techniques to correct for persistent undercounting of minorities and other underrepresented groups 8 Riche had been among a group of officials pushing sampling but was frequently frustrated by interruptions from higher ups in the Commerce Department when she would speak to Congress on the issue 10 Later life EditAfter her resignation Riche went into private consulting and took a research faculty position at the University of Maryland College Park 3 Later she became a fellow at Cornell s Center for the Study of Society and Economy 11 References Edit Census 2000 Retrieved 6 June 2020 Studio Segment Martha Farnsworth Riche Retrieved 6 June 2020 a b c Directors 1989 2001 United States Census Bureau retrieved 2017 11 26 a b c d e f g Riche Martha Farnsworth 1939 Person Authority Records National Archives Catalog retrieved 2017 11 26 a b c d e f Oral History interview with Riche PDF United States Census Bureau January 28 1998 retrieved 2017 11 26 a b Marriot Michel January 4 1983 Economist Slain The Washington Post a b Koenenn Connie December 27 1989 Though their past gaffes haven t faded away those fearless pro forecasters heading into a new decade have no hestitation in putting a finger on fate The Changing U S Beat Los Angeles Times a b Fiore Faye January 13 1998 Census Director Resigns Amid Sampling Furor Los Angeles Times ASA Fellows list American Statistical Association archived from the original on 2017 12 01 retrieved 2017 11 25 Vobejda Barbara November 11 1997 For census chief More than she counted on The Washington Post Murtha William 2010 100 Words Two Hundred Visionaries Share Their Hope for the Future Conari Press p 118 ISBN 9781609251628External links EditAppearances on C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martha Farnsworth Riche amp oldid 1079793950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
