''Who's Who in Australia'' (''WWIA'') is an Australian

biographical dictionary A biographical dictionary is a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country (with limitations, such as living persons only, in ''Who's Who'', or deceased people onl ...

first published by

Fred Johns Frederick Johns (22 March 1868 – 3 December 1932) was an American-born Australian journalist and biographer. Johns was born in Houghton, Michigan, United States, son of Cornishman Ezekiel JohnsSuzanne Edgar,Johns, Frederick (Fred) (1868 - 1 ...

in 1906 as ''Johns's Notable Australians''. It is used as a resource for summary information on prominent Australians. ''WWIA'' is part of a series of reference works that includes ''Who's Who of Australian Women'' and ''Who's Who in Business in Australia''.

History

''Who's Who in Australia'' began as the vision of South Australian sub-editor Fred Johns. Following his arrival in Australia in 1884, Johns compiled a volume of biographies of notable living compatriots. First published in 1906, ''Johns's Notable Australians'' contained nearly 1,100 entries. Subsequent editions were published in 1908, 1912, 1913, 1914 and 1922, before the book first appeared as ''Who's Who in Australia'' in 1927. Fred Johns died in December 1932, bequeathing £1,500 to the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

to found a scholarship in biography. From 2003, the directory was published online by Crown Content Pty Ltd and later by ConnectWeb, a subsidiary of AAP which became the company Mediality.The company announced in 2022 that, after 122 years, it would cease the printed edition that year.

Criteria for inclusion

*''Who's Who in Australia'' lists persons assessed by the editors as having contributed "to Australian life on a national or international level". *''Who's Who of Australian Women'' lists women with significant achievements in business, government, the professions, arts, sport, etc. *''Who's Who in Business in Australia'' lists persons assessed as significant business leaders.

Cumulative editions

The

National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...

holds copies and reviews of Fred Johns's publications (1906–1922), successors of 1927–28, 1933–34, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1944, 1947, 1950 and 1955, and subsequent series which were triennial (1959–1988) and annual (1991–present)."''Who's Who in Australia''
National Library of Australia

References

External links

* {{Authority control Publications established in 1906 Australian biographical dictionaries 1906 establishments in Australia