Skip to Main Content

Research Help: Getting Started

High Library's Virtual Reference Desk

Tips for finding print biographies

Search our library catalog or WorldCat using the subject term "biography".

Combine this term with a person's name or event. For example, (biography AND "Benjamin Franklin") or (biography AND "civil rights movement").

General Print Resources

American National Biography
Call Number: Ref 920.073 Am5122
Entries are alphabetical, but there are also indexes arranged by profession and state.
Dictionary of National Biography
Call Number: Ref 920.042 D554
This set covers all time periods of Great Britain.
Who's Who
Call Number: Ref 920.042 W621

Race/Ethnicity Specific

African American Lives
Call Number: Ref 920.009296 Af258
African American National Biography
Call Number: Ref 920 Af258
8 volumes
Notable Black American Men
Call Number: Ref 920.71 N899
Notable Black American Women
Call Number: Ref 920.72 N8992
2 volumes
Notable Latino Americans
Call Number: 920 M511
American Indian Biographies
Call Number: 920 Am512

Artists

Contemporary Artists
Call Number: 709.2 C761 1996
Dictionary of Art
Call Number: Ref 703 D554
34 volumes

Musicians

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Call Number: Ref 780.3 G964 2006
Also available online.
New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Call Number: Ref 780.3 N532 2000
29 volumes

Scientists

New Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Call Number: Ref 509.22 N532
8 volumes
American Men and Women of Science
Call Number: 925 Am512