Welcome to American National Biography Online
The life of a nation is told by the lives of its people
- Over 19,000 biographies of significant, influential or notorious figures from American history written by prominent scholars
- Learn about our editors and the Letter from the General Editor Miroslava Chávez-García.
Featured
Della Reese
Della Reese (1931–2017) enjoyed a five-decade career as a popular African American performer. She won acclaim and amassed generations of admirers for her work in music, TV, and film. She also forged an influential career in ministry.
Featured
Paule Marshall
Paule Marshall (1929 – 2019) was perhaps the best-known American author of Caribbean descent, recognized for sharing stories embedded in her community, with protagonists who are Black, female, immigrant, and with connections to the Caribbean and Africa. Her work was feminist, centering powerful women, and addressed the legacies of slavery, colonialism, racism, and sexism.
The February update of the American National Biography features seven new essays, including writer Paule Marshall; singer and actress Della Reese; film director Stanley Donen; U. S. Senator Richard Lugar; poet W. S. Merwin; playwright Terrence McNally; and actress Joan Bennett.
