Discover a Piece of the Past with the AABD!
VCU Libraries' African American Biographical Database (AABD) abounds with valuable information including biographies and narratives pertaining to African Americans from 1790 to 1950. Here you will find accounts of both prominent figures as well as everyday persons including business leaders, former slaves, artists, athletes, writers, church leaders, homemakers, scientists, and many more.
To find a specific profile, you can search using the person's name, state/country, city/county, occupation, religion, birth and death dates, or gender. You can also search full text narratives for instances a person's name or a keyword in full-text resources, some of which include photographs and other images. In addition, the AABD allows you to browse the sources in the database, which consist of biographical sketches and narratives from fascinating primary sources!
Not only is the AABD a useful resource for finding biographies and conducting genealogical research, but you can also trace the histories of movements such as the Abolitionist movement and organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
--Jill Stover, Undergraduate Services Librarian - Research and Reference Services