dictionary of national biography

  PURPOSE
• covers "men and women of British or Irish race who have
  achieved any reasonable measure of distinction in any walk
  of life"
• includes also American settlers "persons of foreign birth who
  have gained eminence in this country"
• includes only people that have died

  AUTHORITY
• Oxford University Press is a reputable publisher of reference
  books

  TABLE of CONTENTS
• subjects of the biographies
  
• their birthplaces
  
• schools and colleges they attended
  
• their occupations
  
• topics discussed within the biographical entry
  
• names of contributors to the biographical essay

  REFERENCE QUESTIONS
• Since this Dictionary is similar to the DAB & ANB
  there are no reference questions