Library Guides: Historical Fiction: People/ Daily Life

Articles on People

Are you looking for information on a well-known person who plays a large or small role in your story? The indexes in this box focus on publications about people. Please note: you might also find information about a person by using the indexes listed on the News/ Events tab on this guide. The indexes can also be accessed under the "Find...Articles & Databases" link on the Library home page.

Also check out the box: Books on People.

Biographical Indexes
These indexes focus on sources that include information about people. The biographical information might be within a reference book, or in a magazine.

Biography index
1984-current
Use this index to search magazines and books for a specific person. Use the Find it button or search in the Journals Titles database to find if the magazine is available. Search in WorldCat Local to find if the book is in the Library.
Available in print from 1946-August 2000. 1st floor of the Library, ref CT214 .B5.

Books on People

WorldCat Discovery (Advanced Search)
When searching WorldCat Discovery for books about a person, search using the person’s name as the subject. Using the Advanced Search, select "subject" from the drop-down menu, then type in the name of the person. However, if a book has information about a lot of people, the subject headings will not include the names of each individual but rather use a broader category.
Remember, you can use the Interlibrary Loan service to request those items that are not available at Boise State University Albertsons Library.
Google Books
Search the contents of thousands of books that have been digitized through a cooperative agreement between Google and selected university libraries. Some content is available online, but not all.
LC Subject Headings examples:
Last Name, First Name [such as: Morrison, Harry W.]
Architects – Biography
Civil Engineers – United States – Biography
Musicians - Biography

People... names

People Names
Looking for ideas for naming your characters? Try these sources out.

Frequently occurring names in the 1990 Census
From the U.S. Census Bureau. Data files are available for 1) last names, 2) female first names, and 3) male first names.
Baby Name Wizard
From Social Security Administration name records, 1880-2005.
Dictionary of American family names
Available in print. 3 vols.
2nd floor of Library, CS 2485 .D53 2003.
LC Subject Heading examples:
Names, Personal

Daily Life

American Decades, 1900-1999
Also available in print, ref E169.12 .A419 1994b
Besides news and events, look here for popular songs and entertainment during the decade (find this in the "Arts" chapter for your decade, in the Chronology section). See how to do this using the link below.
Find Popular Song Names from the Past
Video on how to find popular song names in past decades using the American Decades volumes in the Gale Virtual Reference Library. Click on the link above to get to the American Decades volumes (1900-1999) or below (2000-2009).
American Decades, 2000-2009
Link to Gale Virtual Reference Library, American Decades, 2000-2009
Life Magazine Archive
Life Magazine has provided coverage of life in the United States since November 1936, with noted photojournalism. This archive covers 1936 through December 2000.
Time Magazine Archive
Access articles from the well-known Time Magazine providing weekly news on events, people and culture. This archive includes content from the first issue in March 1923 through December 2000.
The Greenwood encyclopedia of daily life : a tour through history from ancient times to the present
Available in print.
1st floor of the Library, ref GT31 .G74 2004.
3rd floor of the Library, GT31 .G74 2004.
Is your story set in a place or time period not covered by the American Decades set? Then look for information in this six-volume set.
LC Subject Heading examples:
Manners and customs—History—Encyclopedias
China—Social life and customs