Welcome to American National Biography Online

The landmark American National Biography offers portraits of more than 18,700 men & women — from all eras and walks of life — whose lives have shaped the nation. The American National Biography is the first biographical resource of this scope to be published in more than sixty years.

Enter a name in the Quick Search box (at top right and on every page) to get started; browse by name; or use the advanced search to find people by realm of renown, life dates, or birthplace.

Find out more…

150th anniversary of the American Civil War: read our piece from Mark C. Carnes, General Editor

Explore articles chosen by Oxford editors across 12 research topics, including Hispanic American Heritage, Women's History, and more!

Make ANB Online work for you with a Teacher's Guide designed to help you get the most out of this valuable resource.

The acclaimed Oxford Companion to United States History provides valuable context on US history and culture.

Librarians, introduce your users to the ANB online!

What's New

• Celebrate 80 years of the Empire State Building this May with the American National Biography: read our entry on architect William Frederick Lamb.
• The latest ANB Online Update is now available. General Editor Mark C. Carnes introduces the articles here.
• Purchase a personal subscription for a monthly rate of $14.95 or save with an annual subscription of only $89.
• Learn more about ANB