University of Louisville Libraries

Biographical Sources

Contains narratives from biographical sources published between 1790 and 1950. Covers African American activists, business people, former slaves, performing artists, educators, lawyers, physicians, writers, church leaders, homemakers, religious workers, government workers, athletes, farmers, scientists, factory workers, and more--both the famous and the everyday person. (Chadwyck-Healey)

American Men and Women of Science
Ekstrom Ref. Biography Wall: Ref Q131.A47

Biographical data for living U.S. and Canadian scientists in physical and biological sciences, public health, engineering, mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Most recent edition in Ekstrom Reference, all previous editions in Ekstrom Stacks.

American National Biography

The American National Biography was conceived as the successor to the Dictionary of American Biography, first published between 1926 and 1937. Broader in scope, in the ANB an "American" is loosely defined as someone whose significant actions occurred during his or her residence within what is now the United States or whose life or career directly influenced the course of American history. Includes over 26,000 biographical sketches. (Oxford University Press)

American National Biography
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall CT213 A68 1999 (24 volumes)

This work provides biographies of persons, including women and members of ethnic minorities, who lived in the United States or who influenced life in the United States and who died before 1996.

Biographical Encyclopedia of Kentucky
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall F450 B61

The Biographical Encyclopedia of Kentucky of the Dead and Living Men of the Nineteenth Century.

Biography Index
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall Z5301 B5 (24 volumes)

This set, published annually, presents a cumulative index to biographical materials in books, and journals. Indexes interviews, obituaries, collections of letters, diaries, memoirs, juvenile literature, book review, and bibliographies. Most biographies are American.

Biography Reference Bank

"Contains more than 95,000 biographies and obituaries and more than 26,000 photographs of the subjects. Many of the biographies are enhanced with full text, abstracts, and citations." (H.W. Wilson)

Current Biography
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall CT100.C8 2001 (Library has 1940-2001)

Biographies of personalities prominent on the international scene, in the arts, sciences, industry, politics, education, and entertainment. Published annually.

Contemporary Authors
Ekstrom Ref. Biography Wall: Ref Z 1224 .Z6

"A bio-bibliographical guide to current writers in fiction, general nonfiction, poetry, journalism, drama, motion pictures, television and other fields." Includes only individuals who have published in book form and who were living at the time of the volume's publication. Publication began in 1962 and continues to add 4-5 volumes per year.

Cuyahoga County Public Library

Provides links to biography websites.

Dictionary of American Biography
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall E176 D56 (20 volumes)

Concise biographies of deceased persons who lived in the United States.

Dictionary of Literary Biography
Ekstrom Ref. Range 20: PN 451 .D5

Extended essays on literary personages from all time periods, all ethnic groups and all nationalities. In addition to authors in traditional literary genre there are volumes covering related areas such as journalists, screenwriters, and publishsing houses. Over 300 volumes.

Dictionary of National Biography

See Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Ekstrom Ref. Biography Wall: Ref. Q 141 .D5

Articles on the lives and works of scientists in the areas of "mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and the sciences of the earth" from classical antiquity to modern times but "no articles on the careers of living persons."

Internet Public Library (Regents of the University of Michigan)

Accounts of persons' lives written by another.

In the First Person

Over 2500 oral-history collections are indexed, with links to full-text and some links to audio and visual files. Interviews with over 9,000 individuals, from all walks of life, are available along with information on the collections and respositories from which they come.

LibrarySpot (StartSpot Mediaworks,Inc)

General,ethnic,and topical biographic resources.

Lives: The Biography Resource (Simplelives.com)

The largest guide to biography sites on the Web

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

50,000 biographies and 10,000 portrait illustrations of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest times to the year 2000. The online version includes the complete text of the new 60-volume Oxford DNB plus the complete text of the original 33-volume DNB. Also available in print: Ekstrom Library Ref. Biography Wall DA28 .O95 2004.

Who Was Who in America
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall E176 W64 (16 volumes)

This set contains the last-published sketches of biographies, with dates of birth and death, and biographical information. Published every ten years.

Who's Who in America
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall E663 W56 (83 volumes)

This set contains sketches of biographees, with dates of birth and death, and biographical information. Arranged by name, geographical area, and by occupation. Published yearly. Latest volume is on biography wall, earlier volumes in reference stacks.

Who's Who in Kentucky
EKSTROM Ref. Biography Wall F450 W57 1974

A compilation of biographical information on outstanding citizens of the state.

Who's Who on the Web

Includes comprehensive profiles on over 1 million of the most accomplished individuals from all fields of endeavor including: government, business, science & technology, entertainment, sports, and the arts (including Who's Who in American Art). Search by name, gender, occupation, geography, hobbies and interests, religion and much more. (Marquis)