SOCIOLOGIST
W. I. Thomas
1863 - 1947

W. I. Thomas
William Isaac Thomas (August 13, 1863 – December 5, 1947) was an American sociologist, understood today as a key figure behind the theory of symbolic interactionism. Collaborating with Polish sociologist Florian Znaniecki, Thomas developed and influenced the use of empirical methodologies in sociological research and contributed theories to the sociology of migration. Thomas went on to formulate a fundamental principle of sociology, known as the Thomas theorem, whereby he would contend that "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." This microsociological concept served as a theoretical foundation for the field of symbolic interactionism which was developed by Thomas's younger peers—primarily at the University of Chicago. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. W. I. Thomas is the 36th most popular sociologist (down from 34th in 2019), the 2,596th most popular biography from United States (down from 2,183rd in 2019) and the 10th most popular American Sociologist.
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Among SOCIOLOGISTS
Among sociologists, W. I. Thomas ranks 36 out of 79. Before him are Stuart Hall, Juan José Linz, Harold Garfinkel, Ludwig Gumplowicz, Georges Gurvitch, and Robert E. Park. After him are Andre Gunder Frank, Herbert Blumer, Howard S. Becker, Charles Tilly, Amitai Etzioni, and Shmuel Eisenstadt.
Most Popular Sociologists in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsStuart Hall
1932 - 2014
HPI: 64.71
Rank: 30
Juan José Linz
1926 - 2013
HPI: 64.60
Rank: 31
Harold Garfinkel
1917 - 2011
HPI: 64.55
Rank: 32
Ludwig Gumplowicz
1838 - 1909
HPI: 64.41
Rank: 33
Georges Gurvitch
1894 - 1965
HPI: 64.39
Rank: 34
Robert E. Park
1864 - 1944
HPI: 64.17
Rank: 35
W. I. Thomas
1863 - 1947
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 36
Andre Gunder Frank
1929 - 2005
HPI: 62.96
Rank: 37
Herbert Blumer
1900 - 1987
HPI: 62.60
Rank: 38
Howard S. Becker
1928 - 2023
HPI: 62.15
Rank: 39
Charles Tilly
1929 - 2008
HPI: 61.43
Rank: 40
Amitai Etzioni
1929 - 2023
HPI: 61.33
Rank: 41
Shmuel Eisenstadt
1923 - 2010
HPI: 60.69
Rank: 42
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1863, W. I. Thomas ranks 55. Before him are Mary Jane Kelly, S. Ansky, Manuel Gomes da Costa, Gabriel Pierné, Ernst Gunther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, and Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia. After him are Alexander Siloti, Arthur Machen, Paul Drude, Princess Mathilde of Saxony, Hugo Haase, and Paul Héroult. Among people deceased in 1947, W. I. Thomas ranks 74. Before him are Władysław Raczkiewicz, Ludwig Fischer, Friedrich Paschen, Huda Sha'arawi, Lucjan Żeligowski, and Archduchess Louise of Austria. After him are Karol Świerczewski, Charles Bally, Lilly Reich, Helmuth von Pannwitz, Nicholas Murray Butler, and Heinrich Schwarz.
Others Born in 1863
Go to all RankingsMary Jane Kelly
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1863 - 1888
HPI: 64.73
Rank: 49
S. Ansky
WRITER
1863 - 1920
HPI: 64.66
Rank: 50
Manuel Gomes da Costa
POLITICIAN
1863 - 1929
HPI: 64.44
Rank: 51
Gabriel Pierné
COMPOSER
1863 - 1937
HPI: 64.41
Rank: 52
Ernst Gunther, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein
NOBLEMAN
1863 - 1921
HPI: 64.40
Rank: 53
Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia
POLITICIAN
1863 - 1919
HPI: 64.11
Rank: 54
W. I. Thomas
SOCIOLOGIST
1863 - 1947
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 55
Alexander Siloti
MUSICIAN
1863 - 1945
HPI: 63.78
Rank: 56
Arthur Machen
WRITER
1863 - 1947
HPI: 63.57
Rank: 57
Paul Drude
PHYSICIST
1863 - 1906
HPI: 63.42
Rank: 58
Princess Mathilde of Saxony
POLITICIAN
1863 - 1933
HPI: 63.35
Rank: 59
Hugo Haase
POLITICIAN
1863 - 1919
HPI: 63.24
Rank: 60
Paul Héroult
CHEMIST
1863 - 1914
HPI: 63.09
Rank: 61
Others Deceased in 1947
Go to all RankingsWładysław Raczkiewicz
POLITICIAN
1885 - 1947
HPI: 64.63
Rank: 68
Ludwig Fischer
POLITICIAN
1905 - 1947
HPI: 64.59
Rank: 69
Friedrich Paschen
PHYSICIST
1865 - 1947
HPI: 64.26
Rank: 70
Huda Sha'arawi
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1879 - 1947
HPI: 64.25
Rank: 71
Lucjan Żeligowski
POLITICIAN
1865 - 1947
HPI: 64.25
Rank: 72
Archduchess Louise of Austria
NOBLEMAN
1870 - 1947
HPI: 64.23
Rank: 73
W. I. Thomas
SOCIOLOGIST
1863 - 1947
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 74
Karol Świerczewski
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1897 - 1947
HPI: 64.05
Rank: 75
Charles Bally
LINGUIST
1865 - 1947
HPI: 63.91
Rank: 76
Lilly Reich
ARCHITECT
1885 - 1947
HPI: 63.89
Rank: 77
Helmuth von Pannwitz
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1898 - 1947
HPI: 63.83
Rank: 78
Nicholas Murray Butler
POLITICIAN
1862 - 1947
HPI: 63.77
Rank: 79
Heinrich Schwarz
POLITICIAN
1906 - 1947
HPI: 63.74
Rank: 80
In United States
Among people born in United States, W. I. Thomas ranks 2,596 out of 20,380. Before him are Stockton Rush (1962), Samuel Adams (1722), J. Carrol Naish (1896), Kate Capshaw (1953), Mike Pompeo (1963), and Megan Fox (1986). After him are Rita Wilson (1956), Kim Peek (1951), Lady Randolph Churchill (1854), Beverly D'Angelo (1951), Robert M. Parker Jr. (1947), and Archie Moore (1916).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsStockton Rush
BUSINESSPERSON
1962 - 2023
HPI: 64.08
Rank: 2,590
Samuel Adams
POLITICIAN
1722 - 1803
HPI: 64.08
Rank: 2,591
J. Carrol Naish
ACTOR
1896 - 1973
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 2,592
Kate Capshaw
ACTOR
1953 - Present
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 2,593
Mike Pompeo
POLITICIAN
1963 - Present
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 2,594
Megan Fox
ACTOR
1986 - Present
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 2,595
W. I. Thomas
SOCIOLOGIST
1863 - 1947
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 2,596
Rita Wilson
ACTOR
1956 - Present
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,597
Kim Peek
CELEBRITY
1951 - 2009
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,598
Lady Randolph Churchill
WRITER
1854 - 1921
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,599
Beverly D'Angelo
ACTOR
1951 - Present
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,600
Robert M. Parker Jr.
WRITER
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,601
Archie Moore
BOXER
1916 - 1998
HPI: 64.06
Rank: 2,602
Among SOCIOLOGISTS In United States
Among sociologists born in United States, W. I. Thomas ranks 10. Before him are Seymour Martin Lipset (1922), C. Wright Mills (1916), Robert N. Bellah (1927), Daniel Bell (1919), Harold Garfinkel (1917), and Robert E. Park (1864). After him are Herbert Blumer (1900), Howard S. Becker (1928), Charles Tilly (1929), Edwin Sutherland (1883), Mark Granovetter (1943), and David Riesman (1909).
Seymour Martin Lipset
1922 - 2006
HPI: 69.18
Rank: 4
C. Wright Mills
1916 - 1962
HPI: 68.01
Rank: 5
Robert N. Bellah
1927 - 2013
HPI: 65.25
Rank: 6
Daniel Bell
1919 - 2011
HPI: 65.05
Rank: 7
Harold Garfinkel
1917 - 2011
HPI: 64.55
Rank: 8
Robert E. Park
1864 - 1944
HPI: 64.17
Rank: 9
W. I. Thomas
1863 - 1947
HPI: 64.07
Rank: 10
Herbert Blumer
1900 - 1987
HPI: 62.60
Rank: 11
Howard S. Becker
1928 - 2023
HPI: 62.15
Rank: 12
Charles Tilly
1929 - 2008
HPI: 61.43
Rank: 13
Edwin Sutherland
1883 - 1950
HPI: 60.61
Rank: 14
Mark Granovetter
1943 - Present
HPI: 60.35
Rank: 15
David Riesman
1909 - 2002
HPI: 60.14
Rank: 16