Funk & Wagnalls

Quick Facts: Who was Funk & Wagnalls?

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Funk & Wagnalls

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American publisher renowned for comprehensive reference works and encyclopedias.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Funk & Wagnalls was an American publisher known for its reference works, including A Standard Dictionary of the English Language (1st ed. 1893–5), and the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia (25 volumes, 1st ed. The encyclopedia was renamed Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Encyclopedia in 1931 and in 1945, it was known as New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Universal Standard Encyclopedia, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Reference Encyclopedia, and Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia (29 volumes, 1st ed.

Career & Major Achievements

The last printing of Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia was in 1997. As of 2025, annual Yearbooks are still in production. The I.K. Funk & Company, founded in 1875, was renamed Funk & Wagnalls Company after two years, and later became Funk & Wagnalls Inc., then Funk & Wagnalls Corporation.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Isaac Kaufmann Funk founded the business in 1875 as I.K. Funk & Company. In 1877, Adam Willis Wagnalls, one of Funk's classmates at Wittenberg College (now Wittenberg University), joined the firm as a partner and the name of the firm was changed to Funk & Wagnalls Company. During its early years, Funk & Wagnalls Company published religious books.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1875: 1875 Milestone — Funk & Company, founded in 1875, was renamed Funk & Wagnalls Company after two years, and later became Funk & Wagnalls Inc.
2. 1877: 1877 Milestone — In 1877, Adam Willis Wagnalls, one of Funk's classmates at Wittenberg College (now Wittenberg University), joined the firm as a partner and the name of the firm was changed to Funk & Wagnalls Company.
3. 1893: 1893 Milestone — 1893–5), and the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia (25 volumes, 1st ed.
4. 1931: 1931 Milestone — The encyclopedia was renamed Funk & Wagnalls New Standard Encyclopedia in 1931 and in 1945, it was known as New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Universal Standard Encyclopedia, Funk & Wagnalls Standard Reference Encyclopedia, and Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia (29 volumes, 1st ed.
5. 1997: 1997 Milestone — The last printing of Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia was in 1997.
6. 2025: 2025 Milestone — As of 2025, annual Yearbooks are still in production.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Funk & Wagnalls

True or False: “The Funk & Wagnalls Standard Encyclopedia was continuously updated and reprinted every single year from 1912 until 1997.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the encyclopedia was updated and reprinted frequently, it was not guaranteed to be published in a new edition every single year across its entire run.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Szent-Györgyi — Historical peer (Born in 1893) (1893): Pioneering Hungarian biochemist, Nobel laureate for Vitamin C and muscle research.
• Alexander Cunningham — Historical peer (Died in 1893) (1893): Pioneering British archaeologist and founder of the Archaeological Survey of India.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Born in 1931) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Adolfo Pérez Esquivel — Historical peer (Born in 1931) (1931): Argentine activist and Nobel Peace laureate for human rights defense.
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Born in 1945) (1945): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Adolf Hitler — Historical peer (Died in 1945) (1945): Austrian-born German politician who became dictator of Germany during the Nazi era.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Ahn Sol-bin — Historical peer (Born in 1997) (1997): South Korean singer and actress, known for her work in the girl group Laboum.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.

Frequently Asked Questions about Funk & Wagnalls