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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 CT213 .A68 1999

Entries are alphabetical, but there are also indexes arranged by profession and state.
Dictionary of National Biography
Call Number: Ref DA28 .D42

This set covers all time periods of Great Britain.

Race/Ethnicity Specific

African American Lives
Call Number: Ref E185.96 .A446 & eBook
African American National Biography
Call Number: Ref E185.96 .A4466 2008

8 volumes
Notable Black American Men
Call Number: Ref E185.86 .N68 1998
Notable Black American Women
Call Number: Ref E185.96 .N68 1992

2 volumes
Notable Latino Americans
Call Number: E184.S75 M435 & eBook
American Indian Biographies
Call Number: E89 .A46 & eBook

Artists

Contemporary Artists
Call Number: N6490 .C6567 1996
Dictionary of Art
Call Number: Ref N31 .D5 1996

34 volumes

Musicians

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Call Number: Ref ML102.P66 G84 & eBook
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Call Number: Ref ML100 .N48 2001

29 volumes

Scientists

New Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Call Number: Ref Q141 .N45 2008

8 volumes
American Men and Women of Science
Call Number: eBook

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2025 1:30 PM
URL: https://libraryguides.etown.edu/GettingStartedResearch
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Tags: Getting Started, Reference Desk, Research Help