Biography
A
research guide: books, articles, web sites, & videos
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How to Find Books in the ODU Library: Search in the ODU Library Catalog.
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How to Find Books in Other OhioLINK Libraries:
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Reference Books—A Selection
Reference
books provide a good starting point for your research. Reference items are
located in the Library’s Reference collection, behind the Reference Desk on the
top floor of Spangler.
Biographies
and Bio-bibliographies provide biographical profiles of the life and works of
individuals, as well as lists of works by subject, individual, titles of works,
etc.
Biography—General Sources
- The Big Book of Halls of Fame in the United
States and Canada. R 927.96 J36b , 1977-
- The Biography Book: Reader’s Guide to Nonfiction,
Fictional, and Film Biographies of More than 500 of the Most Fascinating
Individuals of All Time. R 016.92 B9502b, 2001
- Biography and Genealogy Master Index. R 016.92
G152bi, 1980
- The Dictionary of National Biography, 1971-1980:
With an Index covering the years 1901-1980
- The Concise Dictionary R 920.042 D554 1986, 1990, 1979
- The Dictionary of National Biography Missing
Persons. R 920.042 D554,1993
- Webster’s Biographical Dictionary. R 920.02
W385b, c1980
- Notable Americans: What They Did From 1620 to
Present. R 920.73 N899a, c1988
- Obituaries from The Times, 1971-1975, Including
an Index to all Obituaries and Tributes. R 920.02 T538o, c1977
- Thinkers of the Twentieth Century. R 920.009
T915t, 1987
- Webster’s American Biographies. R 920.073 W385,
c1979
Cultural Groups—Biographies and Bio-bibliographies
- African American Biographies: Profiles of 558
Current Men and Women. R 920.009296 H394a, 1992
- African American Biographies, 2: Profiles of 332
Current Men and Women. R 920.009296 H394a, 1994
- African Heritage Biographical Index, 1993. R 920
A258, c1993
- American Indian Biographies. R 920.0092 A3548i,
2005
- The Black 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential
African-Americans, Past and Present. R 973.0496 S169b, 1992
- Contemporary Black Biography. R 920.0092 G151c, 1992-
- Dictionary of American Negro Biography. R 920.0092 L831d, c1982
- A Dictionary of Irish Biography. R 920.0415
B792d, 1978
- Dictionary of Irish Literature. R 820.99415
H714d, 1979
- Great North American Indians: Profiles in Life
and Leadership. R 920.0092 D637g, c1977
History—Biographies and Bio-bibliographies
- The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential
Persons in History. R 920.02 H326o,
1992
- 100 Military Leaders Who Shaped World History. R 355.0092
C9450, c1999
- Biographical Dictionary of the Confederacy. R
973.713 W149b 1977
- Dictionary of American Diplomatic History. R 327.73 E494d, 1980
- The Discoverers; An Encyclopedia of Explorers and
Explorations R 910.92 D363d, c1980
- Encyclopedia of American Religious History. R 200.973
Q359, 2001
- Encyclopedia of
Historians and Historical Writing. R 907.2022 E195h 1999
- Facts About The Presidents. R 973.173 K16f, 2001
- Facts About The
Presidents: A Compilation of Biographical and Historical Information. R 923.173 K16f, 1993
- Great Lives From History; Ancient and Medieval
Series. R 920.009 M194gr, c1988
- Great Lives From History; Renaissance to 1900
Series. R 920.009 M194gr, c1989
- Kings and Queens of England. R 923.142 D345k,
1978
- Who Was Who In The Greek World; 776 BC-30 BC. R 920.038
W628, 1982
Literature—Biographies and
Bio-bibliographies
See also the Children’s Literature
research subject guide for biographical resources on children’s literature
authors.
- The 100 Most Popular Young Adult Authors:
Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies. R 810.9 D8201o, 1997
- African Writers. R 896 Af839w, c1997
- Black Authors & Illustrators of Children’s
Books: A Biographical Dictionary. R 809.89282755b, 1992
- The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. R 820.9C178,
1992
- Contemporary Poets. R 928 C761, 1985
- Dictionary of Literary Biography. R 928.1 D554,
1978-
- Dictionary of Literary Biography Documentary
Series: An Illustrated Chronicle. R 928. 1D554ds, c1983-
- Encyclopedia of American Poetry. The Nineteenth
Century. R 811.309 En193h, 1998
- The Nobel Peace Prize and the Laureates: An
Illustrated Biographical History, 1901-2001. R 327.172 A835n, 2001
- Greek and Latin Authors; 800 B.C.-A.D. 1000: a
biographical dictionary. R 928.8 G762g, 1980
- History, 1901-2001. R 327.172 A835n, 2001
- Latin American Writers. R 928.6 S6851, c1989
- The Oxford Companion
to Twentieth-Century Poetry in English. R 821.098, 1994
- Webster’s Dictionary of American Authors. R 810.9
W399d, 1996
- Who’s Who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. R 071.3
B838w, c1999
- Who Was Who in Literature, 1906-1934. R 928.2
W628, c1979
Performing Arts—Biographies and Bio-bibliographies
- Actors, Actresses, and Directors. R 927.92 W628,
c1978
- Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. R 780.922
B178b, 2001
- Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century
Classical Musicians. R 780.922 S634b, c1997
- Blacks in American Films and Television: An
Encyclopedia. R 791.43 B675b, 1989
- Contemporary American Dramatists. R 812.5409
C7612a, c1994
- Dictionary of Contemporary American Artists. R 709.2273
C971d, 1994
- Drama Criticism. R 809.2 D763, c1991-
- The Entertainers. R 927.92 E61, c1980
- The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. R 780.92
H3391b, 1996
- MacMillan Biographical Encyclopedia of
Photographic Artists & Innovators. R 927.7 B884m, c1983
- The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. R 791.4309
T3827n, 2002
- String Music of Black Composers: A Bibliography. R
016.787H815st, 1991
- Theatre, Film and Television Biographies Master
Index R 016.92 G152h, c1979
- Who Was Who In The Theatre, 1912-1976 R 927.92
W628, 1978
- World Film Directors. R 791.43W149w, 1988
Saints and Religious Figures—Biographies and
Bio-bibliographies
- Butler’s Lives of The Saints. R 922.22B985W, 1985;
R 922.22 B985, 1995
- Dictionary of American Catholic Biography. R 922.2 D337d, 1984
- Dictionary of Saints. R 922.22 C337d, 1980
- Dictionary of Christian Biography. R 270 D5614c, 2001
- Encyclopedia of the Vatican and Papacy. R 262.13
E56, c1999
- The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. R 922.22 F230
- Who’s Who in the Bible. R 922 C728w, 1980
Science and Mathematics—Biographies and
Bio-bibliographies
- The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists;
Mathematicians. R 925.1 B615m, 1986
- Biographical Dictionary of American Science: The
Seventeenth through the Nineteenth Century. R 925 E46b, 1979
- Blacks in Science and Medicine. R 925 S189b,
c1990-
- The History of Science
and Religion in the Western Tradition: An Encyclopedia. R 291.175 H6297s,
2000
- Pioneers of Science: Nobel Prize Winners in
Physics. R 925.3 W375p, c1980
Social and Behavioral Science—Biographies and Bio-bibliographies
- Biographical Dictionary of American Educators. R 923.7037b
- Biographical Dictionary of Psychology. R 150.92
B615, 1997
- Dictionary of American Library Biography. R 920.2 w985d
- Great Economists before Keynes: An Introduction
to the Lives & Works of One Hundred Great Economists of the Past. R 330.092 B645g, 1988
- Profiles of American Labor Unions. R 331.88
P9432a, c1998
- The Supreme Justices: Illustrated Biographies,
1789-1993. R 347.7326 C986s c1993
- The Supreme Court A to Z. R 347.7326 S769c, 2003
- Webster’s American Military Biographies. R 923.573 W385, c1978
Women—Biographies and Bio-bibliographies
- American Women
Writers, 1900-1945: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook. R 810.9
A3593w, 2000
- Dictionary of Women Artists. R 709.22 D5616g, 1997
- An Encyclopedia of British Women Writers. R 820.9928
E5636b, 1998
- Encyclopedia of American Women and Religion. R 200.82
B473e c1998
- Encyclopedia of Women and Sports. R 796.0825553e, c1996
- Notable American Women: The Modern Period, a
Biographical Dictionary. R 920.72 N899, 1980
- Notable Black American Women. R 920.72 S651n,
c1992
- Reference Library of American Women. R 920.72
R332, c1999
- Women Filmmakers & Their Films. R 791.4308
W87222f, c1998
- Women in Psychology: A Bio-Bibliographic
Sourcebook. R 150.92 O18w, 1990
- Women of Mathematics: A Biobibliographic
Sourcebook. R 925.1 G868w, 1987
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Use online research
databases to find any of the following biographical resources: ·
Biographical entries
in online encyclopedias and online dictionaries ·
Books and book
reviews ·
Articles in
scholarly journals, general magazines, and newspapers |
A. Online Reference Resources
To access the databases below:
Unless otherwise specified, click on Articles
in Databases from the ODU Library homepage. Then choose from the A-Z
index near the top of the web page (example: click on A for Academic
Search Premier) and select the database.
Full-text
of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Search for an entry on any individual; serves
as a good compliment to the Columbia
Encyclopedia.
To access from the library homepage: Click on Quick Reference, select
Encyclopedias, then Britannica Online.
Full-text
of the
To access from the library homepage:
Click on Quick Reference, select Encyclopedias,
then select Columbia Encyclopedia.
Full-text. Provides text from 429 reference books on
diverse topics—including many biographical resources.
Example: Search
in Chapter Title and type in dylan, bob to find substantial entries on Bob Dylan.
You will find entries in ebooks such as The ABC-CLIO Companion to the 1960s Counterculture in America, Encyclopedia of Folklore and Literature,
and the Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War.
To access from the library homepage: Click on Books, and select Electronic Reference Books.
Full
text. Compiles reference resources for
all aspects of the visual arts worldwide from prehistory to present. To search for biographies: Click on
Biographies under the Advanced Search options.
Updated quarterly.
Offers
information on authors and their works from reference works, books, and literary
journals, including plot summaries, author biographies, and author interviews.
Masterplots Complete 2000
Full-text. On-campus access only; when prompted, click
Open to access the file. Provides synopses of plays, character profiles, and
brief author biographies including lists of major works.
Full-text dictionaries and other reference books in one searchable
database. Includes literature guides.
Example: Find an entry on Saint Michael in The Oxford Dictionary of Saints by
searching for Michael, Saint.
To access from the library homepage: Click on Books, and select Oxford Reference Online.
B.
Recommended Databases to Find E-Books
Full-text ebook database. Search among 15,000 ebooks from multiple
disciplines, including reference books, other nonfiction, and fiction—including
biographies. Search by keyword, title,
or author.
Example: Find books about President Abraham Lincoln
by searching for Lincoln.
To access from the library homepage: Click on Books, and then select NetLibrary.
C.
Recommended Databases to Find Articles or Book Reviews
To access the databases from the ODU Library homepage:
Click on Articles in Databases,
then choose from the A-Z index near the top of the page (example: click on A
for Academic Search Premier) and select the database.
Contains
peer-reviewed journal coverage from more than 3,400 scholarly publications in
many academic areas of study. Updated
daily.
America:
History and Life
Includes articles on
individuals in the history and culture of the U.S.
and Canada to the present day.
Search Tip: Choose BROWSE Subject
Headings and type in the person’s last name. Click BROWSE and select your
individual if listed.
Citations
only. Comprehensive database for
information about Mexican-American topics, with coverage including articles and
books. Updated quarterly.
Includes articles on individuals. Search Tip: Choose BROWSE Subject Headings and type in the
person’s last name. Click BROWSE and select your individual if listed.
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Citations only. Article focus includes figures in the history of science, technology, and medicine, and
their influence on culture. Search Tip: Click on SUBJECT WORD and type in the person’s
last name. Then browse through the names and entries listed and select your
individual.
This
database contains biographical information on politicians, business leaders,
and many public figures.
To search for Biographies: 1) Select Reference from the
home page; 2) Select Biographical Information.
Contains millions of articles originally published in
magazines, newspapers, and journals.
To search : From the dropdown menu that says Multiple
databases select Humanities–ProQuest Religion.
Search Tip: Type in your keyword and then type biography.
Example: aquinas biography
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A portal to Internet
search engines and directories is available on the ODU Library’s Internet Search page. In addition, listed
below are web sites that may be of particular use to you in your information
search. Minimum recommended
criteria for evaluating websites: ·
Accuracy of the
information ·
Authority of the
person or group responsible for the information ·
When the information
was created and last updated For more
information, view Evaluating
Internet Sources & Search Tools on the
Internet Search page.
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Web Sites—A Selection
Sample Searches for finding Sites
Devoted to Single Individuals:
·
roosevelt
site:.edu – This limits your search to academic sites (.edu); department pages
& university projects
can
provide a wealth of information. But beware of personal web pages, which may
not be authored by someone with appropriate
knowledge of the subject.
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einstein
biography site:.edu – This limits your search to academic sties
and helps focus on biographies.
·
“martin
luther king, jr” museum – Museums can often provide excellent
information online.
Be sure to verify museum’s actual existence and credentials.
Additional Possibilities:
Biography—General Sources
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A&E’s Biography.com
http://www.biography.com/
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In the First
Person: An Index to Letters, Diaries, Oral Histories, and Personal Narratives http://www.inthefirstperson.com/firp/index.aspx
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INFOMINE [links
to scholarly information on the Internet]: http://infomine.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/search
Search Steps: 1) Select Advanced Search; 2) Type in biography in
the top box;
3) Then (de)select the Subject Categories
in which you wish to search;
4) Limit the search to Resource
Access: Free ; 5) Click on GO.
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Nobel Prize http://nobelprize.org
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PBS Biographies http://www.pbs.org/history/history_biographies.html
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Spotlight:
Biography [“Exceptional” Americans] www.smithsonianeducation.org/spotlight/start.html
Artists—Visual and Performing
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All-Movies Guide http://allmovies.com
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All-Media Guide http://www.allmusic.com
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American Masters
(PBS) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters
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The-Artist.org http://www.the-artists.org
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The Classical
Music Pages [search by composer name] http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/classmus.html
· Great Performances (PBS)