BIOGRAPHIES

Biographies are key sources of information on people (living or deceased) and UCD Library has a range of biographical sources available to you.

General Reference Biographies (non subject specific)

“Biography”

An electronic journal containing biographical scholarship available from the library’s Electronic Journals search option

Encyclopedia Britannica

Contains online 3000+ biographies of a wide range of people

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online

Authoritative biographical resource offering access to over 50,000 biographies of distinguished persons from all walks of life who have “shaped the lives of the British Isles and beyond”. Coverage: from earliest time to 2002. Includes deceased persons only.

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To get a brief overview of a person, the following may help!

Biography.com

Busy popular site but has a section on people which allows name or category searching. International coverage, brief entries with related terms.

The Biographical Dictionary

This dictionary covers more than 28,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day. Very brief entries about people both living and dead.

Infoplease.com People

30,000+ entries; current and historical; international

World Biographical Index

Online version of the World Biographical Index, 5th edition, K. G. Saur. Not freely available K. G. Saur Verlag, Munich, e-mail: Sales@saur.de will gladly tell you which library in your area owns which archives.
scope: 2.4 million entries; North and South America, Western and Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

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General Reference Print-Only Sources

Some important biographical sources are ONLY available in printed format – a selection of key titles include:

Who's Who

1999- at General Reference 920.42/WHO
[1910-1998 may be retrieved from Store on request]

Who was who

1897-1980, at GR 920.042/WHO

International Who’s Who

1976/77 only – General Reference R920.02/WHO

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Biographical Information by Country

Canadian Who's Who 1997

Based on the 1997 edition of the Canadian Who's Who, the standard biographical reference of Canadian biography. Search by name, birthdate, city, or full text. More than 15,000 entries; current and historical.

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

3,000+ biographies of New Zealanders who have 'made their mark. It does not include people who are alive. The entries are substantial, signed, have a bibliography of sources and in many cases a photograph

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Biographical Information by Country: Print Sources Only

Some important biographical sources are ONLY available in printed format – a selection of key titles include:

Italy - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani

1960- shelved at General Reference 920.043/DIZ

France-Dictionnaire de Biographie Francaise

1933- shelved at General Reference 920.044/DICph

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Biographies by Subject

Some examples include the following-check the catalogue for more in your subject area!

A Dictionary of Political Biography

In Oxford Reference Online

Who's Who in Twentieth Century Literature Online

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NEWSPAPER AND JOURNALS DATABASES

Newspapers contain articles, features and obituaries on people from a range of backgrounds, jobs and for a variety of reasons. Newspaper articles can be a valuable source of background information on a topic and click here for more on using newspapers.

Databases in your subject area may contain links to finding information on people and the Library website and UCD Connect contains a full listing of databases by subject

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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION BY PROFESSION OR INDUSTRY

A number of professions have publish directories of members, often with brief biographical entries. Professional bodies may also produce one-off publications listing members and key professionals. Have a look in the Reference Section using the Library catalogue to find reference publications on industries, professions and people – examples include:

Administration Yearbook and Diary

The Media Directory

Martindale Hubbell Corporate Law Directory

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