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Black Biographical dictionaries, 1790-1950

How to use the Index


The first two volumes of the Index are an alphabetical listing of all the personal names that appear in the microfiche collection. Each record includes: the name, dates of birth and death (if available), occupation and religion, followed by references to the microfiche collection. Here is a sample record:
Cook, Samuel Milton
Born: 3 August 1866
Died: 28 July 1918
Place of Birth: Pushmatoka, AL
Occupation: Religious worker
Religion: Baptist
Biography: 052-Vol.II, p.313f

Note the last line of this record. Biography refers to the microfiche collection. 052 is the reference number in the microfiche collection. This reference number is the most crucial piece of information needed to locate the full biography of the person. This record shows that the person's biography can be found in the 52nd book of the microfiche collection.

Many of the biographies in the microfiche collection have illustrations. This information is also available from the index (Referenced in the same way as the Biography. For example: Illustrations: 018-p.308., which shows that on page 308 of the 18th book of the microfiche collection, there is an illustration.)

The third volume of the index begins with the list of the 297 sources of the microfiche collection, arranged by reference number.

Following the list of sources are indexes by place of birth, by occupation, by religion, and an index of women.

Both the microfiche collection and the three volume index set are housed inside the Reference Reading Room. The index set is shelved at its call number location (E185.96 .B532 1987). The microfiche collection, together with the microfiche reader, is behind the door of the Reference Reading Room.

 

 

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