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Biography: Getting Started

Getting started on your Biography research

     

Encyclopedia articles are a great way to gather background information as you begin your research.

Once you have a good encyclopedia article, use the tabs across the top of the guide to find books, articles, and web pages in this subject area. The Cite Your Sources tab will help you to properly cite the resources you find.

As always, if your research is taking too long or you have questions use the Ask Us button on the right hand side of this page to contact your Librarians for further assistance.

 

Find encyclopedia articles online

   

Search

 

  • A great place to look for background information
  • Preferred over Wikipedia articles by your instructors
  • Comes with properly formatted citations for your bibliography!

Find background information in print and ebook encyclopedias

Reference sources for biographies will depend upon your subject's area of expertise. Below are some examples of encyclopedia and other sources to use to begin your search for information.

The print books are kept in the Libray's Reference Collection.

Find background information with encyclopedia articles from CREDO

Check out the clickable Mind Map & More Library Resources on the right-hand side of the page.

How to use this guide

Strategies for Finding Biographical Info

In addition to checking the standard biographical sources listed within this guide, be sure to expand your search to other types of sources:

  • Interviews - often published in magazines and newspapers or broadcast/filmed
  • Profiles or articles published in magazines or newspapers
  • Obituaries or death notices in newspapers or magazines
  • Other online sources on the Web