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 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