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Canadian Biographies: Overview

A guide to support research on the life of a Canadian.

Biographies - searching for the right name

When searching the catalogue, and the web, it is important to consider the different names and titles a person may have. Sometimes, an individual may use a nickname or a portion of his name in his public life. In official biographies, however, he may be known by his official name. It is a good idea, during your preliminary research, to list all the names a person may be known by.

For example:

  • Bram Stoker's full name is Abraham Stoker
  • Tommy Douglas = T.C. Douglas or Thomas Clement Douglas

 

Developing Keywords

When thinking about search terms remember it is possible that there is more than one person with the same name. It is a good idea to include additional information in your search terms to ensure you are not unintentionally researching the wrong person. Consider:

  • Name: "Margaret Atwood"
  • Profession: writer, author
  • Consider what they are known for: literature, "Canadian literature"
  • Where they lived: Canada

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