Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

[St Annington]

Just heard an interesting piece on Radio Sheffield about the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography -

'the national record of men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. The Dictionary offers concise, up-to-date biographies written by named, specialist authors. It is overseen by academic editors at Oxford University, UK, and published by Oxford University Press. The ODNB's General Editor is Professor Sir David Cannadine.'

Users can access the on-line collection free of charge using the membership number printed on their library card.

The collection is searchable by location, and a couple of interesting Sheffield connections were highlighted:

Samuel Plimsoll, deviser of the ship's Plimsoll Line, born in Bristol, but spent his childhood in Sheffield.

Amy Johnson, pioneering aviator, read for her BA at University of Sheffield.

One of the more interesting aspects, for me, is that no-one is ever deleted from the collection. The Oxford DNB was started in the Victorian era, so there is the possibility of some hidden gems relevant to local history lurking in it's pages.

I hope this may be of use to someone.