Tutorial used to understand the Call Number Structure of the WFGS & WFRL Catalog of genealogy books, microfilm, microfiche, periodicals, maps, CD-ROMs, and software programs. Visit http://home.att.net/~roywfgs/Catalog/index.html to browse our catalog.

 

Tutorial

Since most Genealogist and Historian are primarily interested in the location when event(s) occur, we use the following Call Number Structure system (instituted by Sid Thomes) that identifies -- first the nationalization, second the state or tribe, third the county or band, and then the subject or family.

Unlike the Library of Congress Classification System and the Dewey Decimal System, our call number structure uses standard abbreviations and words to identify resource's subject matter, and what geographic and nationality it pertains to.

General Format   /   Classification Order   /   Classification Exceptions   /   Subject Abbreviations

 

General Format:

Book Spine:

(Level) 1. -- Collection
(Level) 2. -- Country
(Level) 3. -- State
(Level) 4. -- County
(Level) 5. -- Subject
(Level) 6. -- Subject 2nd-line

Catalog:

Collection/Country/State/County/Subject/Subject 2

Basically, our classification is geographic in nature. Whenever a geographic heading does not apply or is general in nature, we substitute the symbol "#" (without the quotes) for that level.

Examples:

  1. GENE/USA/FL/Escambia/MIL/AmRev
  2. GENE/USA/#/#/CHUR
  3. GENE/NAM/CRE/Poarch/CENS
  4. GENE/#/#/#/FAM/Thomes

 

Classification Order:

Alphabetical within each level, starting at the top then to the next level down.

Level 1 (Collection)

Level 1 will always be GENE. Representing the Collection: Genealogy

Level 2 (Country) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/BRA/ - - - - - - (Brazil)
  2. GENE/CAN/ - - - - - - (Canada)
  3. GENE/FRA/ - - - - - - (France)
  4. GENE/SPA/ - - - - - - (Spain)
  5. GENE/UK/ - - - - - - (United Kingdom Empire)
  6. GENE/USA/ - - - - - - (United States)

Level 3 (State) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/UK/#/ - - - - - - (General)
  2. GENE/UK/BER/ - - - - - - (Bermuda)
  3. GENE/UK/ENG/ - - - - - - (England)
  4. GENE/UK/WAL/ - - - - - - (Wales)
  1. GENE/USA/#/ - - - - - - (General)
  2. GENE/USA/AL/ - - - - - - (Alabama)
  3. GENE/USA/FL/ - - - - - - (Florida)
  4. GENE/USA/MS/ - - - - - - (Mississippi)
  5. GENE/USA/NWE/ - - - - - - (New England Region -- multiple states)
  6. GENE/USA/PA/ - - - - - - (Pennsylvania)
  7. GENE/USA/SE/ - - - - - - (Southeastern Region -- multiple states)
  8. GENE/USA/VA/ - - - - - - (Virginia)

Level 4 (County) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/UK/ENG/#/ - - - - - - (General)
  2. GENE/UK/ENG/London/ - - - - - - (London)
  3. GENE/UK/ENG/Middlesex/ - - - - - - (Middlesex)
  4. GENE/UK/ENG/York/ - - - - - - (Yorkshire)
  1. GENE/USA/AL/#/ - - - - - - (General)
  2. GENE/USA/AL/Baldwin/ - - - - - - (Baldwin)
  3. GENE/USA/AL/Conecuh/ - - - - - - (Conecuh)
  4. GENE/USA/AL/Henry/ - - - - - - (Henry)
  5. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ - - - - - - (Mobile)
  6. GENE/USA/AL/Russell/ - - - - - - (Russell)

Level 5 (Subject) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/BIBL - - - - - - (Bible)
  2. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/CENS - - - - - - (Census)
  3. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/ - - - - - - (Ethnic)
  4. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/GENE - - - - - - (Genealogy)
  5. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/HIST - - - - - - (History)
  6. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/ - - - - - - (Military)
  7. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/PROB - - - - - - (Probate Records)
  8. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/VRS - - - - - - (Vital Records)

Level 6 (Subject 2nd Line) -- Examples:

Level 5 -- ETH (for ethnic) and MIL (for military) may require an additional level to elaborate.

  1. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/Afro-Amer - - - - - - (African American)
  2. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/Creole - - - - - - (Creole)
  3. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/French - - - - - - (French)
  4. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/Jewish - - - - - - (Jewish)
  5. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/ETH/Melungeon - - - - - - (Melungeon)
  1. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/Pre-Rev- - - - - - (Pre-American Revolutionary War)
  2. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/Am Rev- - - - - - (American Revolutionary War)
  3. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/w-1812 - - - - - - (War of 1812)
  4. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/Civil - - - - - - (Civil War -- General)
  5. GENE/USA/AL/Mobile/MIL/Civil-CS - - - - - - (Civil War -- Confederate)

 

Classification Order Exceptions:

Some materials cannot be classified geographically.

For Example, sources about:

 

Native Americans

Tribe and Band descriptions are adjusted to fit the geographic format.

  1. "Native American" is Level 2 -- Country
  2. "Individual Tribes" are Level 3 -- State
  3. "Bands within Tribes" are Level 4 -- County

Level 1 (Collection)

Level 1 will always be GENE. Representing the Collection: Genealogy

Level 2 (Native American)

Level 2 will always be NAM. Representing Native American

Level 3 (Tribe) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/NAM/CHE/ - - - - - - (Cherokee)
  2. GENE/NAM/CRE/ - - - - - - (Creek)
  3. GENE/NAM/SEM/ - - - - - - (Seminole)

Level 4 (Band) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/NAM/CRE/Muskogee - - - - - - (Muskogee Band of Creek Indians)
  2. GENE/NAM/CRE/Poarch - - - - - - (Poarch Band of Creek Indians)

Level 5 (Subject) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/NAM/#/#/C&L - - - - - - (Culture & Language)
  2. GENE/NAM/CHE/#/CENS - - - - - - (Census)
  3. GENE/NAM/CRE/Poarch/HIST - - - - - - (History)
  4. GENE/NAM/SEM/#/INDAG - - - - - - (Indian Agency)
  5. GENE/NAM/SEM/#/MIL - - - - - - (Military)

Level 6 (Subject 2nd Line) -- Examples:

Level 5 -- MIL (for military) may require an additional level to elaborate.

  1. GENE/NAM/SEM/#/MIL/AmRev- - - - - - (American Revolutionary War)
  2. GENE/NAM/SEM/#/MIL/Indian - - - - - - (Indian Wars)

 

General Subjects

Resources pertaining to general subjects not bound to one geographical area are structured with "No Country" -- "No State" -- and "No County" identifications.

Level 1 (Collection)

Level 1 will always be GENE. Representing the Collection: Genealogy

Level 2 (No Country)

Level 2 will always be #.

Level 3 (No State)

Level 3 will always be #.

Level 4 (No County)

Level 4 will always be #.

Level 5 (Subject) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/#/#/#/ADOPT - - - - - - (Adoption)
  2. GENE/#/#/#/DIR - - - - - - (Directory)
  3. GENE/#/#/#/HOWTO - - - - - - (How To)
  4. GENE/#/#/#/SOC - - - - - - (Society)

 

Family History & Surnames

Family History -- Persons included are related.
Given Names (General) -- Persons not related.
Surnames (General) --Persons not related.

Level 1 (Collection)

Level 1 will always be GENE. Representing the Collection: Genealogy

Level 2 (No Country)

Level 2 will always be #.

Level 3 (No State)

Level 3 will always be #.

Level 4 (No County)

Level 4 will always be #.

Level 5 (Subject) -- Examples:

  1. GENE/#/#/#/FAM/ - - - - - - (Family)
  2. GENE/#/#/#/GIVEN - - - - - - (Given Name)
  3. GENE/#/#/#/SUR - - - - - - (Surname)

Level 6 (Subject 2nd Line) -- Examples:

Level 5 -- FAM (for family history) requires an additional level to elaborate.

  1. GENE/#/#/#/FAM/Jones - - - - - - (Jones Family & related lines)
  2. GENE/#/#/#/FAM/Smith - - - - - - (Smith Family & related lines)
  3. GENE/#/#/#/FAM/Wilkinson - - - - - - (Wilkinson Family & related lines)

 

Subject Abbreviations:

ARCH -- Archaeology
ADOPT -- Adoption Records
BIBL -- Bible
BIBS -- Bibliography
BIOG -- Biography
C&L -- Culture & Language
CENS -- Census
CEM -- Cemetery
CHUR -- Church Records
CORT -- Court Records
DIR -- Directory
ETH -- Ethnic
FAM -- Family History
GAZ -- Gazetteer
GENE -- Genealogy
GIVEN -- Given Names
GEO -- Geography
HIST -- History
HOWTO -- How To
IMM& -- Immigration & Emigration
INDAG -- Indian Agency
LAND -- Land Records
LIBR -- Library
MAPS -- Maps
MIL -- Military Records
MISC -- Miscellaneous
NAM -- Native American
NAT& -- Naturalization Records
NEWS -- Newspaper
OBIT -- Obituaries
PERI -- Periodical
PROB -- Probate Records
SUR -- Surnames
VRS -- Vital Records

 

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