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Information about
Biographies
- Searching biographical databases and web sites
- Searching the Library Catalogue
- Browsing biographical encyclopaedias and dictionaries
- Web sites for tracing individuals and family histories
- Need further help?
- See also Researching an artist guide
- See also Newspapers guide
Searching biographical databases and web sites
| Australian Dictionary of Biography (Online) | Scholarly biographies of significant people in Australian history |
| Oxford Reference Online | A collection of encyclopedias covering a wide range of subject areas, including Australian history |
| Encyclopaedia Britannica Online | Multidisciplinary encyclopedia |
| APAFT | Journal articles covering Australian public affairs and social sciences. Includes many biographical articles |
| Chronicles | Index to sources of biographies on well known Australian (entries in books, encyclopedias etc) |
| Auschron | Provides summaries and citations (references) of key sources of information on significant events and people in Australian history |
| OzLife | Index to biographical articles of prominent Australians in major Australian newspapers 1999-2005 |
| IEEE History Center | Biographical and historical resources on people in electrical engineering and computing disciplines |
| Dictionary of Australian Artists Online | Biographies of Australian artists |
Also check the links to other biographical web sites available from the following guides:
- Links to Australian and international biographies (State Library of NSW) - sites include Bright Sparcs (Australian scientists and health professionals), Dictionary of Australian Biography (note this is different to ADB Online mentioned above), and Women who have stood for Parliament in NSW
- Finding Archives - sites include the Australian Womens Archive Register and the NSW Parliamentary Archives' site (the latter includes information on former Members of the Parliament of NSW)
Still can't find any references to the person? Also try searching the Library's range of other subject specific databases.
Searching the Library Catalogue
Looking for published biographies or autobiographies? Search the Library Catalogue.
Use a keyword search on biograph* (finds biography or biographies or biographical) and add a related term to narrow search results. eg.
- biograph* and australia*
- biograph* and new south wales
- biograph* and women
- biograph* and politic*
- biograph* and bob hawke
- autobiograph* and mumshirl
Search Tip: For war related biographies or autobiographies also try a keyword search on the phrase 'personal narratives' eg.
- biograph* and war
- personal narrative* and war
- autobiograph* and war
For further catalogue search tips (eg. finding published diaries) check the Library's Historical Primary Sources guide.
Browsing biographical encyclopaedias and dictionaries
The following books are examples of useful titles held in the Library. Check the Library Catalogue for location details (eg. Level 1, Level 2 Compactus)
| Title | Call number |
|---|---|
| 200 Australian women: a Redress anthology (1988) | 305.420994/30 |
| Biographical register of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1901-1972 | 328.94073/1 |
| Biographical register of the New South Wales Parliament, 1901-1970 | 328.944073/1 |
| The Australian encyclopaedia (multivolume set) | 919.4/51 |
| Who's who in Australia: an Australian biographical dictionary and register of titled persons, with which is incorporated John's notable Australians (1906+) (annual) | 920.005/1 |
| Dictionary of international biography (1963+) (annual) | 920.005/11 |
| Australian dictionary of biography (note: equivalent to the ADB Online web site above) | 920.094/4 |
| Notable Australians: the pictorial who's who (1978) | 920.094/8 |
| The dictionary of Famous Australians (1992) | 920.094/15 |
| Monash biographical dictionary of 20th century Australia (1994) | 920.094/16 |
| A sense of purpose: great Australian women of the 20th century (1996) | 920.720994/2 |
| Who's who of Australian women: a biographical dictionary of notable Australian women | 920.720994/3 |
| Australians: an historical library (1988) | 994/150 |
| The complete book of great Australian women | 994.0082/4 |
| The A to Z of who is who in Australia's history (1987) | 994.00992/3 |
| The founders of Australia: a biographical dictionary of the First Fleet (1989) | 994.0203/1 |
Web Sites for Tracing Individuals and Family Histories
- Wollongong City Library Family History resources
- Society of Australian Genealogists (Sydney)
- State Records NSW Archives in Brief 7 - Tracing Your Family History
- Selected State Records NSW indexes are available for searching online
- State Library of New South Wales Family History Collections/Service
- Find A Grave - International site, but includes some well known Australian
- Illawarra Family History Group
- Kiama Family History Centre
- Campbelltown District Family History Society
To look for other family history related sites try the lists of links available on:
- National Library of Australia's Family History and Genealogy Web sites:
- Web Sites for Genealogists (Australian sources)
Need further help?
Contact Research Help staff.
Follow Me Printing
Everyone hates to queue. With this in mind, we have introduced Follow Me Printing. You can choose any free printer/copier in the Library or a printer in the Student Central labs to release your print job.
How does it work?