Margaret Farrar
Encyclopedia
Margaret Petherbridge Farrar (March 23, 1897 – June 11, 1984) was an American
journalist
and the first crossword puzzle
editor for The New York Times
, from 1942 to 1968. Stanley Newman
has referred to her as a "crossword genius", and credits her with the creation of "many, if not most" of the rules that guide modern crossword design.
Her career in crossword puzzles began at the New York World
in 1920; although she had been hired as the publisher's secretary, she was told to assist crossword inventor Arthur Wynne
in proofreading puzzles prior to publication. Her puzzles soon became more popular than Wynne's.
In 1924, she was hired by Richard L. Simon
and Max Schuster as one of the three creators of the first crossword puzzle book; the book's success launched Simon & Schuster
as a major publisher, and at the time of Farrar's death in 1984, she was working on the 134th volume in the series.
, she attended Berkeley Institute in Brooklyn and graduated from Smith College
in 1919.
In 1926, she married John C. Farrar, one of the co-founders of Farrar & Rinehart
and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and the first crossword puzzle
Crossword Puzzle
For the common puzzle, see CrosswordCrossword Puzzle was the second to last album made by The Partridge Family and was not one of the most popular albums. It was released in 1973 and did not produce a U.S. single. This album was finally released on CD in 2003 on Arista's BMG Heritage label...
editor for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, from 1942 to 1968. Stanley Newman
Stanley Newman
Stanley Newman is a U.S. puzzle creator, editor, and publisher. Newman has been the editor of the Newsday Sunday crossword puzzle since 1988 and the editor of the Newsday daily crossword puzzle since 1992...
has referred to her as a "crossword genius", and credits her with the creation of "many, if not most" of the rules that guide modern crossword design.
Her career in crossword puzzles began at the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
in 1920; although she had been hired as the publisher's secretary, she was told to assist crossword inventor Arthur Wynne
Arthur Wynne
Arthur Wynne was the British-born inventor of the crossword puzzle.-Early life:Arthur Wynne was born on June 22, 1871 in Liverpool, England...
in proofreading puzzles prior to publication. Her puzzles soon became more popular than Wynne's.
In 1924, she was hired by Richard L. Simon
Richard L. Simon
Richard Leo Simon was an American businessman, Columbia University graduate, and co-founder of the publishing house Simon & Schuster. Born in New York City, his brother was music critic and author George T...
and Max Schuster as one of the three creators of the first crossword puzzle book; the book's success launched Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
as a major publisher, and at the time of Farrar's death in 1984, she was working on the 134th volume in the series.
Personal life
A lifelong resident of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, she attended Berkeley Institute in Brooklyn and graduated from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1919.
In 1926, she married John C. Farrar, one of the co-founders of Farrar & Rinehart
Farrar & Rinehart
Farrar & Rinehart was a United States book publishing company founded in New York. Farrar & Rinehart enjoyed success with both nonfiction and novels, notably, the landmark Rivers of America Series and the first ten books in the Nero Wolfe corpus of Rex Stout...
and Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger W. Straus, Jr. and John C. Farrar. Known primarily as Farrar, Straus in its first decade of existence, the company was renamed several times, including Farrar, Straus and Young and Farrar, Straus and Cudahy...
.