Major Biographical Collections

A large collection of published biographies for the state is at the New Hampshire Historical Society and the Family History Library.

New Hampshire Historical Society. New Hampshire Notables Card File. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1988. (FHL films 1570255-62; computer number 539020.) This file is an index to biographical sketches of people who were born in New Hampshire or spent a large portion of their lives there. It also has a collection of obituaries and brief biographies found in New Hampshire newspapers. There are about 30,000 cards, which contain full names, places and dates of birth, and titles of the source. Cards are being continually added to the file.

New Hampshire Notables: Presenting Biographical Sketches of Men and Women Who Helped Shape the Character of the Granite State. Portsmouth, N.H.: New Hampshire Historical Society, 1987. (FHL book 974.2 D3b; computer number 441834.) This source contains detailed biographical sketches of men and women who have helped shape the character of New Hampshire. It includes portraits and an index.

Biographical Encyclopedias

Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of New Hampshire. American Series of Popular Biographies. New Hampshire Edition. Boston, Mass.: New England Historical Publishing, 1902. (FHL book 974.2 D3bs; film 1697374; computer number 143616.)

Metcalf, Henry Harrison. One Thousand New Hampshire Notables. Concord, N.H.: Rumford Printing, 1919. (FHL book 974.2 D3m; film 1697374 item9; computer number 143267.) This large volume contains brief biographical sketches of New Hampshire men and women who have been prominent in public, professional, business, educational, fraternal or benevolent work. It includes portraits and an index.

Metcalf, Henry Harrison. New Hampshire Women. Concord, N.H.: New Hampshire Publishing, 1895. (FHL book 974.2 D3mn; computer number 143619.) This source is a collection of portraits and biographical sketches of women, both residents and daughters of residents, who are worthy representatives of their sex.

Moses, George H. New Hampshire Men. Concord, N.H.: New Hampshire Printing, 1893. (FHL film 1033785 item 10; computer number 83883.) This work is a collection of biographical sketches, with portraits, of residents and sons of residents who have become known in commercial, professional and political life.

Pillsbury, Hobart. New Hampshire: Resources, Attractions, and Its People: A History. 5 vols. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing, 1927. (FHL book 974.2 H2p; volume 5, film 1550085; computer number 148752.) Volume 5 contains biographical information, portraits, and an index.

Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men. Manchester, N.H.: John B. Clarke, 1882. (FHL book 974.2 D3s; film 1000197 item 4; computer number 63357.) Includes extensive biographies and genealogies, portraits, and an index.

The Surname Search of the Family History Library Catalog will lead you to biographies and published family histories on specific surnames. Using the term “New Hampshire” in the Keyword Search will help limit the extent of the search to families in New Hampshire.

The Family History Library has many collected biographies and local county histories with biographical sketches of residents. These can be found in the Family History Library Catalog Locality Search under:

NEW HAMPSHIRE- BIOGRAPHYNEW HAMPSHIRE,[COUNTY],- BIOGRAPHYNEW HAMPSHIRE,[COUNTY],[TOWN]- BIOGRAPHY