| Before beginning a
search for biographical information on an individual, it will help to determine in which
categories the person belongs. What is, or was, the person’s nationality? Occupation?
Time period? Is the person deceased or still living? Biographical sources are limited by
factors such as these. |
BOOKS:
Do a subject search in the HELIN library catalog
(http://helin.uri.edu) with the last name first: mandela,
nelson. Search WorldCat (http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html)
for other books. |
WEB PAGES:
Select a search tool from the list of Internet Search
Tools (http://www.uri.edu/library/web_resources/internet_search_tools.html).
Keep in mind that you may retrieve low-quality information, as well as high quality. |
JOURNALS OR
MAGAZINES:
Choose Academic Search Premier from the Libraries’ list
of Reference Databases (http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html).
For more articles, choose a specialized index in print or electronic form. |
ENCYCLOPEDIAS:
Use general encyclopedias such as Encyclopaedia Britannica,
World Book, and Encyclopedia Americana on the Encyclopedias row in the
reference room. Also consult numerous subject-specific encyclopedias in the reference
stacks. |
| NEWSPAPERS: |
Ref.
Z5301
.F28 |
- Falk, Byron A. and Falk, Valerie R. (eds.), Personal
Name Index to “The New York Times Index”, 1851-1974; 1975-1984 Supplement;
1975-1989 Supplement; 1975-1994 Supplement. Verdi, NV: Roxbury Data
Interface, 1976-.
- Indexes people mentioned in the New York Times.
Refers to New York Times Index volumes, from which article citations can be
obtained. Includes obituaries. Covers 1851-1993.
|
Ref.
CT120
.O15 |
- Obituaries from the Times, 1951-1960;
1961-1970; 1971-1975. Westport: Meckler, 1975-.
- Index to obituaries in the Times (London). Also
some full texts of obituaries. Covers 1951-1975.
|
| Internet Resource |
- LexisNexis Academic.
- Provides the full text of many newspapers. The General News
Topics section contains stories going back as far as the 1970s for some newspapers. The
Biographical Information section contains biographical articles going back as far as the
1970s from trade magazines and business journals, as well as from various “Who’s
Who” biographical sources. LexisNexis Academic is available from the Libraries’
list of Reference Databases at http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html.
|
| Internet Resource |
- National Newspapers (ProQuest Direct).
- Indexes and provides abstracts for 9 major papers, including
the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor. From 1995 to date.
National Newspapers (ProQuest Direct) is available from the Libraries’ list of
Reference Databases at http://www.uri.edu/library/reference_databases/title.html.
|
| BIOGRAPHICAL
DICTIONARIES: |
Ref.
Z5301
.B5 |
- Biography Index. Bronx: Wilson,
1946- . Latest 10 years located at Index Table 1.
- Indexes biographical material in magazines, books, and some
obituaries. From 1946 to date.
|
| Index Table 1 |
- Herbert, Miranda, and McNeil, Barbara (eds.), Biography
and Genealogy Master Index; 1986-90 cumulation; 1991; 1992; 1994. Detroit:
Gale, 1980-.
- Indexes current and retrospective biographical dictionaries.
Covers 1980-1994.
|
Ref.
CT103
.C26
1988 |
- Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1998.
- As well as brief entries, has supplements listing
contemporaries, ready-reference groupings, and “connections” (individuals who
have relationships with one another).
|
Ref.
CT100
.C8 |
- Current Biography / Current Biography Yearbook. New
York: Wilson, 1940- . Latest 10 years located on Index Table 1.
- Biographical sketches of people prominent in their fields,
including entertainment and politics. From 1940 to date.
|
Ref.
CT213
.A68
1999 |
- American National Biography. 24
volumes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
- “Conceived as a successor to the Dictionary of
American Biography,” which covered important, deceased residents of the United
States.
|
Ref.
CT3260
.N57 |
- Notable American Women 1607-1950; the Modern
Period. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 1971, 1980.
- Includes women who died before 1971. Includes many women not
covered in the Dictionary of American Biography. Volumes published in 1971
shelved at Ref. CT3260 .N57.
|
Ref.
E663
.W56 |
- Who’s Who in America. Chicago:
A. N. Marquis, 1899-.
- Covers well-known living people who have made significant
achievements or held important office. From 1899 to date.
|
Ref.
E176
.W64 |
- Who Was Who in America. Chicago:
Marquis Who’s Who, 1897-1942-.
- Historical volume and volumes including individuals who were
retired from Who’s Who in America because of death. Often the place of
burial is given.
|
Ref.
E185.96
.D53
1982 |
- Dictionary of American Negro Biography. New
York: Norton, 1982.
- Covers important deceased individuals within the Black
community up to 1970.
|
Ref.
E185.96
.N68
1992 |
- Smith, Jessie Carney (ed.), Notable Black
American Women. Detroit: Gale, 1992-1996.
- Covers living and deceased Black women who have made
significant accomplishments in business, arts, and other fields.
|
Ref.
DA28
.D49 |
- Stephen, Leslie, and Sidney Lee, eds. Dictionary
of National Biography. London: Oxford University Press, 1921– .
- High quality articles on deceased residents of the British
Isles or colonies. Covers up through 1985. Main and supplementary volumes. Check index for
appropriate volume. Later volumes shelved at Ref. DA28 .D525.
|
Serial
DA28
.W6 |
- Who’s Who. 1898–
. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Latest on Reference.
- Reliable entries, including addresses of prominent living
individuals, mostly British.
|
| There may be other
biographical sources including subject-specific sources such as dictionaries of
scientists. Ask at the Reference Desk. |
