Cataloging & Classification Quarterly
Volume 25, Number 2 / 3/ 4 1998
Introduction
Cataloging and classification are done by and for people.
As we look at the roughly twenty years which comprise Cataloging & Classification
Quarterly's publishing life, it seems appropriate that the people who have been
leaders in the field of bibliographic organization serve as windows to examine the changes
which have taken place. This special issue commemorating CCQ's 25th volume therefore
focuses on significant contributors to cataloging and classification during the last
decades of the twentieth century. Included are theorists, educators, editors,
authors, practitioners, and leaders of critical professional organizations. Their
specialties cover the major sub-areas of the field. Some were active in writing
descriptive cataloging codes; others, in designing machine-readable formats for
bibliographic information, in revising existing classification systems or creating new
ones. Some of the individuals are well known throughout the profession of
librarianship; others are best known within their specialties. A few worked in
comparative professional obscurity, and serve as examples of the many people in cataloging
and classification who make important but less widely acknowledged contributions.
The movement toward international exchange of bibliographic information during the period
is reflected in the inclusion of individuals from several nations, though mostly in the
Anglo-American cataloging community. We began the selection of individuals to be included
in this issue by tapping the collective wisdom of the faculty and practitioners who
comprise the CCQ editorial board; they responded to our inquiry with many suggestions of
individuals and potential authors. Next we identified recipients of major awards in
cataloging and classification during CCQ's publishing history and the authors of works in
major anthologies and conference proceedings of the period. While we did not adopt
an allocation model of so manyper specialty within the field, we did strive for broad
coverage of major areas. As the list took shape, Kathryn Luther Henderson of the
University of Illinois and Frances Miksa of the University of Texas kindly reviewed it and
made further observations. In requesting the participation of individuals in the project,
we offered several options. Some subjects chose to write about their careers
themselves. Others agreed to be interviewed by an author who assumed responsibility
for completing the article; a few responded by mail or fax. We included a list of
questions intended to stimulate their thinking, but urged them to use or discard them as
they wished. For any individual who was no longer living, we selected an author who
had known that individual. The essays in this issue thus vary widely in content
emphases, length, tone, and format. This partially biographical work has implications
beyond cataloging and classification. In featuring the people who have influenced
the profession and bibliographic control in the second half of the twentieth century, we
have amassed the raw data for a social history. What were the backgrounds of the
people who became leaders in the field or influenced students or colleagues whom they
educated in theory and practice? Is there a common theme in terms of ethnicity,
education, geographic origin, parental occupations or other aspects of these individual's
lives and backgrounds? What made them what they were or are? Historians often
look at commonalties or lack thereof in members of particular groups including
professions. We hope this collection provides a start on that complex subject for
those who have devoted careers to furthering bibliographic organization. Any volume of
this type is likely to be incomplete; and indeed, some outstanding candidates for
inclusion are unfortunately not present. In a few cases, we were unable to find
suitable authors, or the individuals themselves declined to participate. We included
only individuals who had retired or who are no longer living. The only partial
exception to our basic criterion for individuals to cover is the brief look at the editors
of Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, two of whom, are still active
professionals. We regret any omissions of worthy individuals, for whatever reason.
Working on this issue has been a pleasure and a delight. We sincerely thank the
distinguished individuals who participated for their cooperation.
-- Carolynne Myall
-- Ruth C. Carter
Comments to: Jeffrey Beall at 
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