Biography
This very rough and cryptic Google Doc lists biographical sources by country. We can help you find any source you want from this list. Some of the urls are dead.
World Biographical Information System includes full text of thousands of biographical dictionaries accessible by name of biographee. Largely online full text, partly microfiche or print. What to do if a biographical article is not available online and further information. Also known as the Saur Biographical Archives.
IBN: Index bio-bibliographicus notorum hominum.
Online Version
LOCATION: Widener: RR 1501.15
--Indexes 2000 biographical dictionaries and related works, including non-European publications, published through the 1960s. Gives names, dates, nationalities, and occupations in addition to references to the indexed biographical works, listed in volumes labeled "Key to Sources". Currently extends only to Pichorel.
--The online version does not include well-known persons with numerous entries and book-length biographies.
Germany and German-speaking
Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich enthaltend die Lebensskizzen der denkwurdigen Personen, welche seit 1750 in den osterreichischen Kronlandern geboren wurden oder darin gelebt und gewirkt haben, by Constant von Wurzbach. Wien: L.C. Zamarski, 1856-1891.
--Standard work covering the period from 1750. Contains 24,254 biographies of inhabitants of the various lands included in the former Austrian Empire. Gives biographies of some length, with source lists.
Online version in Austrian Literature Online
HathiTrust Version
Full text in World Biographical Information System
Deutsche biographische Enzyklopädie online Online version is more up-to-date than print. Print version:
Widener: RR 1786.5
English version:
Dictionary of German biography. München: K.G. Saur, 2001-2006. 10 v.
Widener: WID-LC CT759 .D4813 2001x
Datenbank Schriftstellerinnen in Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz 1945-2008
Biographische Nachschlagewerke. List of sources with links to full text
Netherlands
Biografisch Portaal van Nederland
Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland (BWN)
Digitaal Vrouwenlexicon van Nederland (DVN) (Online Dictionary of Dutch Women)