Barnhart, Clarence Lewis

▪ 1994

      U.S. lexicographer and editor (b. Dec. 30, 1900, near Plattsburg, Mo.—d. Oct. 24, 1993, Peekskill, N.Y.), devoted his life to the compilation and revision of dictionaries and, together with educational psychologist Edward Lee Thorndike, was a pioneer in creating references that were exclusively geared for school-age readers—Thorndike-Barnhart dictionaries. Soon after joining (1929) textbook publisher Scott, Foresman & Co. as an editor, Barnhart graduated (1930) from the University of Chicago, where he also undertook graduate studies (1934-37). While working at Random House, he edited the original The American College Dictionary of 1947. The following year Barnhart founded his own reference book company. His many impressive undertakings included the creation in 1943 of a Dictionary of United States Army Terms and the editing of the three-volume The New Century Cyclopedia of Names (1954; with William D. Halsey), The World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary (1963), and ongoing issues of The Barnhart Dictionary Companion (with his son David K. Barnhart).

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