655 Index term - genre/form

This field is for subject terms indicating the genre, form, and/or physical characteristics of the material being described.

"Genre" terms designate intellectual content or intent (e.g., biographies, catechisms, essays, hymns, reviews). "Form" terms designate materials distinguished by their function, physical character, or intellectual content or order within the material (e.g., diaries, diplomas, logbooks, hymnals, syllabi, telegrams). Physical characteristics are similar to form, but usually concerned more with the material as object as opposed to intellectual function (e.g. hectograph process, stereographs, cabinet photographs, vellum binding).

indicators:       1st       #       Basic

                                  0       Faceted (not used by Houghton)                               

                      2nd      0       LC subject heading

                                  7       Source specified in subfield $$2

subfields:        $$a - Genre/Form term 

                      $$x - General subdivision

                      $$y - Chronological subdivision

                      $$z - Geographic subdivision

                      $$2 - Source of term in $$a

punctuation:    This field contains no punctuation between subfields. End the last subfield before $$2 (if extant) with a full mark of punctuation.

Use genre/form added entries whenever possible. Subdivide terms by country and century when applicable. (Note: Historically subdividing was not regular practice until a sufficient number of genre/form types had been met. When a record that is not subdivided is encountered, it may be changed).

$$a Genre/Form term 

This subfield is for approved genre/form terms. This also gives the correct source for each term in one or another of the various thesauri. Houghton Manuscript Section practice is to search for terms in this order: (a) a term in the AAT ; or (b) a term in LCSH ; or (c) a term in another thesaurus. If a reasonable term cannot be found, consult with the Section regarding creating a local term of your own making; this would require $$2 ‘local’ in subfield $$2. Add this new term to the department list.

$$x General subdivision

This subfield is for terms not better placed in the chronological or geographical subdivision, such as the term “French” not “France”. Use chiefly to designate language or culture of material. It should be entered after the $$a. Do not use if also using a $$z.

$$y Chronological subdivision

This subfield is for a subject subdivision representing a period of time. It should be entered at the end of the subject subdivisions but before $$2.

$$z Geographic subdivision

This subfield is for a subject subdivision representing a geographic location. It should be entered after the $$a at the end of the subject subdivisions but before $$2. Do not use if also using a $$x.

$$2 Source of term

This subfield is used to site the source of the term used in $$a; required if other than LC Subject headings.  The following are typical codes used, in order of thesaurus preference: 

aat                  Art and Architecture Thesaurus (This is the preferred source.)

gmgpc             Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

rbbin                Binding terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging. (ALA)

rbgenr              Genre terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.  (ALA)

rbpap               Paper terms: a thesaurus for use in rare book and special collections cataloging.  (ALA)

examples:

655 _7 Cartoons  $$z United States $$y 20th century.   $$2 gmgpc

655 _7 Diaries $$z Belgium. $$2 aat

655 _7 Armorial bindings (Binding)  $$z France  $$y 18th century. $$2 rbbin

655 _7 Doublures (Binding) $$2 rbbin

655 _7 Costume design drawing. $$2 gmgpc

655 _7 Plays $$zUnited States $$y18th century. $$2 aat

655 _7 Poems $$z England $$y19th century. $$2 aat

Special note for early manuscripts:

Houghton designates all ancient, medieval and renaissance manuscripts with a 655 genre/form term. An “Ancient manuscript” is any manuscript, western or oriental, before 500 CE. A “Medieval manuscript” is any Western manuscript 500-1500 CE. A “Renaissance manuscript” is the same 1500-1600 CE. (Notice that for the purpose of this added entry, the Renaissance started in Italy in 1500! That is because these headings simply work as a chronological file.) Make added entries as follows:

examples:

655 _7 Manuscripts, Ancient. $$2 local

655 _0 Manuscripts, Medieval $$z Germany $$y 1400-1450.

655 _0 Manuscripts, Renaissance $$z Italy $$y 1500-1550.

Note that the chronological subdivision for medieval and renaissance manuscripts is always a half century. If the manuscript is dated, use the half century in which the date falls. If the possible dates of the manuscript span a boundary, e.g., 1440-1460 or circa 1400, then make two added entries, one for each of the half-century intervals in which it might fall.  The geographical name should be a modern country. For Flanders use “Belgium”.