RESEARCH TIPS
Biographical research
Tarja Moles shows you how to delve deep into the lives of individual human beings
Tarja Moles
Biographical research techniques and sources can be used to explore both public and private individuals. So, whether you’re interested in writing about a celebrity or preserving your ancestors’ life histories, here’s how to get started.
Mapping out what’s already known
As you begin to research a person, it’s a good idea to identify what’s already known. If s/he is a public figure, you’re bound to find all sorts of details fairly easily. A quick online search would be the first thing to do, followed by checking out biographical dictionaries and encyclopaedias. Examples of these include the famous Marquis Who’s Who (https://marquiswhoswho.com) and the Wikipediastyle Biographical Dictionary (www.s9.com). There are also numerous subject-specific reference books and websites, ranging from famous Scottish women to the FBI’s most wanted criminals. If an actual biographical or autobiographical book has already been published, add that to the top of your reading list too.