Biography Files – Online Index
The Central Library Research Center is in the exciting process of indexing our local biography files which are part of the Tulsa/Oklahoma Vertical File collection. The biography files solely focus on local biographies that span local personalities, talent, business people, and families. They include articles from local publications such as the Tulsa World, Tulsa Tribune, Tulsa People, etc. The Tulsa Biography Index contains the names of local Tulsans and the publications in which they can be found. We also have the actual folders that contain this information. The Tulsa Biography Files are located on the 4th floor of Central Library in the Research Center. If you have any questions about this collection, please contact us!
Aa – Az
Collective, Men
The rest of the alphabetical file indexes are still being compiled.
What are the Vertical Files?
Vertical files are files that are a compilation of different subjects. Many libraries, schools, and
universities have these and they can cover numerous subjects. These files contain newspaper articles,
photographs, pamphlets, maps, and many other things. Vertical files were kind of the Internet before there
was an Internet – a place to store information and resources not found in books.
The vertical files in the Research Center at the Central Library house hundreds of subjects pertaining to Tulsa and Oklahoma history. The physical articles contained within these files consist of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, maps, local publications, and other materials we’ve been saving and compiling over the years. It’s a treasure trove of amazing information that has been collected over the years and sometimes cannot be found anywhere else. These files contain a significant depth and breadth of local knowledge. The library is often the last resort for people looking for historical information. Many of you have been referred to us by local organizations like the Tulsa Historical Society, the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, schools, and others.