In the preface to his book The Rating of Chessplayers, Past and Present (Batsford 1978), Elo wrote
In 1959 the late Jerry Spann, then president of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) named a committee to review the federation's rating system and to revise and improve its technical and administrative features. It fell upon the writer, as chairman, to examine the basic theory and rationale of the rating systems of the chess world and the sports world in general.The Elo system was adopted by the USCF in 1960, and by FIDE in 1970. Elo served as Chairman of the USCF Rating Committee from 1959 to 1976. He was inducted into U.S. Chess Hall of fame in 1988 and died in 1992.
From The Rating of Chessplayers:-
Few chessplayers are totally objective about their positions on the board, and even fewer can be objective about their personal capacities and ratings. Most of them believe they are playing "in form" only when far above normal form, and they tend to forget that an outstanding tournament success is just as likely the result of off form performances by opponents as superior play by themselves. There is truth in the paradox that "every chessplayer believes himself better than his equal".
The chart below shows a recent ratings distribution for USCF Non-Scholastic Members. (Source: USCF 2002 Ratings Distribution).
