Vital Statistics
Biographical Sources
Biographical information may be found in a variety of sources depending largely on the level of prominence of the person involved. Very famous scientists may have full biographies in HOLLIS. Somewhat less well-known persons (as well as the very famous) can be found in the many biographical dictionaries. There are indexes to the thousands of biographical dictionaries: see below.
Biographical Dictionaries
American National Biography is the standard American source for biographies of major figures. Can do searches of occupations and limit by date.
Dictionary of scientific biography and New Dictionary of Scientific Biography offer biographical sketches on deceased scientists, including excellent lists of primary and secondary literature. Volume 16 includes a general index and a list of scientists by field. Volumes 17 & 18 are supplements containing scientists left out of the main series and those dying between 1970 and 1981. New Dictionary of Scientific Biography contains new articles about scientists dying after 1950 and earlier figures omitted from the original Dictionary together with articles updating entries in the original. Unlike the original, psychology and anthropology are covered, with some sociology and economics. For more recent sources (post-1975) use History of Science, Technology and Medicine. For new primary works (new editions, etc.) put your person in the author field. For new secondary works, put your person in the Subject field.
Biographical Indexes
Biography in Context is full text but much less comprehensive than the following two sources.
Biography and Genealogy Master Index indexes numerous English-language biographical works. Look these up in HOLLIS.
World Biographical Information System includes the full text of thousands of biographical dictionaries. Worldwide in scope and includes dictionaries dating from the 17th through the 20th centuries in many languages. Divided into many "Archives" dealing with different countries or regions.
For more information on finding biographies see Finding Biographical Information.