American National Biography Online

Welcome to American National Biography Online

An exploration of American history through the lives of the men & women who shaped the nation.

Biography of the Day

Sikorsky, Igor Ivanovich (25 May 1889-26 Oct. 1972),
Aerospace Engineers, (1203) words

helicopter and aircraft designer, was born in Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine), the son of Ivan Alexis Sikorsky and Zinaida Stepanovna, both physicians. Sikorsky’s father played a prominent role in the development of psychiatry in prerevolutionary Russia. Sikorsky received a ...

Helpful Resources

Research Ideas: Explore articles chosen by Oxford editors across 12 research topics, including Hispanic American Heritage, Women's History, and more!
Teacher's Guide: designed to help you get the most out of this valuable resource.
Oxford Companion to United States History: provides valuable context on US history and culture.

More about the ANB …

What's New

Latest Update: The April 2013 update of the ANB includes biographical entries on notables such as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and chess genius Bobby Fischer. Read the Editor's Introduction and explore some of the Highlights to the update.

New edition: Our latest update includes 78 new illustrations from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Read more about the new partnership between the ANB and the Smithsonian's NPG.

News: Read the latest blog post by ANB editor, Susan Ware, on ‘The challenges and rewards of biographical essays’. View image highlights from the latest update.
Job opportunity at ANB! Interested in being part of the Nation's storytelling? The ANB is looking for a part-time research editor – full details and how to apply.