When determining the geographic division for a work of biography, problems often arise. Some are solved through the application of the general rule. [see below].

Other problems can also arise. The first is when a person's lifetime has spanned different eras [Also see below].

The second is whether to use the geographic areas for the Russia/Soviet Union/Former Soviet republics, or an independent republic subdivision.
See: Russia/Soviet Union or Independent Republic Subdivision?

The general rule is:

• For people living before 1917, use Russia.
• For those whose primary career was from 1917-1991, use Soviet Union.
• The only time LC has assigned Biography with Former Soviet republics is for books such as Who's who in Russia and the CIS countries.

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When people's lifetimes span different eras, and their careers changed along with the government, the subject analysis becomes more complex, e.g.

A biography of Lenin

Revolutionaries--Russia--Biography.
Heads of state--Soviet Union--Biography.
DCLC93232516-B

A biography of Lidiia Dan, a Menshevik and opponent of the tsarist regime who emigrated in 1922

Revolutionaries--Russia--Biography.
Mensheviks--Soviet Union--Biography.
Add: Mensheviks--Russia--Biography.
DCLC8139663-B

A biography of Boris Savinkov (d. 1925), an opponent of the tsarist and Soviet regimes

Revolutionaries--Russia--Biography.
Add: Revolutionaries--Soviet Union--Biography.
NJPG93-B24888

• In order to provide for consistency in headings, and to avoid the difficulty of choosing a single heading, in cases of doubt, double.