Biography Resources
Premium Resources
African American Biographical Database
The largest electronic collection of biographical information on African Americans from 1790 to 1950.*
Biography Reference E-books
Search over 700 biography e-book titles, especially strong in literature, for online use. *
Credo Complete Core Collection
A general reference resource that serves as a starting point for students and researchers at any level. Content includes over 1100 major encyclopedias, dictionaries and other specialized reference works spanning across all subject areas.*
Explora: Adult Edition
Searches for content from numerous resources. Results cover a broad range of topics including arts, literature, science, biography, history and health.*
Gale Product Menu
Search all the databases supplied to Houston Public Library by Gale at once or browse resources by category. Includes ebooks, literary research, periodicals, primary sources, and business tools. Search for any term or phrase and find articles from thousands of magazines, journals, newspapers, documents, and ebooks along with videos, images and podcast content. (formerly called Gale PowerSearch) *
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Full-text reference books on topics including biography, business, the environment, history, law, literature, social sciences, medicine, religion, the sciences, and multicultural studies.*
HistoryMakers Archive (In Library Use)
The nation’s largest African American video oral history collection. Biographies and video interviews with over 2500 notable African American history makers. (Works best with Chrome, Safari, and Firefox browsers.)
HistoryMakers Archive (Remote access)
The nation’s largest African American video oral history collection. Biographies and video interviews with over 2500 notable African American history makers. Tip: To log in, search for and select Houston Public Library in the institution field on the left, then enter your library card number. (Works best with Chrome, Safari, and Firefox browsers.) *
Something About the Author Online
Something About the Author Online brings you thousands of illustrated biographical profiles of children's authors and illustrators totaling more than 12,000 entries and nearly 17,000 images.* 
Recommended Websites
Find a Grave
Search for your ancestors among 121 million grave records. Also includes a Famous Grave Search.
Handbook of Texas Online
Encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture.
Houston Oral History Project
Houston Oral History Project is an effort to record and preserve the dynamic history of Houston through the stories and experiences of its residents. It is a collaboration between the Mayor's Office, Houston Public Library and University of Houston.
POTUS
Information on United States Presidents, including biographical information on the Presidents, their Vice Presidents, and Cabinet members; elections, notable events in their terms, images and video; as well as links to other resources.
White House
The official website for the White House. Includes biographies of the presidents and the first ladies.