Library Briefings

Biographies straight to your desktop

Biography Resource Center provides information on 275,000 notable people

Through the Library’s subscription to the Biography Resource Center, you can now access encyclopedic biographical entries and periodical articles on 275,000 notable individuals spanning history, place, discipline, and subject. Resources include more than 90 biographical reference sources and 250 periodicals. Included are:

Contemporary Authors
Encyclopedia of World Biography
Newsmakers
Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television
Contemporary Musicians
Historic World Leaders
Notable Twentieth-Century Scientists
Contemporary Black Biography
Religious Leaders of America
International Dictionary of Art and Artists
Writers Directory
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture

The database also includes articles from periodicals such as The Economist, Military History, People Weekly, Newsweek, Variety, The Christian Century, Advertising Age, Foreign Affairs, Daedalus, Journal of Women’s History, and Journal of European Studies.

Retrieve brief bios, full biographical narratives, articles, photos, images, and even suggested web site links via numerous search methods:
Name Search: search by last name and first name
Biographical Facts Search: search by occupation, nationality, ethnicity, birth/death year, birth/death place, and gender.
Advanced Search: search by keyword in full text, source and article date(s).

Note: Marquis Who’s Who is also available straight to your desktop! The Library maintains a subscription to this resource separate from the Biography Resource Center.

-- Jeannette Moss