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Relator terms for rare book, manuscript, and special collections cataloging: Third edition

Prepared by the RBMS Standards Committee

John B. Thomas III, Chair

Standard terms for contributors to the content, production, or provenance of special materials.

The following list of relator terms has been ap- proved for use in rare and special materials cata- loguing by the Standards Committee of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. It is now pub- lished in this third edition.

The present list is a further revision of one origi- nally proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee of the In- dependent Research Libraries Association (IRLA) in Proposals for Establishing Standards for the Cat- aloguing of Rare Books and Specialized Research Materials in Machine–Readable Form (Worcester, Mass., 1979), and published in its first edition in C&RL News, September 1980, and in its second edition in C&RL News, October 1981. Comments from members of the rare books, manuscripts, and archives communities have been taken into ac- count in preparing this third edition, and relator terms provided in the second edition of the Anglo- American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2) have been added to the list.

The list, in its first edition, was transmitted to the ALA Resources and Technical Services Divi- sion Committee on Cataloguing: Description and Access, with the request that AACR2, rule 21.0D, be amended to allow for the optional use of these terms in special materials cataloguing; this change in rule 21.0D has since been accepted. Relator codes (for use in subfield 4 of the MARC format) have been assigned to all terms authorized in the second edition of this list, and will be requested for those added in this third edition. These codes are published in Appendix ll.D of the MARC Formats for Bibliographic Data (MFBD).

It is the recommendation of the RBMS Standards Committee that this standard list be adopted by all rare book and specialized collections, especially those participating in a bibliographic network.

Purpose

The need for rare book and special collections users to be able to distinguish added entries for different kinds of contributors to the intellectual content, physical production, or provenance of special materials in their collections has long been recognized. Relator terms traditionally have been used in manual cataloguing systems to create discrete special files for access by the names of illustrators, printers, former owners, etc., or to arrange bibliographic records within a single catalogue file in an order reflecting these distinctions.

The IRLA Ad Hoc Committee studied the use of relator terms in MARC cataloguing and found that such terms would be essential if special files were to be created in an automated system. In addition, the use of relators potentially provides the capability of conducting specialized searches in online databases, and of producing valuable output lists, inventories, etc. To derive these benefits in a network environment, however, relator terms and the manner of their use in bibliographic records must be standardized to the greatest degree possible.

This list does not attempt to be exhaustive in enumerating all possible functions a person or body may perform in the production or history of an item or collection. The present list, rather, attempts to give those functions that are considered to correspond to widely accepted types of associations with printed, manuscript, and archival materials. Brief definitions or scope notes are provided where necessary to avoid ambiguity.

Form

The list constitutes an alphabetical list of authorized terms and cross-references, following the format recommended in the American National Standard Guidelines for Thesaurus Structure, Construction, and Use (New York, 1980). Scope notes follow terms thought to be obscure or ambiguous or which are to be used in a technical sense. Each term is followed by the cross-references, if any, made to and from other terms in the list. Terms authorized for use are given in capital letters; unauthorized terms appear in lower case letters. The symbols used are as follows:

USE leads from unused synonyms and inverted forms of the term to the term used;

UF (used for) is the reciprocal of the USE reference and accompanies the term to which the USE reference refers;

BT (broader term) refers from a term for a member of a class to the term for the class;

NT (narrower term) refers from a term for a class to the term for one of its members;

RT (related term) is used between terms with a relationship which is not hierarchical in nature when it seems helpful to bring associated functions to the user’s attention.

Application

Use of relator terms is voluntary. When they are used in MARC records, relators are entered in subfield in main (100 or 110) or added (600 or 610, 700 or 710) entry fields, as appropriate. For printed books, relators are most often appropriate with 7xx fields; lxx and 6xx fields are most likely to be used with relators in records for non-book formats.

If a person or body is associated with more than one function, do not repeat the subfieldrather, repeat the added entry field as many times as there are functions to be indicated, using an appropriate relator in each case. Alternately, those interfiling various types of relator entries in a single alphabetic sequence may wish only to employ broader terms such as ARTIST in an inclusive manner rather than using specific narrower terms such as ENGRAVER or ETCHER when such usage would result in multiple entries for the same person or body serving in various capacities in a single manifestation of a work.

Institutions with extensive holdings of a single person or firm may wish to employ all the most specific terms in extensively subdivided files. Each institution should apply relator terms in the manner most appropriate to its own needs, while working within this framework of standardized terms to provide the benefit of network interaction.

Some of these relator terms pertain largely or exclusively to “copy-specific” entries (e.g., FORMER OWNER, HONOREE). Cataloguers should be careful to preserve this important distinction in MARC records, using the mechanisms for copy- specific added entries provided by their networks or bibliographic utilities, and providing appropriate copy-specific notes in bibliographic descriptions.

Revision

The list of relator terms is maintained by the editor of the Relator Term List on behalf of the RBMS Standards Committee. Updates to the list appear occasionally, published in the library press. Upon the advice of the Standards Committee, the editor shall prepare a new edition for publication. Additional terms for the list should be submitted in writing, including:

1) the scope or use of each term;

2) the reason for need of the term;

3) an appropriate reference structure.

Queries and comments may be addressed to: Chair, Standards Committee, Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, ACRL/ALA, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611, Attention: Relator Term List.

Relator term list

[N.B. Terms preceded by an asterisk (*) appear in the thesaurus for the first time in this 3rd edition.]

ANNOTATOR

Use for writer of manuscript annotations on a printed item.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME

* ARTIST

Use for person who conceives, and perhaps also implements, an original graphic design or work of art. Prefer ILL. for book illustrators.

UF Graphic technician

NT ENGRAVER ETCHER ILL.

LITHOGRAPHER

RT BOOK DESIGNER CALLIGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHER

ASSIGNEE

Use for person or body to whom a license for printing or publishing has been transferred.

RT COPYRIGHT HOLDER

LICENSEE

ASSOCIATED NAME

Use with a name associated with or found in an item or collection which cannot be determined to be that of a FORMER OWNER or other relator indicative of provenance.

NT ANNOTATOR DEPOSITOR DONOR

FORMER OWNER

HONOREE

INSCRIBER

LENDER

SIGNER

* ATTRIBUTED NAME

Use to relate an author, artist, etc. to a work for which there is or once was substantial authority for designating that person as author, creator, etc.

UF Supposed name

BINDER

RT BINDING DESIGNER

BINDING DESIGNER

UF Designer of binding RT BINDER

BOOK DESIGNER BOOK DESIGNER

Use for person or body responsible for the entire graphic design of a book, including arrangement of type and illustration, choice of materials, and processes used.

UF Designer of book RT ARTIST

BINDING DESIGNER BOOKJACKET DESIGNER TYPE DESIGNER TYPOGRAPHER

BOOKJACKET DESIGNER

UF Designer of bookjaeket RT BOOK DESIGNER

BOOKPLATE DESIGNER

UF Designer of bookplate

BOOKSELLER

RT DISTRIBUTOR PUBLISHER

Bowdlerizer Use CENSOR

CALLIGRAPHER

RT ARTIST CARTOGRAPHER

CENSOR

Use for censor, bowdlerizer, expurgator, etc., official or private.

UF Bowdlerizer

Expurgator

*COLLECTOR

Use for person who has brought together material from various sources, which has been arranged, described, and catalogued as a collection. The collector is neither the creator of the material nor the person to whom manuscripts in the collection may have been addressed.

BT FORMER OWNER

COLLOTYPER

BT ELECTROTYPER *COMP.

AACR2 form comp, required. Use for person who produces a work or publication by selecting and putting together material from the works of various persons or bodies.

UF Compiler

RT ED.

Compiler Use COMP.

COMPOSITOR

UF Typesetter

RT PRINTER

TYPOGRAPHER

COPYRIGHT HOLDER

RT ASSIGNEE LICENSEE

CORRECTOR

Use for corrector of manuscripts, such as the scriptorium official who corrected the work of a scribe. For printed matter, use PROOFREADER.

RT PROOFREADER * CORRESPONDENT

Use for person or body who was either the writer or recipient of a letter or other communication. NT RECIPIENT

Counterfeiter Use FORGER

DEDICATEE

Use for person or body to whom a book, manuscript, etc., is dedicated (NOT the recipient of a gift).

RT DEDICATOR DEDICATOR

Use for the author of a dedication, which may be a formal statement or in epistolary or verse form. RT DEDICATEE

* DEPOSITOR

Use for person or body placing material in the physical custody of a library or repository without transferring legal title.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME Designer of binding Use BINDING DESIGNER Designer of book Use BOOK DESIGNER

Designer of bookjacket Use BOOKJACKET DE-

SIGNER

Designer of bookplate Use BOOKPLATE DE-

SIGNER

Designer of type Use TYPE DESIGNER

DISTRIBUTOR

RT BOOKSELLER PRINTER PUBLISHER SPONSOR

DONOR

Use for donor of a book, manuscript, etc., to present owner; donors to previous owners are designated as FORMER OWNER or IN- SCRIBER.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME

*ED.

AACR2 form ed. required. Use for a person who prepares for publication a work not primarily his own, such as by elucidating text, adding introductory or other critical matter, or supervision of editorial staff.

UF Editor RT COMP.

Editor Use ED.

* ELECTROTYPER

BT PLATEMAKER NT COLLOTYPER

ENGRAVER

BT ARTIST

NT METAL-ENGRAVER WOOD-ENGRAVER

ETCHER

BT ARTIST

Expurgator Use CENSOR

FORGER

UF Counterfeiter

FORMER OWNER

Use for person or body owning a book, manuscript, etc., in the past. Include person or body to whom book was once presented as named in a statement inscribed by another person or body; person or body giving book to present owner is designated as DONOR.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME NT COLLECTOR

Graphic technician Use ARTIST

[Formerly an authorized term; deleted in this 3rd edition.]

HONOREE

Use for person in memory or honor of whom a book, manuscript, etc. is donated.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME UF Memorial

ILL.

AACR2 form ill. required. Use for person who conceives, and perhaps also implements, a design or illustration, usually to accompany a written text.

UF Illustrator BT ARTIST RT ILLUMINATOR

RUBRICATOR

ILLUMINATOR RT ILL.

RUBRICATOR Illustrator Use ILL.

Imprimatur Use LICENSOR INSCRIBER

Use for person who signs a presentation statement.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME

* INTERVIEWEE

RT INTERVIEWER

* INTERVIEWER

RT INTERVIEWEE

* LENDER

Use for person or body permitting the temporary use of a book, manuscript, etc., such as for photocopying or microfilming.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME LICENSEE

Use for original recipient of right to print or publish.

RT ASSIGNEE

COPYRIGHT HOLDER LICENSOR

Use for signer of license, imprimatur, etc.

UF Imprimatur

LITHOGRAPHER BT ARTIST

Memorial Use HONOREE

METAL-ENGRAVER BT ENGRAVER

PAPERMAKER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Use for person or body responsible for taking photographs, whether they are used in their original form or as reproductions.

RT ARTIST

* PLATEMAKER

NT ELECTROTYPER

STEREOTYPER RT PRINTER OF PLATES

Plates, Printer of Use PRINTER OF PLATES PRINTER

Use for printer of texts, whether from type or plates.

RT COMPOSITOR

DISTRIBUTOR

PRINTER OF PLATES

PUBLISHER

TYPOGRAPHER

PRINTER OF PLATES

Use for printer of illustrations from plates.

UF Plates, printer of RT PLATEMAKER

PRINTER

PROOFREADER

Use for corrector of printed matter. For manuscripts, use CORRECTOR.

RT CORRECTOR

PUBLISHER RT BOOKSELLER

DISTRIBUTOR

PRINTER

RECIPIENT

Use for person to whom correspondence is addressed.

BT CORRESPONDENT

RUBRICATOR RT ILL.

ILLUMINATOR

SCRIBE

Use for maker of pen-facsimiles of printed matter, as well as for amanuensis and for writer of manuscripts proper.

RT TRANSCRIBER SIGNER

Use for person whose signature appears without a presentation or other statement indicative of provenance. When there is a presentation statement, use INSCRIBER.

BT ASSOCIATED NAME SPONSOR

Use for person or body which sponsors or funds the production of a work, e.g., the entity “under the auspices of which” a work was written, printed, published, etc.

RT DISTRIBUTOR

STEREOTYPER

BT PLATEMAKER

Supposed name Use ATTRIBUTED NAME

* TRANS.

AACR2 form trans, required. Use for person who renders a text from one language into another, or from an older form of a language into the modern form.

UF Translator

* TRANSCRIBER

Use for person who prepares a handwritten or typewritten copy from original material, including from dictated or orally recorded material. For makers of pen-facsimiles, use SCRIBE.

RT SCRIBE

Translator Use TRANS.

TYPE DESIGNER

Use for person who designed the type face used in a particular item.

UF Designer of type

RT BOOK DESIGNER TYPOGRAPHER

Typesetter Use COMPOSITOR

TYPOGRAPHER

Use for person primarily responsible for choice and arrangement of type used in an item. If the typographer is also responsible for other aspects of the graphic design, (e.g., BOOK DESIGNER), added entries for both functions may be used as desired.

RT BOOK DESIGNER COMPOSITOR PRINTER TYPE DESIGNER

WOOD-ENGRAVER

BT ENGRAVER

RBMS Standards Committee members for 1986-87 were: John B. Thomas III (chair), University of Texas at Austin; Dianne Chilmonczyk, Stanford University; Michele Cloonan, University of Illinois GSLIS; Alan Degutis, American Antiquarian Society; Jackie Dooley, University of California, San Diego; Rebecca Hayne, University of California, San Diego; Sara Sliatford Layne, University of California, Los Angeles; Hope Mayo, Pierpont Morgan Library; Elisabeth Betz Parker, Library of Congress; and Joe Springer, Mennonite Historical Library, Goshen College. ■ ■