Locating Biographical Information
Great Personalities in American History:  History 365
Western Washington University Libraries
Margaret Fast, Librarian for History, Phone (360) 650-3174

      1. Search the Library Catalog

If you need to find a person to research:
Search the catalog using a SUBJECT Search, for example: Women--United States--Biography; Biography--20th Century; Politicians--United States--Biography;
Slaves -- United States -- Biography. Broaden the search by clicking on subject headings from within a record.

For example: King, Martin Luther; Roosevelt, Eleanor; Long, Huey

Examples of additional subject headings listed may include:
Roosevelt, Eleanor - correspondence
Roosevelt, Eleanor - political and social views

Search by AUTHOR, enter the LAST NAME first, to locate autobiographical works, works discussing personal ideologies, contributions, etc., as well as diaries, letters & correspondence, memoirs, or personal narratives.
For example:  Roosevelt, Eleanor.

 
2. Use Biographical Indexes
Biographical indexes condense the search process by indexing both major and lesser biographical dictionaries and collective biographies.

America: History and Life 1964- Available on the library web site: select "Articles, Search Databases", then select "Browse Indexes and Databases Alphabetically".
AHL indexes scholarly articles on the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present.  It is also a good source for biographical articles, and allows searching by an individuals' name, an event, or limit to a specific time period.  CLIO Notes guides you through US History by allowing you to browse chronologies and brief summaries of significant events and themes in American history.

Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
BGMI is a comprehensive index to more than 10 million biographical sketches in current and retrospective biographical dictionaries. It includes contemporary and historical figures throughout the world. 

Biography Index   1946+ / Ref. CT104.B54
 A retrospective work, Biography Index indexes biographical material in books, journals, collective biographies, letters and diaries. It includes an index to occupations at the end of each volume, examples include:  martyrs, outlaws, mail order brides, and lists names associated within that category.  This is a useful source when you need more than brief summary information.  Biography Index is also indexed by the BGMI.

Personal Names Index to the New York Times  Wilson 2 West AI21.N46
Indexes the New York Times Index by indicating which years a "personal name" appears in the Index.  Covers 1851-1974, with a 1986 supplement. Online Guide to using the New York Times Index

There are several categories of biographical dictionaries; the most comprehensive is a universal dictionary which includes people from all time periods, countries, and occupations. Who’s Who (Ref. CT 120 I5) is an example of this type.  Entries however, are often brief, providing only vital statistics and minimal information.

Examples include:

American National Biography / Ref. CT213.A68 1999
This set is the successor to the Dictionary of American Biography.  Coverage includes some updated biographies from the earlier DAB which reflect new discoveries of primary source materials or new facts concerning the life of an individual, as well as more coverage of women & minorities.  Inclusion requires  that  persons are deceased - coverage is from 1980 to the present.

Chambers Biographical Dictionary / CT103.C4 1990   general stacks
This dictionary includes more than 27,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day. The dictionary can be searched by names, birth years, death years, positions held, professions, literary and artistic works, miscellaneous achievements, and other keywords.

Dictionary of American Biography / Ref. E176.D56
An authoritative work, with entries written by historians or scholars in the field, covers, in over twenty volumes, over 14,000 extensive articles, on persons now deceased who made significant contributions to American life and culture. Typically, articles in this set include sources for additional information. This set was published in the 1920's - 30's, supplements in ten year increments have been published, covering persons who died since the previous volume, to 1980. The successor to this title is the American National Biography / Ref. CT213.A68 1999.

Dictionary of National Biography / Ref. DA28.D45
The main set covers British biography and noteworthy Americans of the colonial period to 1901.  Supplements continue this set up to 1990.

The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Biography; An International Reference Work/ Ref. CT103.M295
Use the INDEX to locate information by name, profession (archaeologist, politician), event (war of 1812), by subject (civil rights movement), or geographical location (Spain).  Information on a particular person may be within several volumes of this set - Usually there is a main entry, as well as additional entries for associates, people who influenced them, those whom they have influenced, and their philosophy, theory, or contribution.

National or regional dictionaries are limited in coverage to a particular geographical area, while subject biographical dictionaries limit entries to specific groups, professions, or time period. These more specialized resources usually provide more in-depth coverage.

Examples include:

Biographical Dictionary of American Indian History to 1900 / Ref. E 89.W35 2001
National Cyclopedia of American Biography /  Haggard 3 Oversize E 176.+N27
Notable Asian Americans: A Biographical Dictionary / Ref. E184.O6 N67 1995
Notable Black American Women: A Biographical Dictionary / Ref. E185.96 N68 1992 2 vols.
Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary / Ref. E184.S75 M435 1997
Notable Native Americans: A Biographical Dictionary / Ref. E89.N67 1995
Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia / Ref. HQ1115.W6 1999-
 

American Biographical Archive / Microfiche Collection Wilson 2 West CT213 .A49 1986a.
Arranged in a single alphabet format, this collection includes the full-text articles, and identifies the biographical dictionaries and collective biographies used as sources. This retrospective biography includes early American historical figures, through the early Twentieth Century and is an excellent primary resource collection.  A print index to this archive is available in Wilson 2W-Microform Index CT213.A5 1993. The Microfiche is located on Wilson 2 West CT213.A49 1986a.

Biographical Directory of the American Congress / Ref. JK 1010.A5
An example of a directory-type biographical source is the Biographical Directory of the American Congress, containing over ten thousand entries of brief information on U. S. representatives and senators, delegates of the Continental Congress, territorial delegates, etc. This and other directories typically are brief compilations of information on individuals of a particular profession or discipline.

African American Biographies: Profiles of 558 Current Men and Women / Ref. E185.96.H38 1992

Current Biography / Ref. CT 100.C8
Each biographical sketch is 3-5 pages in length, and includes a photograph of the person.

Contemporary Black Biography / Ref. E185.96.C66  23 vols.

Great Lives from History:
      Twentieth Century Series / Ref. CT120.G69 1990
     American Series / Ref. CT214.G74 1987
     American Women Series / Ref. HQ1412.G74 1995
 

5.   Primary Resource Documents & other Biographical Information

• American Diaries: An Annotated Bibliography of Published American Diaries and Journals /Ref. CT 214.A74

Each volume concentrates on a specific time period: Vol. 1 includes diaries written from 1492-1844; Vol. 2 includes those written from 1845 - 1980.
 
• American Memory  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amhome.html

Enter 'biography" in the search box, or search by name, or topic.  Provides full-text primary sources including biographical sketches, diaries, etc.
 
• A Hypertext on American History from the Colonial Period Until Modern Times

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/
Contains data regarding historical persons related to American History.
 
• Library of American Civilization (LAC) microfiche collection

The Library of American Civilization (LAC) microfiche collection contains primary resources from the beginning of American history to the outbreak of World War I.  It is also useful for biographical and background materials.
• Search the Library Catalog by SUBJECT, entering your person's last name, then first name.  The call number is divided in two parts:  the first - E156.L5, identifies the LAC microfiche cabinet on Wilson 2 West;  the second - LAC 40059, identifies the fiche number for the specific source. A four volume print index is located in Reference, Ref. E156.L52, and on Wilson 2W in the Microform Index section  E156.L52 Index.
   
• Locating Speeches at Western's Library

http://www.library.wwu.edu/ref/howtoguides/speeches.htm
 
• Primary Source Research - WWU Library

http://www.library.wwu.edu/ref/subjguides/history/hist104.html
Lists & describes sources for locating primary sources, both in Wilson Library and on the Web.
 
• Women's Diaries, Journals, and Letters: An Annotated Bibliography/ Ref. CT 3230.C55 1989

"This work lists published private writings of appreciable length, including those published as articles or as extracts in larger works.

6. Overview Sources for Historical Perspective:

To gain additional historical perspective on an individual, it is useful to identify influences on that person, as well as why they were important, and influences they may have had.  To do this, it helps to add additional background information regarding what was going on at the time - including social, political, and cultural ideas, events, etc.

Two resources which provide a broad perspective surrounding important periods in American history are:
 

• American Decades / Ref. E 169.12.A419

"Researchers can explore American life during the decade from 12 separate perspectives, including the arts, business, fashion, religion and more. Users will find essays, biographies, photographs, illustrations, text of primary documents, as well as timelines and a chronology of the decade."
 
• American Eras / Ref. E169.1.A4

 "Volumes are divided into 11 chapters-world events, arts, business and economy, communications, education, government and politics, law and justice, lifestyle, social trends and fashion, religion, science and medicine, and sports and recreation.  The first chapter, "World Events," is a chronology. The topical chapters are divided into several sections: a chronology; an overview; "topics in the news," which explores various developments; "headline makers," giving biographical entries on a few significant people; and an annotated list of publications of the time. Sidebars, found throughout the text, are sometimes taken from primary-source material."


Some resources which focus on a major historical event or time period include:
 

• The American Revolution, 1775-1783: An Encyclopedia / Ref.  E208 A433 1993
• Encyclopedia of the American Civil War: A Political, Social, and Military History / Ref. E468.H47 2000
• Encyclopedia of the United States in the Twentieth Century / Ref. E 740.7.E53 1996
• The Sixties in America / Ref. E841 .S55 1999


Some resources which focus on a region are:

• Encyclopedia of the American West / Ref. F 591.E435 1996
• Encyclopedia of Southern Culture / Ref. F 209.E53 1989


See Also:

• Encyclopedia of American Social History /  Ref. HN57 .E58 1993

A three-volume set of scholarly articles, with short bibliographies. Gives the social history of specific periods and covers topics including: regional and ethnic subcultures, everyday life and work, popular culture and recreation, and social protest and problems.
 
• Research Guide to American Historical Biography / Ref. CT214.R47 1988

Provides a chronology and synopsis of major events, discusses the accomplishments of persons and places their contributions in context, with scholarly opinions of both original and changes in public opinion toward the person.  It evaluates other primary & secondary biographical sources.  Provides bibliographies and a list of other sources as well.
 
• Scribner's American History & Culture (CD-ROM-- Ref. E173.S55)
Shelved with books, load & play on CD stations in Ref.)
"Contains over 7,200 full-text articles on key events and concepts in American History, containing the full-text of the following titles: Dictionary of American History; The Presidents: A Reference History; Encyclopedia of American Social History; and the Dictionary of American Biography.  Includes a timeline of key events, more than 600 photographs, and primary source documents to illuminate the text."