Manuscripts and Archives holds numerous sources for biographical information on Yale students and the officers of the administration and instruction. Some of these are cataloged in Orbis, but for a more complete list one should review the Yale Publications Catalog.

You can verify that your great grandfather was a Yale graduate (1701-1954) through Catalogue of Graduates. This published source is not available online. It lists all degree recipients by degree and class with an index by surname. The volume for 1701-1924 also indicates the year of death. Later degree recipients are listed in the Yale Alumni Directories, which only list living alumni. Some volumes include names of individuals who attended Yale but did not receive a degree. There are also a few volumes titled Living Non-Graduates which can be helpful.

Biographical information on Yale College graduates can also be found in the class books and class histories. Class books and class histories have the call number Ybb and are arranged by year of graduation. Sheffield Scientific School class books and histories have the call number Ybc and are arranged by year of graduation. We have only a few class books for the Medical, Divinity, and Law School graduates. These have call numbers Ybd, Ybe, and Ybf respectively.

To find names of non-graduates one can also review the lists of students included in the annual Yale catalogues and student directories.

• Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College with Annals of the College History ... by Franklin Bowditch Dexter.
  
  
• Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University...
  
  
• Historical register of Yale University, 1701-1968 (3v.).
  
  
• Yale College and Sheffield Scientific School class and reunion books
  
  
• Yale Weekly Bulletin and Calendar (supersedes Yale University Bulletin; absorbed Yale Staff News, September 1977; continued by Yale Bulletin & Calendar, Aug.28/Sept.4, 1995).
  
  
• Yale Alumni Weekly (May 25, 1891-July 9, 1937)) or Yale Alumni Magazine (September 1937-present)
  
  
• Yale Daily News, 1878-. Records of alumni from Classes of 1701-1978 maintained by the Alumni Records Office, Yale University, 1868-1999 (inclusive).