About John Shaw Billings
Lived 1891 – 1975 (aged 83–84). John Shaw Billings was an editor, writer and magazine writer.
John Shaw Billings (1898–1975) was the first editor of Life magazine and first managing editor of Time-Life.
Background Billings descended from U.S. Senator James Henry Hammond (1807–1864). His grandfather (also John Shaw Billings) was an Army medical doctor during the Civil War. After the war, he established an Army medical library with the first modern bibliographical system for medical knowledge. He later became one of the best-known, early 20th-century librarians as director of the New York Public Library.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Shaw Billings?
editor of Life magazine
When was John Shaw Billings born?
John Shaw Billings was born in 1891.
When did John Shaw Billings die?
John Shaw Billings died in 1975.
What was John Shaw Billings's occupation?
John Shaw Billings was an editor, writer and magazine writer.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Shaw Billings
· DBpedia: John Shaw Billings (editor)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Shaw Billings. https://biography.guide/john-shaw-billings-editor/
MLA: "John Shaw Billings." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-shaw-billings-editor/.
Chicago: "John Shaw Billings." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-shaw-billings-editor/.
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