Simpson Library: African American Studies: Biography

Finding books to check out

Looking for biographies about a particular person? Try searching the library catalog for the person's name. Change the drop-down menu from "Anywhere" to "Subject."

Databases -- Biography

Biography and Genealogy Master Index This link opens in a new window
Type in the name of any famous person, living or dead, and this database will give you the titles of reference books that have biographical articles about that person.
Oxford Reference Online This link opens in a new window
Short articles taken from encyclopedias and other reference books.

Reference Books -- Biography

Reference books are shelved on the first floor of Simpson Library, to the left of the reference desk.

African Americans in the Military
Call Number: REFB U52 .R42 2004
Publication Date: 2004
Short biographical articles about African Americans in the U.S. military. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." 2010 edition available as an e-book.
African Americans in the Performing Arts
Call Number: REFB PN 2286 .O88 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Short biographical articles about African American performing artists, including actors, dancers, comedians, musicians, and more. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." 2010 edition available as an e-book.
African Americans in the Visual Arts
Call Number: REFB N 6538 .N5 O86 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Short biographical articles about African American visual artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, and more. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." 2011 edition available as an e-book.
African-American Athletes
Call Number: REFB GV 697 .A1 A196 2011
Publication Date: 2011
Short biographical articles about African American athletes. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans."
African-American Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs
Call Number: REFB HC 102.5 .A2 K73 2004
Publication Date: 2004
Short biographical articles about African American business leaders and entrepreneurs. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans."
African-American Political Leaders
Call Number: REFB E 185.96 .C18 2011
Publication Date: 2011
Short biographical articles about African American political leaders, including senators, representatives, cabinet members, governors, mayors, and more. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." Also available as an e-book.
African-American Religious Leaders
Publication Date: 2011
E-book only. Short biographical articles about African American religious leaders. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans."
African-American Social Leaders and Activists
Call Number: REFB E 185.96 .R88 2003
Publication Date: 2003
Short biographical articles about African American social leaders, including abolitionists, civil rights leaders, educators, journalists, labor organizers, and more. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." 2011 edition available as an e-book.
African-American Writers
Call Number: REFB PS 153 .N5 B214 2004
Publication Date: 2004
Short biographical articles about African American writers, including poets, novelists, essayists, literary critics, editors, journalists, screenwriters, and more. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans." 2011 edition available as an e-book.
African-Americans in Science, Math, and Invention
Call Number: REFB Q 141 .S6285 2012
Publication Date: 2012
Short biographical articles about African American scientists, mathematicians, and inventors. Part of the series "A to Z of African Americans."
Black Women in America
Call Number: REFB E 185.86 .B542 2005
Publication Date: 2005
Reference articles about black women in America and the issues that affect them. Includes a chronology of African American women's history.
Contemporary Black Biography
Call Number: REFB E 185.96 .C66
Publication Date: 1992
A collection of biographical articles about noteworthy black people, including Americans and non-Americans. Articles are not in alphabetical order. Use the index in the last volume to locate particular people.
Notable Black American Men
Call Number: REFB E 185.86 .N68 1999
Publication Date: 1999
Biographical articles about black American men.

Websites -- Biography

BlackPast.org Online Encyclopedia: People
Biographical articles from the online encyclopedia at BlackPast.org.
The Black Renaissance in Washington, D.C.: 1920-1930s
Includes biographies of key figures and a timeline of events. Also includes a lengthy bibliography of other sources on the topic.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
Outstanding source of information on the life and times of Dr. King. Scroll down the page to view various collections of King’s documents; most chapters are available online in free full text. The Institute’s encyclopedia offers summary articles, quotes, a timeline of events, and more primary documents.