Isaac Kaufmann Funk (1839-1912) was an American editor, lexicographer, publisher, and spelling reformer. He was born on September 10, 1839 in the town of Clifton, Ohio. He attended Wittenberg College (Now Wittenberg University) and Wittenberg Theological Seminary, both in Springfield, Ohio. Upon his graduation in 1860, he was ordained as a Lutheran pastor, and served pastorates in New York, Indiana, and his home state of Ohio. He made an extensive tour through Europe, northern Africa, and Asia Minor in 1872. 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A lexicographer is a person devoted to the study of lexicography, especially an author of a dictionary. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Clifton is a village located in Clark and Greene counties in Ohio. ... Wittenberg University is a private, four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Springfield, Ohio. ... Springfield is the county seat of Clark County in the State of Ohio. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... Official language(s) None, English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 455 km 530 km 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 38th 94,321 km² 225 km 435 km 1. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus (largest metropolitan area is Cleveland) Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 34th 116,096 km² 355 km 355 km 8. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to some dispute as to Europes actual borders. ... A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

In 1876 he founded the publishing firm of I.K. Funk & Company, with the help of a Wittenberg classmate, Adam Willis Wagnalls. In 1890 the name was changed to Funk & Wagnalls Company, to more accurately reflect Wagnalls' partnership. In that same year, Funk published The Literary Digest, a departure from the religious works earlier in his career. 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Adam Willis Wagnalls (1843 - 1924) was a U.S. publisher. ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Funk and Wagnalls is a publisher based in New York City. ...

Perhaps Funk's most important achievement was his The Standard Dictionary of the English Language, published in 1893. He worked with a team of more than 740 people. His aim was to provide essential information thoroughly and simply at the same time. In order to achieve this he placed current meanings first, archaic meanings second, and etymologies last. 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Etymology is the study of the origins of words. ...

From 1901-06, Funk and Wagnalls compiled the Jewish Encyclopædia. Dr. Funk was a Prohibitionist and founded the Voice (1880), an organ of that party. 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Jewish Encyclopedia was an encyclopedia originally published between 1901 and 1906 by Funk and Wagnalls. ... This article is about the prohibition of alcoholic beverages; separate articles on the prohibition of drugs in general and writs of prohibition are also available. ...

He interested himself in psychical research and published:

• The Next Step in Evolution. (1902)
• The Widow's Mite and Other Psychic Phenomena, (1904)
• The Psychic Riddle, (1907)