Sharing "Hidden Collections" Beyond Our Libraries' Walls

Elaine A. Franco Principal Cataloger

University of California, Davis eafranco@ucdavis.edu

What are “hidden collections”?

“Exposing Hidden Collections,” the 2003 conference organized by ARL’s Special Collections Task Force, heightened awareness of the extent of uncataloged and unprocessed special collections languishing in academic and research libraries and the need to provide access to these distinct, and sometimes unique, collections.

“Hidden collections”

Additional reports and proposals at the national and state level have urged libraries to set priorities, establish best practices, and streamline workflows in order to optimize discovery of their hidden collections.

In recent years, the University of California, Davis, General Library has significantly reduced its arrearage of special collections materials (including rare books, pamphlets, and ephemera) and increased patron usage.

University of California Davis

Cataloging for Special Collections is handled by the general cataloging department, by staff at all levels.With fewer new books being acquired (due to budgetary constraints) more time becomes available for working on Special Collections of various kinds, including early printed books.

Why do some items remain“hidden”?

And sometimes hidden for decades!Sometimes bibliographic description is delayed because an item is “unidentified” and seemingly “unidentifiable.” The longer it remains uncataloged, the more “mysterious” it tends to become. What is this?Why do we have it?How does it fit into our collection?

UC Davis “hidden collections”

Before being described, item must be identified.Challenges for cataloging at UCD have included:Language (Latin, Greek, archaic forms of vernacular) Title, author, publication date not obvious (not unusual for early printed books, especially before title pages became standard practice)Subject, authorial intent not clearSome truly unique items, such as manuscripts

Copy-specific and local challengesthat may be exacerbated over time

Mutilated copies, e.g., missing title pages Absence of “paperwork” (i.e., order forms, book dealer descriptions) and context of acquisition (e.g., part of a larger purchase or gift, purchased for a specific course or department, faculty member request) Recognizing the significance and relevance of the item for our library, and communicating that to our users through the bibliographic record.

UC Davis “hidden collections”

Books in Latin comprised more than half of the UC Davis pre-1801 cataloging backlog, as would be expected. While vernacular European languages gradually replaced Latin for literary and historical works, Latin continued for many years as the universal language of science, as the scientifically oriented UCD collection demonstrates.

A “general” cataloger with Special Collections interests

Latin language courseworkClassical languages catalogingRare Book School and rare book catalogingACRL RBMS preconferences and workshopsGuidance from RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee

Online Bibliographic Resources

For early works published in many editions and printings, with numerous variants identified and described, it is a challenge to identify where and how the item in hand fits into this “bibliographic universe.”

Many specialized bibliographies, catalogs, facsimile

images now online can be accessed and compared to the book being cataloged.

Online Bibliographic Resources

Not unlike searches of print catalogs (NUC, BMC, STC) and microfilm in the past – but quicker, better, more focused. Access to more catalogs outside the US and UK. (You must be able to physically access a printed catalog and may be restricted to those held by your own or nearby libraries.)

Improvement: Possibility for more complex searches – helpful when author or title is not obvious.

English Short Title Cataloguehttp://estc.ucr.edu/

“The English Short-Title Catalog (ESTC) is a vast database designed to include a bibliographic record, with holdings, of every surviving copy of letterpress produced in Great Britain or any of its dependencies, in any language, worldwide, from 1473-1800. In order to increase access to these items, we include references to microfilm, digital, and other facsimile versions. All of our records are fully searchable online. The ESTC is the joint effort of the British Library, the American Antiquarian Society, the ESTC/NA, and our many contributing libraries throughout the world.”

RBMS Bibliographic Standards Committee

http://lib.nmsu.edu/rarecat/#CSCDIRECTORY OF WEB RESOURCESFOR THE RARE MATERIALS CATALOGERVery useful for rare book cataloging: Latin place names, glossary of Latin terms found in imprints of early printed books, links to specialized catalogs.

Directory of Web Resources forthe Rare Materials Cataloger

Also useful for general cataloging:Roman numeral date conversionCalendar computations (especially determining a year when you know only day of week and month)German Fraktur alphabet

Some “real-life” examples …

OCLC #503629286Detached article

1001 Collier, Joseph.24510 Experiments and observations on fermentation and the distillation of ardent spirit / ǂc by Joseph Collier.260 [Manchester : ǂb George Nicholson for Cadell and Davies, ǂc 1798]300 p. 243-274, [1] leaf of plates : ǂb ill. ; ǂc 21 cm.500 Caption title.500 From Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, v. 5, pt. 1 (1798).500 "Read Feb. 10 & Nov. 17, 1797"--P. 243.

OCLC #503629286Detached article, continued

650 0 Distillation ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Fermentation ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Liquors ǂv Early works to 1800.7300 Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester.752 England ǂd Manchester.

OCLC #238803033Title page torn, imprint lacking

1001 Opstraet, Jan, ǂd 1651-1720.24010 Pastor bonus24510 Joan. Opstraet S.T.L. Pastor bonus, seu, Idea, officium, et praxis pastorum : ǂb jussu reverendissimi ac celsissimi domini domini Leopoldi Ernesti ...24630 Pastor bonus, seu, Idea, officium, et praxis pastorum24630 Idea, officium, et praxis pastorum250 Editio prima veneta.260 Vicentiae : ǂb Apud Antonium Veronese, ǂc 1769.300 xxxii, 655, [1] p. ; ǂc 16 cm. (12mo)

OCLC #238803033, continuedTitle page torn, imprint lacking

500 "... concediamo Licenza ad Antonio Veronese Stampator di Vicenza ... Dat. li 22 Luglio 1767"--P. [656].500 Signatures: a¹² A-2E¹² (-2E12).504 Includes bibliographical references.500 UCD copy imperfect: Lacks lower right portion of title page. Imprint and edition statement supplied from ICCU and LIBIS online catalogs. ǂ5 CU-A650 0 Pastoral theology ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Pastoral theology ǂx Catholic Church ǂv Early works to 1800.752 Italy ǂd Vicenza.

Title Page Missing?

A few books have been identified through a search of the ESTC, using information from the colophon and a running title or other clues.Several candidates for matching could be identified, and then the field narrowed further by comparing facsimiles of the text. Possible because of the detailed level of ESTC cataloging, provisions for complex searching, and the ready accessibility of facsimile images.

Serendipitous Searches

Finding clues through “unpredictable” searchesUseful information may come from:Local history sites (details about historical events, place names, famous people)Tourism sites (same as above, plus information aiding identification of places that are not jurisdictions, such as botanical gardens, defunct monasteries)

Serendipitous Searches, continued

Sites related to collectors and collecting (of various and sundry objects)Glossaries, especially of abbreviations, technical terms, not found in general dictionaries. Usually, the more obscure the term, the “cleaner” the search and hits.

Abbreviations

Abbreviations appearing “at head of title” – such as Q.D.B.V. (Quod Deus bene vertat, “May God grant success”) or Q.F.F.S. (Quod felix faustumque sit, “May this be fortunate and favorable”) – can be identified as not belonging to the title transcription.(The latter search also retrieves: QFFS – Queensland Frozen Food Services)

OCLC #608102166Ancient Order of Froth Blowers

100 1 Temple, Bert, ǂd 1879-1931.245 10 Do you gollop your beer with zest? : ǂb if so! you are unanimously elected a member of Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers ... / ǂc this book and contents are written and copyrighted by Bert Temple.246 3 Ancient Order of Froth Blowers260 [London : ǂb Ancient Order of Froth Blowers, ǂc 1927?]300 61, [3] p. : ǂb ill., music ; ǂc 16 cm.500 The order was devoted to beer appreciation and its funds to Sir Alfred Fripp's children's charities.500 Financial accounts (p. [12]-[15]) dated: 5th April, 1927.

OCLC #608102166 Froth Blowers, continued

610 20 Ancient Order of Froth Blowers.650 0 Beer ǂz Great Britain ǂv Humor.650 0 Drinking of alcoholic beverages ǂz Great Britain ǂv Humor.700 1 Fripp, Alfred Downing, ǂc Sir, ǂd 1865-1930.710 2 Ancient Order of Froth Blowers.

Ancient Order of Froth Blowers Name authority record

010 no2010069641

040 CU-A ǂb eng ǂc CU-A

1102 Ancient Order of Froth Blowers

4102 A.O.F.B.

4102 AOFB

670 Do you gollop your beer with zest?, 1927?: ǂb t.p. (Ye Ancient Order of Froth Blowers; A.O.F.B.) p. 21, etc. (The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers)

670 Friends of the Froth Blowers web site, viewed April 20, 2010 ǂb (Organization founded by Bert Temple (London, 1924) to celebrate beer drinking and to raise funds for children's charities; became a limited company in 1927; liquidated 8 December, 1931)

670 OCLC, April 20, 2010 ǂb (hdgs.: Ancient Order of Froth Blowers; usage: Ancient Order of Froth Blowers)

               

 

Two pairs of Ancient Order of Froth-Blower cufflinks.

From email message regarding catalogue of French gardens

After searching Google and UCD print resources, I think that I have correctly identified the 3-volume French ms. dated 1825-1829. Title: Catalogue range suivant le systeme de Linne. Call number: SB466.F82 N485 1825It is a listing of the plants and trees in the gardens belonging to le duc d'Orleans (later King Louis Philippe) compiled by Jacques, "jardinier en chef de S.A.Rl." (head gardener of H.R.H.).

From email message regarding catalogue of French gardens …

The gardens are identified as Neuilly, le Raincy, and Monceaux. Louis Philippe had a summer residence in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, a suburb of Paris. There was also a family residence at Le Raincy, another Paris suburb. Monceaux (although it looks more like "Mouceaux“ in Jacques's handwriting) was an elaborate garden begun by L.P.'s father. It was confiscated during the FrenchRevolution (the father was executed) and later belonged to Napoleon and others. It became the public Parc Monceau (Paris) in 1860. The final x is a variant spelling.

OCLC #68569908French gardens

100 0 Jacques, ǂc jardinier en chef de S.A.Rl., ǂd fl. 1825-1829.

24510 Catalogue range suivant le systeme de Linne : ǂb des plantes, arbres et arbustes, croissant naturellement ou etant cultives en plein air, orangeries ou serres chaudes dans les jardins de Neuilly, le Raincy et de Monceaux appartenant a S.A.Rl. Monseigneur le duc d'Orleans / ǂc par Jacques jardinier en chef de S.A.Rl.

2461 ǂi Half title and spine title: ǂa Catalogue de Neuilly260. ǂc 1825-1829.

OCLC #68569908 continued French gardens

3 v. (xvii, 691 p., [14] leaves of plates; [4], 667 p., 57, [1] leaves of plates; 238 p., x leaves of plates), bound : ǂb ill. ; ǂc 24 cm

500. Holograph, signed.500 Each volume has separate, dated t.p.501. Dedication to le duc d'Orleans (later King Louis Philippe)

signed: le tres humble, tres obeissant et respectueux serviteur Jacques.

500 Includes indexes.

OCLC #68569908 continued French gardens

650 0 Gardens ǂz France ǂz Neuilly-sur-Seine.650 0 Gardens ǂz France ǂz Le Raincy.651 0 Parc Monceau (Paris, France)650 0 Gardens ǂz France ǂz Paris.650 0 Botany ǂz France.

600 00 Louis Philippe, ǂc King of the French, ǂd 1773-1850 ǂx Homes and haunts ǂz France.

Parc MonceauAuthority record: geographic heading

010 sh 87005236

040 DLC ǂb eng ǂc DLC ǂd DLC

034 ǂd E0021831 ǂe E0021831 ǂf N0485244 ǂg N0485244 ǂ2 geonames

151 Parc Monceau (Paris, France)

451 Jardin de Monceau (Paris, France)

451 Monceau, Parc (Paris, France)

550 Gardens ǂz France ǂw g

550 Parks ǂz France ǂw g

667 This heading is not valid for use as a geographic subdivision.

670 Work cat.: Grandes et petites heures du parc Monceau, 1981 ǂb (Jardin de Monceau)

670 LC data base, 8/12/87 ǂb (parc Monceau)

670 Gothein gard. art.: ǂb p. II-296 (Parc Monceau, Paris)

670 The Oxford companion to gardens: ǂb p. 420 (Parc Monceau, Paris; gardens, park)

670 GeoNames [algorithmically matched] ǂb park; 48°52ʹ44 N 002°18ʹ31 Eʺ ʺ

OCLC #68569908 continued French gardens: Place names?

● Neuilly-Saint-Front (France)● Neuilly-le-Real (France)● Neuilly-les-Dijon (France)● Neuilly-Plaisance (France)● Neuilly-sur-Seine (France)● Neuilly-sur-Marne (France)

Place names: England

● Sherborne (Dorset, England)● Sherborne (Gloucestershire, England)● Sherborne St John (England)● Sherburn (Durham, England)● Sherburn in Elmet (England)● Sherburn (North Yorkshire, England)(not the same as Sherburn in Elmet (England)

Place names: EnglandThe wrong Sherborne

On Mon, May 21, 2012 1:57:04 PM, eafranco@ucdavis.edu wrote:The second 651 field in ESTC R200342 refers to the wrong Sherborne.The military victory described did not take place in Dorset, England.Title page has "Sherborne in the North" and page 6 has "Sherborne in Yorkshire".I have updated the heading in OCLC WorldCat # 81775298 to:Sherburn in Elmet (England) |x History, Military.

Place names: England continued

From the Sherburn in Elmet Parish Council webpage:"The name Sherburn has been written in various ways throughout the ages. ...

During the English Civil War (1642 - 1646) Sherburn was the scene of a minor yet important battle on 15th October 1645.

The commander of the Royalist troops north of the Trent, Lord Digby, stopped at Sherburn to refresh his troops whilst marching to York. They were attacked by a parliamentary force and a skirmish ensued. This was an embarrassing rout during which 150 Royalist horse were killed and a baggage train containing official documents was seized."

OCLC #61662441John Bradshaw signature

1101 England and Wales. ǂb Council of State.

24510 Whereas the merchants and good people of this Common-wealth trading towards the coasts of Spain, and the Streights, have of late suffered great losses by the depredations of French pirates ... and other enemies to this Republick ... : ǂb this Council ... have thought fit to appoint a squadron of ships, belonging to the fleet, constantly to give convoie and protection to all merchant's ships belonging to this Common-wealth to the southward, the coasts of Spain, or within the Streight of Gibralter ... : given at the Council of State at Whitehal this 21 of December, 1650.

260 [London : ǂb s.n., ǂc 1650]

300 1 sheet ([1] p.) ; ǂc 28 cm.

500 Title from opening lines of text.

OCLC #61662441John Bradshaw’s signature

I have prepared an original bibliographic record fora 1650 British Council of State document that I havedescribed as signed in manuscript by John Bradshaw(e) (Lord President of the High Court of Justice which tried and sentenced King Charles I to death).

The signature matches what I could find in books and on the Internet. The ink shows up as brown, with "bleed through" to the verso of the sheet.(from my email message to Special Collections )

OCLC #61662441 continuedJohn Bradshaw signature

500 Signed in ms. at end: Signed in ye name & by order of the Counsell of State appointed by authority of Parlam: Jo: Bradshawe ... ǂ5 CU-A650 0 Merchant ships ǂz Great Britain ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Hijacking of ships ǂz Great Britain ǂv Early works to 1800.651 0 Great Britain ǂx History ǂy Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 ǂv Early works to 1800.7001 Bradshaw, John, ǂd 1602-1659.752 England ǂd London

John BradshawName authority record

010 n 84177210 040 InU ǂb eng ǂc DLC ǂd DLC ǂd Uk1001 Bradshaw, John, ǂd 1602-16594001 Bradshawe, John, ǂd 1602-1659670 His The last will and testament of John Bradshaw ... 1659.670 DNB ǂb (Bradshaw, John, 1602-1659)670 InU/Wing STC files ǂb (usage: John Bradshawe)670 Bradshawe's ghost, c2001: ǂb author's note (born 10 Dec. 1602 at Marple in Cheshire; Lord President of the High Court of Justice which tried and sentenced King Charles I to death; died 1659; although some family members and many contemporaries used the more modern spelling "Bradshaw", he and his wife consistently wrote it with an "e")

John Bradshaw Marple England local history site

“John Bradshawe … Marple’s most famous son.”“Tradition has it that the warrant for the King's execution was signed in Bradshawe's house at Walton-on-Thames - his own signature, of course, appearing first on that well known document.”Webpage includes facsimile of Bradshaw’s signature: Jo: Bradshawe.

OCLC #423072834Collection of French laws

110 1 France.245 10 Recueil des aydes et droits y joints, 1711-1715.246. 3 Recueil des aides et droits y joints, 1711-1715260. A Paris : ǂb Chez la veuve Francois Muguet &

Hubert Muguet, premier imprimeur du roy & de son parlement ..., ǂc 1711[-1770].

300. 1 v. (various pagings) ; ǂc 25 cm (4to)500 Binder’s spine title.500 Imprint from colophon of first document. Publishers vary.

OCLC #423072834 French laws, continued

500. A collection of 145 edits, ordonnances, declarations, arrets, reglements, etc. issued by King Louis XIV, the Conseil d'Etat, and the Cour des aides from 1711-1715 concerning taxation and regulation, especially in regard to wine and other alcoholic beverages.

500 Arranged chronologically from February 1711 through December 1715. Each document has separate paging and many have separate title pages.

Tax farming

Farm: A letting out of revenues or taxes for a fixed sum to one authorized to collect and retain them. Farm out: To turn over for performance (as a job), usually on contract. The French monarchy “farmed out” tax collection.The “farmers general” were tax collectors, not people engaged in agriculture.

110 1 France. ǂb Ferme generale

From NAF 670 fields: (tax collecting agency of the French monarchy, created in 1681 and abolished during the Revolution)

(Ferme generale; private company that leased the right to levy taxes for six-year periods; consisted of 40 "fermiers generaux"; abolished by vote of the Assemblee constituante, Mar. 20, 1791)

OCLC #423072834 French laws, continued

650 0 Wine industry ǂx Taxation ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Liquor industry ǂx Taxation ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Alcoholic beverages ǂx Taxation ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Food law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Wine and wine making ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Weights and measures ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.650 0 Tariff on wine ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.

OCLC #423072834 French laws, continued

650 0 Salt industry and trade ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.

610 10 France. ǂb Ferme generale ǂv Early works to 1800.

650. 0 Taxation ǂx Law and legislation ǂz France ǂv Early works to 1800.

710 1 France. ǂb Sovereign (1643-1715 : Louis XIV)710 1 France. ǂb Conseil d'Etat.710 1 France. ǂb Cour des aides (Paris)

OCLC #54537160German health spa

1001 Probst, A.24514 Der volle Busen des Madchens und der Frau : ǂb eine Anleitung, wie durch den einfachen ausserlichen und innerlichen Gebrauch des kalten Wassers der weibliche Busen auch bei der magersten Constitution zu uppiger Schonheit, Fulle und Festigkeit entwickelt und als solcher bis in's vorgeruckte Alter erhalten werden kann : nebst dem Selbstgestandnisse einer jungen Dame und einem physiologischen Examen des Verfahrens : zum Troste vieler Schonen / ǂc herausgegeben von A. Probst.260 Stuttgart : ǂb J. Scheible, ǂc 1854.

OCLC #54537160, continuedGerman health spa

300 112 p. ; ǂc 13 cm.500 Advertisements: p. 99-112.650 0 Hydrotherapy.650 0 Breast.650 0 Women ǂx Health and hygiene.653 Hygiene (Female)

OCLC #535220541Cracker Jack prize

245 00 [Susan B. Anthony Cracker Jack prize].246 16 Can you guess who I grew up to be?246 3 Who am I?246 3 Surprise inside : ǂb guess what's inside260 [Dallas, Tex. : ǂb Frito-Lay, ǂc 2007?]300 [6] p. : ǂb col. ports. ; ǂc 55 mm.500 Title supplied by cataloger.

OCLC #535220541 continuedCracker Jack prize

500 Includes portrait of Susan B. Anthony as a child that, when folded along perforations, reveals image of Anthony as an adult.600 10 Anthony, Susan B. ǂq (Susan Brownell), ǂd 1820-1906.650 0 Cracker Jack (Trademark)710 2 Frito-Lay, Inc.

The End Result

Through cataloging efforts developed at the local level, original bibliographic records for Special Collections have been added to OCLC WorldCat, UC’s Melvyl, and the ESTC (English Short Title Catalog). These online databases extend the reach of cataloging activities to researchers located worldwide. Catalogers' virtual travel beyond the library's walls can help make hidden collections accessible beyond the library's physical boundaries.

For Further Reference

http://carl-acrl.org/Archives/ConferencesArchive/Conference10/2010proceedings/ElaineFranco.pdf

Beyond Training … http://connect.ala.org/node/157839