Biography
Academy of Achievement 
- Biographies plus video / audio interviews (including transcripts) with a wide variety of important figures in the arts, business, public service, science & exploration, and sports. Each category includes information on dozens of individuals.
African Americans in History - Brief biographies (1-3 paragraphs) of famous African Americans; no pictures. Arranged by date of birth (University of Georgia). See also Vignettes, short descriptions of individuals who have contributed to the shaping of African American history; most include a picture (by Quintard Taylor, History Professor at University of Washington), and African American Profiles, biographical profiles of important African-Americans from Crispus Attucks to Malcolm X, with pictures (AfricaWithin.com); most of these profiles are reprinted from Thomson/Gale Publishers, which offers additional biographies including current figures such as LeBron James, Queen Latifah, and President Barack Obama. Let Your Motto Be Resistance is a collection of historical portraits of influential African-Americans from Frederick Douglass to Wynton Marsalis; portraits include brief biographies. If you prefer, you can view a Flash presentation of the exhibit; high-speed connection recommended for Flash site (National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian). See also Legends of Tuskegee to learn more about Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, and the Tuskegee Airmen (National Park Service). See also Black Leadership, described below. Still need more? Check out our African-American History Links.
African American Medical Pioneers - Biographies of several African Americans responsible for important advances in medicine; with supporting material (PBS; commercial site).
African Americans in the Sciences - Profiles of African-American men and women who have contributed to the advancement of science and engineering. Alphabetical name index as well as lists of scientists by scientific field, women scientists, and first African-Americans to earn Ph.D.s in science (University of California). Mop Top, the Hip Hop Scientist™ is a colorful site featuring short biographies of African-Americans in the sciences, for middle school students (by Jackie Johnson, an instructor at Wake Technical Community College).
Amazing Americans 
- Entertaining stories and fun quizzes about Leaders & Statesmen, Activists & Reformers, Adventurers & Explorers, Musicians & Composers, Writers & Artists, Industrialists & Entrepreneurs, Scientists & Inventors, and Athletes & Entertainers 'who made this country what it is today.' (Library of Congress)
American History Biographies - Detailed biographies of historical and literary figures from Benjamin Franklin to Bill Clinton (University of Groningen, Netherlands).
American Presidency: A Glorious Burden - Brief biographies and every U.S. President through George W. Bush. Use the timeline at the top to select a president (Smithsonian). Advanced students will find more information on the Presidents at American President: An Online Reference Resource ; scroll down the page for the links for each president, arranged by time period. Includes basic facts, essays, images, and presidential speeches. (University of Virginia). For many additional resources, see Presidents of the United States (Internet Public Library). See also Biographies of the First Ladies (National First Ladies Library).
American Women Through Time - Links to timelines about dozens of notable American women. Alphabetical list. (Middle Tennessee State University Library)
Biography Maker - A step-by-step guide to writing a biographical report or term paper (Bellingham [WA] Public Schools).
Black Leadership - Interviews with dozens of leaders from the black community, exploring the early influences on their lives, along with 'issues of black leadership and the transformational role of the civil rights movement in America.' (University of Virginia)
Computer Hall of Fame - Brief bios and links to additional information about people who have made a significant impact on the development of computer science through 2004. (San Diego Computer Museum)
ECHO History of Science & Technology Links - Links to over 5,000 websites sites on the history of science, technology, industry and medicine, many offering biographies of a specific person or a category such as biologists, chemists, mathematicians, etc. You can search by keywords & categories, browse the Biographical pages, or browse by subject or historical period. Previously listed as part of the WWW Virtual Library. (George Mason University)
Energy Pioneers - Brief biographies (with images) of individuals who have made significant contributions to energy and science. Includes well-known scientists like Thomas Edison and Marie Curie, as well as lesser-known figures. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Enterprising Women - Stories of women throughout American history who succeeded in business. Click on the
Stories timeline to select a short biography from the 18th century through the present, with illustrations and suggestions for further reading, and games; for middle and high school students. More advanced students can also view
video lectures about the history of women in American business. (Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University)
Fashion Designers - Brief profiles of designers and professionals in the apparel, textile and accessories industries. With photos; arranged alphabetically by first name rather than last name. (InfoMat Inc.)
Giraffe Heroes - Profiles of 'everyday heroes'- people you probably won't see on the evening news, who 'stick their necks out for the common good,' working on issues from poverty to gang violence to environmental pollution. The searchable index allows you to find heroes by name, field of 'Giraffe' work, location, gender, age, and occupation (Non-profit organization: Giraffe Project). See also My Hero, described below.
InfoPlease Biographies - Over 30,000 mostly short biographies. Search by keyword or browse 25 categories such as African Americans, Notable Women, Athletes, Entertainers, TIME People of the Year, World rulers, and more. (Commercial site with aggressive advertising)
Latinos in Science & Technology - 'Highlights the lives and accomplishments of inventors, aviators, astronauts, and the everyday people of Latin America and the southwestern United States who have affected science and technology.' (Smithsonian)
Mathematicians - Biographies on hundreds of mathematicians from 1680 BC to the present. Search by keyword, or browse alphabetically or chronologically. Clicking on a name will bring up a very brief biographical sketch and related resources; click on 'Full MacTutor biography' for a longer biography (University of St Andrews, Scotland). See also Women in Mathematics, described below.
My Hero - Stories of heroes from all walks of life, including the famous and the not-so-famous. Browse by subject or search by name/keyword (Non-profit organization: My Hero Project). See also Giraffe Heroes, described above.
Obituaries - New York Times biographical articles on important figures who have died recently. For past Times obituaries, go to our Online Databases and select New York Times.
Scientific Biography - Short articles on scientists, each with a picture. You can browse scientists alphabetically, or by branch of science, gender/minority status, historical period, nationality, or a list of prize winners; or you can enter a name in the search box. Includes references for further reading and some links (Eric Weisstein / Wolfram Research Inc.). National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs offers lengthy (20-35 pages) biographies of hundreds of America's most distinguished scientists such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, Margaret Mead, and others whose names are less well-known. PDF format; high school and up. See also National Academy of Sciences Interviews for audio interviews with contemporary scientists in a variety of scientific fields.
Statisticians in History - Biographies of some of the most accomplished statisticians in history - including Florence Nightingale! (American Statistical Association)
Stories of Moral Courage - Accounts of brave men and women who helped Jews to hide or escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust. (Jewish Foundation for the Righteous)
Supreme Court Justices - Biographies of all the Supreme Court judges, past and present (OYEZ Project). See also the list and brief bios of justices serving on the current Supreme Court .
The TIME 100 - Time Magazine's selection of the one hundred most influential people of the 20th century, with a profile of each. See also Time's 2008 Person of the Year and Person of the Year archive.
Womens' Biography - Diverse and extensive listing of links to biographical information about women, organized by general subject area. (Personal site)
Women's Hall of Fame - One page biographies of hundreds of American women, arranged A to Z; includes pictures (National Women's Hall of Fame). See also Women in American History for biographies and related links for about 100 notable American women (by Women in History, 'a non-profit corporation dedicated to the education of all people through the dramatic re-creation of lives of notable women in U.S. history'). Find more on our Women's History Links section.
Women in Broadcasting History - 'A glimpse into the lives and careers of 16 American women who worked in broadcasting during its most crucial years of development and expansion, in the mid-20th century.' Includes photos, letters, clippings, and other primary documents (University of Maryland). She Made It: Women Creating Television and Radio 'celebrates the achievements and preserves the legacy of great women writers, directors, producers, journalists, sportscasters, and executives.' You can browse the profiles by category, decade or year (Paley Center for Media).
Women in Mathematics - Biographical essays on women mathematicians, with additional resources (books & links) recommended for further study (Agnes Scott College). See also Female Mathematicians (University of St Andrews, Scotland).
Women in Science: I Was Wondering - Multimedia, interactive site 'showcasing the accomplishments of contemporary women in science and highlighting the varied and intriguing careers of some of today's most prominent scientists.' For middle school students (Joseph Henry Press, Scholastic Library Publishing, & National Academy of Sciences). See also Interviews with Women in Science; for high school students (Field Museum).
Working Heroes - Biographies of men and women who shaped America's labor movement; high school and up. (AFL-CIO)
