Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Index to the Subject Catalogue of Harvard College Library
The Subject Catalogue of Harvard College Library may be described as an alphabetical-classed catalogue. As in other classed or systematic catalogues, special subjects are grouped under general heads, but, as in a dictionary catalogue, these general heads are arranged in alphabetical, not systematic order, while the special topics and other subdivisions of these general classes also follow the order of the alphabet. The main headings, about 500 in number and distinguished in the following Index by heavy faced type and in reference by small capitals, are by no means of equal extent or importance in the ground they cover. Some, such as ambergris, automata, coffee-houses, and copying have less than a dozen cards and no subdivisions, while others like agriculture, antiquities, history, or music occupy many drawers of the catalogue and include a large number of subdivisions. The subdivisions or special topics, as has been said, fall in alphabetical order, but it should be noticed that they are frs quently grouped in several different alphabets in order to bring topics of the same character side by side. (see the examples given below.) It is to these subordinate headings in particular that the Index is intended to furnish a clew.
To facilitate reference a number has been assigned to each main heading, while each sub-heading (or, in some cases, each alphabetical group of sub-headings) has its special number which follows the number of the main heading in the form of a decimal. These numbers are placed on the outside of the catalogue drawers and on the guide-blocks in the drawers and by means of them reference is made in the Index from each topic to the place or places in the catalogue where it occurs.
In order to make clearer the general plan of the catalogue and the use Of these numbers, the various subdivisions of two classes, agriculture and painting, are set forth in order on the next page. A similar conspectus of all the headings and their subdivisions will perhaps be printed at some future time.
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