MANUAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Harris Classification

Abstract: Local procedures and practices for assigning classification numbers to Harris Collection materials

Table of contents

• Introduction to the Harris Classification
• Pt. 1: Dated classes (76, 1901, etc.)
• Pt. 2: Anthology classes (Coll, etc.)
• Pt. 3: Reference classes (Ref., etc.)
• Pt. 4: Music classes (Music, hMusic, etc.)
• Pt. 5: Foreign language classes (f76, Lat.Amer., etc.)
• Pt. 6: Poe classification (76 PO27, 76 P743)
• Pt. 7: Whitman classification (WW)
• Pt. 8: Serial classes (Serial Coll)
• Pt. 9: Non-book materials classes (single Cutter line, FH)

Related Documents

• Harris Collection homepage

Introduction to the Harris Classification

Table of contents

• Preface
• Outline of the Harris Classification
• Classification procedures applied to Harris Classes
• Locations in Harris
• Coll.A Gift Books and Annuals (The How To Book for Harris Catalogers, 1982)

Preface

The current revised and expanded edition of the Harris Classification was first prepared in 1995-96. The scheme is arranged as follows:

• Pt. 1: Dated classes (the key document)
• Pt. 2: Coll classes
• Pt. 3: Reference classes
• Pt. 4: Music classes
• Pt. 5: Foreign language classes
• Pt. 6: Special classification for Edgar Allan Poe
• Pt. 7: Special classification for Walt Whitman
• Pt. 8: Serial classes
• Pt. 9: Non-book material
• General index [not yet compiled]

Note that the section, Dated classes, includes much information which applies to other sections, and which is not necessarily repeated in those sections. However the section, Music classes, is designed to stand alone, so that music catalogers should rarely need to consult any other section. When in doubt as to where to find information, or which section to consult, see the General index to the Harris Classification [not yet compiled], or the Table of contents to an individual section, as appropriate to the particular need. Consult your supervisor if the answer is not found.

All classes representing literary collections are described in Coll classes. Works representing English language collections are found in Coll (the general category) or Coll.A (a special category of gift books classed separately for historical reasons.) There are two classes representing foreign language material: fColl (French-Canadian material, whatever and wherever its source) and Lat.Amer.Coll (material published in Mexico, South and Central America and the West Indies, in any language.) Translations are classed with the original. Note that there is some overlap between sections: for instance, collections of French-Canadian poetry, classed in fColl, are also described from a slightly different perspective in the section, Foreign language classes.

The section, Reference classes, contains descriptions of all the classes in Harris that have Ref. in their class numbers. Note that the period following Ref (fRef., Lat.Amer.Ref) should always be present (as Ref., fRef., Lat.Amer.Ref.). Note also that there is no Yiddish Ref.; consult other Ref. categories for information on Yiddish subjects.

For information on how to classify works of biography and/or criticism of an individual author, consult Dated classes (see Table of contents.) Follow the same procedure for a bibliography of an author. There are however two exceptions: Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman, which because of their importance to Harris have their own sections; consult the appropriate section, as there are some differences from the general procedures.

Find information on how to handle translations in general in the section, Foreign language classes. The section also contains specific information on the subcollections in foreign languages (French-Canadian, Latin American and Yiddish.)

The Special classification for Edgar Allan Poe is actually part of a Dated class (Old Classification procedure class 76, followed by PO27). While the class is treated in the same way as Dated classes in general, most titles have a third line representing their own individual class numbers-not the usual practice in the Old Classification procedure. Subject entries tend to be more elaborately constructed.

The Special classification for Walt Whitman is a unique classification. The new edition of the scheme has been designed to make it as close to the Poe scheme as possible in terms of construction, both for titles and subjects.

Serial classes (Serial Coll and LC class LH) contain all Harris serials except those relating to Whitman, which are classed at WW Z3.

The Harris Classification Non-book material section should be used in conjunction with the related document, Harris non-book material, which describes record preparation and marking practices.

Outline of the Harris Classification

The following listing corresponds roughly to the order in the manual shelflist. The first column is an alphabetical arrangement of classes, with numbers preceding letters. Note that in the French-language classes the f is often given as the second letter, not the first. However, for purposes of this list only, the f is still regarded as the first letter for purposes of alphabetization. The second column contains a brief description of each category. All classes are described in detail in the appropriate places in the classification.

Note that Harris Rare, Harris Rare/Small and Harris Small do not appear on the list These are locations, not classes; for brief descriptions, see next section. Historical information: extra shelflist cards used to be made for works falling into these classes: cards for Rare works were filed in the Harris Rare shelflist; and cards for Small works were filed in the Harris Small shelflist. Cards for Rare/Small works were filed in both shelflists; there is no special shelflist for Rare/Small works.

Classification Procedures Applied to Harris Classes

The procedures are described in detail in pt. 1, Dated classes. The three main procedures are the Old, New, and 1951 Classification Procedures.

Locations in Harris

Books and scores

There are four locations in Harris for books and scores. Note that no distinction in location is made between a book and a score. Note also that works cataloged under the provisions of AACR2 chapters 8, Graphic materials, or chapter 10, Three-dimensional artifacts and realia, may on occasion be classed with Harris books or scores. See for example Ann M. Kresge's collection of kites containing poetry, Air born (1994), cataloged using chapter 10 (2-SIZE 1976 K36 M45a HAY HARRIS RARE).

Non-books (excluding microforms)

Microforms

Coll.A Gift Books and Annuals (The How To Book for Harris Catalogers, 1982)

NOTE: This section is copied with mostly minor revisions from The How To Book for Harris Catalogers, 1982 (better known as the Harris Collection Manual.) It is included primarily as a guide to past practices, some of which differ from those in any other Harris class. Some of the paragraphs have been rearranged, to follow more closely the order of a catalog record. Information on current practices is enclosed within square brackets. All cited bibliographies such as Faxon and Kirkham are included in the list at the end of this section. For a brief description of this class, see pt. 2, Coll classes, section V. The text of the 1982 document follows:

The Gift Book Collection is given special treatment. The following notes have been given to guide the cataloger:

A former Curator of the Harris Collection, the late Professor S. Foster Damon, defined a gift book as a book which was issued to be given away. Such a book can be usually identified by the presence in the title of such a word as Gift, Token, Offering, etc.; by a statement in the preface; or by the inclusion of a presentation plate or similar device. Occasionally such a word appears in the title of the first article (prose or poetry) in the book.

[Up to about 1978] information on all editions or issues of a book was assembled on the same record, whenever possible, with appropriate notes, including such notes as Title varies, Imprint varies, Collation varies, etc., much in the manner of a periodical. [More recent practice has been to treat each edition or issue of a gift book on a separate record. Continue to follow this later practice; however when examining a series of gift books appearing to follow the regular pattern of a periodical, with completely new materieal in each volume as it appears, or when in doubt, consult the Serials Catalog Librarian.]

Catalog a gift book under title. Many of these titles look like serial titles. However, note that regular periodicals, issued in annual volumes as gift books, are cataloged as Harris periodicals, not as gift books.

In the past, whenever a book was added that was not, after close examination, considered a gift book, yet appears in Faxon or another gift book bibliography, what was called a "cross-reference card" was made for the Gift Book Shelflist under title, without call number. It was possible to file such a card since the shelflist was arranged alphabetically by title. A note typed in red gave the reason for non-inclusion; for example, Gift book by one author; Not a gift book. Note that gift books by fewer than three authors are not classed as gift books. At the time of writing these cards are still filed in the shelflist. They appear to serve little purpose, however.

Give the date of publication as it appears in the book. If the date is not available or there is a problem, consult an appropriate bibliography such as Faxon or Thompson. Another source illustration could provide a clue. In some cases pure guesswork was employed!

Collate each gift book or each volume in a set page by page and leaf of plates by leaf of plates, because of the need to identify the edition or issue. Some books with substantially the same text were published or republished under different titles or on different occasions.

Gift books were traditionally measured by the size of the title page, rather than by that of the binding--a practice not endorsed by AACR2, which calls for measurement of the height of the binding. Both dimensions were given, with height preceding width. [In current practice follow AACR2.] When several volumes of a title differ in size the collation was collective, with individual differences brought out in a note beginning: Collation varies.

Make notes where appropriate, with special attention being given to added title pages and presentation plates, often engraved, and to imperfections, such as a missing title page. If the date of publication appears only on the cover, make a note to indicate this.

Subject headings

In the past subject headings were rarely assigned to gift books. [For current cataloging assign the subject heading Gift books, or a topical heading subdivided by Gift books, such as Flowers--Gift books.]

Added entries

Make added entries for editors or compilers and other persons associated with the production of a gift book.

[Analytical entries]

[Analytical entries for contributions by individual authors were rarely made in the past. Currently when cataloging anthologies we make analytical entries on a very selective basis for works by the major authors, in particular Poe and Whitman. As for gift books, be aware that Kirkham has an author index to al listed contributions to the literary annuals and gift books published 1825-1865; Edgar Allan Poe is included, but not Walt Whitman. We may not wish to analyze most articles listed in Kirkham.]

Classification

Gift books are classed as Coll.A. The second line of the call number consists of the first two letters (both capitalized) of the title, plus the Cutter number. [Examples are found in pt. 2, Coll classes, section V. This is an application of the New Classification Procedure, described below in pt. 1, Dated classes.]

Bibliography of Reference Books for Gift Books

Call numbers represent copies in Harris unless otherwise noted.

• Faxon, F.W. Literary annuals and gift books: a bibliography 1823-1903. Pinner, England, 1973. Reprint of 1912 ed. with supplementary essays.

  Z6520 G4 F3 1973 ROCK REF

• -- -- Boston, 1912. The two Harris copies contain annotations about library holdings.

  Ref.F2819 cop. 1-2 HAY HARRIS

• Thompson, A.A. An examination of the gift-books and annuals in the Harris Collection of Brown University. 1931. A thesis providing very detailed information about works in the collection.

  1-SIZE Ref. T4682 HAY HARRIS and 1-SIZE 1-N M931tho HAY ARCHIVES

• Thompson, Ralph. American literary annuals & gift books, 1825-1865. Hamden, Conn., 1967, c1936. Reprint of the 1936 edition with added index to annuals and gift books on microfilm.

  AY10 T5 1967 HAY REF

• -- -- New York, 1936.

  Ref. TH76 HAY HARRIS and AY10 T5 ROCK REF

• Kirkham, E.B. Indices to American literary annuals and gift books, 1825-1865. New Haven, 1975. Contains indices to A.A. Thompson's list.

  1-SIZE AY10 T52 K57 ROCK REF

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