Black
Black names 7 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Black FRANK SWETT, an American lawyer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
FRANK SWETT, an American lawyer, born in Limington, Me., March 8, 1853; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1875; was editor of the "Journal" in Johnstown, N. Y. He studied law at Troy in the office of Robertson & Foster, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He won much popularity by his activity in prosecuting the men who murdered Robert Ross in the election riots in Troy in 1892. In 1895-1897, he was a member of Congress, and in 1897- 1899 Governor of New York. At the Republican National Convention in 1904 in Chicago he presented the name of Theodore Roosevelt for President. He died in 1913.
Black WILLIAM, a Scottish novelist
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
WILLIAM, a Scottish novelist , born in Glasgow in November, 1841. He received his education at private schools . In 1874 he abandoned journalism. His novels include "Love or Marriage" (1867); "In Silk Attire" (1869); " A Daughte of Heth" (1871); "A Princess of Thule" (1873); "Three Feathers " (1875); "Madcap Violet" (1876); "Macleod of Dare" (1878); "White Wings: a Yachting Romance" (1880); " Yolande" (1883); Shakespeare" (1804); "White Heather" (1885); " The Strange Adventures of a House-Boat" (1888); "Judith "Wolfenberg" (1892); "Briseis" (1896); "Wild Eelin" (1898); besides others. He has also written a "Life of Goldsmith" (1879). He died in Brighton, England, Dec. 10, 1898.
Black JOHN, a Scotch editor
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
JOHN, a Scotch editor, born near Duns, Berwickshire, in 1783. He was left an orphan when 12 years_old, and educated himself. He went to London in 1810. There he became a Parliamentary reporter for the "Morning Chronicle ," of which he was made editor in 1817. Among the contributors to his paper were Charles Dickens and James Mill. In 1843 he retired from the editorship. He was author of a "Life of Tasso, with an Historical and Critical Account of His Writings," and also translated works from the German, French, and Italian. He died in Snodland, June 15, 1855.
Black ADAM, a Scotch publisher
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
ADAM, a Scotch publisher, born in Edinburgh, Feb. 20, 1784. In 1808 he began business as a bookseller, BJÖRNSTJERNE BJORNSON and later with his nephew, Charles B. Black, established a publishing house in Edinburgh. Their most famous publications were "Encyclopædia Britannica," and the "Waverly Novels." Adam Black Edinburgh was twice Lord Provost of and in 1856-1865 represented that city in Parliament. He declined the honor of knighthood, and a statue was erected in Edinburgh in recognition of his public services, in 1877. He died Jan. 24, 1874.
Black JEREMIAH SULLIVAN, an American lawyer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
JEREMIAH SULLIVAN, an American lawyer, born in Glades, Pa., Jan. 10, 1810; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1831. In 1857 he was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by President Buchanan, and in 1860-1861 was United States Secretary of State. On the accession of President Lincoln he retired from public life. He died in York, Pa., Aug. 19, 1883.
Black WILLIAM MURRAY, an American military engineer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
WILLIAM MURRAY, an American military engineer, born in Lancaster, Pa., in 1855. He was a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and the West Point Military Academy. His professional life was spent chiefly in Government river and harbor work. He saw service in Havana and the Philippines. In 1913, he was made chief of the Engineer Corps, succeeding Brigadier-General, William H. Bixby.
Black the negation of all color
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the negation of all color, the opposite of white. There are several black pigments, such as ivory black, made from burned ivory or bones; lamp black, from the smoke of resinous substance; Spanish black, or cork black, from burned cork, etc.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
The most conspicuous change is what the headword now means: Collier's in 1921 defined Black only as "the negation of all color" and listed ivory, lamp and cork black among the pigments, with no hint of the racial sense that dominates the word today, and which American news style guides such as the Associated Press agreed to capitalise in 2020. Of the six men, Adam Black has left the longest trace, since the Edinburgh firm he built with his nephew survives as the A and C Black imprint, publisher of Who's Who, absorbed by Bloomsbury in 2000; Jeremiah Sullivan Black is remembered less for his year as Buchanan's Secretary of State than for arguing Ex parte Milligan in 1866, a decision on military tribunals still cited in modern debates over detention. William Murray Black, described here simply as chief of the Engineer Corps from 1913, went on to run the Army engineers through the First World War, and Frank Swett Black is now a footnote among New York governors, best known for being succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt. The two literary men have faded hardest: William Black's yachting romances, once bestsellers, are read almost only by specialists, and John Black's Morning Chronicle is chiefly recalled for employing the young Charles Dickens, whom the entry mentions in passing.
Written for this edition, 2026.