Cutter Numbers: Establishing a Call Number

We use a Cutter Table to create call numbers for Small As and Bs.  A “Cutter number” is based on the name of the creator and allows for an alphabetical arrangement of collections.

We use the Cutter Sanborn Three-Figure Author Table (1969). A paper copy of this book can be found with the accessioning supplies on the third floor of the library.

Step by step guide for making a Cutter number:

Note: The Cutter Sanborn book has useful instructions in the introduction section that explain how to make a cutter number and what to do in unusual situations.  A few of these situations are addressed below, but you should look in this section if you still have questions.

1. Determine the creator of your collection. The creator is the main entry, or authorized access point, for the collection and is used in the MARC 100 field.
   
   
2. Take the first few letters of the last name and turn to the section of the table that corresponds to those letters.  Sometimes you will use more than the first three letters.
   
   
3. Use the bold face number shown next to the portion of the name.  The cutter number is composed of the first letter of the last name and the three or four numbers listed in the book. Use this pattern:
   
   Small As: A/[first letter of last name] [number]
   
   Small Bs: B/[first letter of organization] [number]
   
   
4. Look in the shelf list drawer to see if there are any other collections with the same number. If there are not, you are done.
   
   
5. If you find out that your creator already has a Small A collection, you can simply add a letter to the end of the number to distinguish the next collection. See Elizabeth Blackwell example below.
   
   
6. If your number is already assigned to a different name, you have a couple of options.  However, the most best option is to try to “fit” the number before or after the number that has already been claimed.
   
   Example 1: Bearce, Nellie Bradford, 1876-1972: A/B3675

The Cutter number for Bear is 638.  However, we are already using A/B368a-c for Mary Beard collections.  Because Bearce falls before Beard in the alphabet, we backed up the number and added a 5 to leave some room between Bearce and Beard.  The number assigned to Bearce is A/B3675

Example 2: Jones, Bertha Howland A/J768

The cutter number for Jon is 76.  We already had a collection for a Jones, Bessie Zaban (A/J765). Therefore, we added an 8 on to the number to leave some room between Bessie and Bertha.

Additionally, you can add a letter to the end of the number to distinguish your collection from another:

Example:: Henry Browne Blackwell: A/B632h

There are multiple collections for various members of the Blackwell family.  In this case, the archivist has added a letter to the number (h for Henry) to distinguish Henry’s collections: A/B632h.

Other special cases:

If your creator already has other small collections:

If your creator already has other small collections, you can add an additional letter to the end of the number:

Example: Elizabeth Blackwell

A/B632e1a

A/B632e1b

A/B632e1c

Your creator is Anonymous

If your creator is anonymous, look in the shelf list to find the last Anonymous card and assign the next concurrent number.

You are cataloging a collection and do not have a main entry (no MARC 100)

[TBD; use Ruchell Magee. The cutter will be off the title of the collection, and we should use the last name for Magee]

Radcliffe collections formerly designated RA/As

[TBD]