Author Description
The Dictionary of National Biography, compiled over the last 120 years, consists of thirty-two printed volumes, documenting the lives of nearly 40,000 people. This prestigious literary work, known, used, and read throughout the world for its accuracy, individuality, and charm, has been captured on a single CD-ROM. The electronic edition now makes it possible to conduct wide-ranging searches and access biographical details in ways that were inconceivable with the printed volumes. Searches can locate information on a particular individual, identified by name, title, gender, dates, or occupation (or a combination of these), or a group of individuals who share certain characteristics. System requirements: IBM PC or full compatible with 80386 processor or above. 4Mb free RAM. DOS 5.0 or higher. 3Mb free hard-disk space. VGA or Super VGA monitor. CD-ROM drive. MSCDEX 2.1 or higher. Windows 3.1 or higher. Microsoft mouse or compatible. Network version: Novell-compatible networks.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the feasibility and utility of digitizing a massive, multi-volume historical biographical record to enhance accessibility and research efficiency. Oxford University Press compiled this resource by digitizing thirty-two volumes of the Dictionary of National Biography, which documents the lives of nearly 40,000 individuals. The primary argument is that electronic indexing and search functionality provide a superior method for navigating complex historical data compared to traditional print-based lookup systems.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Biographical records for approximately 40,000 individuals of historical significance to Britain.
- Searchable metadata including name, title, gender, dates, and occupation.
- Cross-referencing capabilities for groups of individuals sharing specific characteristics.
Scope Limits
- The data is restricted to the content contained within the original thirty-two printed volumes of the Dictionary of National Biography.
- The software is limited to legacy operating systems such as DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this CD-ROM as a significant technological transition for historical research, enabling complex queries that were previously impossible in print. Users frequently note the academic rigor of the original text while acknowledging the limitations imposed by the early 1990s software requirements.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1995-12-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN-10:
0192683128
ISBN-13:
9780192683120
Biography
History
Reference
British History