Basic Sources for Biographical Information
Most of the sources listed below are found in the reference area on the 2nd (main) floor of The Valley Library. Please ask at the Reference Desk for assistance in locating them.
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Encyclopedias
Finding Books in Online Catalogs
Finding Articles in Journals & Magazines
Other Useful Research Guides
Other Useful Internet Sites
General Indexes & Sources
Specialized Indexes & Sources
Introduction & General Information
Biographical information can be found in books, encyclopedias (general and subject), journals/magazines, newspapers (obituaries), and specialized biographical sources. This information may be divided into three categories - "current" (people included are still living), "retrospective" (people included are dead), and those sources which include both living and dead persons. In addition, there are "general" biographical sources as well as those for specific subject areas.
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias remain a good source of biographic information. Some standard ones are:
- Encyclopedia Americana (Ref AE5 E31)
- World Book Encyclopedia (Ref AE5 W6)
- Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (Ref H41 E56)
- International Encyclopedia of the Social Science (Ref H40 A2 I5)
- Encyclopedia of Education (Ref LB15 E56)
- Encylopedia of Philosophy (Ref B51 E5)
- New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (Ref ML100 N48)
- Women in World History (Ref HQ1115 W6 1999)
- Encyclopedia of World Art (Ref N31 E52)
Ask at the Reference Desk for additional information.
Finding Books in Online Catalogs
Use OSU Libraries Online Catalog (or Summit (Orbis) and Worldcat) to find books (biographies) about specific persons. The person's last name with the subdivision or keyword "biography" should provide biographical works about prominent persons living or dead.
Finding Articles in Journals & Magazines
Most of our periodical indexes and electronic databases will also provide sources of biographical information. Using the person's last name with the keyword "biography" will reveal articles about that specific person living or dead. Subject list of databases: http://osulibrary.orst.edu/research.php/subject.php?sname=1
Other Useful Research Guides
Many of the Research Guides may also suggest subject oriented sources of biographical information. http://osulibrary.orst.edu/research/srg/
Other Useful Internet Sites
Biographical information is also available on the web at http://osulibrary.orst.edu/research/refguide.htm#biography. Check your websource for appropriate authority and reliability. Additional sites provided by the Northwest Link Service and the Multnomah County Public Library are:
General Indexes & Sources (all subjects)
The following works, themselves, may not contain actual biographical information, but indicate where such information may be found.
- Biographical and Genealogy Master Index - Ref: CT 213 .B51
A consolidated index to more than 3,200,000 biographical sketches in over 350 current and retrospective biographical dictionaries. - Biographical Index - Ref: CT 100 .B5 - (1984-present))
An index to biographical articles in books and magazines. - New York Times Obituaries Index - Ref: CT 213 .N47
Index To the obituaries appearing in the New York Times between 1858 and 1968. - Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) - Ref DA28 D5
Standard "retrospective" biography for British subjects .
- Dictionary of American Biography (DAB)- Ref E176 D5 1964
Standard "retrospective" biography for Americans - American National Biography - CT 213 A68 1999
Important new source of "retrospective" biography for Americans - Current Biography - Ref CT120 C8
Standard "current" biography for people who are in the news - all subject areas
Specialized Indexes & Sources
Social Science/Humanities Sources:
- Contemporary Authors - Ref PS 129 C631
Important "current" biography for literary persons - Author Biographies Master Index - Ref: PN 452 .A9
Indexes entries in more than 140 biographical dictionaries and directories of writers. - Index to Artistic Biography - Ref: N 40 .H38
Havlice, Patricia Pate. Index to 64 basic sources of biographical information on artists - Journalist Biographies Master Index - Ref: PN 4820 .J6
A guide to 90,000 references to historical and contemporary journalists in 200 biographical directories and other sources.
Scientific Sources:
- American Men and Women of Science - Ref Q141 C2 1999
Important "current" biography for scientists. - Dictionary of Scientific Biography - Ref Q141 D5
Useful "retrospective" biography for scientists
Oregon Sources:
- Oregon Biography Index - Ref: F 875 .B5
Brandt, Patricia and Nancy Guilford. Index to 47 historical volumes containing biographies of Oregonians. - Oregon Women: A Bio-bibliography - Ref: F 875 .L4
Leasher, Evelyn. Index to 102 books and journals containing biographical information about women of Oregon.
United States Sources:
- Who's Who in America - Ref: E 663 .W48
Contains brief factual information about noted deceased Americans - Who's Who of American Women - Ref: E 663 .W57
Biographical information on women who have distinguished themselves in business, the fine arts, science, politics, or other areas. - Regional publications. Contain brief factual information about noted living Americans and Canadians.
- Who's Who in the East - Ref: E 176 .W6
- Who's Who in the Midwest - Ref: F 478 .W5
- Who's Who in the South and South West - Ref: F 208 .W64
- Who's Who in the West - Ref: F 595 .W5
Specific Groups of People
In addition to the biographical sources listed above, there are many specialized biographical works for persons of specific occupations, ethnic groups or nationalities, or historical periods. Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance in locating these books and other biographical sources of information.
