Albert Nelson Marquis (January 10, 1855 – December 21, 1943) was a Chicago publisher best known for creating the Who's Who book series, starting with Who's Who in America, which was first published in 1899.[1][2]

Marquis was born in Decatur, Ohio, and raised by his maternal grandparents in nearby Hamersville. At age 21 he founded the A.N. Marquis & Company in Cincinnati, and moved to Chicago in 1884. His early publications were generally guide books, directories, and maps. He was the full owner of Who's Who until 1926,[2][3] and remained as editor in chief of the publication until 1940.[4] Marquis also published specialized versions Who's Who, including occupation-specific and location-specific editions.[5]

Marquis died of heart trouble at his home in Evanston, Illinois, on December 21, 1943.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ 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 11, 2016 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b (22 December 1943). Albert N. Marquis, Who's Who Editor. Founder of the Biographical Dictionary of Notables in America is Dead at 89, The New York Times
  3. ^ The Book of Chicagoans, p. 459 (1911)
  4. ^ a b (22 December 1943). "Who's Who' Editor Dies at Age of 88", Nevada State Journal (UP story), p. 9 col. 1.
  5. ^ Marquis, Albert Nelson, ed. (1914). Ira W. Jayne (2nd ed.). Chicago: A.N. Marquis. p. 266. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

External links edit