[Ads-l] Vanity project (1961)

[Bonnie Taylor-Blake]

Oops, a very belated thank-you, Garson. Given the quality of your
contributions here, I especially appreciate your encouragement on this
small endeavor.

— Bonnie

On Tue, Jul 21, 2026 at 3:13 PM ADSGarson O'Toole <
00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

Thanks for sharing your impressive research on "vanity project", Bonnie.
> Garson
>
> On Fri, Jul 17, 2026 at 3:45 PM Bonnie Taylor-Blake
> <00001a89b77a7850-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:
> >
> > I'm surprised that "vanity project" isn't to be found in the OED or other
> > online dictionaries. (In fact, it doesn't look like OED has anything for
> > the adjectival form of "vanity.") Or have I missed this? Seems to me that
> > "vanity project" deserves an entry somewhere, especially given its
> obvious,
> > timely relevance for the District of Columbia.
> >
> > I'm not proud, so I'm relying on Zip Recruiter (!) to provide what I
> think
> > is a good definition, at least of current use.
> >
> > "Vanity projects are endeavors, typically in the arts, entertainment, or
> > business, that are undertaken primarily to fulfill the personal
> interests,
> > ambitions, or ego of the individual or organization funding the project,
> > rather than to achieve commercial success or meet a genuine market need."
> > (From
> > https://www.ziprecruiter.com/e/Vanity-Projects-What-are-Vanity-Projects)
> >
> > I've listed a few early appearances of "vanity project" below, though
> some
> > may be worthy of bracketed use. Surely the term's formation was
> influenced
> > by the earlier "vanity book," "vanity press," and "vanity publisher."
> >
> > -- Bonnie
> >
> > -------------------------------
> >
> > Both of these works were "vanity" projects subsidized by the citizens
> whose
> > biographies were printed therein, and little attention was given to
> > historical accuracy.
> >
> > ["Classic Area History Is Reproduced," Santa Barbara News-Press, 19 March
> > 1961, p. B-12;
> >
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-barbara-news-press-vanity-project/201816491/
> > .]
> >
> > -------------
> >
> > Let's forget our costly vanity project for a new Court House, but try
> > getting new factories in town so that we can have more employment, which
> > stimulates business for everybody.
> >
> > ["Less To Repair Roof Build A New Building," a letter to the editor,
> Daily
> > Herald-Telephone (Bloomington), 28 November 1961, p. 8;
> >
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-times-vanity-project-11281/
> <https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-times-vanity-project-11281/201816718/>
>

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