Barry Owen Jones was born in Geelong in 1932. He was a student at Melbourne High School (1945-1949) where he developed an understanding of the impact of WWII from fellow students and teachers. It was at this time that he began collecting autograph material reflecting his research into history, politics, literature, music, and art. He was encouraged by professor of physiology William Alexander Osbourne (1873-1949) who gifted letters based on Jones' research interests. Between 1960-1067, he became known for his success on the quiz show 'Pick A Box' while working as a high school teacher and hosting a talkback radio programme. Jones served as a Labor MP in the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1972-1977), and later in Federal Parliament (1977-1998) where he was appointed Minister for Science (1983-1990) in the Hawke Government. Throughout this time Jones was actively researching, writing, and publishing works on biography and analysis. Jones published The Macmillan Dictionary of Biography in 1981, and later, Barry Jones' Dictionary of World Biography, 1994. Jones' analytical work translated his research to anticipate future trends relevant to government policy, including Sleepers, Wake!: technology and the future of work, 1982.