Background
1. Published since 1849, first time available online as dedicated biographical
resource 33k biographies (WWW 100k), written by biographees themselves),
lots of media attention.
2. Home page – distinctive livery (not Oxford WW). Link for A&C Black available
in print. About WW link – More about Who’s Who
3. Built using DNB model, with new features
4. Entries by invitation, prestigious – 3 broad types of person: ‘Prominence is
Inherited’ – hereditary titles, Distinction in professional life ‘depending on
office’ – majority, e.g. Sports stars and artists who exhibit a quality ‘which
singles them out from their fellow.’ (Criteria from editor 1897 – still broadly
holds). “…people from around the globe who have had an impact on British
life.”
5. WW/DNB compliment (subjective/objective – Maxwell, Blunt), (dead/alive)
6. Biographees who have died moved to WWW during the year
Home page
1. Today’s birthdays, new entries, topical biogs, Quick Search, Search and
Browse available (same functionality as other sites)
2. New biographies – e.g. refine by Occupation/Theatre & entertainment, or
show specific name via Alphabet or Go To box). Show refine by Alive/Dead
“Quick” Search
1. Woolas – local MP, go direct to biography. Copy & paste ‘oldham east and
saddleworth’ into search to look for current MP.
2. Print, email and cite. Email goes as full text.
3. Essex (shows names, titles, family members, education etc)
4. Quick Search – BBC – list of people who worked there (Oxford University
Press in “”) Search for “Question Time”
5. Look at some individuals to see features – Mick Jagger (note official name,
previous entries, musical contemporaries, abbreviations), Robert Maxwell
(DNB comparison), Jack Straw for nicknames, Jonathan Aitken for education
6. Search for contemporaries of great-grandfather at Bristol Grammar (1862-7)
"bristol grammar" (210), Birth date order, go to year 1850, Robert Drew Hicks
- link to DNB
Search
1. Search – Female, writer/career, Exeter/education – notice how ‘your search
will return’ changes
2. Search – medicine (from drop-down), Oldham (full text) & switch WWW on.
3. Search by birth date (1966), 29th February
4. Looking for patron for your local theatre group – Yorkshire (county), theatre in
recreations. Staffordshire, golf
5. Male, alive, music, New York
Browse
1. Decorations – Institute of Chartered Accountants, VC
2. Recreations, alphabet, festering & underwater knitting,
3. Clubs – soho,
4. Education – Bury Grammar School
Last update 21.11.13
Case Study
You are an academic researching the importance Shakespeare has had on the
language we use today, and the influence he has had on our culture by looking at
important figures in modern theatre
Why use WW?
• Find a list of leading modern day Shakespearian actors
• Provides contact details to arrange interviews for research
• Fact finding – list of theatre performances, types of plays they act in
• Education/interests – institutions/ organisations looking for
benefactors, key speakers
1. Search for ‘Shakespeare’ from the homepage
2. Scroll through the tabs – career, recreations, education
Or you can narrow the search down e.g …
1. Go to the search screen
2. Select: Alive, Female, Theatre and Entertainment
Last update 21.11.13