Research Resources:
Electronic Reference Sources:
Biography
Universal
Biographical Dictionary
Covers notable men and women from ancient times to the present day. Searchable by name, birth year, death year, positions held, professions, literary and artistic works, achievements, and other keywords.
Biographies
The Internet Public Library's collection of links to biographical resources on the web.
Biography Collection Complete [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the JerseyClicks database collection, this resource offers a comprehensive collection of full-text biographies supporting history, science, the arts, music, literature, multicultural studies, gender studies, business, government & politics, sports, entertainment and many other areas.
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
Part of Chambers Reference Online, a free searchable version of the 1997 edition of the title covering international figures in areas such as the arts, science, technology, sport, politics, philosophy and business. Select Chambers Biographical Dictionary from the pull-down menu.
Encyclopedia of World Biography
Includes biographical information for thousands of people who have made significant contributions to human culture and society. Based on the Thomson Gale print publication of the same name.
HyperHistory Online
Lifelines of important persons from their date of birth to their date of death; timelines for major civilizations; and year-by-year listings of important events in science, culture, and politics. Includes maps and links to short encyclopedia-like entries on people, places, movements, and events in history. Select People to retrieve lifelines and biographical information.
InfoPlease Almanac: Biography
Search page for biographies from a variety of almanacs, a dictionary, and other sources.
Omnibiography.com
A searchable directory of more than 100,000 biographies on the web.
Who2
Browse alphabetically, or search for specific names, to find brief biographical profiles plus links to Web sites relating to famous people.
African Americans
African American Registry
Searchable by category, keyword, or name, the Registry includes biographical information on African American historical figures.
Online Encyclopedia: African American History, People
Part of BlackPast.org, this site provides short biographies of individuals who "have contributed to the shaping of African American history." Entries are brief, but each includes a citation to the source from which the information was obtained.
Art, Music, and Entertainment
All Music Guide
A free database of biographical and discographical information on musical performers and recordings from every era and genre. Links to similar All Classical, All Movie, and All Game guides.
Contemporary Authors [Rutgers Restricted]
Provides complete biographical and bibliographical information and references on U.S. and international authors, including playwrights.
Contemporary Musicians
Biographical information with selected discographies. Based on the Thomson Gale print publication of the same name.
Film Reference
Based on the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers the site provides biographies of actors, actresses, directors, writers and production artists, as well as information on films.
Grove Art Online [Rutgers Restricted]
An online version of The Grove Dictionary of Art and the The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Browse alphabetically or search for articles on all aspects of art, including biographies of painters, sculptors, graphic artists, architects, furniture makers, ceramists, photographers, illuminators, calligraphers, patrons, collectors, agents, dealers, and more. Most entries include bibliographies and links to related articles.
Grove Music Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Browse alphabetically or search for articles on all aspects of music, including biographies of musicians. Bibliographic citations and related links are also searchable.
Internet Broadway Database (IBDB)
The official database for Broadway theater information, including records of productions from the beginnings of NewYork theatre until today, information on pertinent people, interesting facts, and production statistics.
Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
A extensive free database of information on movies and TV titles, plus actors and actresses; directors; and others involved with film.
Literature Resource Center [Rutgers Restricted]
Searchable database of author biographies, bibliographies and literary criticism; covering more than 120,000 novelists, poets, essayists, journalists, playwrights, and other writers. Also includes Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature.
Business and Economics
Business: Biographical Resources RU Libraries Subject Research Guide
Includes the major biographical works covering business and industry leaders as well as a list of selected directories and Websites in specific business areas.
Literature
Celebration of Women Writers
Provides a comprehensive listing of links to biographical and bibliographical information about women writers, plus links to complete published books written by women, spanning 3000 BC to the present, and more than 125 countries.
Contemporary Authors [Rutgers Restricted]
Provides complete biographical and bibliographical information and references on U.S. and international authors, including playwrights.
Literature Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Includes biographical entries for more than 4,000 authors.
Literature Resource Center [Rutgers Restricted]
Searchable database of author biographies, bibliographies and literary criticism; covering more than 120,000 novelists, poets, essayists, journalists, playwrights, and other writers. Also includes Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature.
Nobel Prize Internet Archive
Chronological and alphabetical lists of all the winners in each category, plus annotations, background information, and links to related pages.
Miscellaneous
Dead People Server
An alphabetical list, which often includes dates, cause of death and claim to fame, of "celebrities who are, or might plausibly be dead."
Fashion Encyclopedia
Biographical information on designers and others in the fashion industry.
Find a Grave
Indexes the graves of noteworthy people and is searchable by name, location, date, or claim to fame.
Jewish Virtual Library: Biography
An alphabetical index to biographical articles on distinguished Jews, with citations to sources. Includes separate listings for biographies of Jewish women, Rabbis and religious figures, Jewish fashion icons, Jewish Nobel Prize winners, and Jews in sports.
Leadership on the Banks: Rutgers' Presidents, 1766–2004
Short biographical sketches of all Rutgers University presidents from Hardenbergh through Lawrence.
National Biographies
Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Includes over 10,000 scholarly biographies of persons who were significant in Australian history.
China Vitae
Biographical information on more than 3000 Chinese leaders in government, politics, the military, education, business, and the media.
Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
Search or browse for biographical articles about people who have played an important role in Canadian history.
Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome
A summary guide to the Dictionary of National Biography published from 1885 to 1901. Names of notable figures from British history are listed here in alphabetical order along with the leading facts and dates from the original work and references to the volume and page where the full article appears.
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Contains over 3,000 biographies of New Zealanders who have 'made their mark' on the country. It does not include people who are alive.
Memorable Canadians National Library of Canada
Indexed by name, endeavour, subject, and resource, the biographies focus on: Canadian history and society; literature; music; and library and information science.
100 Faces from Finland – a Biographical Kaleidoscope
Oroginally published as part of Kansallisbiografia, The National Biography of Finland, this selection of 100 biographies in English includes famous national figures, politicians and artists as well as a witch burned at stake and a 18th century bear hunter.
New Jersey
Governors of New Jersey, 1664-1974: Biographical Essays
Full-text electronic version of the book published by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Brief biographies of New Jersey governors from the earliest times to present day can be viewed at the National Governors Association site.
Leadership on the Banks: Rutgers' Presidents, 1766–2004
Short biographical sketches of all Rutgers University presidents from Hardenbergh through Lawrence.
New Jersey Women's History
Searchable database with links to biographical and bibliographical information, as well as images and documents about New Jersey women.
Politics, Government, Law, and the Military
American President: an Online Reference Resource
Includes detailed biographies of past and present Presidents and First Ladies.
Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress, 1774-Present
Search by last name, first name, position, state, party, year, or Congress to retrieve brief biographical articles with bibliographies.
Biographies: First Ladies of the United States of America
Includes a complete biography of each First Lady (and/or White House hostess), as well as a bibliography of materials, books, articles, etc. by or about each First Lady, and an historical timeline that spans each First Lady’s life.
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
Contains basic facts about Civil War Union and Confederate servicemen, plus related information about regiments, battles, etc. taken from records maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration.
First Ladies Gallery U.S. White House
Short biographies taken from the book The First Ladies.
Governors National Governors Association
Brief biographies and contact information for all current U.S. governors. The "Search All Governors" provides advanced search features and information on governors of the past.
Governors of New Jersey, 1664-1974: Biographical Essays
Full-text electronic version of the book published by the New Jersey Historical Commission. Brief biographies of New Jersey governors from the earliest times to present day can be viewed at the National Governors Association site.
Guide to House and Senate Members
Access data concerning House and Senate Members from various publications including: the Congressional Pictorial Directory, Congressional Biographical Directory, and, in the near future, the Congressional Directory.
Judges of the United States Courts
Part of the History of the Federal Judiciary site from the Federal Judicial Center, the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges contains the service record and biographical information for all judges who have served on the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court since 1789. Browse alphabetically or search by name. Click on Judges of the United States Courts to begin.
Legal Biographies
Biographical information and professional highlights of individuals significant to U.S. law. Based on the Thomson Gale print publication, West's Encyclopedia of American Law, 2nd edition.
Medal of Honor U.S. Army Center of Military History
Biographical information on Medal of Honor winners from the Civil War to the present.
Monarchs of Britain
Brief biographical sketches of Britain's Monarchs.
POTUS (Presidents of the United States) Internet Public Library
Background information, election results, cabinet members, notable events, and some points of interest on each of the presidents. Links to biographies; historical documents; audio and video files; and other presidential sites are also included.
Political Graveyard
Brief biographical entries on deceased U.S. politicians, judges, and diplomats. Indexed by name; state; office held or sought; date; and many other categories.
U.S. Civil War Generals
Lists Confederate and Union generals alphabetically, and provides basic biographical information for each.
Women in Congress
Includes biographical profiles as well as historical essays, digitized artifacts, and relevant data.
Religion
Jewish Virtual Library: Biography
An alphabetical index to biographical articles on distinguished Jews, with citations to sources. Includes separate listings for biographies of Jewish women, Rabbis and religious figures, Jewish fashion icons, Jewish Nobel Prize winners, and Jews in sports.
List of Popes
Web versions of articles from the Catholic Encyclopedia on every Pope from St. Peter to St. Pius X.
New Catholic Encyclopedia [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles on persons and subjects related to Catholicism and the humanities, including topics such as abortion, divorce, cloning, and reproductive technologies. Also features biographies of contemporary religious figures, photos, maps, and illustrations.
Science and Exploration (including Inventors)
4000 Years of Women in Science
Very brief biographical information with some links to related resources and an emphasis on pre-20th century women.
Astronaut Biographies
Provides biographical information on the members of the space flight crews and candidates for future missions in NASA's space flight program.
Biographical Memoirs
From the National Academy of Sciences and "published since 1877, Biographical Memoirs are brief biographies of deceased National Academy of Sciences members, written by those who knew them or their work."
Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Biographical essays with some photos.
Eric Weisstein's World of Scientific Biography
Brief biographies of more than 1,000 scientific figures.
Inventors About.com
Topics include famous inventors, famous inventions, African Americans, women inventors, and more.
Mathematicians of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Accounts of the lives and works of seventeenth and eighteenth century mathematicians (and some other scientists), adapted from A Short Account of the History of Mathematics by W. W. Rouse Ball (4th Edition, 1908).
National Inventors Hall of Fame
Search or browse by name, invention, date of induction, or decade.
Nobel Prize Internet Archive
Chronological and alphabetical lists of all the winners in each category, plus annotations, background information, and links to related pages.
Past Notable Women of Computing and Mathematics
Biographical resources on women throughout history who have made notable contributions to these fields.
Women
300 Women Who Changed the World Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopedia articles may be browsed alphabetically, or by categories based on where they lived, when they lived, or what they did.
4000 Years of Women in Science
Very brief biographical information with some links to related resources and an emphasis on pre-20th century women.
Biographies: First Ladies of the United States of America
Includes a complete biography of each First Lady (and/or White House hostess), as well as a bibliography of materials, books, articles, etc. by or about each First Lady, and an historical timeline that spans each First Lady’s life.
Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Biographical essays with some photos.
Celebration of Women Writers
Provides a comprehensive listing of links to biographical and bibliographical information about women writers, plus links to complete published books written by women, spanning 3000 BC to the present, and more than 125 countries.
Distinguished Women of Past and Present
Short biographies of distinguished women, indexed by name and field of activity.
Encyclopedia of Women Social Reformers [Rutgers Restricted]
Articles on women reformers from the French Revolution to the second wave of feminism in the 1970s, with a few important contemporary figures.
First Ladies Gallery U.S. White House
Short biographies taken from the book The First Ladies.
National Women's History Museum Biographies
Includes biographies of varying lengths. Some, such as the biography of Clara Barton, include lists of resources for additional information as well as a list of works cited.
New Jersey Women's History
Searchable database with links to biographical and bibliographical information, as well as images and documents about New Jersey women.
Past Notable Women of Computing and Mathematics
Biographical resources on women throughout history who have made notable contributions to these fields.
Women in Congress
Includes biographical profiles as well as historical essays, digitized artifacts, and relevant data.
Women in History: Historical Figures
Biographical information with photos and links to related websites.
Women of the Hall
Brief biographical sketches of women who have been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
