Specialized Biographical Works
Along with single-author biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs, themed biographical compilations are common in print and/or online. The following are examples of the types of specialized biographical works that can be found at KU Libraries:
American Women Writers: A Critical Reference Guide: From Colonial Times to the Present by
"Provides coverage on the best-known American women writers spanning from colonial days to the present, including biography, criticism, and bibliography for each; also includes lesser-known writers whose work is found in journals, letters, stories, and even hymns. Entries feature an assessment of the writer's works; basic biography and complete bibliography, as well as comprehensive data on writers' names, including pseudonyms, alias" (from Gale Virtual Reference Library).
Call Number: E-book or Print: PS147 .A42 2000ISBN: 1558624295Publication Date: 2000
British and Irish Poets: A Biographical Dictionary, 449-2006 by
"This reference book contains information on poets from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The featured poets are representative of periods from the Old English era to the Post-Modern age. Each entry is comprised of a biography, a sample of the poet's publications, a list of his or her best known poems and sources for further information"--Provided by publisher.
Call Number: PR502 .B67 2007ISBN: 0786428910Publication Date: 2007
Encyclopedia of African American Writing: Five Centuries of Contribution: Trials & Triumphs of Writers, Poets, Publications and Organizations by Call Number: PS153.N5 A3444 2009ISBN: 9781592372911Publication Date: 2009
Black Women of the Harlem Renaissance Era by
"The Harlem Renaissance is considered one of the most significant periods of creative and intellectual expression for African Americans. Beginning as early as 1914 and lasting into the 1940s, this era saw individuals reject the stereotypes of African Americans and confront the racist, social, political, and economic ideas that denied them citizenship and access to the American Dream. While the majority of recognized literary and artistic contributors to this period were black males, African American women were also key contributors. Black Women of the Harlem Renaissance Era profiles the most important figures of this cultural and intellectual movement" (from e-book description).
Call Number: PS153.N5 B557 2014 or E-book (access through link in catalog)ISBN: 9780810885424Publication Date: 2014
Notable Latino Americans by Call Number: E-book or Print: E184.S75 M35 1997ISBN: 0313291055Publication Date: 1997
Biography Databases
Use the following sources (as well as some of the literature databases found under the tab Finding Articles) to find biographical information on authors and other significant historical figures.
- Oxford dictionary of national biographyContains written and illustrated biographies of people who shaped the history of the British Isles and beyond, from the earliest to recent times. Includes almost 12,000 portraits. (Restricted to 3 simultaneous users.)
- American national biography online This link opens in a new windowAccess scholarly biographies of deceased Americans of significant historical importance. (Restricted to 5 simultaneous users.)
- Dictionary of Irish biography This link opens in a new windowBiographical entries covering the lives of Irish men and women who made a significant contribution in Ireland and abroad, as well as those born overseas who had noteworthy careers in Ireland.
- Oxford African American studies center This link opens in a new windowProvides online access to reference resources in African American studies, including the Encyclopedia of African American History 1619-1895, Black Women in America, and Africana, a history of the African American experience. Includes African American National Biography project, edited by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the Encyclopedia of African American Art and Architecture. (Restricted to 5 simultaneous users.)
- Biography and genealogy master index This link opens in a new windowIndexes more than 12.7 million biographical sketches in more than 3,400 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.
Dictionary of Literary Biography
Dictionary of Literary Biography (Series) by Call Number: PS21 .D488Publication Date: 1980s-2000sKU Libraries owns over 300 volumes of the Dictionary of Literary Biography. Each volume has a theme. Examples include: Chinese Fiction Writers, 1900-1949 (vol. 328); British and Irish Short-Fiction Writers, 1945-2000 (vol. 319); American Mystery and Detective Writers (vol. 306); Modern Spanish American Poets (vol. 290); and hundreds more. Articles from the DLB series are available in HTML format in the Literature Resource Center database.