Biographers International Organization
The BIO logo
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| Formation | 2010 |
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| Type | 501(c)6 organization |
| Purpose | BIO promotes the art and craft of biography, and furthers the professional interests of its practitioners. |
| Headquarters | Santa Fe, NM |
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Region served
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International |
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Membership
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Approx. 400 members |
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Founder
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James McGrath Morris |
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President
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Will Swift |
| Website | www.biographersinternational.org |
Biographers International Organization (BIO) is an international, non-profit, 501 (c)(6) 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 2016 is Will Swift.
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 members also vote annually on the Plutarch Award, the only international literary prize dedicated solely to biography.
BIO informs, supports, promotes, defends and advocates for its members.
BIO activities include informing biographers on the craft of biography, by providing guidance on matters related to the researching, writing, and publishing of biography; helping them deal effectively with resources, subjects, technology, agents. editors, and publishers; encouraging public interest in and appreciation for biography; and conducting conferences, public discussion groups, and mentoring.
BIO was granted its corporate charter on May 26, 2010. It is designated as a 501 (c) 6.
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 including Deirdre Bair, Douglas Brinkley, Robert Caro, Joan Hedrick, Justin Kaplan, Eric Lax, David Levering Lewis, Andrew Lownie, John Matteson, William S. McFeely, Jon Meacham, Marion Meade, Nancy Milford, Susan Ronald, Stacy Schiff, Martin J. Sherwin, Kenneth Silverman, William Taubman, and Terry Teachout.
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