Australian Dictionary of Biography
Encyclopedia
The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB or AuDB) is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University
(ANU) to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history.
The ADB project has been operating since 1957 with staff located at the Australian Dictionary of Biographic (ADB), Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University
. Since its inception, 4000 authors have contributed to the ADB and its published volumes contain 9,800 scholarly articles on 10,700 individuals.
.
In addition to publishing these works, the ADB makes its primary research material available to the academic community and the public.
, Governor-General of Australia and received a Manning Clark National Cultural Award in December 2006. The ADB Online is operated by the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University. The website is a joint production of the ADB and the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne (Austehc).
The ADB project should not be confused with the much smaller and older Dictionary of Australian Biography
by Percival Serle
first published in 1949, nor with the even older German Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
which is also referred to as ADB in English sources.
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(ANU) to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history.
The ADB project has been operating since 1957 with staff located at the Australian Dictionary of Biographic (ADB), Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. Since its inception, 4000 authors have contributed to the ADB and its published volumes contain 9,800 scholarly articles on 10,700 individuals.
Volumes
To date, the ADB has produced eighteen volumes of biographical articles on important and representative figures in Australian history, published by Melbourne University PublishingMelbourne University Publishing
Melbourne University Publishing is the book publishing arm of the University of Melbourne .MUP was founded in 1922 as Melbourne University Press to sell books and stationery to students, and then began publishing books itself...
.
- Volumes 1 and 2 (published in 1966–67) covered subjects who lived in the period 1788–1850
- Volumes 3 to 6 (published in 1969–76) dealt with the period 1851–1890
- Volumes 7 to 12 (published in 1979–90) dealt with the period 1891–1939
- Volumes 13 to 16 (published in 1993–2002) dealt with the period 1940–1980
- Volumes 17 (published in 2007) dealt with those who died between 1981 and 1990 with surnames beginning with A to K.
- Volume 18 will cover people who died between 1981 and 1990 with surnames beginning with L to Z.
- A Supplementary volume of Australians not covered by the original volumes was released in 2005.
- An index to volumes 1 to 12 was published in 1991.
In addition to publishing these works, the ADB makes its primary research material available to the academic community and the public.
Online
On 6 July 2006, the Australian Dictionary of Biography Online was launched by Michael JefferyMichael Jeffery
Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general...
, Governor-General of Australia and received a Manning Clark National Cultural Award in December 2006. The ADB Online is operated by the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB), Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University. The website is a joint production of the ADB and the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, University of Melbourne (Austehc).
The ADB project should not be confused with the much smaller and older Dictionary of Australian Biography
Dictionary of Australian Biography
The Dictionary of Australian Biography, published in 1949, is a reference work by Percival Serle containing information on notable people associated with Australian history. With approximately a thousand entries, the book took more than twenty years to complete...
by Percival Serle
Percival Serle
Percival Serle was an Australian biographer and bibliographer.Serle was born in Victoria and for many years worked in a life assurance office before becoming chief clerk and accountant at the University of Melbourne...
first published in 1949, nor with the even older German Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie
Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie is one of the most important and most comprehensive biographical reference works in the German language....
which is also referred to as ADB in English sources.