Biographical Information

Biographical works in the ISU Library can be found by keyword or subject searching in the Library Catalog. Keyword search examples are: biography and Thomas Jefferson, or: biography and Abelard. When subject searching for biographical works, the Library Catalog will subdivide biography in a number of ways, such as: geographically (e.g. Biography--United States), by time period (e.g. Biography--19^th Century or Biography--Middle Ages), or by type of resource (e.g. Biography--20^th Century--Dictionaries).

The works listed below are not an exhaustive list of the ISU Library's sources and websites, but merely recommended examples. Included are some master indexes which do not contain biographical information, but instead refer users to sources located in other works.

Electronic Resources and Web Sites

Biography and Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) http://www.lib.iastate.edu/ scholar/db/biognx.html		Available under "Indexes, abstracts" on the ISU Library Homepage. Includes citations to biographies of people from the beginning of time to the present. Also includes a variety of occupational biographies which are available in print in the ISU Library. Some of these titles include: American Men and Women of Science, Contemporary Architects, Contemporary Authors, Dictionary of Literary Biography, Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Directory of American Scholars, and Something about the Author.
Biography Index http://www.lib.iastate.edu/ scholar/db/biognx.html		Available under "Indexes, abstracts" on the ISU Library Homepage. Indexes articles, books, critical studies, fiction, drama, pictorial works, poetry, juvenile literature, obituaries, book reviews, interviews and more. 1984 to present.
Biography.com http://www.biography.com		Biographical information on a wide variety of people: historical figures, newsmakers, the infamous, pop culture personalities, and more. An interactive site with games, polls, historical features, news groups, etc. Published by A&E television network.
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress http://bioguide.congress.gov/		A biographical directory of everyone that has served in the United States Congress, 1774 to present. Includes members of the Continental Congress and congressional delegates from U.S. Territories. Searchable by name, by position, and by state.

Master Indexes

REF CT100 B52		Biography Index. (1949 to date) A guide to biographical material appearing in approximately 2,200 periodicals, obituaries published in the New York Times, "current books of individual and collective biography" and more. Each quarterly issue indexes biographies for persons, present and past, in every occupation and from all over the world. An index by occupation is included. Available online via the ISU Library Homepage under Indexes, abstracts, 1984 to present.
REF CT103 B47x		Biography and Genealogy Master Index. (1980) 2^nd Ed. w/supplements This consolidated Index enables the user to locate more than 4 million biographical entries on persons from the beginning of time through the present, in current and retrospective biographical dictionaries. Supplements from 1981 to 1990 add more citations. Available online via the ISU Library Homepage under Indexes, abstracts.
REF HC29 B87x 1987		Business Biographies Master Index. (1987) A selection of current and retrospective biographies of people in the field of business and finance.
REF N40 A78 1986		Artist Biographies Master Index. (1986) Biographies of people in both the fine and applied arts. This index includes: painters, sculptors, illustrators, designers, graphic artists, craftsmen, architects and photographers.
REF PN1583 M37 1981		Performing Arts Biography Master Index. (1981) A consolidated index to biographical sketches of persons, both present and past, involved with performing arts. This index is a revision of Theatre, Film and Television biographies Master Index, 1979 (PN1583 .L3)
CT215 A11 H58		Historical Biographical Dictionaries Master Index. (1980) Consolidated index to information in the principal biographical dictionaries. Includes people from the beginning of recorded history. Emphasis in this index is on people who have been prominent in United States history.
PN452 A11 A88		Author Biographies Master Index. (1^st through 5th editions) Index to more than 845,000 biographical sketches concerning authors present and past.
Z1037 A1 L2		Childrens' Authors and Illustrators: An Index to Biographical Dictionaries. (1981) A research aid for anyone interested in the study of children's literature. An index to approximately 20,000 persons, past and present.

Special Biographical Sources

REF CT100 C93		Current Biography Yearbook. (1940 to date) A monthly compilation of short biographies of individuals prominent in the news. Photographs are frequently included, and it has a classification-of-profession index and citations to obituary notices. Updated by monthly issues entitled Current Biography.
REF CT120 C661		Newsmakers. (1988 to date) Newsmaker's provides biographical profiles on the people making current headlines. Each volume contains cumulative subject, name and nationality indexes.
REF CT120 P8		Pseudonyms and Nicknames Dictionary. (1987, 2 vols.) Guide to pen names, stage names, pseudonyms and nicknames of individuals of all nations and ages.
CT103 W4 1976		Webster's Biographical Dictionary. (1976) Brief biographies of living and past persons from around the world, with pronunciation of each name indicated. Tables of presidents, popes, and rulers are included. (Note: there is a 1980 edition in Special Collections - on the 4^th floor)

Historical Biographies

REF CT213 N21		National Cyclopedia of American Biography. (1893 to 1984) Features biographical sketches of person prominently connected with the history of the United States. This illustrated work narrates the lives of Americans in the context of important events and moments, providing a means for systematic study of the history and growth of the country.
REF CT773 D56		Dictionary of National Biography. (1885-1900, vols.1-63) & 10 supplements to 1985. Most important scholarly dictionary of the British Isles and its colonies. Long, authoritative articles with bibliographies. Covers from about ce. 500 to 1990. Includes index.
REF CT3260 N573		Notable American Women. (1981) Set contains 3 volumes covering 1607-1950. An additional volume covers the modern period up to 1980.
REF CT213 D561		Dictionary of American Biography. (1928 - 1996) vols. 1 -22, (vols. 21 & 22 are Supplements 1 & 2) Also: DAB Supplements 3 - 10. Comprehensive index. Important scholarly dictionary of American biography, with long, authoritative articles and bibliographies. Covers Colonial America to 1980, in the original 20 vols. plus the supplements. Note: there is also a set in General Collections; missing vol. 8, including only Supplements 1 & 3. There is also a set in Special Collections.

Who's Who Publications

REF CT120 In8		International Who's Who. (Current edition) This annual gives short biographies of living persons who have earned international recognition for achievements and contributions in their country's political, economic, cultural, or social life. Editions back to 1951 are in the General Collection.
REF CT213 W61		Who's Who in America. (Current edition) With Index Brief biographies of distinguished living Americans, listing personal history, publications, and current address. Editions back to 1899 are in the General Collection. Specific regional volumes are available for the East (REF E747/W59), Midwest (REF C210/W63), South and Southwest (REF F208/W64), West (REF F595.2/W64), and World(REF CT103/W45). Volumes organized by occupation have been produced for Government (REF E747/W48), Finance and Industry (REF HF3023/W62), Religion (REF BL72/W56), and American Law (REF KF353/W44).
REF CT213 W611		Who Was Who in America. (1943 - 1996) Brief biographies of prominent past Americans, most of whom were included in past volumes of Who's Who in America. Covers 1607 to 1996, with an index to 1993. (vols. 1-11 covering 1897 - 1996; with a retro. "historical" vol. covering 1607 to 1896)
REF CT783 W62		Who's Who. (Current edition) This annual directory constitutes a comprehensive biographical directory with emphasis on the United Kingdom, includes important world leaders in other countries. Annual editions going back to 1916 are in the General Collection.
REF CT783 W621		Who Was Who. (1920-1996) Brief biographies of prominent past citizens who appeared in Who's Who (REF CT783 .W62) Same British emphasis. Covers 1897 - 1995, with index to 1990

New York Times Publications

REF AI21 N44 F34x		Personal Name Index to the "New York Times Index (1976- ) This index offers a single alphabetized list of the personal names otherwise buried within the New York Times Index -- covers the period from 1851 to 1996. Entries for infrequently indexed people are easily found.
REF CT100 N4		New York Times Biographical Service. (1970 to date) (monthly) A compilation of current biographical information of general interest, it offers reproductions of major biographical articles (including obituaries and special, news-oriented biographical sketches) which have appeared in the New York Times . Has index.

Guide: C14
July 1999

General sources Biographical sources College guides and rankings Dictionaries Directories Encyclopedias Financial aid Genealogy resources Quotations Style manuals


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