Online Resources, Including Journal and Newspaper Articles
Choose from the databases and links provided by the library's web page Reference Resources-Biographies
Full Length Biographies
To find a book about a person, search the Library Catalog.
Examples of Advanced Keyword searches:
- "jane austen" AND biography
- "grateful dead" AND biography
Use the Library Catalog to find books containing collective biographies of people in a field or in an ethnic group.
Examples of Advanced Keyword searches:
- psychologists AND biography
- "women scientists" AND biography
- Chicano AND writers
Examples of Printed Biographical Reference Sources
- A to Z of Native American Women (Ref E98.W8 S65)
- American Indian Biographies (Ref E89.A46)
- American Men and Women of Science (Ref Q141.A47)
- American National Biography (Ref CT213.A68)
- Black Women in America (Ref E185.86 .B542)
- Congressional Directory (Ref Desk JK1011.U5) Recent edition kept at Reference Desk. Also, U.S.House of Representatives and U.S.Senate
- Cambridge Biographical Dictionary (Ref CT103.C4) This source offers brief biographies.
- Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia (Ref CT103.C26)
- Chicano Writers (Ref PS21.D5 v.82, 122, and 209)
- Contemporary Authors (print format and online) (Ref PN451.C65 and .C58)
- Contemporary Black Biography (Ref E185.96.C66) Profiles of men and women worldwide who are of African heritage and who are shaping the world.
- Current Biography Yearbook (Click "Journal Indexes, Full Text and More," then click "Biographies Plus Illustrated") (Print format and Online) Ref CT100.C8 (1940 to date) Contains articles and photographs of newsworthy persons worldwide.
- Dictionary of American Biography (Ref E176.D56) Scholarly articles on people who contributed to American life.
- Dictionary of Asian American History (Ref E184 .06 D53)
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography (Ref F1005.D49)
- Dictionary of Literary Biography (Ref PS21.D5) Lengthy biographies of writers.
- Dictionary of National Biography (Great Britain) (Ref DA28.D47) Source covers ancient to modern times.
- Dictionary of Scientific Biography (Ref Q141.D5)
- Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History (Ref E185 .E54 2006)
- Great Lives from History: Twentieth Century Series (Ref CT120.G69) Lengthy articles with worldwide coverage.
- International Who's Who (Ref CT120.I5) (1962-2002 with gaps)
- Jewish-American History and Culture (Ref E184.J5 J48)
- Mexican American Biographies: A Historical Dictionary, 1836-1987 (Ref E184.M5 M454)
- National Cyclopedia of American Biography (Ref E176.N27)
- New Century Cyclopedia of Names (Ref PE1625.C43) This 1954 source gives pronunciations, dates, and high points of careers.
- New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (Ref ML100.N48)
- New York Times Biographical Service (Ref CT120.N45) (1969, 1973 to 2001) Lengthy reprints of biographical articles, often with portraits, from the New York Times.
- Newsmakers (Ref CT120.C663) (1985-date) People in the news worldwide.
- Notable American Women, 1607-1950 (Ref CT3260.N57)
- Notable American Women: The Modern Period (Ref CT3260.N573)
- Notable Black American Women (Ref E185.96.N68 1992)
- Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States (Ref E184 .S75 O97 2005)
- Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian (Ref E76.2.K58 1998) See section on biographies.
- Webster's Biographical Dictionary (Ref CT103.W4) Although British and American people are emphasized, this source contains about 40,000 sketches of people from all over the worlld--as of 1974.
- Who's Who (Great Britain) (Ref DA28.W6) 1904-2001, with gaps.
- Who's Who Among Black Americans (Ref E185.96.W52 1975-2001)
- Who's Who in America (Ref E66.W56) 1901-2001, with gaps.
- Who's Who in American Politics (Ref E176.W6424) 1967-2000
- Who's Who in Canada (Ref F1033.W62)
- Who's Who in the World (Ref CT120.W5) 1971-2001
- Who's Who of American Women (Ref CT3260 .W5) 1958-2001
- Who Was Who (Great Britain) (Ref DA28.W65) 1897-1990
- Who Was Who in America (Ref E663.W55) 1607-2000
- Who Was Who in Native American History: Indians and Non-Indians From Early Contacts Through 1900 (Ref E89.W35)
- Wisconsin Biographical Dictionary (Southwest Wisconsin Collection in Ullsvik Hall CT268.E572)
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