Tunisia Biographies

Biographical Collections (Tabaqāt)
Research use: Establish individual identity, vital information, and relationships.

Record type: Biographies of Islamic scholars and jurists (ulama) as well as literary, bureaucratic and commercial men of distinction. Some of these dictionaries are published, others are not.

Time period: 800 to present.

Contents: Names of notable persons, parentage, death and often birth dates, positions, education and accomplishments, relationships (especially to other notable persons).

Location: National Archives in Tunis and at local mosque libraries.

Population coverage: Approximately 10%; limited to notable persons.

Reliability: Good.