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Finding Library Items: Biographies

Online Biographical Resources

Catalog Searching Basics

To search for biographies of musicians, playwrights, artists, dancers, etc:

  1. Open KentLINK.
  2. Click on "Subject" tab.
  3. Type the name of the person or group into the search box (last name, first name).  To search for biographies more generally, use subject headings listed in the "Subject Headings for Searching Library Catalogs" tab above.
  4. Note the call number and location of the item(s) from the result list.

Unable to find the biography you’re looking for in KentLINK?  Try searching OhioLINK and SearchOhio. Still no luck?  Ask a Performing Arts Librarian for help.

Browse our Collections

Below are general call number ranges. More about call numbers at the Library of Congress Classification page.  For tips on searching for music items in KentLINK, consult the Finding Library Items guide.

Dance

GV1785 Biographies of Dancers

 

Music

ML100-102 Music Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
ML105-106 Music Dictionaries and Encyclopedias, Bio-Bibliographical
ML385-402 Collective Biographies, by last name A-Z (General, Composers, 
Instrumentalists, Singers, Conductors)
ML410 Biographies of Composers, by last name A-Z
ML416-420 Biographies of Performers, by last name A-Z
ML422 Biographies of Conductors, by last name A-Z

 

Theatre

PN1583 Biography Indexes
PN2285-2287 Biographies & Autobiographies (Playwrights, Actors, Directors, etc.)
PR2894 Biographies of Shakespeare

Subject Headings for Searching Library Catalogs

To find material on a specific topic, type in one of these subject headings to get a list of relevant titles.  Access KentLINK subject heading search at http://kentlink.kent.edu/search/d.

Dance

African American dancers -- Biography
Ballet Dancers -- Biography
Choreographers -- Biography
Choreographers -- United States -- Biography*
Dance -- Biography
Dancers -- Biography
Dancers -- United States -- Biography*
Women dancers -- United States -- Biography*

Music

Composers -- Biography
Jazz Musicians -- Biography
Musicians -- Biography
Rock musicians -- United States -- Biography*

Theatre

Actors -- United States -- Biography*
Actresses -- United States -- Biography*
Dramatists -- Biography
Theatrical producers and directors -- United States -- Biography*

* United States is used for purposes of illustration; England, Germany, France, etc. may be used instead.