Synthesized answer
The "Dictionary of National Biography" (DNB) is described as a "standard work of reference" containing articles on over 29,000 notable figures from British history, originally published in 63 volumes between 1885 and 1900 [1]. In its modern, ongoing digital project, all DNB articles have been transcribed, and while not all are fully proofread, each article links to scanned images of the original published pages. This allows readers to verify the text against the original source [1].
This digital project's features inform our understanding of what makes a historical source "standard" and trustworthy by demonstrating the importance of both accessibility and verifiability. The DNB's status as a "standard work of reference" is established by its comprehensive scope and original publication [1]. The digital project enhances trustworthiness by providing transcriptions and, crucially, linking to scanned images of the original publications [1]. This enables modern users to directly compare the transcribed text with the original format, thereby confirming its accuracy and ensuring the integrity of the historical record in both its original and modern forms.
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
For works with similar titles, see Dictionary of National Biography . ← Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900 ( 1885 ) → information about this edition related portals : Biography , WikiProject DNB , Collective works standard work of reference with articles on more than 29,000 notable figures from British history. It was originally published in 63 volumes between 1885 and 1900, by Smith, Elder & Co. Shortcut : DNB00 DNB Readers: please read our notes and disclaimers . Editors: please join our project . The project is fairly complete. All the DNB articles are transcribed, but not all are…
s Desiderata Curiosa; Fuller's Worthies; Kimber's Baronetage; Domestic State Papers; Delaune's Angliæ Metropolis.] N. P. Dictionary of National Biography , Errata (1904), p. 2 N.B.— f.e . stands for from end and l.l. for last line
e, which should be compared with Laud’s diary and Heylin’s Cyprianus Anglicanus, or the Life of Laud, on the other side. Abbot’s will was printed at Guildford by Onslow in 1777. Hearne’s biographical notice in Rawlinson MS. C. 146, f. 386, and Dr. White Kennet’s biographical notes on Abbot in Lansdowne MS. 984, are of very little value. The Domestic State Papers from 1600 to 1633 are full of references to his public and private life, and contain a vast number of his letters. The Rolls of Parliament; Wood’s Athenæ Oxonienses; Strype’s Annals; Winwood’s Memorials; Rymer’s Fœdera; Hacket’s Life…
coloured and of smaller size, with the title of ‘A Series of Twenty-four Views illustrative of the Holy Scriptures,’ &c. [Debrett's Baronetage of England, 1808; Lodge's Genealogy of the Peerage and Baronetage, 1859; the London Gazette, 1775, 1804, &c.; Gentleman's Magazine, Aug. 1812, &c.; Annual Register, 1798, &c.; Biog. Dict. Soc. D. U. K.; Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual, 1864.] A. H. G. Dictionary of National Biography , Errata (1904), p. 3 N.B.— f.e . stands for from end and l.l. for last line
fascination about them which carries the reader along, and which thoroughly reflects the personal character of the man. He had a singular gift of attracting all kinds of people to him, from the highly cultivated Oxonian down to the Bonchurch peasant, who used to speak of him after his death as ‘the good gentleman.’ [Memoir prefixed to the Sacred Allegories; Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, by J. W., 1849; Neale's Earthly Resting Places of the Just; information from the Rev. H. C. Adams, the Rev. Coker Adams, and C. Warren Adams, Esq., all brothers of William Adams, and from the Rev. F. W. Erskine…
More questions about this book
- The entry for Edward of Norwich presents conflicting details regarding his birth year and the events surrounding his betrothal. What does this reveal about the inherent challenges of reconstructing historical narratives, even for notable figures, and how might historians navigate such discrepancies?
- If you were explaining the political dynamics behind Edward of Norwich's broken betrothal to someone unfamiliar with medieval history, what key concepts (e.g., strategic marriages, shifting alliances) would you need to simplify and highlight based *only* on the provided text?
- How does the excerpt about Edward of Norwich demonstrate the specific utility of a biographical dictionary like the DNB for understanding the complex lineage, political pressures, and personal trajectories of historical figures?
- The text mentions the DNB being in the "public domain in the United States" due to its publication date. How does the concept of public domain, particularly for a work like the DNB, influence the accessibility, usage, and preservation of historical knowledge today?