A.N. Marquis & Company began publishing "Who's Who in America" in 1899. Their business model was to publish short biographies of thousands of prominent Americans, and hope they and their friends would buy the book. In this case, they sent a draft biography to Joseph Simeon Flipper for their 12th edition, asking for his suggestions: "Should we fail to hear from you in time, the sketch will be printed in its present form." Flipper (1859-1944) was a college president, bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and brother of the more famous Henry Ossian Flipper. Rev. Flipper did not take the bait, and wrote a polite note on the original letter before returning it to Marquis: "I do not wish a copy of the book. Respectfully, J.S. Flipper." This was enough to anger the editors, who decided to remove Flipper's biography from the book. One wrote a note for the files reading "Nigger bishop, why not kill," followed by two others who added their agreement by jotting "Kill."
with--two Who's Who draft biographies for other subjects, suggesting that they were equal opportunity bigots. One, for New York Attorney General Carl Sherman (1890-1956), has a note complaining "Here is another case, evidently, of a Jew adopting a fine old American name." Another, for Buffalo mayor Francis Xavier Schwab (1874-1946), bears a note reading "Why this Bolshevik?"