autobiography a primary source

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Is a Biography a Primary Source? Details Every Author Should Know

POSTED ON Oct 1, 2023

Written by Shannon Clark

Is a biography a primary source? Good question.

When writing for an audience, adding relevant quotes, excerpts, and data provides credibility to your work. Primary sources reign supreme because information that comes from the original source leaves little room for error. In our digital age, where so much information is repeated from website to website, it's easy for data to be mistyped, quotes to be misattributed, and information to just be wrong.

It's similar to the group game, Telephone, that kids play. One person starts the game by whispering a phrase into the person's ear next to them. The phrase is repeated until it gets to the last person who says the phrase out loud to see if the message changed. When I played it as a little girl, the phrase hardly ever came out like the original. We run the same risk when we copy statistics or information from random websites that aren't the primary or original source.

In the first half of this article, we'll answer the question, “Is a biography a primary source?” define what the answer means, and then take a closer look at why biographies are categorized as such. In the second part, we’ll look at what to consider before writing one.

Table of Contents

Is a biography a primary source.

The short answer is no. In most cases, a biography is considered a secondary source; however, there’s a little more to it than that.

A primary source is a first-person account (e.g., direct quote, diary entry) or the original source of information (e.g., a research organization that creates original data for an industry.).

A secondary source is a third-party account where the person or company sharing the information, got it from somewhere else. As I mentioned in the Telephone example, the problem with secondary sources is that since they aren't the first hands to touch the information, there's no guarantee that it's correct. Primary sources aren't always available, but if you have a choice between the two, do the extra research to find the primary source. It will pay off in the long run.

A biography is a third-person account of another person’s life written by a biographer whose name appears on the cover. The subject of the biography can be living or deceased and the work can be authorized or unauthorized. For these reasons, biographies are classified as secondary sources. 

Related: Biography vs Memoir

The rare occasion when a biography can be used as a primary source is when the biographer is the subject of the content being written.

For example, if one were to write an article that analyzed the works of the American biographer Jean Strouse, her best biographies , Alice James: A Biography or Morgan: American Financier would be considered primary sources.

The source status of her biographies changes from secondary to primary because it is her writing that's being analyzed not the personal knowledge of what she wrote (unless that was part of the review).

What’s the Difference Between an Authorized and an Unauthorized Biography? 

With an authorized biography, the subject of the work is either involved in the writing process or they’ve given permission for the biographer to write the book. The biographer works with the person to ensure that the information included is correct and approved. This can include talking to close family members and friends to get a more well-rounded, objective view of the person's life.

Unauthorized biographies are not approved by the subject. Anyone can write an unauthorized biography about anyone they’d like. You don’t need permission, and the final book doesn’t have to be approved to be published; however, unauthorized biographies can be seen as less reliable than approved ones. Content presented as fact may come into question exposing the work to libel, invasion of privacy claims, and other legal issues. To be clear, biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs can all be vulnerable to legal claims, so tread lightly when writing them. 

According to the Writer’s GPS: A guide for navigating the legal landscape of publishing by intellectual property attorney Matt Knight, securing life story rights is key to protecting yourself and your book from legal claims. Regarding life story rights, he says the following:

Life story rights are a collection of legal rights held by an individual regarding a story about someone's life. The purpose for securing these rights or the permission to use the facts of someone's life is to protect the writer and publisher from being sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, or the misappropriation of the right to publicity. Life story rights agreements, depending on the breadth of the contract language, allows the writer to use and potentially change or dramatize the life story for entertainment purposes (whether in print or on screen). Knight, M. (2020). The Writer’s Legal GPS: A Guide for Navigating the Legal Landscape of Publishing (A Sidebar Saturdays Desktop Reference) . Sidebar Saturdays Desk Referen.

If you're considering writing a biography (authorized or unauthorized), it's important to understand potential liability issues and how they can impact you as the writer.

It's interesting that for every authorized biography, it is not uncommon to find many unauthorized ones. For actress Elizabeth Taylor, the book on the left (below) was released in December 2022 and listed as “ the first ever authorized biography of the most famous movie star of the twentieth century, Elizabeth Taylor “; however, I found many biographies listed for her over the years (I stopped counting at 20).

Is it Possible to Write a Biography about Yourself? 

No. If you write a biography about yourself it is called an autobiography (different from a memoir). If you get a ghostwriter to write it, it is still an autobiography. Autobiographies are primary sources because they are first-hand accounts based on the subjects' memories and recall of past experiences. 

Unlike a biography, the subject of the autobiography is viewed as the author , whether they wrote it or used a ghostwriter . Autobiographies are considered subjective compared to biographies since they are a single person's account of events (not friends, family, or other third-party references like with a biography.)

How do You Write a Biography About Someone Who Has Passed?

As previously mentioned, if you can get permission to write the biography, do so. If the person is deceased, look for a representative, like a family member, or an executor of their estate. It’s important to share with them your plan for writing the person’s life story and hopefully get the green light to move forward. Getting approval can open the door to accessing archives and other personal details about the person to create a more in-depth work. This can include personal photos, diaries, and other information. Compare this to an unauthorized biography where you may only have access to what has already been talked about or uncovered. 

If the person passed a long time ago, getting permission might be a challenge, but you can still write the biography. Just do your research, save your notes, and try to write a biography that is thorough, objective, and professional. Prioritize primary sources over secondary and cite all of your sources to add credibility. It may be tempting to try to rush through the process, especially when you've been staring at the same information day after day, but doing a thorough job can pay big dividends.

In the writing of the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Trajedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer , it took author, Martin J. Sherwin, 25 years to complete the work. The first 20 years were spent doing interviews and collecting over fifty boxes of archives (some received through the Freedom of Information Act). The last five years he partnered with author Kai Bird to complete the work . While it doesn't take every biographer that long to write a biography, it does add a weighty perspective to what writing an in-depth book about someone's life could entail.

Whether you write an authorized or unauthorized biography, the quality and objectivity of your writing are what matter most. Although biographies are considered secondary sources, it doesn’t mean that they can’t make a significant contribution to the tapestry of a person’s public life record. 

Seek out the permission of the person you want to write about if they are living or their family or representative if they are incapacitated or deceased. People’s life stories are personal, so the best advice from one writer to another is to write their stories with the same respect you’d want someone to write yours. This will add a strong entry to your book portfolio, save you a lot of headaches in the long run, and help keep you out of a courtroom.

Note: In this article, we touched on nonfiction life stories, but there are also biographical novels (fictitious) and autobiographical fiction that are not within the scope of this article. For more information on creative nonfiction, start here . 

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Introduction to primary source research, definitions, examples of primary sources by discipline, head of bancroft public services.

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A primary source is an eyewitness account of an event or data obtained through original statistical or scientific research. 

What are some examples of primary sources?

• Photographs
• Official records (government reports, transcripts, court records, death certificates, etc.)
• Contemporary news reports (newspapers, telecasts, radio addresses, etc.)
• Polls and Public Opinion Data
• Laws, statutes, hearings

Secondary Source

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may include pictures of primary sources or quotes from them. Some types of secondary sources include: journal/magazine articles, textbooks, commentaries, and encyclopedias.

Newspapers may be either primary or secondary. Most articles in newspapers are secondary, but reporters may be considered as witnesses to an event.  Any topic on the media coverage of an event or phenomenon would treat newspapers as a primary source. 

Source: https://guides.libraries.indiana.edu/primarysources

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Primary Source Research: Definitions -What is a primary source?

• Definitions -What is a primary source?
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Primary Sources

What are Primary Sources?

There are many types of primary sources. Definitions vary by academic discipline.

Common elements to all types of primary sources are

Primary source materials have not been edited, evaluated, analyzed, combined, commented on, or changed by a person other than the creator.

Is a book a primary source?

The format, such as a book, newspaper, or film, does not determine whether the item is a primary source. Content and context are the determining factors.

What about translations?

Official or authorized translations are generally considered primary.  Unofficial translations are usually not considered primary because the translator may have biases or may not be fully fluent in the subject matter.  Translations generated by software, such as Google Translate, are never, ever, considered primary sources.

What are the types of Primary Sources?

“I was there” – Personal Accounts

Among the most frequently used primary sources are writings or interviews that come directly from the people who were present when the event being studied occurred. This material, created by individuals who directly experienced or were involved in the subject under investigation, is considered primary. The “I was there” type of primary source is referred in many different terms:

• Personal recollection
• Firsthand account
• Eyewitness report
• Contemporary account
• Direct Personal recollection
• Personal observation
• Autobiography
• Saw with ‘own eyes’

In additional to personal accounts, documents, such as court records, laws, hearings, treaties, death certificates, maps, photographs, that originate from or were created at the time of the event being studied are also primary sources. In some cases, documents created shortly after the event can also be primary.

Original Creations

Original creations by a person, such as letters, diaries, an autobiography, poem, musical score, work of art, screenplays, military field notes, a scientist’s lab notebooks, or an anthropologist’s diaries are primary.

Numerical data is a primary source. Data from public opinion polls may be primary. Once the raw data is interpreted or combined with other data it may no longer be primary.

Tools, clothing, buildings, films, TV shows, or tangible objects from a particular period can be a primary source.

Why are primary sources needed in research?

Original materials provide valuable insights into the culture, perspectives, actions, and conditions, making them essential for analysis and understanding of a particular time period, event or subject.

What are some examples of primary sources?

• Autobiographies
• Scientists' lab notebooks
• Photographs
• Official records (government reports, transcripts, court records, death certificates, etc.)
• Contemporary news reports (newspapers, telecasts, radio addresses, etc.)
• Eye-witness accounts
• Military Field Notes
• Ships' logs
• Music (scores, sheet music, recordings, etc.)
• Images (photographs, paintings, films etc.)
• Polls & Public Opinion Data
• Laws, statutes, hearings

What is a Secondary Source?

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may include images of or quotes from primary sources. Some types of secondary sources include: journal/magazine articles, textbooks, commentaries, and encyclopedias.

In the strictest sense, translations are secondary sources unless the translation is provided by the author or issuing agency.  Consult your professor if you have questions about a source.

Secondary sources are interpretations and analyses based on primary sources.

For example, an autobiography is a primary source while a biography is a secondary source.

Typical secondary sources include:

• Scholarly Journal Articles.  Use these and books exclusively for writing Literature Reviews.
• Encyclopedias.
• Dictionaries.
• Documentaries. (but can also be primary)
• Newspapers.

Please note that a book is simply a format.  You can find primary and secondary sources published in book form.

Subject Guide

Can a Secondary Source become a Primary Source? What about newspapers?

Often secondary and primary sources are relative concepts.  Typical secondary sources may be primary sources depending on the research topic.

• Newspapers may be either primary or secondary. Most articles in newspapers are secondary, but reporters may be considered as witnesses to an event.  Any topic on the media coverage of an event or phenomenon would treat newspapers as a primary source.  There are so many articles and types of articles in newspapers that they can often be considered both primary and secondary.
• Intellectual history topics. For example, although scholarly journal articles are usually considered secondary sources, if one's topic is the history of human rights, then journal articles on human rights will be primary sources in this instance.  Similarly, research on the thinking of a scholar will include her published journal articles as primary sources.
• Historical topics. Magazine articles are secondary sources, but for someone researching the view of judicial punishment in the 1920s, magazines from that time period are primary sources.  Indeed, any older publication, such as those prior to the 20th century, is very often automatically considered a primary source.
• Translations In the strictest sense, translations are secondary sources unless the translation is provided by the author or issuing agency.  Consult your professor if you have questions about a source.

-Clement Ho

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What are Primary and Secondary Sources?

Primary Sources Primary sources are the "materials on a topic upon which subsequent interpretations or studies are based, anything from firsthand documents such as poems, diaries, court records, and interviews to research results generated by experiments, surveys, ethnographies, and so on."*

Primary sources are records of events as they are first described, usually by witnesses or people who were involved in the event. Many primary sources were created at the time of the event but can also include memoirs, oral interviews, or accounts that were recorded later.  

Visual materials, such as photos, original artwork, posters, and films are important primary sources, not only for the factual information they contain, but also for the insight they may provide into how people view their world.   Primary sources may also include sets of data, such as census statistics, which have been tabulated but not interpreted. However, in the sciences or social sciences, primary sources report the results of an experiment. 

It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a particular source is primary or secondary, because the same source can be a primary source for one topic and a secondary source for another topic.   David McCullough’s biography, John Adams , could be a secondary source for a paper about John Adams but a primary source for a paper about how various historians have interpreted the life of John Adams.

*From Hairston, Maxine and John J. Ruszkiewicz. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers. 4th ed. New York: HarperCollins College Publishers, 1996, pg. 547.

Secondary Sources Secondary sources offer an analysis or a restatement of primary sources. They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources. Some secondary sources not only analyze primary sources, but also use them to argue a contention or persuade the reader to hold a certain opinion. Examples of secondary sources include dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, and books and articles that interpret, analyze, or review research works.

More Examples of Primary and Secondary Sources

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Autobiography: A Very Short Introduction

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Throughout history, individuals have recorded their own lives and experiences. These personal writings provide an understanding of the ways in which lives have been lived, and the most fundamental accounts of what it means to be a self in the world. Autobiography: A Very Short Introduction defines what is meant by ‘autobiography’, and considers its relationship with similar literary forms such as memoirs, journals, letters, and diaries. Analysing the core themes in autobiographical writing, including confession, conversion, testimony, romanticism, and the journeying self, this VSI discusses the autobiographical consciousness (and the roles played by time, memory, and identity), and considers the relationship between psychoanalysis and autobiography. It also explores the themes of self-portraiture, photography, and performance.

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Reference management. Clean and simple.

Primary sources and why you should use them

How do I know if a source is a primary source?

How do i find primary sources, why do i need primary sources, how do i access primary sources, do i need to reference primary sources, frequently asked questions about primary sources, related articles.

Primary sources are original documents or artifacts. They were created at the time period you are studying and can be used as evidence. Primary sources are contemporary resources, created by someone who witnessed a historical event, lived in the time under study, or created art or objects which are studied.

➡️  What are secondary sources?

➡️  What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Generally speaking, if your primary source is in text format, it will not contain any footnotes, references, or citations. A primary source is anything original that comes from the period or event which you are studying.

Examples of primary sources:

• First-hand evidence or oral histories
• Audio recordings or video footage
• Photographs
• Legal and/or financial documents
• Results of experiments
• Architectural plans or drawings
• Newspaper reports or magazine articles
• Historical artifacts such as clothing samples, fragments of clay, cutlery, crockery, remnants of dwellings

You can often find primary sources by not looking for them specifically in your first step. Using secondary resources as your starting point will direct you to the primary source(s) through footnotes, references, and citations.

A history book will often refer to letters, diaries, or accounts of historical writing, so these types of sources give you some clues as to where the author got their information. Reading bibliographies will point you in the direction of the original texts, so you can follow the trail of breadcrumbs to the primary sources and see if they contain credible evidence.

If you do want to start at the primary source then here are some common examples of starting points for you:

You can learn about the specifics of certain primary sources and cases where the distinction between primary and secondary source might not be so simple here:

➡️  Is a letter a primary source?

➡️  Is an interview a primary source?

➡️  Is a painting a primary source?

➡️  Is a map a primary source?

➡️  Is an autobiography a primary source?

➡️  Is census data a primary source?

➡️  Is the US Constitution a primary source?

➡️  Is a newspaper article a primary source?

You're probably wondering why you can't use books and journal articles written by someone else as your main source of information. You can, but your research won't be as sound as it would be if you use academic writing alone instead of adding primary sources. That's because books and articles are written by people - people who have creator bias, conscious or subconscious - and their accounts can be subjective.

Going back to the original provides you with the opportunity to view the source as it was, as unaltered direct evidence based on first-hand evidence. This enables you to interpret the event or object without questions of creator bias clouding your judgment. Generally speaking, of course - prejudice can still be found in original sources too.

This depends on the type of source that you want to use. Often, you will have to make an appointment with the museum, library, or institution that owns the primary sources you wish to examine. Generally, access to primary source materials is given with supervision, to ensure that the original materials are not damaged in any way. If you are examining primary sources relating to a court case or anything which might be ‘sensitive' or involving people who are still alive, you may have to sign a confidentiality contract to gain access to archives.

Yes. You need to reference a primary source just as you would a secondary source. Primary sources are original materials just like any other, and as such you need to reference the material just as you would academic books or articles.

Most primary sources come with a unique code, and this code is their identifier. This differs from depository to depository, so make sure you use the correct code depending on the place you access the source. Then you apply this identifier in the way in which your citation style requires, such as APA, Harvard, Chicago, etc.

Here are some examples:

[Terracotta statuette of a woman]. (2nd century B.C.). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.

Matisse, H. (1906) Olive Trees at Collioure [Oil on canvas]. Robert Lehman Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.

Highsmith, C. M. (2008) Mount Foraker, Denali National Park, Alaska . Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The answer to this is not straightforward, but in general, the answer is: yes. When you conducted the interview yourself and included it as supporting evidence in your research paper, then the interview is definitely a primary source. Take a look at Is an interview a primary source? for more insight on this topic.

Yes, if the painting originated at the time it depicts, then it is a primary source. For instance, Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is a primary source because it is the most famous art piece during the Renaissance period. Works of art, in general, are considered primary sources. However, in some cases, paintings are considered secondary sources. Take a look at Is a painting a primary source? for more insight on this topic.

No, an encyclopedia is a tertiary source. Encyclopedias provide extent information about a particular topic, time period, or person in the form of entries arranged in alphabetical order. Encyclopedias, indexes, and works alike are known for compiling primary and secondary sources, as a result, they are considered tertiary sources. Take a look at Is an Encyclopedia a primary source? for more insight on this topic.

A map can be a primary or secondary source. If a map was produced as immediate evidence of an area, then it is a primary source. If the map is just a symbolic depiction of a space, then it is a secondary source. Take a look at Is a map a primary source? for more insight on this topic.

Yes, an autobiography is a primary source. Authors of autobiographies are direct witnesses of the events and time described in the narration. Take a look at Is an autobiography a primary source? for more insight on this topic.

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Primary Sources - An Introductory Guide

What is a primary source.

• Primary Sources at Seton Hall University Libraries
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Where are Primary Sources?

Primary sources can be found in many different places, but the most common places to find them are libraries, archives, museums, and in the case of digitized primary sources, online databases.

Libraries carry many primary sources, especially newspapers (often on microfilm or in a database), memoirs, autobiographies, maps, audio and video materials, and published collections of letters, diaries, and interviews. Many of these can be found using the library's catalog. Many library materials can be borrowed.

Archives are collections of materials, often rare or unique, generated or created by individuals or organizations, that are of historical value and which are kept and preserved for the use of current and future communities. Many archives are located within libraries or museums, and are usually dedicated to a particular organization, geographic area, subject, or some combination of these. Materials that are collected by archives are often collections of papers, manuscripts, photographs, maps, drawings, sound or video records, objects, and many other formats, many of which are primary sources.

Museums collect, preserve, and display objects of historical or cultural significance. Primary sources found in museums include artifacts, art, maps, tablets, sound and video recordings, furniture, and realia.

Databases of primary sources often include sigitized or scanned primary sources that are related by subject, time period, or institutions that maintain the original sources. Several primary source databases can be found via the SHU Libraries website.

A primary source is a first-hand or contemporary account of an event or topic.

Primary sources are the most direct evidence of a time or event because they were created by people or things that were there at the time or event. These sources offer original thought and have not been modified by interpretation. Primary sources are original materials, regardless of format.

Examples of Primary Sources

• photographs
• sound and video recordings
• oral histories
• newspaper articles
• journal articles
• research studies
• autobiographies

Primary sources may be transformed from their original format into a newer one, such as when materials are published or digitized, but the contents are still primary. There are many primary sources available online today, but many more are still available in their original format, in archives, museums, libraries, historical sites, and elsewhere.

What is Not a Primary Source?

Secondary sources.

Secondary sources usually use primary sources and offer interpretation, analysis, or commentary. These resources often present primary source information with the addition of hindsight or historical perspective. Common examples include criticisms, histories, and magazine, journal, or newspaper articles written after the fact. Some secondary sources may also be considered primary or tertiary sources - the definition of this term is not set in stone.

Tertiary Sources

Tertiary sources are further developments of secondary sources, often summaries of information found in primary and secondary sources and collecting many sources together. Some examples of tertiary sources are encyclopedias and textbooks. Again, this term is not set in stone - some sources may be both secondary and tertiary.

Additional Primary & Secondary Source Sites

• What Makes A Primary Source A Primary Source - Library of Congress Teaching With The Library of Congress Informational Site.
• Primary Sources: A Research Guide - University of Massachusetts-Boston Description and examples of Primary vs. Secondary Sources
• What Is A Secondary Source? - Harvard University This guide serves as an introductory-level companion to the Harvard University Library Research Guide for the History of Science
• Primary Sources - Society of American Archivists Founded in 1936, the Society of American Archivists is North America's oldest and largest national professional association dedicated to the needs and interests of archives and archivists. SAA represents more than 6,200 professional archivists employed by governments, universities, businesses, libraries, and historical organizations nationally.

Find out more!

There are many good explanations and discussions of primary sources and how to use them. For more information, check out these sites:

Primary sources at Yale: What are primary sources?

ArchivesHub: Using Archives

University of Maryland Guide to Primary Sources

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Book Citations / Learn how to cite “An autobiography” by Mahatma Gandhi

Learn how to cite “An autobiography” by Mahatma Gandhi

Learn how to create in-text citations and a full citation/reference/note for An Autobiography by Mahatma Gandhi using the examples below. An Autobiography  is cited in 14 different citation styles, including MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, APA, ACS, and many others.

If you are looking for additional help, try the EasyBib citation generator .

Popular Citation Styles

Here are An Autobiography   citations for five popular citation styles: MLA, APA, Chicago (notes-bibliography), Chicago (author-date), and Harvard style.

Additional Styles

Here are An Autobiography   citations for 14 popular citation styles including Turabian style, the American Medical Association (AMA) style, the Council of Science Editors (CSE) style, IEEE, and more.

Find citation guides for additional books linked here .

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Primary Sources: Autobiography/Memoir

• Autobiography/Memoir
• Government Documents
• Newspapers/Magazines
• Oral Histories
• Statistics/Data
• Evaluating Resources

These are books written by people about themselves. Autobiographies tend to cover the person's entire life up until the point the book was written and are more factual in nature. Memoirs tend to focus on a particular time period or aspect of a person's life and while they are true, memoirs are more narrative and emotive in nature.

Sample Autobiographies in our Collection

Sample Memoirs in our Collection

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• Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023 3:06 PM
• URL: https://libguides.soka.edu/primary_sources

Ikeda Library • 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 • 949-480-4205 • [email protected] • © 2021 Soka University of America

Libraries | Research Guides

Biographical information.

• Biographical Sources
• Searching for Biographical Sources in NUsearch

Biographical resources

• Online resources
• Print resources
• American National Biography This link opens in a new window There is no need to sign in at website to access this resource. Begin searching or browsing for articles. The American National Biography is the premier, authoritative, historical biographical encyclopedia for the United States. Over 18,700 men and women are included, and the resource is updated quarterly with new entries and revisions of previously published entries to enhance their accuracy and currency. Articles are by established scholars. Living individuals are not included.
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography This link opens in a new window The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography provides biographies of over 50,000 individuals worldwide who have shaped the history of the British Isles. Access restricted to 3 simultaneous users at a time.
• Gale in Context: Biography This link opens in a new window Gale In Context: Biography is an engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on the world's most influential people. Biography merges Gale's authoritative reference content with periodicals and multimedia organized into a user-friendly portal experience while allowing users to search for people based on name, occupation, nationality, ethnicity, birth/death dates and places, or gender as well as keyword and full text.
• Current Biography Illustrated This link opens in a new window Current Biography Illustrated contains profiles of individuals living at the time of publication, often at the height of, or even the beginning of, their fame or notoriety. Occasionally a revised biography will be published, and a brief obituary, but published biographies are never revised in light of later events, so a useful source for seeing how individuals were perceived at the time they were active. Illustrations for most individuals are included.
• Chambers Biographical Dictionary International and historical coverage of all areas of human achievement including the arts, science, technology, sport, politics, philosophy and business.
• World Biographical Information System WBIS This link opens in a new window Over 3.6 million short biographical entries for individuals who lived across the world from ancient times to the present. Includes full text images of the original sources, usually older biographical dictionaries. Especially valuable for locating information on hard-to-find individuals from the past.
• Almanac of American Politics Includes profiles of every member of Congress and every governor. It offers in-depth and completely up-to-date narrative profiles of all 50 states and 435 House districts.
• African American Biographical Database This link opens in a new window From July 1, 2023 AABD became a component of ProQuest Black Studies Center. Biographical sketches and essays on African Americans from 1790 to 1950. The Database corresponds to the printed Black Biographical Dictionaries. These sketches have been assembled from biographical dictionaries, yearbooks, directories, histories, personal accounts, and other published sources. The full text of 300 rare books is displayed and searchable in page images, intact with images and illustrations.
• Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography Provides information on the history of science through articles on the professional lives of scientists. Covers all periods of science from classical antiquity to modern times.
• Gale Literature Resource Center This link opens in a new window Provides access to biographies, bibliographies, and critical analayses of authors from every age and literary discipline. Covers more than 120,000 novelists, essayist, poets, journalists, and other writers, with in-depth coverage of 2,500 of the most-studied authors. Includes links to: Dictionary of literary biography, Contemporary authors, Contemporary literary criticism, and more.
• Palgrave MacMillan Dictionary of Women’s Biography Biographical information about women: historical, current, and worldwide.

• Next: Searching for Biographical Sources in NUsearch >>
• Last Updated: Jul 7, 2023 1:49 PM
• URL: https://libguides.northwestern.edu/biographical

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History and Literature: A Guide to Research Resources

• Finding Journal Articles
• English and American literary texts
• Romance language literary texts
• Periodicals
• Primary sources
• Finding Electronic Texts Online

Biographical sources

Biographical dictionaries.

• Literary Guides and Dictionaries
• Dissertations
• Citation Tools
• General Research Aids

American National Biography Online A standard source for U.S. historical biography with over 17,000 individual entries. The ANB Online is fully searchable and includes illustrations, cross-references, and links to external web sites.

African-American Biographical Database Includes biographies of thousands of African Americans from 1790-1950.

Oxford African American Studies Center Browse Biographies for full-text entries from an array of reference sources.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The electronic version of the new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography published in 2004, the sixty volumes of which include 50,000 biographies and some 10,000 images of deceased "men and women who have shaped all aspects of the British past." Enhancements available online include the ability to view articles from the earlier edition of the DNB; a "Themes" section that provides access to "reference lists" of individuals who have held particular offices (e.g., Archbishops of Canterbury) and to essays on various topics (e.g., The General Election of 1964: Forty Years On), and links to relevant web sites.

Biography and Genealogy Master Index The best place to begin a search for biographical information in printed sources, indexing 13.5 million references in almost 3,000 biographical dictionaries and reference works. World Biographical Information System Provides brief identifying information, primarily on pre-20th century figures, but includes contemporary figures as well, with references to entries in biographical dictionaries, many of which are reproduced full-text, on-line. Others are reproduced on microfiche available in the Widener Reference Room. Many of these sources are also in the Widener stacks in their original paper format.

Many countries have major, standard biographical dictionaries.  You can search for them in HOLLIS with  keywords such as Africa biography dictionaries .  Here are some examples:

• Deutsche biographische Enzyklopädie by (DBE) / herausgegeben von Walther Killy ; unter Mitarbeit von Dietrich von Engelhardt ... [et al.]. Call Number: Widener RR 1786.5
• Dictionnaire de biographie française by sous la direction de J. Balteau ... M. Barroux ... M. Prévost ... avec le concours de nombreux collaborateurs ... Call Number: Widener RR 1771.4
• Dizionario biografico degli Italiani by [direttore, Alberto M. Ghisalberti]. Call Number: Widener RR 1781.5
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• Next: Literary Guides and Dictionaries >>
• Last Updated: Jan 24, 2023 4:11 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.harvard.edu/HistLit

Harvard University Digital Accessibility Policy

American Indian Studies

Article databases.

• American Indian Architecture
• American Indian Child Welfare Act
• American Indian Economic Development
• American Indian Education: Education History, Boarding Schools, Mission Schools
• American Indian Genealogy
• American Indian Languages
• American Indian Sovereignty
• American Indian Stereotypes
• American Indian Theatre
• American Indian Women
• Autobiography and Primary Sources

Internet Sites

Arizona archives online, autobiographies, non-fiction and literature, theses and dissertations - a selection, video recordings, audio recordings, oral history collections.

• Bibliography on Repatriation
• Environmental Issues
• Five Southeastern Tribes
• Historical and Contemporary American Indian Gaming
• Religion and Origin Stories
• Veterans with an Emphasis on Code Talkers
• American Indian Manuscript Collections
• Carlos Montezuma Guide to Collections
• Cherokee Phoenix and Indian's Advocate
• Microform Publications
• Native Americans and Education in Phoenix, 1941-1984
• Oral History - Listening to Indians
• Oral History Subject Guide
• Oral History Tapes of Ralph Cameron
• Ponca Oral History Collection
• The American Indian Oral History Collection
• Useful Websites
• Citing Sources
• Labriola Center Video List
• American Indian History Online A unique resource that offers fast access to more than 5,000 years of culture, history, and leaders. More than 240 Native American groups are presented through subject entries, biographies, primary source documents, historical maps, and photographs. more... less... Online encyclopedia
• American Indian Index Part of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center Collection. Includes all topics dealing with the American Indian in Alaska, Canada, and the United States. Photographs are included in this collection. more... less... Contains citations for all material in the Labriola Center except for the books, which are in the ASU Libraries Online Catalog.
• Ethnic Newswatch Full-text of ethnic, minority and native press newspapers, magazines and journals. Provides a broad diversity of perspectives and viewpoints. Represents the diversity of the American population in ways that are not seen in the mainstream media. more... less... Current contemporary American Indian perspectives
• North American Indian Thought and Culture Including biographies, autobiographies, oral histories, reference works, manuscripts, and photographs, the database presents the life stories of American Indians and Canadian First Peoples in their own word more... less... Contains American Indian primary source material
• In the First Person Index to over 2500 English language personal narratives, including letters, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, and oral histories. more... less... personal narratives, including letters, diaries, memoirs, autobiographies, and oral histories
• Official web site of the Native American Journalists Association

Caution! Before using the information from any web pages in your paper, be certain that your source is legitimate and accurate.

• Official web site to the Native American Press Archives
• Index of Native American Media Resources
• Bibliography of Native American Book Resources
• Arizona Archives Online Archival resources from ASU, U of A, and NAU more... less... The mission of Arizona Archives Online (AAO) is to provide free public access to descriptions of archival collections, preserved and made accessible by Arizona repositories, including libraries, special collections, archives, historical societies, and museums. Through the collaboration of the Arizona repositories we strive to inform, enrich, and empower the researcher by creating and promoting access to a vast array of primary sources across the state of Arizona.
• Navajo Way by Frank E. Becker Call number: E97 .B35 Becker describes the difficulties Navajo soldiers faced in adjusting to Army life and the English language in preparation for service in World War II.
• Silent Courage: An Indian Story: The Autobiography of George P. Lee, a Navajo by George P. Lee Call number: E99 .N3 L535 1987 The story of a Navajo boy and his study to embrace the Mormon faith.
• Winning the Dust Bowl by Carter Revard Call number: PS508 .I5 S93 v.47 2001 Poet and scholar Dr. Carter Revard recalls his life on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma during the Great Depression through his poetry and enjoyable anecdotes.
• The Names: A Memoir by N. Scott Momaday Call number: PS508 .I5 S93 v.16 1976 Story of the author’s life on the Kiowa reservation in the 1940s and the importance of Kiowa naming ceremonies.
• Sun Chief: The Autobiography of a Hopi Indian by Don C. Talayesva Call number: E99 .H7 T25 1963 Raised as a Hopi until the age of 10, Talayesva spent the next ten years striving to become an American citizen. He returned to Hopi society years later and re-embraced his Hopi heritage and religion.
• Looking for Lost Bird: A Jewish Woman Discovers her Navajo Roots by Yvette D. Melanson & Claire Safran Call number: E99 .N3 M5174 1999 Author Yvette Melanson, stolen from her Navajo parents at birth and raised by Jewish foster parents, tells her story of life in the white world, her re-discovery of her Navajo roots and being re-united with her Indian family.
• Born a Chief, the Nineteenth Century Hopi Boyhood of Edmumd Nequatewa by Edmund Nequatewa Call number: E99 .H7 N45 1993 Edmund Nequatewa was automatically in line to be chief of Hopi society due to his birth. He describes his responsibilities and community relations among the Hopi during the 1890s.
• Don’t Let the Sun Step Over You: A White Mountain Apache Family Life (1860-1975.) by Eva Tulene Watt & Keith H. Basso Call number: E99 .A6 W369 2004 Born in 1913, Eva Tulene Watt shares the story of her family from the time of the Apache wars to the modern era. Her interpretation of her people's past is a diverse assemblage of recounted events, biographical sketches, and cultural descriptions that bring to life the men and women who lived it to the fullest.

The following bibliography lists reference material dealing with the Native Voice. These resources include material found in the Labriola Center in the University Libraries at Arizona State University, websites, and other research facilities. 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATIVE VOICE

Significant facets to the study of Native America are the histories, cultural research, and literature written by Native Americans. This subject guide attempts to provide an overview of research pertaining to the Native American authors, researchers, and historians who have contributed to the growing fund of modern Native American scholarship.

The Native voice is derived from a variety of sources. The autobiography provides direct access to the authors’ connection to their tribe, gender, and role in Native American life. Other primary source materials include photographs, manuscripts, ephemera, theses & dissertations, and oral histories. Non-fiction research in the fields of history, ethnography, linguistics, anthropology, and literature comprise a large portion of the Native Voice. Native American academics and authors continually add to the overall scope of their fields of study furthering the development of Native American scholarship.

• Red Matters: Native American Studies by Arnold Krupat Call number: PM238 .K78 2002 Professor Krupat creates a work marked by theoretical sophistication, wide learning, and social passion, Red Matters is a major contribution to the imperative effort of understanding the indigenous presence on the American continents.
• Indian Nation: Native American Literature and Nineteenth-Century Nationalisms by Cheryl Walker Call number: PS153 .I52 W35 1997 Indian Nation documents the contributions of Native Americans to the notion of American nationhood and to concepts of American identity at a crucial, defining time in U.S. history. Departing from previous scholarship, Cheryl Walker turns the "usual" questions on their heads, asking not how whites experienced indigenous peoples, but how Native Americans envisioned the United States as a nation.
• Rethinking American History by Donald L. Fixico Call number: E76.8 .R47 1997 Dr. Fixico compiles essays on Native American historiography, oral traditions and modern research methodologies for providing a broad examination of Native American studies.
• Angie Debo: Pioneering Historian by Shirley A. Leckie Call number: E175.5 .D43 L43 2000 Shirley A. Leckie's biography of Debo is the first to assess the significance of Oklahoma's pioneering historian on the historiography of the American Indian, the writing of regional history, and the development of national law and court cases involving indigenous people.
• A Forest of Time: American Indian Ways of History by Peter Nabokov Call number: E98 .F6 N33 2002 Nabokov’s multidisciplinary intellectual history describes the many ways that individual Native American groups have defined their histories for their own purposes. By bringing these varying Native perspectives to the fore, Nabokov has performed a service that will only enrich future research into the history of Native American groups.
• Natives and Academics: Researching and Writing about Native Americans by Devon A. Mihesuah Call number: E76.8 .N37 1998 The relationship between Native peoples and the academic community has become especially rocky in recent years. Both groups are grappling with troubling questions about research ethics, methodology, and theory in the field and in the classroom. In this timely and illuminating anthology, ten leading Native scholars examine the state of scholarly research and writing on Native Americans. They offer distinctive, frequently self-critical perspectives on several important issues: the representativeness of Native informants, the merits of various methods of data collection, the veracity and role of oral histories, the suitability of certain genres of scholarly writing for the study of Native Americans, the marketing of Native culture and history, and debates about cultural essentialism.
• Hopi Voices: Recollections, Traditions, and Narratives of the Hopi Indians by Harold Courlander Call number: E99 .H7 H69 1982 A collection of seventy-four narrations, explanations, and recollections by individual Hopi Indians with a discussion of the Hopi narrative style and themes in oral literature, history, and ethnography.
• American Indian Authors; a Representative Bibliography by Arlene B. Hirschfelder Call number: PS153 .I52 H57x A detailed bibliography of Native American authors and Native American publications. Authors and publications under investigation by the researcher should be thoroughly examined to search for more current publications.
• Rising Voices: Writings of Young Native Americans by Arlene B. Hirschfeld & Beverly R. Singer Call number: PS508 .I5 R57 1992 Through more than 60 poems and essays, contemporary Native American children and young adults share their feelings about themselves, their people and their land.
• Kinaaldá: A Navajo Girl Grows Up by Monty Roessel Call number: E99 .N3 R597 1993 Monty Roessel, Navajo photographer and writer who specializes in contemporary Native Americans, creates a clear, strikingly photographed account of 13-year-old Celinda McKelvey's coming-of-age ceremony, set in its proper historical context.
• Native North American Biography by Sharon Malinowski & Simon Glickman Call number: E89 .N395 1996 v. 1-2 REF With its balanced presentation of both historical and contemporary figures, Native North American Biography offers 112 profiles of Native North Americans from the United States and Canada, both living and deceased. These individuals are notable in fields ranging from civil rights, sports, politics, tribal leadership, literature, entertainment, religion, science and the military.
• A to Z of Native American Women by Liz Sonneborn Call number: E98 .W8 S65 2007 This unique reference source features more than 100 fascinating profiles of notable Native American women from the 1500s to the present. Detailed entries include biographical sketches, photographs, descriptions of individual challenges and accomplishments, and recommended reading for each woman profiled.
• Gerald Vizenor: Writing in Oral Tradition by Kimberly M. Blaeser Call number: PS3572 .I9 Z56 1996 Vizenor, arguably the most prolific contemporary Native American author, has written more than two dozen books, from fiction and haiku poetry to literary theory. Blaeser discusses her subject's use of the Native American trickster in his fiction, his incorporation of Ojibway dream songs and Zen aesthetics in his poetry, and his retention of the Ojibway oral culture in his writings. Her book can be read most profitably by those thoroughly familiar with Vizenor's work and knowledgeable about literary theory and recent Native American writing.
• Conversations with Leslie Marmon Silko by Ellen L. Arnold Call number: PS3569 .I44 Z478 2000 Compilation of interviews with Native American author Leslie Marmon Silko. Silko grants interviews rarely, but the sixteen included here are generously wide-ranging and deeply honest. They reflect her heritage of storytelling and give vivid accounts of her life experiences, her creative processes, and her forthright political views. As she speaks, she spins out descriptions of the living oral traditions, the communal relationships, and the desert landscape that are the sources of her inspiration.
• Cheyenne Memories of the Custer Fight: A Source Book by Richard Hardorff Call number: E83.876 .C54 1995 Only six Cheyenne Indians (but 32 Sioux) died in the fighting that wiped out the command of General George Custer. Brave Wolf was at the scene on that bloody Sunday in 1876. Brave Wolf and others of his tribe give a firsthand account of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
• Lakota Recollections of the Custer Fight: New Sources of Indian-Military History by Richard Hardorff Call number: E83.876 .L27 1997 The fifteen Sioux (and one Cheyenne) who speak in this volume witnessed Custer’s Last Stand. Their testimony sheds light on what happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876.
• Wooden Duck by Hershman R. John Call number: LD179.145 1998a .J64 Master’s Thesis, Arizona State University, 1998. A collection of four poetry sets designed to serve as a narrative journey into the world of the Navajo. (Located in Hayden Stacks)
• Let Them Know We Still Exist: Indians in Albuquerque by Myla Vicenti Carpio Call number: LD179 .I5 2001d .V534 Ph.D. dissertation, Arizona State University, 2001. An addition to the evolving research on urban Indians to illustrate the survival of Indian identity, and more importantly, tribal identity while living in an urban setting. (Located in Storage Luhrs Rdg Room)
• Longitudinal Trend Study of Three American Indian/Alaska Native Freshmen Cohorts at Arizona State University by Charles R. Colbert Call number: LD179 .I5 1999d .C643 Ph.D. dissertation, Arizona State University, 1999. An extensive analysis of the educational attainment, academic achievement, and retention rates of American Indians and Alaska Natives attending Arizona State University. (Located in Hyden Stacks & Storage Luhrs Rdg Room)
• The Cherokee National Female Seminary: Higher Education for Cherokee Females in the 20th Century by Lou Ann Herda Call number: FICHE 4x6 18199 Ed.D. dissertation, University of Houston, 1999. This study analyzes the educational accomplishments of the Cherokee Nation by way of its female seminary. It also demonstrates this tribe's perseverance, spotlighting those who helped clear the way for them to create the only school of its kind run entirely by an American Indian tribe for the sole purpose of educating their females.
• Formal Education Among the Siberian Yupik Eskimos on Sivuqaq, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska: An Ethno-Historical Study by Pam Powell Call number: FICHE 4x6 19202 Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Texas, 1998. The major focus of this study is the effect of formal education on individuals, communities, cultural traditions and values on Siberian Yupik Eskimos of Alaska.
• Hidden Nation: Nez Perce Identity and American Indian Sovereignty by Janice Ann Johnson Call number: FICHE 4x6 18201 Ph.D. dissertation, University of Tulane, 1999. American Indians express national identity and sovereignty often in a context of misrecognition and domination. The dominant culture frequently mythologizes, or depoliticizes, Native Americans to maintain its hegemony. The mythologization of the Nez Perce Indians has been overwhelmingly laudatory from Lewis and Clark onward, yet it frequently distorts Nez Perce/white history, denies the Nez Perces coevalness, and effaces dual U.S./Nez Perce identity and sovereignty.
• Columbus Didn’t Discover Us by Wil Echevarria Call number: E58 .C64 1992 VIDEO Indians from North, Central, and South America speak of the impact the Columbus legacy has had on the lives of indigenous people.
• A Season of Grandmothers by George Burdeau Call number: E98 .W8 S33x 1990 VIDEO Grandmothers from the Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Nez Perce tribes recall and demonstrate some of the roles of grandmothers, including culture carrier, teacher, child disciplinarian, and historian.
• Navajo by John Apgar Call number: E99 .N3 N238x 1980 VIDEO Peter MacDonald, Tribal Chairman of the Navajo Nation, explains the traditions represented in Navajo lifestyles.
• Interviews with Indian Elders – Part 1 and 2 Call number: E78 .A7 I58 1978 VIDEO v. 1-2 Interviews with Cocopah and Maricopa tribal elders discussing how life was along the Gila River for the Pima, Maricopa, Mojave and Yuman Indians.
• Native American Novelists – Parts 1 – 4 by Matteo Bellinelli Call number: PS153 .I52 N38x 1995 VIDEO The Native American experience is portrayed in conversations with four Native American authors; N. Scott Momaday, James Welch, Leslie M. Silko and Gerald Vizenor.
• American Indian Oral History Collection by Joseph H. Cash Call number: E77 .A45x 1977 v. 1:1-15 A collection of 30 cassettes offering a broad account of the experiences of being Indian.
• Making an Indian Place in Urban Schools: Native Americans and Education in Phoenix, 1941-1984 by Stephen Kent Amerman Call number: LD179 .I5 2002d .A447 Interviews conducted by Dr. Steven Amerman relating to the educational experiences of Native Americans in Phoenix, Arizona (26 cassettes). (Located in Hayden Stacks & Storage Luhrs Rdg Room)
• Educational Studies and Uranium Call number: LAB AUDIO AT-117 An Indian law student’s lecture about Uranium mining on Indian lands. One-sided, 45 minutes. (Click on American Indian Index)
• Hopi Community Value System; Role of Anglo Type School/Parental Expectations of School by Milo Kalectaca Call number: LAB AUDIO AT-118 A presentation on Hopi culture and education. Two-sided, 15 minutes each side. (Click on American Indian Index)

The American Indian Oral History Collection contains microfilm transcripts of some 700 interviews with members of the Navajo Nation, and from members of the Pueblo Tribes, all of which are representations of the Native Voice. Ask for the subject guide for these in the Labriola Center.

The University of South Dakota Oral History Collection contains a taped series of interviews conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s with Plains Indians and those non-Indians working actively with them. Participants include members of religious, cultural, linguistic, and political aspects of Native tribal organizations.

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• Next: Bibliography on Repatriation >>
• Last updated: Feb 14, 2024 5:07 PM
• URL: https://libguides.asu.edu/LabriolaCenter

The ASU Library acknowledges the twenty-three Native Nations that have inhabited this land for centuries. Arizona State University's four campuses are located in the Salt River Valley on ancestral territories of Indigenous peoples, including the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) Indian Communities, whose care and keeping of these lands allows us to be here today. ASU Library acknowledges the sovereignty of these nations and seeks to foster an environment of success and possibility for Native American students and patrons. We are advocates for the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge systems and research methodologies within contemporary library practice. ASU Library welcomes members of the Akimel O’odham and Pee Posh, and all Native nations to the Library.