Yale Collection of American Literature
Scope
The Yale Collection of American Literature (YCAL) was founded by Owen F. Aldis in 1911 and contains books, manuscripts and ephemera relating to American literature. There is a separate collection relating to Black literature, the James Weldon Johnson Collection of Negro Arts & Letters , and there are also several name collections. Some Canadian literature is represented in the collection. For more information consult the Guide to the Collections.
The YCAL collections are housed in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and the general cataloging policies for monographs are followed.
Size
The size boundaries for YCAL materials shelving at 121 Wall St. are:
- Octavo:
- up to 25 cm high
- up to 23 cm wide
- Quarto:
- between 25 and 37 cm high
- between 23 and 32 cm wide
- Folio (Class in Year/number folio sequence with location code bein,ycal):
- over 37 cm high
- over 32 cm wide
- Broadsides (Class in Year/number broadsides sequence with location code beinycal)
- See Broadsides: Marking Call Numbers on Items & Folders
The maximum size restrictions for material shelving at LSF can be found on the Guide for Materials Going to 121 document. Use octavo call numbers for all items shelving at LSF.
Marking
The following guidelines are used when marking volumes in YCAL:
- Mark on Yale bookplate when there is one, generally in the upper left corner.
- Mark on back cover, lower right hand corner, when there is no Yale bookplate unless cover is too dark.
- Mark on verso of last page, lower right hand corner, when 1 or 2 don’t apply. The lower left hand corner is the alternate location when the lower right hand corner is unusable.
- If the last page is unmarkable (e.g. too dark or shiny or filled with text or illustrations), mark the verso of the first usable page from the end.
Classification
Individual works | Collected works, translations, & works about an author | Serials | Other types of materials | Exceptions
- Past practice encompasses a variety of approaches; many books in the collection are not classified according to the instructions given here. Generally, do not reclassify unless necessary for collocation. See Appendix and the >Historical manual for details of past practice.
- Folios shelving at 121 Wall St. and broadsides use the year/number scheme with the location beinycal.
- Use “L” for “l” in call numbers.
- Quarto call numbers shelving at 121 Wall St. are indicated by the addition of a plus sign (+) before the book number (usually the last line) of the call number.
- When using the online Cutter Tool, convert Mc and M’ to Mac for all classification schemes, so that the authors or titles continue to be arranged the same as with the print Cutter table.
Monographs
Individual works by an author
YCAL classification is alphabetical by author and, under each author, chronological by date of first edition. (See Other types of material for non-authorial classification).
The first line of the call number is from the “Old Yale” classification scheme where “Z” meant rare material and the letter “a” was chosen to represent American literature. The first line also includes a chronological subdivision:
Za | Authors writing predominantly before 1950 |
Zab | Authors writing predominantly from 1950-1999 |
Zac | Authors writing predominantly from 2000-2049 |
The second line is the author’s Cutter number (derived from C.A. Cutter’s three-figure author table), making exceptions when main entry rule changes introduced with AACR2 would result in a split author number. Expand the number to four or even five digits if necessary to distinguish authors and to place them correctly in the alphabetical sequence.
Examples:
Miller, Philip. Father’s day, [1995?]
Zab | Writes predominantly between 1950-1999 |
M617 | Philip Miller’s author number |
Miller, Raeburn. The comma after love, 1994.
Zab | Writes predominantly between 1950-1999 |
M6174 | Raeburn Miller’s author number |
Miller, Rick. Tearing through the fence, 1990.
Zab | Writes predominantly between 1950-1999 |
M6175 | Rick Miller’s author number |
The third line is the last three digits of the date of the first edition followed by the initial letter of the title. Use “H” or “J” instead of “I” (which can be mistaken for the number one); use “N” or “P” instead of “O” (which can be mistaken for zero). If the letter for the title is already taken, use the subsequent letter in the alphabet.
Lower case letters “b”, “c”, “d”, etc. are added to signify a second, third, fourth, etc. edition or other subsequent editions. The addition of “a” is normally reserved for proof copies; proof copies of later editions add the letter “a” after the edition indicator.
Use either a truncated search, or search both with and without the plus sign, to determine if a title letter or an edition indicator has been used. Two different works cannot use the same title letter, and two different editions cannot use the same edition indicator.
Beginning in 2000, for books first published after 1999, use all four digits of the date for the fourth line.
Examples:
Eliot, T.S. The waste land, 1922
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
EL466 | Eliot’s author number |
922W | Year of publication for the original edition followed by initial letter of title |
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
EL466 | Eliot’s author number |
922Wa | Year of publication of original ed. followed by initial letter of title and “a” to indicate proof copy |
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
EL466 | Eliot’s author number |
922Wc | [1923 edition; no ed. statement, but identified as the 3rd to be published] Year of publication of original ed. followed by initial letter of title and “c” to indicate 3rd ed. |
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
EL466 | Eliot’s author number |
922Wca | [Proof copy of 1923 edition] Year of publication of original ed. followed by initial letter of title and “ca” to indicate proof copy of 3rd ed. |
If a work is to be classed with a person who is not the main entry for the bibliographic record, and the work does not fall into any of the categories below, class the work as instructed by Beinecke. Follow the date in the third line with the first letter of the item’s title.
Example:
Cavalcanti, Guido, d. 1300. [Poems. English & Italian. Selections]. Thirty-three sonnets of Guido Cavalcanti / translated by Ezra Pound … 1991. [Beinecke Library In-Process slip (BLIPS) instructs to class with Pound]
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P865 | Pound’s author number |
991T | Year of publication followed by initial letter of item’s title, not of main entry nor of uniform title |
Pseudonymous works.
Class all works by an author who writes under multiple names in one location. Use the existing author cutter if the author has been classed previously in YCAL.
If the author is new to YCAL, choose a preferred name, if one exists, following instructions as given in RDA 9.2.2.6.
If there is not an established name, use the name as it appears on the item. Class all new material by this author at this location.
Example:
Twain, Mark. The adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1876.
Za | Writes predominantly before 1950 |
C591 | Mark Twain’s author number. Class under Samuel Clemens since other material is already classed there. |
Anonymous works
If a work is by an anonymous author create a Cutter number using the first word of the title.
Example:
Spirit of young America, 1864
Za | Originally published before 1950 |
Sp48 | Cutter using first word of title |
864S | Date of publication followed by first letter of title |
Correspondence
Class here both selections and collections of an author’s correspondence that are edited by either the author or another person.
Example:
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864. Letters of Hawthorne to William D. Ticknor, 1851-1864, 1910.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
H318 | Hawthorne’s author number |
910L | Year of publication of first ed. followed by initial letter of title |
Collected works, translations of an author, and works associated with an author
Use the following table for collected works, translations, and works associated with an author. These and other categories are denoted by the initial letters listed below which are used at the beginning of the third line of the call number, followed by a three-digit date and the initial letter of the main entry except where indicated otherwise. Use the system delineated above of a final “a” for proof copy, “b” for second edition, &c. Beginning in 2000, for books first published after 1999, use all four digits of the date for the third line.
A - Works of spurious or doubtful attribution
No letter follows the year of publication.
Example:
Only a boy, 1920. – Attributed to Eugene Field.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
F454 | Field’s author number |
A920 | Year of publication preceded by “A” to indicate doubtful attribution |
B - Complete works
Follow the year of publication with initial letter of title.
Example:
Chopin, Kate. The complete works of Kate Chopin. Edited and with an introd. by Per Seyerstad, 1970.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
C456 | Chopin’s author number |
B970C | Year of publication preceded by “B” to indicate complete works and followed by initial letter of title |
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C - Collections of an author’s works
Use when a collection contains two or more items. Follow the year of publication with initial letter of title. Use for collections of previously published works compiled by someone other than the author. Class collections of an author’s correspondence with individual works by the author.
Example:
Davis, Richard Harding. From “Gallegher” to “The deserter”. The best stories of Richard Harding Davis. Selected with an introd. by Roger Burlingame, 1927.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
D296 | Davis’ author number |
C927F | Year of publication preceded by “C” to indicate collection and followed by initial letter of title |
D - Extracts
Use for extracts from several works rather than compilations. Extracts from a single work class with other editions of that work. Follow the year of publication with initial letter of title.
Example:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. F. Scott Fitzgerald on writing. Edited by Larry W. Phillips, 1985.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
F576 | Fitzgerald’s author number |
D985F | Year of publication preceded by “D” to indicate extracts and followed by initial letter of title |
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E - Translations
Use in combination with the letter from the table below. [e.g. Eh = French, En = German, etc.] The letter combination is followed by date of first edition of the specific translation, and the initial letter for the translator when known, or the initial letter of the title proper if the translator is unknown. Class translations here even if they are translations of collections or extracts. Class here translations of an author’s work. Class works translated by the author with the individual works of the author. Adjust translator or title cutter in case of conflict.
Example:
Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972. [Selections. German & English] Dichtung und Prosa / Ezra Pound ; translated by Eva Hesse, 1956. – 2nd ed.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P865 | Pound’s author number |
En953Hb | Year of publication preceded by “En” to indicate translation into German and followed by initial letter of translator and “b” for 2nd ed. |
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F - Dramatizations
Example:
Wilde, Percival. Blood of the martyrs: a play in one act … based on a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet, c1937.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
B436 | Benet’s author number |
F937W | Year of publication preceded by “F” to indicate dramatization and followed by initial letter of main entry |
G - Scores/music
Use for scores and collections of music/lyrics by one author.
Exception: class sheet music by individual author under Za5.
Class collections of music/lyrics by more than one author under Za6.
Example:
Hughes, Robert. Amo ergo sum … based on The cantos of Ezra Pound, 1975.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P865 | Pound’s author number |
+G975H | Year of publication preceded by “G” to indicate score and followed by initial letter of main entry |
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H - Adaptations, parodies, etc.
Example:
Whitelock, William Wallace. The literary guillotine, 1903. (Includes satire of Mark Twain.)
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
C591 | Twain’s author number |
H903W | Year of publication preceded by “H” to indicate parody and followed by initial letter of main entry |
J - Illustrations
K - Concordances, dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes, etc.
Example:
Reaver, J. Russell. An O’Neill concordance, 1969.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
On2 | O’Neill’s author number |
+K969R | Year of publication preceded by “K” to indicate concordance and followed by initial letter of main entry |
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L - Periodicals
Not used for new titles; use only for issues added to existing titles.
Use Za Z for new serial titles.
Example:
Poe newsletter. v. 1-3, Apr. 1968-1970.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P752 | Poe’s author number |
+Lp7 | “L” for periodical, “p” from title, “7” a rough cutter for “o”, 2nd letter of title |
M - Miscellaneous material
Example:
Promotional material for “The bridge of San Luis Rey,” the 2004 film of the Thornton Wilder novel.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
W6453 | Wilder’s author number |
M2005P | Year of publication preceded by “M” to indicate miscellaneous material and followed by initial letter of main entry |
N - Tributes, memorials, festivals, exhibitions
Example:
At the graveside of Walt Whitman, 1892.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
W596 | Whitman’s author number |
+N892A | Year of publication preceded by “N” to indicate tribute and followed by initial letter of main entry |
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Q - Bibliography, dealer’s catalogs.
Example:
Huff, Mary Nance. Robert Penn Warren, a bibliography, 1968
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
W255 | Warren’s author number |
Q968H | Year of publication preceded by “Q” to indicate bibliography and followed by initial letter of main entry |
R - Sources, prototypes
Example:
Adams, John. John Adams speaking: Pound’s sources for the Adams cantos, [1975?].
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P865 | Pound’s author number |
R975A | Year of publication preceded by “R” to indicate source and followed by initial letter of main entry |
S - Criticisms, commentaries (General)
Example:
Bohner, Charles H. Robert Penn Warren, rev. ed., c1981.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
W255 | Warren’s author number |
S964Bb | Year of publication preceded by “S” to indicate general criticism and followed by initial letter of main entry and “b” to indicate revised ed. |
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Sz - Books containing critical contributions about the author
Obsolete as of November 1998. Reclass to “S” when found.
T - Criticism of a specific work
Use with the initial letter of the work criticized.
Example:
Rosenbach, A.S.W. An introduction to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, 1924.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
M497 | Melville’s author number |
Tm924R | Year of publication preceded by “Tm” to indicate criticism of specfic work and initial letter of specific work and followed by initial letter of main entry |
W - Biography
Biographical works about the author.
Autobiography, memoirs, and similar works by the author class as individual works by the author
Example:
Hotchner, A.E. Papa Hemingway, 1966.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
H373 | Hemingway’s author number |
W966H | Year of publication preceded by “W” to indicate biography and followed by initial letter of main entry |
Y - Works by or about relatives and friends
Example:
Stieglitz, Julius. Chemistry and recent progress in medicine, 1926. (Brother of Alfred Stieglitz).
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
St499 | Alfred Stieglitz’s author number |
Y926S | Year of publication preceded by “Y” to indicate work by a relative and followed by first letter of main entry |
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Z - Homes, towns and times (background)
Example:
Wall, Bernhardt. In Mark Twain’s Missouri, 1931.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
C591 | Twain’s author number |
Z931W | Year of publication preceded by “Z” to indicate work about author’s home and followed by first letter of main entry |
Za - Poetry, drama, and fiction
Example:
Visetti, Umberto. Un sogn di una notte d’inverno, [c1925]. (Drama about Edgar Allan Poe).
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
P751 | Poe’s author number |
+Za925V | Year of publication preceded by “Za” to indicate drama about author and followed by first letter of main entry |
Zc - Special interests and activities
Example:
James, George Wharton. Mark Twain: an appreciation of his pioneer writings on fasting and health, 1919.
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
C591 | Twain’s author number |
+Zc919J | Year of publication preceded by “Zc” to indicate work about author’s special interests and followed by first letter of main entry |
Zz - Association books
Use for books with dedications to the author, and books from the author’s library. The three-digit date of the work in hand is followed by the initial letter of the main entry. Add one or more letters from the main entry to resolve conflicts. No attempt is made to collocate.
Note: The author of the work takes precedence over provenance when classing unless instructed otherwise.
Note: It is legitimate to create a Cutter number for an individual who is not an author to accommodate books from that person’s library.
Examples
Rimius, Henry. The history of the Moravians, 1754. (Owned by H.D.)
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
D721 | H.D.’s author number |
Zz754R | Year of publication preceded by “Zz” to indicate book from author’s library and followed by first letter of main entry |
Bunyan, John. The pilgrims progress … Philadelphia, 1897.
(From the library of Josephine Herbst; Za H418 Zz897B is already used.)
Za | Wrote predominantly before 1950 |
H418 | Josephine Herbst’s author number |
Zz897Bu | Year of publication preceded by “Zz” to indicate book from author’s library and followed by first two letters of main entry |
Gallagher, Patrick. America’s aims and Asia’s aspirations, 1920. (Owned by Louise Crane, not an author)
Za | |
C8497 | Louise Crane’s Cutter number |
Zz920G | Year of publication preceded by “Zz” to indicate book from individual’s library and followed by first letter of main entry |
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Serials
Classification for serials is based loosely on the Cutter tables. The number is adjusted so that the title is placed within correct alphabetic sequence. The first line of the call number is Za. The second line of the call number begins with Z followed by a cutter for the main entry.
It is very important when classing YCAL serials to place the title in correct alphabetic order. Since there are many titles being added, and in many cases the number has to expand to 3 or more digits, an Excel spreadsheet, located on the “J” drive, is kept up to date with titles and with numbers assigned. Although the current system does recognize and file the “+” character, do not consider the addition of the plus sign alone as a way to differentiate.
Examples:
Blind alleys. Baltimore, 1982-
Za | First line for all serials |
Zb555 | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry. |
Blind horse review. Lincoln, Neb., 1992-
Za | First line for all serials |
Zb5554 | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry.. |
Blind man. New York, 1917-
Za | First line for all serials |
Zb556 | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry.. |
In general, when a serial changes title, the classification will remain the same.
Example:
Boy’s and girl’s magazine. Boston, 1848-1850
Za | First line for all serials |
Zf77 | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry. |
Forrester’s boy’s and girl’s magazine. Boston, 1851-1857 (Continues Boy’s and girl’s magazine).
Za | First line for all serials |
Zf77 | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry. |
Return to top | Return to Classification
Indexes
An index for a serial that is published as part of the serial will be added to the bibliographic record for the serial and will be marked “Index” at the end of the call number. An index to a serial that is published by an outside entity will be classed with the serial as above with an A following the number for the serial.
Example:
Bibelot. General index: volumes I-XX inclusive 1895-1914. Portland, 1915.
Za | First line for all serials |
Zb4A | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry and “A” to indicate index published by an outside entity |
Miscellaneous material
Miscellaneous material, including prospectuses, promotions, letters, subscription notices, etc. is usually removed and put into vertical files in Beinecke. When miscellaneous material is kept with the serial, it will be classed with the serial as above with a C following the number for the serial. If an item is to be individually cataloged, the third line will a 4 digit date followed by letter for the main entry (of the individually cataloged item).
Example:
[Miscellaneous material by and about Colophon]
Za | First line for all serials |
Zc7C | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry and “C” to indicate miscellaneous material |
Critical works about a serial
Works of criticism about specific serials are classed as above with an X following the number for the serial and the addition of a third line giving a cutter number for the main entry of the critical work.
Example:
Greenbaum, Leonard Aaron. The Hound & horn: episodes in American literary history, 1927-1934.
Za | First line for all serials |
Zh8X | Letter “Z” to indicate serial followed by a cutter for the main entry and “X” to indicate criticism |
G829 | Cutter number for main entry of the critcal work |
A monographic collection of excerpts from one or more serials classes in Za1 as an anthology and not with the serial unless the contents are written by one author, in which case it classes with the author.
Return to top | Return to Classification | Return to Serials
Other Types of Materials
Za1 | Anthologies |
Za2 | Critical and biographical works on more than one American author, artist, etc. |
Za4 | Exhibition catalogs (General) |
Za5 | Sheet music of poems by American authors |
Za6 | Monographic collections of songs |
Za7 | Corporate entities, including private presses, publishers, theater companies etc. |
Za8 | Audio-visual materials |
Za9 | Binders and binding designers |
Za1 - Anthologies
The second line is a three-digit date. Beginning in 2000, for books first published after 1999, use all four digits of the date for the second line. The third line is a Cutter number for the first word of the title.
Note: If another edition is already established in the old scheme, use the old scheme and add a letter at the end for the appropriate edition.
Examples:
Modern American Poetry [edited] by Louis Untermeyer. – Rev. and enl. ed., 1921. (Old form if title already exists)
Za1 | Anthology |
921Ub | Year of publication followed by first letter of main entry (old form) and “b” for rev. and enl. ed. |
Book of recent American poetry, 1998.
Za1 | Anthology |
998 | Year of publication |
B644 | Cutter for first word of title |
Za Za1 C1 - Broadsides (American literary): OBSOLETE. Class as year/number and use bein,ycal for location.
Return to top | Return to Classification | Other Types of Materials
Za2 - Miscellaneous, critical, and biographical works on more than one American authors, artists, etc.
Class here works, which do not easily class with a single author or elsewhere in YCAL. Types of material include critical, biographical, political, historical, and narrative works. This is also the classification of last resort for works that cannot class elsewhere in YCAL.
The second line is a Cutter number for the main entry. The third line is a three-digit date followed by the first letter of the title. If the title is the main entry, then the third line is just the three-digit date. For books first published after 1999, use all four digits of the date for the third line.
Example:
Perkins, David, 1928- . A history of modern poetry, 1976.
Za2 | Critical work on American authors |
P419 | Cutter for main entry |
976H | Year of publication followed by first letter of title |
Za4 - Exhibition Catalogs (General)
The second line is a Cutter number for the main entry. The third line is a three-digit date followed by the first letter of the title. Beginning in 2000, for books first published after 1999, use all four digits of the date for the third line.
Note: Exhibition catalogs about an individual author class with the author.
Example:
Brown, Milton Wolf. The modern spirit: American painting, 1908-1935; 1977.
Za4 | Exhibition catalogs |
B814 | Cutter for main entry |
+977M | Year of publication followed by first letter of title |
Za5 - Sheet music of poems by American authors
The second line is a Cutter number for the author. The third line is a four-digit date followed by the first letter of the title.
Za5 | Sheet music of poems by American authors |
B435 | Cutter for author |
+947S | Year of publication followed by first letter of title |
Za6 - Monographic collections of songs
Collections of music/lyrics that do not class with an individual author.
The second line is a four-digit date followed by the first letter of the title.
Example:
Za6 | Monographic collections of songs |
1903S | Year of publication followed by first letter of title |
Za7 - Corporate entities, including private presses, publishers, theater companies etc.
Use for material the curator wants collected and/or classed together.
The second line is a Cutter for the corporate entity. The third line is a four digit date with the first letter of the title at end.
Za8 - Audio-visual materials
Do not class phonograph records in Za8; instead, follow the instructions on the Phonograph Records page.
The second line consists of one of the following initial letters followed by a four-digit date and the first letter of the title.
For serials, the second line of the call number consists of one of the following letters followed by a cutter for the main entry.
A | Audio tapes |
C | Compact disks |
D | Digital video disks |
F | Films |
P | Phonograph recordings |
V | Video tapes |
Za9 - Binding designers and binders
Use for books which the curator wants collected and/or classed together because of the binder or binding designer.
The second line is a Cutter for name of the binder or binding designer. The third line is a four digit date and the first letter of the title.
Example:
Page, Thomas Nelson. The old gentleman of the black stock, 1900. (Binding designed by Margaret Armstrong)
Za9 | Binding designers and binders |
Ar58 | Cutter for Armstrong as designer of binding |
1900P | Year of publication followed by first letter of title (Using “P” instead of “O”) |
Return to top | Return to Classification | Other Types of Materials
Exceptions to the above classification scheme
Ellery Queen Collection
Za Q31. Because of the magnitude of this collection (i.e. many editions of the same title) a separate classification scheme has been developed. The first two lines are Za Q31; the rest of the classification follows LC practice with a cutter number for the title and a four digit date for the date of pubication. Foreign translations are classed with the title by adding the appropriate letter for the language to the title cutter then adding a four digit date
Example:
Queen, Ellery. [Glass village. Spanish]. La aldea de cristal, 1956.
YCAL | |
Q31 | Ellery Queen collection |
G53K | Cutter for original title with “K” to indicate translation into Spanish |
1956 | Year of publication |
Poe Library
This is material which Edgar Allen Poe reviewed for various periodicals, not material from his library. They are arranged by periodical in the order of their appearance and are classed to shelve after the books about Poe. The third line consists of Zz followed by a letter assigned for the periodical (not a cutter) and a number signifying the order in which Poe reviewed the book. A complete list of letters and numbers of the reviews is supposedly in the curator’s office.
Example:
Ingraham, J. H. (Joseph Holt), 1809-1860. Lafitte, the pirate of the Gulf, 1836 [reviewed for the Southern literary messenger].
Za | YCAL pre-1950 author |
P752 | Poe’s author number |
ZzG89 | “G” is the letter assigned to the Southern literary messenger; it was the 89th book reviewed by Poe for the journal |
Isacc Watts’s Hymns and spiritual songs …
Isaac Watts’s Hymns and spiritual songs …, first printed in 1707, was revised several times in the following centuries, first by Joel Barlow in 1785 and then by Timothy Dwight in 1801. These revisions have been classed separately under Barlow as Za B249 785D– and Dwight as Za D96 801P–. Due to the complicated printing/publishing history of both revisions, including separate printings within a particular year, the following apply:
- the second letter of the third line (following the inital letter of the title) denotes the year of a particular printing/publication;
- the third letter of the third line denotes a particular printing/publication within that year.
(See the following documents for a more detailed listing of the printing/publication history of Barlow’s and Dwight’s revisions.)
Example (Barlow):
Doctor Watts’s imitation of the Psalms of David … Hartford : Printed for Hudson and Goodwin, and Nathaniel Patten …, [1786]
Za | YCAL pre-1950 author |
B249 | Barlow’s author number |
785Dba | Date of the first edition of Barlow’s revision (1785); inital letter of title (D); “b” for the additional year of publication (in this case, 1786 being the second year of this revision); and the third letter “a” being the first printing of that particular year |
Example (Dwight):
The Psalms of David … [New Haven, Conn.] : Printed for Hudson & Goodwin, from Sidney’s Press, 1803.
Za | YCAL pre-1950 author |
D96 | Dwight’s author number |
801Pcc | Date of the first edition of Dwight’s revision (1801); inital letter of title (P); “c” for the third subsequent year of publication; and the third letter “c” being the third printing of that particular year |
Return to Top | Return to Exceptions
Other Collections
- James Weldon Johnson Collection
- New Directions Collection
- Pollock Cat Collection
- Tanselle Collection of American Imprints
- William R. Scott Collection
Special Tracings
Make appropriate special tracings including tracings for ethnic literature.
Betts Collection
For material from the Betts Collection of poetry by Yale graduates, make a local note and tracing.
Example:
590 | ‡a BEIN [call no.]: Betts Collection of Yale Poetry. | ||
693 | 2 | 4 | ‡a Betts Collection of Yale Poetry. |
852 | 7 | 0 | ‡b beinycal ‡h Za [author no.] ‡i [book no.] ‡x Trans. and recl. from Betts [call number], [date of transfer]. |
Appendix
Past practice:
B - Complete works. Formerly, the initial letter of editor’s last name may have been used following the year of publication; when the editor was unknown, no letter was used.
C - Collections of an author’s works. Formerly, the initial letter of editor’s last name was used following the year of publication; when the editor was unknown, no letter wasused. Formerly this classification was used for collections of three or more works. If there were only two works within the publication, it was classed as an edition of the first work instead of as a collection.
D - Selections. Formerly, the initial letter of editor’s last name may have been used following the year of publication; when the editor was unknown, no letter was used.
G - Scores/music. Formerly, illustrations were classed here.
T - Formerly, criticism of the Cantos of Ezra Pound used only the letter T.
Other Types of Material.
Za Za1 C1 or ZZa Za1 C1 - Broadsides. Formerly used for broadsides. Now use the broadsides year/number scheme.
Za Za1 C2 - Unbound proof sheets. Now class with individual author.
ZZa Za1 C4 - Miscellaneous pictorial posters. Now use the broadsides year/number scheme.
ZZa Za1 C5 - Miscellaneous advertising posters. Now use the broadsides year/number scheme.
Za1 G1 - Sheet music. Now use Za5.
Za1 G2 - Monographic collections of songs. Now use Za6.
Special tracings - Former (pre 1980) practice was that if a large collection with repeated provenances was classed as a block in one place, a general provenance card was considered sufficient. Blanket scope cards were made in these situations and filed in the Beinecke Provenance card catalog.
For more information on former policy and practice, see the 1978 and 1996 versions in the Historical Manual.