Websites to support the study of famous leaders in many fields
(The sites are roughly sorted, beginning with general biography sites and continuing to specialized areas, and ending with a few individual biography sites)
ABC Newsmaker Bios
Provides brief biographical sketches, photographs, birthdate & place, education level, plus other information on today’s world leaders and celebrities. Can be searched or use the drop down menu.
World Biographical Index
Extensive listing of more than 2.4 million short biographical entries for famous people from North America, South America, Western Europe, Central Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania. Also indexes many biographical archives. Can be searched by name, occupation, year of birth or death.
Biography.com
Access to over 25000 personalities presented by the Arts & Entertainment television site. Includes brief biographical sketches of these personalities, some online videos and photos, plus links to related sites.
Academy of Achievement
An intriguing look at extraordinary individuals who became 20th Century achievers. Features an Achiever of month. Includes people who were leaders, discoverers, or creators. Provides motivation and inspiration.
Biographies
Provides brief biographies for people in the fields of law, literature, philosophy, economics, science, history, and includes early Acadians and Nova Scotians. Includes links to more extensive biographies and homepages for many of these people.
Nobel Prize Winners
Provides lists and biographies of current and past Nobel Prize winners in each field. Many autobiographies. Includes information on the nomination and selection procedures.
TIME's Person of the year
Features full text articles of all TIME “Man of the Year” cover stories since 1927 and includes pictures of the covers. Can be browsed by the decade.
Biographical Dictionary
Brief biographical sketches of over 28000 notable people who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present. Searchable by name, birth year, death year, profession, achievements, and works.
PBS History
Comprehensive site of all current and archived PBS broadcasts on world history. Categorized by: Ancient World, Biographies, United States, War and espionage, World. Featured stories are changed regularly, though all are archived.
PeopleSpot.com
Provides extensive tools to help research people - past and present. Includes statistics and biographies on notable people sorted by their area of expertise.
Well known people who happen to be Canadians
Extensive textual information is provided for each entry. Some entries have links, a listing of the works, and photos. Organized under the following topics: Actors, Artists, Astronauts, Athletes, Authors, Business, Entertainers, Journalists, Musicians, Scientists, etc.
Canadian Who’s who on the WWW
A database of over 15000 providing concise, comprehensive biographical sketches of prominent Canadians. Searchable by name, birthdate, birthyear, and city.
Canadian Astronaut Office
Features information about Canadian astronauts and their missions. Includes information on Canadian space technology.
Great Canadian Scientists
Provides brief descriptions of the lives and work of over 150 Canadian scientists, as well as detailed profiles of 20 selected scientists. Includes an “Ask a scientist” feature, games, and quizzes.
Famous Canadians theme page
A lengthy list of links with biographical information on Canadians from a wide variety of fields. Includes links to curricular resources and instructional materials for both students and teachers.
4000 Years of Women in Science
Features links to over 125 biographies, with photos, quizzes, puzzles, and learning links. Includes women scientists, inventors, scholars, writers, mathematicians, and astronomers up to the 1900’s. The biographies are sorted by discipline or by time period.
Lush Lives - Ladies of Jazz, 1930-1990
Provides biographical sketches and links to more detailed information when available. Sorted by the decade in which they were actively recording or their influence seemed to be the strongest.
Women Composers
A directory site listing the names, dates and country of origin for more than 200 women composers. Includes many links to sites with more information, links to further resources and samples of some of their music, and a bibliography on women in music.
Distinguished Women of Past & Present
Features biographies of women who contributed to our culture in many different ways. There are writers, educators, scientists, heads of state, politicians, civil rights crusaders, artists, entertainers, and others. Listed in chronological order. Searchable by subject and by name. Links to related sites.
Notable Women ancestors
Features historical and geneological information about more than 150 notable American women. Categories include: Adventurers, Artists, Authors, Entertainers, Heroines, Native americans, Pioneers, Politicians, Witches, etc. Includes a featured Woman of the month, a listing of new additions, and links to other womens sites.
The Ninety-Nines - International Organization of Women Pilots
Provides a good introductory site for the study of women in aviation history, with a good section on Ameila Earhart. Includes information on women pilots today and careers in aerospace for women
Nobel Prize Women in Science: Their Lives, Struggles and Momentous Discoveries
Provides online access to the full text of the book by Sharon Bertsch McGrayne. Features biographies of the 10 women who have won the prize, as well as 5 others who have made significant contributions to others winning it.
Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Features biographical essays, information, and some illustrations for many women mathematicians, arranged in both alphabetical and chronological order. Most articles include hyperlinks to additional information.
Women Artists in history
Presents a listing of women artists from Medieval times to contemporary 20th Century artists. Extensive information is provided for many artists, complete with images of major works. Also includes additional links for more information and images on the various featured artists.
Voices from the gaps: Women writers of color
Focuses on the lives and works of women authors of color in North America (including Amy Tan, Alice Walker, etc.). Can be searched or browsed by name, birthplace, racial/ethnic background, or signifcant dates. Provides biographical information and a bibliography of their works. Includes annotated links to criticisms.
Great Literature Online
Features links to biographies, criticisms, and information on the following authors: Alcott, H.C. Anderson, Jane Austen, Frank Baum, E.R. Burroughs, Lewis Carroll, Willa Cather, S. T. Coleridge, Joseph Conrad, J.F. Cooper, Stephen Crane, Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, A.C. Doyle, Homer, Washington Irving, Henry James, John Milton, Nietzsche, Orczy, Poe, Sir Walter Scott, Shelley, Thoreau, Tolstoy, Twain, Verne, and Whitman.
Great Writers and poets
Features links to extensive author sites of all kinds, including biographies and home pages. Authors are listed in alphabetical order. Includes all literary prizes, including Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes.
American Authors on the Web
Provides a chronological listing from 1550-1950. The links include full text of selected works, criticisms, teaching resources, articles, etc.
Mathematicians of the 17th and 18th Centuries
Provides biographies of 17th and 18th century mathematicians and scientists arranged in both chronological and alphabetical order.
Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Features biographical essays, information, and some illustrations for many women mathematicians, arranged in both alphabetical and chronological order. Most articles include hyperlinks to additional information.
History of Mathematics
Features on Islamic and Greek mathematics. Links to other indexes and related features. Information is organized by: Biographies, History topics, Famous curves, and Mathematicians of the day. Archives can be searched.
Geometry - The Online Learning Center
Features annotated links to information in basic math (geometry, algebra, calculus), pure & applied math (logic, topology), computer & internet (Java, HTML), technology, biographies of mathematicians, physics, biology, and sports. Includes a math help desk, famous theorems, and links to test preparation sites.
Inventors Online Museum
Features biographies of inventors and how their inventions changed society. Includes links to related sites.
Inventors and inventions theme page
Provides a mix of multi-level links with curricular content, lesson plans, and instructional materials. Topics include Ancient inventions, Canadian inventions, Leonardo da Vinci, Musical inventions, etc.
Johnson Space Center
Provides daily news updates with information on missions, the International Space Station and all other news related to space. Includes a public area, kids area, and an Educator’s area with resources and links.
Jazz Pioneers - Armstrong Forward
Provides biographical sketches of some of the greatest jazz musicians since the 1940s. Includes links to more complete biographical information and other information on jazz.
World of Jazz and its Originators
Provides some basic information on the history of jazz. Topics include: New Orleans - Jazz beginnings; Jazz & Blues Capsule; Excerpts: 30’s Jazz; and About jazz. Includes audio clips.
Jazz Roots - Early Jazz
Provides links to great jazz musicians. Some provide only a biographical sketch, while others present a very complete biography with music, pictures, discography, etc.
Jazz Hall of Fame
The Musicians Quick Search feature allows a search by keyword, style, instrument, or category. Also includes jazz history.
House of Blues Online
Includes a jazz archives, artist of the month profiles & interviews, emerging artist profiles, billboard chart, web radio, digital downloads, and previews of new releases.
Red Hot Musicians, 1895-1929
Provides links and information to many musicians (listed in alphabetical order by last name) of the time period. Information given includes a picture, biographical information and hyperlinks to related sites.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
Features virtual exhibits that explore the past, present and future of rock music and culture. Includes feature stories, top 10 greatest hits of all time, a “Today in Rock history” feature, etc. Searchable.
Singer - Songwriter Directory
Features artists sorted alphabetically and by type of music. Includes links to official home pages and to fan sites. Also includes links to music publishers & organizations, record companies, and recording studios.
Composers Bureau Online
Provides a listing of over 200 contemporary American composers, including biographic information, lists of compositions, contact information, etc. Includes a section on music for young people.
Presidents of the United States
Features biographical information on the current and past presidents of the United States. Includes links to their presidential libraries.
Churchill
Features a complete biography of Winston Churchill, along with information about his historical context. Includes additional links for more information.
Albert Schweitzer,1875-1965
Provides information about the Nobel Peace Prize winner, some of his famous quotations, and links to related sites.
Steve Jobs
This text based site includes biographical information on Steve Jobs and his involvement with Apple and NeXT Corporation.
Bill Gates’ personal website
Features biographical information, transcripts of his speeches, excerpts from his book, causes he supports financially, and a detailed timeline.
To go back to McMath Library Homepage click here:
This page is created and maintained by Ms. B. Knoepfel (Teacher-Librarian), McMath Secondary School.
Updated March 2007.
