For a select list of Hispanic Fiction, click here.

Biographical Resources on Hispanic-Americans

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15.  The following resources provide biographical information on people of Hispanic heritage. This list begins with Reference materials, which must be used in the Library only, and is followed by Circulating resources, which are available for check-out. (The word Hispanic is used in here to include persons who trace their origins to Spanish-speaking countries.)

Print Reference Resources: General Resources

Benson, Sonia G., et al., eds. Hispanic American Biography. (UXL, 2003).
R 920.009268 H625b

Chabran, Richard & Rafael Chabran, eds. Latino Encyclopedia.  (Marshall Cavendish, 1996). 
R 973.0468 L349   6 vols.

Contemporary Hispanic Biography: profiles from the International Hispanic Community. (Gale, 2002-).
R 920.009268 C767 4 vols.

Kanellos, Nicolas, ed. Hispanic-American Almanac: A Reference Work on Hispanics in the United States.  (Gale Research, 1993). 
jR 973.0468 H625a

Machamer, Gene. Hispanic American Profiles.  (Ballantine, 1996). 
R 920.009268 M18h

Meier, Matt S. Mexican American Biographies: A Historical Dictionary, 1836-1987.  (Greenwood Press, 1988).
R 920.009268 M475m

Meier, Matt S. Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary.  (Greenwood Press, 1997). 
R 920.009268 M475n

Meyer, Nicholas E. Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Americans. (Facts on File, 2001). 
R 920.009268 M575b

Nagel, Rob & Sharon Rose, eds. Hispanic American Biography.  (International Thomson Publishers, 1995).
R 920.009268 H625     2 vols.

Novas, Himilce. Hispanic 100: A Ranking of the Latino Men and Women Who Have Most Influenced American Thought and Culture.  (Carol Publishing Group, 1995). 
R 920.009268 N857h

Palmisano, Joseph M., ed. Notable Hispanic American Women: Book II. (Gale Research, 1998).
R 920.72 N843h vol.2

Standish, Peter, ed. Hispanic Culture of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.  (Gale Research, 1996). 
R 972 H625

Tardiff, Joseph, ed. Dictionary of Hispanic Biography.  (Gale Research, 1996). 
R 920.046 D561

Telgen, Diane & Jim Kamp, eds. Notable Hispanic American Women.  (Gale Research, 1993).  2 vols.
R 920.72 N843h

Tompkins, Cynthia Margarita and David William Foster, eds. Notable Twentieth- Century Latin American Women: A Biographical Dictionary.  (Facts on File, 2001).
R 920.72098 N843

Specialized Resources: Arts 

Keller, Gary D. Biographical Handbook of Hispanics and United States Film.  (Bilingual Press/Editorial Bilingue, 1997). 
R 791.4308968 K282b

Henkes, Robert. Latin American Women Artists of the United States: The Works of 33 Twentieth-Century Women.  (McFarland & Co., 1999). 
R 704.04208968 H389L

Reyes, Luis. Hispanics in Hollywood: An Encyclopedia of Film and Television.  (Garland Pub.,  1994). 
R 791.4308968 R33h
Sp 791.4308968 R824h

Riggs, Thomas, ed. St. James Guide to Hispanic Artists: Profiles of Latino and Latin American Artists (St. James Press, 2002).
R 704.0368 Sa23

Specialized Resources: History

Adams, Jerome R. Liberators and Patriots of Latin America: Biographies of 23 Leaders from Dona Marina (1505-1530) to Bishop Romero (1917-1980).  (McFarland & Co., 1991). 
R 980.00992 Ad18L

Tenenbaum, Barbara A., ed. Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture.  (Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1996). 
R 980.003 En19     5 vols.

Werner, Michael S., ed. Encyclopedia of Mexico: History, Society and Culture.  (Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997). 
R 970 En19     2 vols.

Specialized Resources: Literature

Day, Frances Ann. Latina and Latino Voices in Literature: Lives and Works. (Greenwood Press, 2003).
R 810.9868 D331L

Flores, Angel. Spanish American Authors: The Twentieth Century.  (H.W. Wilson, 1992). 
R 860.9868 F663s

Kanellos, Nicolas, ed. Hispanic Literary Companion.  (Visible Ink Press, 1997). 
R 810.9868 H625

Schon, Isabel, ed. Contemporary Spanish-Speaking Writers and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults: A Biographical Dictionary.  (Greenwood Press, 1994). 
j R 860.9 C767

Smith, Verity, ed. Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature.  (Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997).
R 860.09 En19

William, Luis, ed. Dictionary of Literary Biography.
Modern Latin-American Fiction Writers, First Series, vol. 113.  (Gale Research, 1992). 
Modern Latin-American Fiction Writers, Second Series, vol. 145. (Gale Research, 1994). 
R 809 D561

Online Resources

Biographical information is also available through our online databases.  Select Online Databases (accessible from home with a GRPL library card or at the library) to access Infotrac/Galenet's Biography Resource Center, where a custom search may be done by nationality or ethnicity. Along with the biographical information provided, links to magaine articles, and other websites, and photographs or other images may also be available...

The following are some of the Internet sites that provide biographical information on notable Hispanics.  Also try searching for individuals through the Internet search engines, just check with staff at our reference desks if assistance is needed. 

Biography Project. [Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science]. 
The Biography Project is “designed as a resource for K-12 educators who are interested in teaching their students about the accomplishments of Chicano/Latino and Native American Scientists” and is searchable by scientist, with a separate link to women scientists, and by subject or ethnicity.
www.sacnas.org/bio/index.html

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage! Latinos in History. [Scholastic Inc.]
The teachers resource section of the Scholastic web site includes the "Celebrate Hispanic Heritage" area where brief biographical information can be found on about 25 people, browsable by categories of those born before 1900, born 1901-1949, and born 1950 and after. Often photographs are included and, for some of the people, there will be links to even more information.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hispanic/history.htm

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage - Biographies. [Thomson Gale]
The web site of the publisher Thomson Gale provides free resources which include access to biographical information, taken from their publications, on 50 significant Hispanic individuals, with referrals to other resources for additional information.
http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/chh/bio/

Famous Hispanics. [Coloquio Web Service]. 
This site provides brief biographical sketches of famous Hispanics throughout history, covering subjects such as musicians, painters, writers, scientists, sports figures, women, Nobel Prize winners, and U.S. military figures.
http://www.coloquio.com/famosos/

Hispanic Americans in Congress. [Library of Congress]. 
This online version of a book by the same title (328.73092 En16h) offers biographical sketches, along with photographs, of approximately 60 members of Congress from 1822-1995, as well as links to the official web sites of current members through 2002. Access is available in chronological order or by geographical location. 
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/

Las Culturas - Hispanic Heritage
This site provides information on Hispanic culture, history, and health. The 'famous' link directs you to famous authors, film stars, musicians, and historical figures. You will also find articles pertaining to Hispanic issues.
http://www.lasculturas.com