>From one of my county lists. I'll be adding this to the state site but you might also consider it for your county sites as well. - Tim ---------------- North Dakota Biography Index Database Now Available Accessing biographical information regarding North Dakotans has just become easier with the release of the North Dakota Biography Index (NDBI) database by the Institute for Regional Studies at the North Dakota State University Libraries. Searching the database will enable users to quickly determine which publication to consult for biographical information. More than 138,000 biographical sketches are indexed; found in some 540 publications. The site can be found at http://dp3.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndbi/ The beginning of the NDBI was a unique card file index to published biographies compiled by Allen Petersen of Fargo, N.D. In 1980 the Institute for Regional Studies acquired the card file. Since then the Institute staff has continued to expand the card file by indexing all books published through 1980. A limited number of post-1980 books also have been indexed, mainly county histories. In 1993 the Institute staff began to automate the card file, and only in 1999 was the data from all the cards entered, making the public release of NDBI possible. The Institute staff continues to index newer publications as well as proof and edit the existing data. The types of publications indexed include county and community histories, biographical dictionaries and who�s whos, church and business histories, atlases, special historical newspaper editions, the WPA biography files, and several periodicals rich in biographical material. The index does not include published family histories or genealogies, newspaper obituaries, periodical articles, and books of biography about a single individual. Additional indexing of newer publications will be included as time and funds allow. The addition of page numbers and life dates to entries will be an ongoing project by the Institute staff. Should users of the NDBI find pre-1981 North Dakota publications that have not been indexed, they can let the Institute staff know about them so they can be included in this database. The Institute is also offering a copy service to the public for biographical sketches desired. A direct e-mail link to the Institute appears at the bottom of the search screen.