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How do I find reference sources?

A guide to finding online and print reference sources like dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.

Biography Databases

Other Biographical Sources

To locate biographical sources in print, use the Advanced Search feature in the Library Catalog, entering "Biography" or "Biographies Dictionaries" or "Biographies Directories" as a subject. It often helps to combine this with an additional search term, such as a country, occupation, etc. 

  • Great Britain biographies dictionaries
  • India Biography Sources
  • Physicists biography

Obituaries

Newspapers

Most obituaries appear in newspapers. To locate newspapers, view our guide How do I find newspapers?  Many of our newspaper databases include a search limit for obituaries.

Obituary Indexes

Obituary indexes can be helpful in finding obituaries for an individual.  Most of these indexes are only in print.  Search "obituary indexes' in the Catalog for a listing.