Who's Who in America - 1994, 48th ed

Healthcare Financial Management, April, 1994 by Bill Siwicki

The 48th edition of Marquis Who's Who in America is the biggest "Big Red Book" yet, with more than 82,500 entries containing life and career data on noteworthy Americans from every walk of life (from radio's Dick Clark to HFMA's Richard L. Clarke).

As stated by original publisher A.N. Marquis in 1898 (one year before the first edition was published), the purpose of this gargantuan reference book is "to chronicle the lives of individuals whose achievements and contributions to society made them subjects of widespread reference interest and inquiry." After scanning the three volumes of the 48th edition, it is obvious that today's publishers are continuing A.N. Marquis' mission in an exhaustive, meticulous, and satisfying fashion.

Each entry in the tome reads like a mini-biography. The entries consist of data from the following categories: name, occupation, vital statistics, parents, marriage, children, education, professional certifications, career, career related, writings and creative works, civic and political activities, military, awards and fellowships, professional and association memberships (and clubs and lodges), political affiliation, religion, avocations, home address, and office address.

Marquis' strict standards of admission and impressive board of advisors (including the likes of Milton Friedman, Elie Wiesel, James A. Michener, and Louis Rukeyser) help ensure the text's usefulness and value. Further, 1994 is the first year that the geographic, professional, and retiree indexes (which comprise volume three) are included as part of the Marquis Who's Who package. Their inclusion was a wise move, for they make the text more user-friendly and add value to the set as a serious reference tool. And 1994 also marks the first annually updated edition, thus making the text more up to date.

Marquis Who's Who includes over 9,000 individuals in the finance field, over 9,500 individuals in the healthcare field, and over 3,000 individuals in government service. For hospital chief executive officers, healthcare financial managers involved in advocacy efforts, and healthcare professionals interested in high-level networking, Marquis Who's Who can be a valuable biographical resource. On a broader level, it can enhance any healthcare facility library by providing unique, personal information that no other general reference book can.

Reviewed by Bill Siwicki, associate editor of HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, HFMA, Westchester, Illinois.