Library Guides: How Do I Find?: Biographies

Finding Books and Chapter-Length Biographies

You can find book-length biographies, as well as chapters included in biography collections, by using the UD Catalog and searching by Subject.

Type in the person's last name, first name for best results.

Finding Articles and Images

These databases are good sources for articles and other biographical information on individuals.

Biography Reference Bank
Biographical information on notable individuals from various fields, featuring articles, profiles, and references to help with research on historical and contemporary figures.
Biography Reference Bank is a comprehensive online database offering extensive biographical information on approximately half a million people from antiquity to the present. It combines in-depth profiles from Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated with thorough periodicals coverage from Biography Index. The database provides full-text articles, page images, abstracts, and over 36,000 images. Its content includes biographical profiles, feature articles, interviews, essays, book reviews, performance reviews, speeches, and obituaries. Users can search for individuals by various criteria, including name, profession, title, place of origin, gender, race/ethnicity, and date of birth or death. The database is regularly updated, ensuring up-to-date coverage of newsmakers. Biography Reference Bank offers unparalleled breadth and depth of biographical information by linking to articles about individuals across nearly all WilsonWeb databases, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and anyone seeking detailed biographical data on notable figures across various fields and time periods.
Dictionary of Literary Biography
A comprehensive resource offering critical and biographical essays on over 143,000 authors, including their works and critical reception across genres.
The Dictionary of Literary Biography is an extensive online database that offers full-text access to critical and biographical essays on over 143,000 authors, historians, journalists, screenwriters, publishers, and playwrights from various eras and genres. This resource includes comprehensive profiles that delve into the lives, careers, and literary contributions of significant figures in literature. The database features entries organized into several series, including the main series, documentary series, and yearbook series, allowing users to explore thematic volumes focused on specific literary movements or periods. Each entry typically contains a detailed analysis of the author's works, critical reception, and bibliographic references. Users can search for authors by name or browse by literary period or genre. The platform also provides tools for citation and content sharing, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in the study of literature and its influential figures.
American National Biography Online
Provides biographical information on notable figures in American history, featuring in-depth articles that cover their lives, achievements, and contributions across various fields.
From missionaries to musicians, social workers to statisticians, cowboys to chemists, and Vikings to astronauts, the 19,000+ portraits in the American National Biography Online (the ANB) reflect the rich diversity of American life from people who lived in pre-colonial times to those who have died only in the last five years. Featuring thousands of illustrations, and tens of thousands of hyperlinked cross-references and links to other (select) websites, the ANB is a powerful research tool for all levels of study.