How Do I... ? Find Biographical Information
General Resources | Finding Biographies (books) at CU | Specialized Biography Resources
| General Biography Resources |
The general biography resources will include biographical information on a wide variety of individuals from different time periods.
American National Biography CU
This full text biography database offers portraits of more than 17,400 men and women -- from all eras and walks of life -- whose lives have shaped the nation. Includes cross-references to other related biographies.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index CU
This database indexes current and retrospective biographical reference sources on individuals, both living and deceased, from every field of activity and from all areas of the world. Once you've retrieved the list of books where individual biographies appear, follow the steps to finding a book to see where the book you're looking for is located.
Biography Index CU
Cites biographical material appearing in periodicals, current books of individual and collective biography, and incidental biographical material in otherwise non-biographical books.
Marquis Who's Who on the Web CU
Comprehensive profiles on over 1 million of the most accomplished individuals from all fields of endeavor including: government, business, science & technology, the arts, entertainment and sports.
Provides full text for more than 1,750 general reference publications with full text information dating as far back as 1975, including full text from 86,019 biographies.
Biography.com (from the A&E Television Channel)
Includes ~25,000 biographies searchable by name, keyword or category. Entries may include videos, links to related works, people and websites.
Biography (from Infoplease.com)
30,000+ biographies available; search by name or browse by subject. Includes lists of biographies of notable women, biographies of famous americans by race/ethnicity, and recent deaths (by year, from 1998 - present).
Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT103 .C26 1994
Current Biography / Current Biography Yearbook (Annual, 1940 - present)
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT100 .C8
Dictionary of American Biography
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number E176 .D563
| Finding Biographical Books at CU's Libraries |
To find individual biographies written about a specific person, follow the steps below.
- Go to Chinook, the CU Library Catalog
- Select the "Advanced Keyword Search " option
- Enter your keywords (More information on keyword searching)
- Example: Searching for a biography of John Muir
- You may want to include both forms of his name: ("John Muir" OR "Muir, John")
- Also include the keyword "biograph*" to find biography, biographies, biographical, etc.
- Click the "Search" button near the bottom of the screen
- Note: If your search returns no results, you may want to search Prospector or request the book through Interlibrary Loan (for more information, consult the How Do I? page on how to find a book)
| Specialized Biographical Resources |
Colorado | International | Literary | Political | Science | Women
Colorado Biographical Dictionary : People of All Times and All Places Who Have Been Important to the History and Life of this State
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number F775 .C635 1999
Colorado Who's Who
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT226 .C64 1984
The Historical Encyclopedia of Colorado
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number F775 .H57 1975
Who's Who in Colorado : a Biographical Record of Colorado 's Outstanding Civic, Business, Professional, Religious, Labor and Government Leaders
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number F775 .W58 1967
Women of Consequence : the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT3260 .V37 1999
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography CU
An illustrated collection of 50,000 biographies of the men and women who shaped all aspects of Britain's past, from the fourth century BC to the year 2000.
Part of the information available through Marquis Who's Who on the Web (which includes profiles on over 1 million of the most accomplished individuals from all fields of endeavor including: government, business, science & technology, the arts, entertainment and sports).
Dictionary of International Biography
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT101 .D5
Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
An online canadian biography resource developed by theUniversity of Toronto, the Université Laval, and the Library and Archives Canada. The entries include individuals who died died between the years 1000 and 1930.
Contemporary Authors CU
Biographical details on approximately 112,000 modern novelists, poets, playwrights, nonfiction writers, journalists, and scriptwriters.
Dictionary of Literary Biography CUA contemporary 300+ volume literary encyclopedia with substantive 2 to 5 page biographical introductions, critical evaluations, and bibliographic essays on authors, critics, journalists, screenwriters, publishers and scholars, a majority of whom have published in the 20th century.
Oxford Companion to English Literature
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number PR19 .D73 2000
Dictionary of Political Biography
This dictionary covers all the major figures in world politics of the twentieth century, describing and assessing the lives of more than 1000 men and women who have shaped political events across the world. Each entry includes an account of the background, career, and achievements of the individual concerned.
The Presidents of the United States
Brief biographies of the US Presidents from the White House website.
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (1774 - present)
Search the directory by name, state, position, party, year or Congress. Includes brief biography, with additional biographical citations available through the "Bibliography" link.
Biographies: First Ladies of the United States
From the National First Ladies Library, the entries include biographical information, bibliographies of other works written about the first ladies, and an historical timeline.
Includes biographical information about some of the individuals buried in Arlington National Cemetery, including presidents, Supreme Court Justices, historical figures, minorities and more.
Biographical Dictionary of Modern World Leaders, 1992 to the present
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number D412 .B55 2003
Columbia Dictionary of Political Biography
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number D108 .C65 1991
First Ladies of the United States : a Biographical Dictionary
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number E176.2 W369 2001
Presidential Facts : Topical Lists, Comparisons, and Statistics
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number E176.1 .S614 2006
The United States Executive Branch : a Biographical Directory of Heads of State and Cabinet Officials
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number E176 .U575 2003
Who's Who in Science and Engineering CU
A biographical dictionary of notable scientists and engineers. Part of the information available through Marquis Who's Who on the Web.
From Archimedes and Copernicus to Stephen Hawking and Stephen Jay Gould , this biographical dictionary of scientists spans over 2,500 years and covers all areas of science, from physics and astronomy to medicine and ecology, including key figures in the fields of mathematics and technology.
Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
Profiles of African Americans in many scientific disciplines. Includes notation for women scientists and the scientists who were the first to be awarded a PhD in that field.
American Men and Women of Science
Located in Science Reference, call number Q141 .A48
Biographical Dictionary of Scientists
Located in Science Reference, call number Q141 .B528 2000
Dictionary of Scientific Biography
Located in Science Reference, call number Q141 .D5
Encyclopedia of World Scientists
Located in Science Reference, call number Q141 .O25 2001
Who's Who of American Women CU
A biographical dictionary of notable living American women. Part of the information available through Marquis Who's Who on the Web.
Native American Women : a Biographical Dictionary
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number E98.W8 B38 2001
Notable American Women, 1607-1950
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT3260 .N57
Notable American Women : a Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT3260 .N5735 2004
Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Women's Biography
Located in Norlin Reference Stacks, call number CT3260 .N5735 2004
Please email suggestions for additional resources.
Updated 11/08 SA
CU = Resources marked with this symbol are available in campus libraries and to students, staff, and faculty via the campus network. Use of these resources is subject to copyright laws and license limitations. Off-campus access information.
