Australian Dictionary of Biography
The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) is Australia's pre-eminent dictionary of national biography. It includes concise descriptions of the lives of over 13,000 significant and representative persons in Australian history. The subjects come from all walks of life — from prime ministers, governors-general and premiers, generals and bishops, artists, actors and authors, engineers and schoolteachers, to prostitutes, thieves and murderers — providing a cross-section of Australian society.
The ADB is produced by the National Centre of Biography at the Australian National University (ANU) and is available both as a hardcopy publication and online.
The Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the ANU. The project is headed by the General Editor, based at the ANU, and an Editorial Board, which discusses matters of general policy. ADB Working Parties draw up lists of individuals selected for inclusion in the ADB and give advice on appropriate authors. The General Editor then commissions the entries. Section editors, drawn from each of the Working Parties, and Editorial Fellows, who are eminent academic historians, read and review all entries.
Biographical research on prominent and representative Australians.
Computer database containing references relating to over 20,000 individuals. Biographical card index consisting of an estimated 300,000 entries. Files relating to subjects appearing in the ADB, as well as those considered for inclusion. Obituaries of those who died in the period 1981 to the present. Note that subject files can be viewed on arrangement with the archivist, Noel Butlin Archives Centre
Subject files can be viewed on arrangement with the archivist, Noel Butlin Archives Centre
Concerning existing directory entries, the Australian Dictionary of Biography welcomes and will respond to constructive comments, questions and suggestions. ADB does not have the resources, however, to answer family history questions or value artefacts. While ADB is happy to correct errors of fact in entries, we do not add extra information. Subject files can be viewed on arrangement with the archivist, Noel Butlin Archives Centre.
Revised 5 April 2022