Cutter Expansive Classification: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:29, 9 February 2011

Latest revision as of 20:05, 5 August 2025

(97 intermediate revisions by 55 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Library classification system}}

{{No footnotes|date=August 2009}}

The '''Cutter Expansive Classification''' system is a [[library classification]] system devised by [[Charles Ammi Cutter]]. It uses all letters to designate the top categories of books. This is in contrast to the [[Dewey Decimal Classification]], which uses only numbers, and the [[Library of Congress classification]], which uses a mixture of letters and numbers. The system was the basis for the top categories of the Library of Congress classification.

The '''Cutter Expansive Classification''' system is a [[library classification]] system devised by [[Charles Ammi Cutter]]. The system was the basis for the top categories of the [[Library of Congress Classification]].{{r

"No one, perhaps, can remember it all; it cannot be learned, even in part, very quickly; but those who use the library much will find that they become familiar in time unconsciously with all that they have much occasion to use."

|n=LaMontagne-1961

from ''How to Get Books'' by C. A. Cutter, 1882

|r={{cite book

|last=LaMontagne |first=Leo E

|title=American Library Classification: With Special Reference to the Library of Congress

|publication-place=Hamden, CT |publisher=Shoe String Press |date=1961

}}

|p=226

}}

== History of the Cutter classification==

[[Charles Ammi Cutter]] (1837–19031837–1903), inspired by the decimal classification of his contemporary [[Melvil Dewey]], originallyand with Dewey's initial encouragement, developed his own classification scheme for the collections[[Winchester, ofMassachusetts]] town library and then the [[Boston AthenaeumAthenæum]],{{r|n=LaMontagne-1961|p=208}} at which he served as librarian for two dozentwenty-four years. He began work on it aboutaround 1880the andyear published1880, thepublishing firstan schedulesoverview inof the earlynew 1890ssystem in 1882. HisThe five-volumesame catalogueclassification ofwould thelater Athenaeumbe collectionused, isbut with a classicdifferent notation, also devised by Cutter, at the [[Cary Memorial Library|Cary Library]] in bibliographic[[Lexington, historyMassachusetts]].{{r

|n=Cutter-1891

|r={{cite book

|last=Cutter |first=C. A.

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L10oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1

|title=Expansive Classification: Part I: The First Six Classifications

|publication-place=Boston |publisher=C. A. Cutter

|date=1891–93

}}

|p=1

}}

Many libraries found this system too detailed and complex for their needs, and Cutter received many requests from librarians at small libraries who wanted the classification adapted for their collections. While numbers and letters are required in large library classifications, small libraries did not need their classification system to be too specific.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murray |first=Stuart |title=The Library: An Illustrated History |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |year=2009 |pages=205}}</ref> He devised the Expansive Classification in response, to meet the needs of growing libraries, and to address some of the complaints of his critics.<ref>For the Expansive Classification as a response to Cutter's critics, see: {{harvnb|Miksa|1977|p=58}}

The Cutter classification, although adopted by comparatively few libraries, mostly in [[New England]], has been called one of the most logical and scholarly of American classifications. Its outline served as a basis for the Library of Congress classification, which also took over some of its features. It did not catch on as did Dewey's system because Cutter died before it was completely finished, making no provision for the kind of development necessary as the bounds of knowledge expanded and scholarly emphases changed throughout the 20th century.

* For the Expansive Classification as a response to the growing needs of libraries, see {{harvnb|Miksa|1977|p=58}} and {{harvnb|LaMontagne|1961|p=209}}.

* The above issues are also discussed by Cutter in {{harvnb|Cutter|1891–93}}.</ref>

Cutter completed and published an introduction and schedules for the first six classifications of his new system (''Expansive Classification: Part I: The First Six Classifications''),{{r|n=Cutter-1891}} but his work on the seventh was interrupted by his death in 1903.{{r|n=LaMontagne-1961|p=210}}

The Cutter Expansive Classification, although adopted by comparatively few libraries,{{r|n=Winke-2004}} has been called one of the most logical and scholarly of American classifications.{{r

==Outline of the Cutter classification==

|n=Winke-2004

Like the LC classification system, texts are organized by subject. Users of Cutter, however, will find the subject headings more general than those of the LC system.

|r={{cite journal

|last1=Winke |first1=R. Conrad

|title=The Contracting World of Cutter's Expansive Classification

|journal=Library Resources & Technical Services

|date=2004 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=122–129

|url=https://journals.ala.org/index.php/lrts/article/view/5419/6654

|doi=10.5860/lrts.48n2.122-129

|doi-access=free}}

|p=123

}}

Library historian Leo E. LaMontagne wrote:

<blockquote>Cutter produced the best classification of the nineteenth century. While his system was less "scientific" than that of [[J. P. Lesley]], its other key features – notation, specificity, and versatility – make it deserving of the praise it has received.{{r|n=LaMontagne-1961|p=215}}</blockquote>

* A General works (encyclopedias, periodicals, society publications)

* B&ndash;D Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

* E, F, G Biography, History, Geography and travels

* H&ndash;J, K Social sciences, Law

* L&ndash;T Science and technology

* U&ndash;VS Military, Sports, Recreation

* VT, VV, W Theatre, Music, Fine arts

* X Philology (expanded by language)

* Y Literature (expanded by language, and in English form&mdash;e.g., YY is English and American literature, YYP is poetry in English)

* Z Book arts, Bibliography

Its top level divisions served as a basis for the [[Library of Congress Classification]], which also took over some of its features.{{r|n=LaMontagne-1961|p=226}} It did not catch on as did Dewey's system because Cutter died before it was completely finished, making no provision for the kind of development necessary as the bounds of knowledge expanded and scholarly emphases changed throughout the twentieth century.{{r|n=Winke-2004}}

==How Cutter call numbers are constructed==

Most call numbers in the Cutter classification follow conventions offering clues to the book's subject. The first line represents the subject, the second the author (and perhaps title), the third and fourth dates of editions, indications of translations, and critical works on particular books or authors. All numbers in the Cutter system are (or should be) shelved as if in decimal order.

== Structure ==

Size of volumes is indicated by points (.), pluses (+), or slashes (/ or //).

The Expansive Classification uses seven separate schedules, each designed to be used by libraries of different sizes. After the first, each schedule was an expansion of the previous one,{{r

|n=Miksa-1977

|r={{cite book

|editor-last=Miksa |editor-first=Francis L.

|title=Charles Ammi Cutter: Library Systematizer

|publication-place=Littleton, CO |publisher=Libraries Unlimited |date=1977

}}

|p=58

}}

and Cutter provided instructions for how a library might change from one expansion to another as it grows.{{r|n=Cutter-1891|pp=21–23}}

== Summary of schedules ==

For some subjects a numerical geographical subdivision follows the classification letters on the first line. The number 83 stands for the United States&mdash;hence, F83 is U.S. history, G83 U.S. travel, JU83 U.S. politics, WP83 U.S. painting. Geographical numbers are often further expanded decimally to represent more specific areas, sometimes followed by a capital letter indicating a particular city.

=== First classification ===

The second line usually represents the author's name by a capital letter plus one or more numbers arranged decimally. This may be followed by the first letter or letters of the title in lower-case, and/or sometimes the letters a,b,c indicating other printings of the same title. When appropriate, the second line may begin with a 'form' number&mdash;e.g., 1 stands for history and criticism of a subject, 2 for a bibliography, 5 for a dictionary, 6 for an atlas or maps, 7 for a periodical, 8 for a society or university publication, 9 for a collection of works by different authors.

The first classification is meant for very small libraries. The first classification has only seven top-level classes, and only eight classes in total:

* '''A''' Works of reference and general works which include several of the following sections, and so could not go in any one.

On the third line a capital Y indicates a work about the author or book represented by the first two lines, and a capital E (for English&mdash;other letters are used for other languages) indicates a translation into English. If both criticism and translation apply to a single title, the number expands into four lines.

* '''B''' [[Outline of philosophy|Philosophy]] and [[Outline of religion|Religion]]

* '''E''' Biography

* '''F''' [[Outline of history|History]] and [[Outline of geography|Geography]] and Travels

* '''H''' [[Outline of social science|Social sciences]]

* '''L''' [[Outline of natural science|Natural sciences]] and [[The arts|Arts]]

* '''Y''' [[Outline of linguistics|Language]] and [[Outline of literature|Literature]]

* '''YF''' [[Outline of fiction|Fiction]]

=== Further classifications ===

===Cutter Numbers===

Further expansions add more top-level classes and subdivisions. Many subclasses arranged systematically, with common divisions, such as those by geography and language, following a consistent system throughout.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924092476229 |title = Expansive classification|year = 1891}}</ref>

One of the features adopted by other systems, including Library of Congress, is the Cutter number. It is an alphanumeric device to code text so that it can be arranged in alphabetical order using the fewest characters. It contains one or two initial letters and Arabic numbers, treated as a decimal. To construct a Cutter number, a cataloguer consults a Cutter table as required by the classification rules. Although Cutter numbers are mostly used for coding the names of authors, the system can be used for titles, subjects, geographic areas, and more.

By the fifth classification all the letters of the alphabet are in use for top-level classes. These are:

==References==

* '''A''' General Works

* '''B''' [[Outline of philosophy|Philosophy]]

* '''C''' [[Outline of Christianity|Christianity]] and [[Outline of Judaism|Judaism]]

* '''D''' Ecclesiastical History

* '''E''' Biography

* '''F''' [[Outline of history|History]], Universal History

* '''G''' [[Outline of geography|Geography]] and Travels

* '''H''' [[Outline of social science|Social Sciences]]

* '''I''' Demotics, [[Outline of sociology|Sociology]]

* '''J''' Civics, Government, [[Outline of political science|Political Science]]

* '''K''' Legislation

* '''L''' [[Outline of science|Science]] and [[The arts|Arts]] together

* '''M''' Natural History

* '''N''' [[Outline of botany|Botany]]

* '''O''' [[Outline of zoology|Zoology]]

* '''P''' [[Outline of anthropology|Anthropology]] and Ethnology

* '''Q''' [[Outline of medicine|Medicine]]

* '''R''' Useful arts, [[Outline of technology|Technology]]

* '''S''' Constructive arts ([[Outline of engineering|Engineering]] and [[Outline of construction|Building]])

* '''T''' [[Outline of manufacturing|Manufactures]] and Handicrafts

* '''U''' [[Outline of military science and technology|Art of War]]

* '''V''' Recreative arts, [[Outline of sports|Sports]], [[Outline of games|Games]], [[Outline of festivals|Festivals]]

* '''W''' [[Outline of the visual arts|Art]]

* '''X''' English Language

* '''Y''' English and American literature

* '''Z''' Book arts

These schedules were not meant to be fixed, but were to be adapted to meet the needs of each library. For example, books on the English language may be put in X, and books on language in general in a subclass of X, or this can be reversed. The first option is less logical, but results in shorter marks for most English language libraries.{{r|n=Cutter-1891|p=27}}

== Construction of call numbers ==

{{Expand section|citations and corrections|date=August 2011}}

Most call numbers in the Expansive Classification follow conventions offering clues to the book's subject. The first line represents the subject, the second the author (and perhaps title), the third and fourth dates of editions, indications of translations, and critical works on particular books or authors. All numbers in the Expansive Classification are (or should be) shelved as if in decimal order.

Size of volumes is indicated by points (.), pluses (+), or slashes (/ or //).

For some subjects a numerical geographical subdivision follows the classification letters on the first line. The number 83 stands for the United States—hence, F83 is U.S. history, G83 U.S. travel, JU83 U.S. politics, WP83 U.S. painting. Geographical numbers are often further expanded decimally to represent more specific areas, sometimes followed by a capital letter indicating a particular city.

The second line usually represents the author's name by a capital letter plus one or more numbers arranged decimally. This may be followed by the first letter or letters of the title in lower-case, and/or sometimes the letters a, b, c indicating other printings of the same title. When appropriate, the second line may begin with a 'form' number—e.g., 1 stands for history and criticism of a subject, 2 for a bibliography, 5 for a dictionary, 6 for an atlas or maps, 7 for a periodical, 8 for a society or university publication, 9 for a collection of works by different authors.

On the third line a capital Y indicates a work about the author or book represented by the first two lines, and a capital E (for English—other letters are used for other languages) indicates a translation into English. If both criticism and translation apply to a single title, the number expands into four lines.

=== Cutter numbers ===

{{Expand section|examples and additional citations|date=August 2011}}

One of the features adopted by other systems, including Library of Congress, is the Cutter number or Cutter code. It is an alphanumeric device to code text so that it can be arranged in alphabetical order using the fewest characters. It contains one or two initial letters and Arabic numbers, treated as a decimal. To construct a Cutter number, a cataloguer consults a Cutter table as required by the classification rules. Although Cutter numbers are mostly used for coding the names of authors, the system can be used for titles, subjects, geographic areas, and more.

{| class=wikitable

|+Cutter table for second character

|-

! If the first letter is a... || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9

|-

! S

| a || ch || e || h–i || m–p || t || u || w–z

|-

! Qu

| || a || e || i || o || r || t || y

|-

! other consonant

| || a || e || i || o || r || u || y

|-

! vowel

| b || d || l–m || n || p || r || s–t || u–y

|}

{| class=wikitable

|+Cutter table for additional characters

|-

! 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9

|-

| || a–d || e–h || i–l || m–o || p–s || t–v || w–z

|}

Initial letters Qa–Qt are assigned Q2–Q29, while entries beginning with numerals have a Cutter number A12–A19, therefore sorting before the first A entry.<ref>{{cite web|title=LC Cutter Tables |url=http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/toolbox/tables/lccutter.htm |website=Queen Elizabeth II Libraries |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |access-date=14 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814173419/http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/toolbox/tables/lccutter.htm |archive-date=14 August 2014 }}</ref>

So to make the three-digit Cutter number for "Cutter", one would start with "C", then looking under ''other consonants'', find that "u" gives the number 8, and under ''additional letters'', "t" is 8, giving a Cutter number of "C88".

== Notes ==

{{reflist}}

== References ==

* Bliss, Henry Evelyn. ''The Organization of Knowledge in Libraries: and the Subject-Approach to Books'', 2nd ed. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1939.

* Cutter, Charles A. ''Rules for a Dictionary Catalog''. W. P. Cutter, ed. 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1904. London: The Library Association, 1962.

* Cutter, William Parker. ''Charles Ammi Cutter''. Chicago: American Library Association, 1931. Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1969.

* Foster, William E. "Charles Ammi Cutter: A Memorial Sketch". ''Library Journal'' 28 (1903): 697-704697–704.

* Hufford, Jon R. "The Pragmatic Basis of Catalog Codes: Has the User Been Ignored?". ''Cataloging and Classification Quarterly'' 14 (1991): 27-3827–38.

* Immroth, John Philip. "Cutter, Charles Ammi". ''Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science''. [[Allen Kent]] and Harold Lancour, ed. 47 vols. New York, M. Dekker [1968-1968– ]

* Slavis, Dobrica. "CUTT-x: An Expert System for Automatic Assignment of Cutter Numbers". ''Cataloging and Classification Quarterly''. Vol 22, no. 2, 1996.

* Tauber, Maurice F., and Edith Wise. "Classification Systems". [[Ralph R. Shaw (Librarian)|Ralph R. Shaw]], ed.. ''The State of the Library Art''. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers U. Graduate School of Library Service, 1961. 1-5281–528.

== External links ==

* [http://catalog.bostonathenaeum.org/cutterguide.html The Boston Athenaeum's Guide to the classification system developed by Cutter for their collection]

* [httphttps://www.forbeslibrary.org/booksresearch/cutter.shtml-classification/ Forbes Library's Outline of Cutter's Expansive Classification system]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928204437/http://www.forbeslibrary.org/pathfinders/Shelvingrules.pdf A brief guide to the Expansive Classification from Forbes Library]

* [http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1048:1 ''Rules for a dictionary catalog, by Charles A. Cutter, fourth edition''], hosted by the [http://digital.library.unt.edu/ UNT Libraries Digital Collections]

* [https://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-1048:1 ''Rules for a dictionary catalog, by Charles A. Cutter, fourth edition''], hosted by the [https://digital.library.unt.edu/ UNT Libraries Digital Collections]

* [http://www.loc.gov/catdir/pcc/053/table.html Library of Congress Guidelines for using the LC Online Shelflist and formulating a literary author number: Cutter Table]

* [httphttps://www.loc.gov/catdiraba/pcc/053/table.html Library of Congress Guidelines for using the LC Online Shelflist and formulating a literary author number: Cutter TablesTable]

* [http://www.oclc.org/dewey/support/program/default.htm Dewey Cutter Program]

* [http://www.cutternumber.com.ar/ Three figure Cutter-Sanborn number on line]

{{Library classification systems}}

[[Category:Library cataloging and classification]]

[[Category:Knowledge representation]]

[[es:Clasificación de Cutter]]

[[pt:Tabela de Cutter]]