Biographers International Organization


Biographers International Organization is an international, non-profit, 501 organization founded to promote the art and craft of biography, and to further the professional interests of its practitioners. The organization was founded in 2010 by a committee of noted biographers, led by James McGrath Morris, who served as BIO's first Executive Director. The president of BIO as of 2024 is Steve Paul. The executive director as of 2020 is Michael Gately.
Each year, the organization presents its highest award, the BIO Award, to an individual who has made notable contributions to advancing the art and craft of biography. BIO's annual Plutarch Award is presented to the best biography of the year, as determined by a panel of noted biographers.

Mission

BIO aims to promote the art and craft of biography, cultivate a diverse community of biographers, encourage public interest in biography, and provide educational and fellowship opportunities that support the work of biographers worldwide.
BIO fulfills its mission by:
  • hosting the annual BIO Conference which presents inspiring speakers, opportunities for networking, and instruction about researching, writing, publishing, and marketing biographical work
  • hosting additional in-person and online events that encourage biographers to learn from and engage with one another
  • publishing a monthly members' newsletter, The Biographer's Craft, which includes news, in-depth features, and advice pertaining to biography
  • supporting aspiring and practicing biographers with prizes and fellowships
  • honoring outstanding biographers, editors, and librarians with awards
  • offering a coaching program in which members receive personalized advice from experienced biographers
  • publishing a quarterly newsletter to inform the media and publishing world about BIO's activities and general news related to biography

    History

BIO was granted its corporate charter on May 26, 2010, as a 501 6. On December 27, 2019, BIO became a 501 3.
BIO grew from the vision of biographer James McGrath Morris, creator and editor of The Biographer's Craft newsletter. In July 2008, Morris wrote an open letter to biographers, from which a grass-roots organization of practicing and apprentice biographers began to emerge. On March 26, 2009, the first formal organizing meeting took place at the Leon Levy Center for Biography at CUNY, and a temporary 15-member founding committee was formed to function as an Interim Board of Directors.
In February 2010, the Interim Board announced the formation of an Advisory Council composed of leading and noted biographers and agents. The current Advisory Council includes Debby Applegate, Taylor Branch, Robert Caro, Ron Chernow, Tim Duggan, John A. Farrell, Caroline Fraser, Michael Holroyd, Peniel Joseph, Hermione Lee, Andrew Lownie, Megan Marshall, John Matteson, Jon Meacham, Candice Millard, James McGrath Morris, Andrew Morton, Hans Renders, Stacy Schiff, Gayfryd Steinberg, T. J. Stiles, Rachel L. Swarns, William Taubman, and Claire Tomalin.
BIO convened its first conference in May 2010, at the University of Massachusetts Boston. It has since held its conference annually, at various locations in the United States, including Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles.
In 2013, the BIO Board created the Plutarch Award, the first international literary award to be presented by biographers for the year's best biography. Initially selected by a vote of the membership, the Plutarch is now selected by a committee of noted biographers from a list of ten finalists. The winning biography is announced at the annual BIO Conference.

Awards

Each year, BIO presents several awards to honor biographers, editors, librarians and archivists, and their work.
  • BIO Award: Since 2010, the BIO Award has been presented to an individual who has "made a significant contribution to the art and craft of biography."
  • Biblio Award: Created in 2012, the Biblio Award is presented to an outstanding librarian or archivist. Awardees are selected by the BIO Board of Directors, from nominations submitted by BIO members.
  • Editorial Excellence: Beginning in 2014, the BIO Award for Editorial Excellence has been presented to an outstanding editor of biography.
  • Frances "Frank" Rollin Fellowship for African American Biography: Established in 2020, the annual Rollin Fellowship is named for Frances Rollin Whipper, the first known African American biographer, and is awarded to promote biographies of African American lives.
  • Hazel Rowley Prize: Starting in 2014, the Rowley Prize is awarded annually for the best proposal by a first-time biographer. Winners receive a cash prize and the winning proposal is reviewed by an established literary agent.
  • Plutarch Award: Since 2013, the Plutarch Award has been presented for the best biography of the year. The Plutarch is named for the Greek historian who is credited as the father of biography.
  • Robert and Ina Caro Travel/Research Fellowship: In 2017 BIO established an annual research and travel fellowship to support the travel of one or two biographers. The Fellowship is named in honor of Robert Caro and Ina Caro, whose work demonstrates the crucial importance of a sense of place in delineating character.
Year
BIO Award
Biblio Award
Plutarch Award
Editorial Excellence
2010Jean Strouse
2011Robert Caro
2012Arnold RampersadEdward Comstock, University of Southern California
2013Ron ChernowDavid Smith, New York Public LibraryRobert Caro, The Passage of Power
2014Stacy SchiffWallace Dailey and Heather Cole, Curators
Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard University		Linda Leavell, Holding On Upside Down: The Life and Work of Marianne MooreRobert Gottlieb
2015Taylor BranchThomas Mann, Library of CongressHermione Lee, Penelope Fitzgerald: A LifeJonathan Segal
2016Claire TomalinDave Grabarek, Library of VirginiaRosemary Sullivan, Stalin’s Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana AlliluyevaNan A. Talese
2017Candice MillardKaren Alder Abramson & Staff
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum		Ruth Franklin, Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted LifeRobert Weil
2018Richard HolmesMichael T. Ryan, VP & Director
Patricia J. Klingenstein Library, New-York Historical Society		Caroline Fraser, Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls WilderTim Duggan
2019James McGrath MorrisNancy Kuhl, Curator of Poetry
Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Library		David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of FreedomIleene Smith
2020Hermione LeeSonia Purnell, A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War IIGayatri Patnaik
2021David Levering LewisJeff Flannery, Reference and Reader Services Section in the Manuscript Division of the Library of CongressA. N. Wilson, The Mystery of Charles DickensBob Bender
2022Megan MarshallClaudia Anderson, The LBJ Presidential LibraryFrances Wilson, Burning Man: The Trials of D. H. Lawrence.Gerald Howard
2023Kitty KelleyDavid Ferriero, Archivist of the United StatesJennifer Homans, Mr. B: George Balanchine’s 20th Century.Michael Korda
2024Kai BirdStephen Enniss, Harry Ransom CenterYepoka Yeebo, Anansi’s Gold: The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World.
2025Dawn PorterCynthia Carr, Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar and Lucy Hughes-Hallett, The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham.

Publications

The Biographer's Craft is a monthly online newsletter that active BIO members receive as part of their membership. TBC features original, non-fiction articles of general interest to biographers, writers, and readers of biography. Regular features include interviews with notable biographers, and a listing of biographies sold to publishers, as well as biographies published each month. BIO also publishes a quarterly online newsletter that promotes biography and the organization to members of the publishing community.
The current editor of The Biographer's Craft is Jared Stearns.

Leadership

At the first conference in Boston on May 15, 2010, Nigel Hamilton was chosen to assume the presidency, succeeding Debby Applegate, who had served as interim president. Charles J. Shields was elected vice president, and eleven others were selected to serve one- to two-year terms on the board. In its first actions, the board selected James McGrath Morris to serve as executive director.
Since 2010, BIO's president and vice president have been elected biennially by BIO members. Its Board of Directors are broken into two groups, each of which are also elected biennially. The current Board is composed of 15 members, including the president and vice president.
Term
President
Vice President
2009Debby Applegate -
2010–2012Nigel HamiltonCharles J. Shields
2012–2014James McGrath MorrisBrian Jay Jones
2014–2016Brian Jay JonesCathy Curtis
2016–2018Will SwiftDeirdre David
2018–2019Cathy CurtisDeirdre David
2019–2020Linda LeavellKarin Roffman
2020–2024Linda LeavellSarah S. Kilborne
2024–2025Steve PaulHeather Clark