Who's Who in America is a biographical reference work published annually that provides brief biographical information on prominent individuals in the United States. It has been published since 1899 and profiles over 90,000 living individuals from a wide range of fields who are selected based on their accomplishments and prominence. Entries include biographical details such as education and career, and the work can be searched by name, field, or location to find information on notable individuals.

1. WHO’SWHO
IN AMERICA
Using Marquis’
69th edition, in print

2.  Provides comprehensive bibliographical data
on over ninety thousand prominent
individuals
 Individuals represent nearly every major field of
endeavor, including the arts, athletics,
humanities, sciences, military, government, law,
finance, industry, education, etc.
 All individuals are alive and prominent today
 Printed since 1899
 New edition printed annually
What is Who’sWho in America?

3.  Individuals are selected by position,
noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and
prominence in his/her respected field
 While the majority of entries are Americans,
foreign individuals with a great influence on
America are also included
Who is in Who’sWho in America?

4.  Biographees are
invited to submit their
own information for
publication
 Research and
editorial staff
 These entries are
indicated with an
asterisk *
Who writes the biographies?

5.  Bruce Jenner, Olympian and reality star
 Joyce Carol Oates, author
 Barack Obama, former president
 Morton Owen Schapiro, Northwestern
University President
 Mark Fields, CEO of Ford Motor Company
 Neil deGrasse Tyson, physicist
 Gail Bush, noted librarian
Who will you find in Who’sWho in
America?

6.  Abraham Lincoln
 Laura Ingalls Wilder
 Elvis Presley
Though these individuals are distinguished,
they are not alive in America today.
Who will you not find in Who’sWho in
America?

7.  Full name
 Occupation
 Birth place and date (vital statistics)
 Parents
 Marriage
 Children
 Education
 Professional Certifications
What information is provided?

8.  Career
 Career-related
 Writings and creative works
 Civic and political activities
 Military
 Awards and fellowships
 Professional and association memberships,
clubs and lodges
What information is provided?

9.  Political affiliation
 Religion
 Achievements
 Hobbies (avocations)
 Home address
 Office address
Note: not all information is available for
each individual.
What information is provided?

10.  What years did Michael Jordan play with the bulls?
 Where did Mark Zuckerberg go to college?
 How can I contact J.K. Rowling?
 Does Michael Phelps have any children?
 What does Ruth Bader Ginsburg like to do for fun?
 Are there any notable surgeons in Chicago?
 Are there any notable lawyers in Beloit, Wisconsin?
 How many notable authors live in Montana?
What kind of questions can you answer?

11.  In the reference section at your local library
Where can I find Who’sWho in America?

12.  Two volumes: A-L and M-Z (plus indexes)
 Names are arranged alphabetically by surname
 Geographic Index (Volume 2)
 Listings of biographies by city
 Arranged by state
 Further broken down by cities
 All items listed alphabetically
 Professional Index (Volume 2)
 Listings of biographies by professional field
 Arranged by field
 Further broken down into state, then city
 All items listed alphabetically
How is Who’sWho in America arranged?

13. How to search Who’sWho in America
 Let’s say we are searching for Rahm
Emanuel (current mayor of Chicago).
1. Locate volume 1 (A-L).
2. Search by surname, Emanuel.
3. Use the names at the top of each page as a
guide, as if using a traditional dictionary.

14. How to search Who’sWho in America
4. Flip to the Es.
5. When we’ve found Elwazir and Emerson, we
know we are on the right pages.

15. How to search Who’sWho in America
6. Names are listed
alphabetically. Emanuel,
Rahm Israel is between
Emans, Sara Jean and
Emanuele, Mary Ann.

16. Understanding each entry
 Use the “Key to
Information” at
the beginning
of Volume 1 (A-
L)
 Explains the
order of
information in
each entry

17. Understanding each entry
 Reference the
Table of
Abbreviations at
the beginning of
volume 1
 Explains
abbreviations for
degrees,
associations, careers,
months, etc.

18. Having trouble?
 Reference “Alphabetical
practices” at the
beginning of volume 1
 Answers questions
such as:
 How Arabic names
are listed
 How Asian names
are transcribed
 How names starting
with “De” “Von” or
“Mac” are listed

19. Using the Geographic Index
 Let’s say we want to know if there are any
notable individuals in Naperville, Illinois.
1. Locate the Geographic Index towards the end of
Volume 2
2. States are arranged alphabetically
3. Use the state names at the top of each page as a
guide, like we did to find Rahm Emanuel
4. Find Illinois

20. Using the Geographic Index
5. Cities are located
alphabetically.
Naperville is between
Murphysboro and New
Athens

21. Using the Professional Index
 Let’s say we want to
find notable
engineers in
Berkley, California
1. Locate the Table of
Contents at the start
of volume 1
2. Fields are listed
alphabetically
3. Find engineering

22. Using the Professional Index
5. Flip to the correct
page in volume 2
6. Cities are listed
alphabetically.
Find California
7. Berkeley is
between
Bakersfield and
Beverly Hills

23. Follow-up
Now you understand how to use Marquis
Who’sWho in America!
If you have any further questions about using this
reference, please stop by the reference desk
during library hours.
We hope you enjoyed this presentation and come
back to visit the library soon.
Thank you!

24. Citation
Marks, F. (Ed.). (2015) Who’sWho in America
2015 (69th ed.). New Providence, NJ:
Marquis Who’sWho LLC.

25. (2017). Our history. Retrieved from
https://www.marquiswhoswho.com/pages/about-us
References