Current Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Current Biography (ISSN 0011-3344) is an American monthly publication issued by the H. W. Wilson Company of The Bronx, New York, a publisher of reference books, that appears every month except December. Current Biography contains profiles of people in the news and includes politicians, athletes, businessmen, and entertainers. Published since 1940, the articles are annually cumulated into bound volumes. The work is a standard reference source in American libraries and the publisher keeps in print the older volumes. Wilson also issues cumulative indexes to the set, and an online version is available as a subscription database.
Current Biography profiles are written by the Wilson Company's in-house staff. They are typically produced by consulting previously published press accounts and occasionally by conducting interviews with the subjects. Running from 2,000 to 5,000 words, articles usually are accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of the subject, a mailing address for the subject, and a short bibliography. About eighteen profiles are included in each monthly issue. Obituaries are regularly printed of those previously profiled. They briefly summarize the life of the subject and add details occurring subsequent to the original profile. The entire series is available through the company's WilsonWeb on-line service, which many public libraries subscribe to.
Current Biography is frequently referenced by journalists, and Bill Moyers once said, "[Current Biography] has been invaluable to my staff and me. I wouldn't be without it."
A rival publication is Gale Publications's NewsMakers containing articles produced in the same fashion as Current Biography.
Notable contributors who have written for Current Biography include Cullen Thomas, the author of the memoir, "Brother One Cell," and Mike Batistick, the author of the play, "Ponies," which was produced Off-Broadway.
