Biography & History
For Chelmsford History, please see our Chelmsford History Resource Guide.
Featured Online Resources
AtoZ Maps Online
Biography In Context
Biographies from respected Gale Group sources with related full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals, as well as tens of thousands of images and links to hand-picked web sites. Search for people, both current and historic from all eras and fields of endeavor. Who’s Who provides access to quick biographical reference information on more than 1 million additional people.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Explore the updated online encyclopedia from Encyclopaedia Britannica with hundreds of thousands of articles, biographies, videos, images, and Web sites.
Encyclopedia of American Immigration (Salem History)
Online access to Salem Press’ Encyclopedia of American Immigration, covering the various cultures and significant individuals that immigrated to the US, and their impact after arriving. The Salem History database also searches Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society, Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions, and Milestone Documents in World History.
Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society (Salem History)
Online access to Salem Press’ Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society, exploring how mathematics affects our daily lives in sociological, economic, and historical perspectives. The Salem History database also searches Encyclopedia of American Immigration, Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions, and Milestone Documents in World History.
Global Issues in Context
Integrates news, global viewpoints, reference materials, country information, primary source documents, videos, statistics, and more in a single search with a global perspective.
Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions (Salem History)
Online access to Salem Press’ Great Lives from History: Inventors and Inventions, offering in-depth biographical essays on important men and women inventors of all time, from around the world. The Salem History database also searches Encyclopedia of American Immigration, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society, and Milestone Documents in World History.
Massachusetts Municipal Guide
A statewide listing of municipalities by county, state and regional contact information for a variety of government departments and services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Includes addresses and contacts for elected and appointed officials from the local level to the U.S. Congress.
Milestone Documents in World History (Salem History)
Online access to Salem Press’ Milestone Documents in World History, which combines in-depth analysis with over 125 iconic primary source documents from ancient times to the present and from virtually every geographical region.
U.S. History In Context
Contextual information on hundreds of significant people, events and topics in U.S. History, from full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.
World History In Context
Information on hundreds of the most significant people, events and topics in World History, from full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites.
Print Biography Collection
Main Library, Lower Level
We have an extensive collection of adult biography books, at the call number Biog/ and arranged alphabetically by the last name of the person they are about. Also in this collection are large sets, such as notable scientists, notable women, North American biographies, etc.
Main Library, Main Level
The Children’s Room has a biography collection perfect for school projects or as an overview of a person. These are located in the Children’s Room at the call number J/Biog/ and are arranged alphabetically by the person they are about.
There are also biographies located in the Large Print Room. These are at the call number LP/Biog/ and are arranged alphabetically by the person they are about.
Additional Massachusetts Online Resources
- Massachusetts Historical Commission https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/
- Massachusetts Historical Society https://www.masshist.org/
- Historical Journal of Massachusetts https://www.westfield.ma.edu/historical-journal/
- State Library of Massachusetts https://www.mass.gov/orgs/state-library-of-massachusetts
- The Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System https://mhc-macris.net/