Pseudonyms. Married Women.
Pseudonyms _v._ Real Names. The Better-known Name. Methods
of Marking Pseudonyms. Writers who use Two Names.
Phrase-Pseudonyms. Specific Entry. Repetition Dashes.
Use of Capitals for Emphasis. Women's Names Changed by
Marriage. Anonymous Books. The Discovery of Authors of
Anonymous Books. "By the Author of----." Names consisting
of Initials only.
The cataloguer's troubles do not end when the, to him, vexatious
styles of names referred to in the previous pages are settled. He has
to decide for himself the somewhat difficult question of entry under
pseudonyms or real names when known, or under married or maiden names
when both have been used by women authors.
These classes come into the same division as changed names, though the
standard codes of rules make different recommendations, some to enter
by the real name, others by the pseudonym, but most are in favour of
the latter.
The A.L.A. and L.A. Joint-Code rule is to "enter under the pseudonym
of a writer when the real name is not known," which is another way of
saying "enter under the real name when known."
A great deal of attention has from time to time been paid to this
subject by librarians. Some years ago the whole tendency was to hunt
in all places, likely or unlikely, in the hope of discovering the
real name of an author who used a pseudonym, and, when the search
was successful, of getting it into print as soon as possible. A
librarian thereby may have scored by being ahead of his fellows with
the information, and the user of the catalogue may have acquired
knowledge, though possibly he did not want it, especially if it
involved looking up two references instead of one. The tendency is
now somewhat in the other direction, and it may safely be said that,
except for some excellent reason, the entries should be given under
the pseudonym, rules or no rules. It may reasonably be contended that
the better-known, whether it be the pseudonym or the real name, is the
right one for the entry, as being the more reasonable and satisfactory.
Should there be any doubt which is the better known, then it is "a
mistake on the right side" to enter under the real name of the author.
There is a little variation in the styles of printing such entries in a
catalogue. Some give them after this manner
ANNUNZIO, Gabriele d', _pseud._ (i.e. Gaetano Rampagnetto).
The triumph of death.
Others print the assumed name in italics, as
_Dale, Darley_, pseud. (Francesca M. Steele).
Seven sons; or, the story of Malcolm and
his brothers.
while others put it shorter still, without any loss of clearness as to
meaning
"FRANCE, Anatole" (A. François Thibault.) Le
livre de mon ami.
In none of these cases is it deemed necessary, at least in an average
catalogue, to refer from the real name to the pseudonym, for the reason
that not one person in a thousand would think of looking under the
real names of these authors. In the catalogues of large and important
libraries, particularly reference libraries, these references can be
given, as a matter of course, according to the rules, otherwise there
is the risk of the same author appearing in two places under different
names. It is well, on principle, to take a rooted objection to this,
though under special circumstances it is conceivable that it might be
no great disadvantage. Take a modern instance
DANBY, Frank. Pigs in clover.
which is by Julia Frankau, the author of two important books--one
on colour prints and the other on the mezzotinto engraver, J. R.
Smith--both published under her real name. These books are so far
apart in character from her novels that both names might very well be
used in the catalogue. In the classified catalogue the use of the two
names would not matter, but in the dictionary catalogue it requires
consideration. Again, there is little likelihood of these books all
appearing in the same catalogue; the lending library would not have the
books on prints, and the reference or other special library which might
contain them would hardly have the novels. This illustration is named
simply to show the consideration that can be given to a case of the
kind. It does not really end here, because there is always the chance
of the author writing more fiction under her real name. Remembering
this, and the fact that she has already published books under her
proper name, the reference becomes necessary for safety in the future.
That is to say, for the novel the reference is given from Frankau to
the pseudonym until the time comes to reverse the process.
There are several similar instances where the books, though widely
differing in character, are none the less likely to appear in the same
catalogue. The writings of the late Rev. John M. Watson may be cited
as a case in point, those on religious subjects being published under
his real name, and his stories under the pseudonym of "Ian Maclaren." A
present-day example of the same thing is the book
HANNAY, James O. The spirit and origin of
Christian monasticism. 1903 271
which is by the same author who writes novels under the pseudonym of
"George A. Birmingham." In the case of a library publishing a separate
catalogue of fiction there can be no objection to following the course
already recommended, by entering under the pseudonym
"BIRMINGHAM, George A." (Jas. O. Hannay).
The red hand of Ulster.
If there is no separate catalogue of fiction, the author's books must
all be brought together, when it is inevitable that the real name,
rather than the fictitious, be taken for all entries. Here arises the
problem whether the pseudonym is to be attached to the entry for the
book on monasticism or limited to the books written under the assumed
name. It is helpful to mark the distinction in this way
HANNAY, Jas. O. The spirit and origin of
Christian monasticism. 1903 271
-- ("Geo. A. Birmingham"). The red hand of
Ulster.
not overlooking the essential reference
"BIRMINGHAM, George A." _See_ Hannay, Jas. O.
There is at least one example of an author publishing works of fiction
under both his real name and a pseudonym, viz., J. E. Preston Muddock,
who writes some stories under his true name, and his detective stories
under that of "Dick Donovan." The right course to pursue in this case
is to enter all under Muddock. Unless there is strong objection to
placing books by one writer in two places, there is no reason why the
separate entries should not appear under both names. While introduced
here to show a possible method of treatment, it must not be taken as
recommended.
MUDDOCK, J. E. P. The dead man's secret.
-- The lost laird.
_See also_ Donovan, Dick.
"DONOVAN, Dick" (J. E. P. Muddock). Tales of
terror.
-- The sin of Preaching Jim.
_See also_ Muddock, J. E. P.
When the name of an author is known to be, or, from its nature, is
obviously a pseudonym, it is better given in inverted commas, or
whatever other style is adopted to mark a pseudonym, whether the
real name be known or not. Such names are "Skelton Kuppord," "Walker
Miles," "Home Counties," "Daniel Chaucer." A pseudonym which consists
of a phrase can rarely be regarded as a name, and it is wiser to treat
the book as if it were anonymous, after the manner referred to later,
bringing the phrase-pseudonym into the title-entry in this way
Kruger's secret service, by One who was in it.
1900 968
To enter under "One who was in it" would be useless as well as
wasteful. A similar example is
The life of a prig, by One. 1886
when the entry under "One" would be equally futile and absurd. So also
would be
The danger of spiritualism, by a Member of the
Society for Psychical Research. 1901
if entered under "Member." The first of these two receives a
title-entry, which is a recognition of the pseudonym, as
Prig, The life of a, by One. 1886
In these examples the non-recognition of the pseudonym is due to the
fact that its application is confined to a particular instance or a
particular book. This recommendation for treating phrase-pseudonyms
must be carefully considered in relation to the books produced by the
users. Those who write regularly and publish several works under such
pseudonyms must be recognised--as witness the case of "A Son of the
Marshes."
At this point the arrangement of working out the foregoing entries in
full may be continued. The first is
=Monasticism=:
Hannay, J. O. The spirit, &c., of Christian
monasticism. 1903 271
or, in the event of there being but a single work on the subject
Monasticism, Christian, The spirit, &c., of.
Hannay, J. O. 1903 271
If there is a separate fiction catalogue or class-list, the entry for
the novel by the same author is
Red hand of Ulster, The. Birmingham, G. A.
When the entries are embodied in the dictionary catalogue, and the real
name of the author is taken for the main-entry, the title-entry becomes
Red hand of Ulster, The. Hannay, J. O.
It must be admitted that this might puzzle a person who remembers the
title of the book and could recognise it by the name of the author, but
would fail to identify Hannay with Birmingham. The entry must, all the
same, be given in this form to guide to the name of "Hannay," where
the principal entry is to be found. The same remark equally applies to
the title-entries requisite for Mr. Muddock's books, if they are all
entered under "Muddock" in orthodox fashion and not divided. If divided
the entries would be
Dead man's secret, The. Muddock, J. E. P.
Lost laird, The. Muddock, J. E. P.
Tales of terror. Donovan, D.
Sin, The, of Preaching Jim. Donovan, D.
The "Kruger" book comes under some such heading as
=Boers, The, and Boer Wars=:
Kruger's secret service, by One who was in it.
1900 968
with references thereto from "Africa, South," "Transvaal, The," and
"Orange Free State."
At the risk of labouring the point--an important one which will bear
emphasis--the last book affords an opportunity for again demonstrating
the handling of a book for specific subject-entry in the dictionary
catalogue. This form of entry requires that books bearing upon the
Boer Wars, the French Revolution, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny,
the Gunpowder Plot, the American Revolution, or any other historical
happening to which a definite name is attached, shall be entered under
such specific name, not under the name of the country or countries
concerned. It might be possible to evade this by giving a reference
from the name of the event to the name of the country, but it is
against the principles of the dictionary catalogue. The matter has
to be reasoned out like this: a history of the last Boer War is not
a history of South Africa, is not even a history of the Transvaal or
of the Orange Free State, although it terminated the existence of the
republics of those states. Similarly a history of the Crimean War is
not a history of Russia, and has as much to do with Turkey, to say
nothing of this country or of France; a history of the Franco-German
War is neither a history of France nor of Germany, but merely a
detached epoch in the history of both countries, however much it had
to do with the founding of the present German Empire and the fall of
the French Empire. Therefore, literal exactness requires, as already
stated, that entry be made under the names whereby such events are
known with _See also_ references thereto from the names of the
countries involved. It is also required that the term chosen for the
heading shall be definite and not general. If the heading, say, of
"Civil War" were taken in a British catalogue for books upon the great
Civil War of the 17th century, it would be incorrect, because too
inclusive, as books upon civil war in the abstract or on civil wars
generally or in any country, as the Civil War between North and South
in America, could all be grouped under it, therefore the heading must
be "earmarked" in some way to show what particular civil war is meant,
say, "Civil War, The Great," or "Civil War and Commonwealth," or even
"Civil War, The." The addition of the definite article to the last
heading serves to show that the Puritan revolution is meant, though it
would not give the same meaning in an American catalogue. In this way
headings to be adopted are reasoned out before being decided upon.
The "Life of a prig" is already sufficiently disposed of, though it is
not a story, but is more or less in the nature of a satire recounting
the troubles of an Oxford man, uncertain as to whether he should belong
to the Anglican or Roman Church. It is marked for the classified
catalogue as a satire of the late Victorian period. This is a type of
book that is the bane of the cataloguer's life, and he is not to be
blamed if he summarily disposes of it under any heading or title that
does not altogether relegate it to obscurity. The last is
=Spiritualism=:
Dangers, The, of spiritualism, by a Member
of the Society for Psychical Research.
1901 133.9
and is the sole entry for this book.
Attention may here be directed to two points arising in connection
with some of the above entries. It will be noticed that in the Hannay
entry a "repetition dash" (--) has been given in lieu of the name for
the second entry, as it would be for all subsequent entries under the
same name. To make use of this dash for any other purpose is dangerous,
and should be avoided. The old-fashioned custom of using it to save
repeating words in the title-entries, led to the well-known catalogue
jokes:--
Mill on Liberty.
-- -- the Floss.
Lead, kindly Light.
-- Silver and.
and others equally ridiculous. Every word omitted was indicated by a
separate dash, after this manner
Three Men in a Boat.
-- -- on the Bummel.
Toilers of the Field.
-- -- -- Sea.
Told by the Colonel.
-- -- -- Death's Head.
It is hardly necessary to say that in all the above cases no dashes
were required; every word should have been given, both for the sake of
understanding and appearance.
The second point relates to the recommendation, already referred to,
that the word following the article in titles whereby the entries are
alphabetized should have a capital letter, and also that one should be
given to the first word of an alternative title. Nothing can be said
against these proposals unless it is that they give certain words an
undue prominence. The books of J. E. P. Muddock serve admirably as
illustrations:--
MUDDOCK, J. E. P. The Dead man's secret; or,
The valley of gold.
-- The Great white hand; or, The Tiger of
Cawnpore.
-- The Lost laird.
-- The Man from Manchester.
This, however, resolves itself more into a question of taste than of
expediency.
In the same category as pseudonyms come the women who, in changing
their names by marriage, perhaps more than once, have written under all
forms of their names--"aggravating ladies" as they have been called.
At times they are better known by the names of their husbands, as
Mrs. Mark Pattison, Mrs. Humphry Ward, Mrs. Sidney Webb. It would be
injudicious to adopt a fixed rule to cover all cases of this kind. The
best-known name recommendation again applies, although the rule usually
laid down is to enter a married woman under whatever name she first
used as an author, with references thereto from her later names. In
some cases this is quite a safe and convenient rule, while in others it
involves looking in two places. To state a case, people are now more
familiar with the works of Mrs. Sidney Webb under that name than under
her maiden name of Beatrice Potter. If entry were made under Potter it
would in any case necessitate a reference to Webb for those books which
she had written jointly with her husband. Therefore, it being admitted
that the better-known name, also the more correct, is that of Webb, the
entries are so given, with the reference from Potter, i.e.,
WEBB, Beatrice (Potter). The co-operative movement
in Great Britain. 1891 334
-- (_joint-author._) _See also_ Webb, Sidney.
POTTER, Beatrice. _See_ Webb, Beatrice.
Webb, Sidney. Socialism in England. 3rd ed.
1901 335.1
-- and Beatrice. The history of trade unionism.
1894 331.88
For order of arrangement it will be noticed that books written by
Sidney Webb alone precede those written by him as a joint-author,
with his name in the leading place. If the last-named book had been
published as "by Beatrice and Sidney Webb" the entry would, as a matter
of course, be under Mrs. Webb's name, her book on co-operation coming
before it. The Workman illustration given in Chapter V. should be
considered in this connection. Another, and rather different difficulty
of the kind, is when a man and his wife have collaborated and published
with the wife's maiden name in the leading place. If the lady has
written other books before marriage and continues to use her maiden
name on books written by herself, it settles the matter sufficiently to
warrant entry under the maiden name, as
FOWLER, Ellen Thornycroft (Mrs. Felkin). Concerning
Isabel Carnaby.
-- In subjection.
-- and Alfred L. FELKIN. Kate of Kate Hall.
with the usual references
FELKIN, Alfred L. (_joint-author_). _See_ Fowler,
Ellen T.
FELKIN, Ellen T. _See_ Fowler, Ellen T.
and the customary title-entries under "Concerning," "In," and "Kate."
The subject-entries for the foregoing books are
=Co-operation=:
Webb, B. The co-operative movement in
Great Britain. 1891 334
It would be incorrect, for the sake of economy, to omit the definite
article in this, as it somewhat alters the sense. At times it can be
left out without any risk of changing the meaning, as in the book on
trades unions below. Some cataloguers make a feature of giving the
Christian name in full in subordinate entries if the author is a woman.
=Socialism=:
Webb, S. Socialism in England. 1901 335.1
=Trades Unions=:
Webb, S., &c. History of trade unionism.
1894 331.88
A reference is needed to assist towards that coordination between the
subject-entries of a catalogue serving to bring its related parts
together, and is helpful by way of suggestion to the inquirer when
using it.
=Labour=:
_See also_ Trades Unions.
There can be no objection in the above instance, or in those of Mrs.
Humphry Ward and other ladies _well known_ and commonly spoken of by
their husband's names, to giving, if desired, the entries under those
names, provided the usual references are furnished.
WEBB, Beatrice. _See_ Webb, Mrs. Sidney.
WARD, Mary A. _See_ Ward, Mrs. Humphry.
It would, however, be possible to dispense with the references
altogether, if only a comparatively small number of entries under Webb
or Ward appear in the catalogue.
To show the difficulty experienced by cataloguers in keeping pace with
ladies who change their names by marriage, it may be mentioned that
even a well-known author like the late Lady Dilke, who was Mrs. Mark
Pattison, can be found in good catalogues placed accidentally under
both names. On the other hand it is as well to be quite sure when
following up the changed names of women authors. The London Library
and some lesser catalogues have confused Anne Manning and Mrs. A. M.
Rathbone, with the result that books are amalgamated erroneously under
one name though written by different persons. In other catalogues of
minor importance "George Eliot" has figured as Mrs. G. H. Lewes and
Marie Corelli as Marion Mackay.
Although recommended by some rules, there is no real necessity for
giving references from the married names of writers of the importance
of "George Eliot" or Charlotte Brontë, as it is improbable that anyone
would refer to "Cross" or "Nicholls" for these authors.
This treatment of women authors may be summed up by repeating the
recommendation "use the best-known name in all cases"--if the lady
writes under her maiden name and is mostly known thereby, that is the
name to use; if by her married name, then use that.
If she has been married more than once and written under all forms of
her name (of which examples are A. Mary F. Robinson, who was Madame
Duclaux and then Madame Darmesteter, and Mrs. Aubrey Le Blond, née
Whitshed, formerly Mrs. Fred. Burnaby and Mrs. Main) then, again, the
best-known (in these cases Robinson and Le Blond) are the right ones
to use, not neglecting the references from the others. If a writer has
consistently used a pseudonym, that, again, is the best to adopt for
the entry. For example, there is a Spanish novelist, known as "Fernan
Caballero," who, surviving three husbands, resumed her maiden name. In
her case it is not worth while searching for or discussing which of her
names should be chosen, that by which she is universally known being
undoubtedly the best.
Books published anonymously--that is where the authors' names are
not upon the title-pages, and no clue to them is to be found in the
books--are more annoying to the cataloguer than pseudonymous works. At
times a preface or a dedication in a book may bear the author's name or
initials, or there may be something serving to reveal his identity in
the text, and such evidence must be searched for. In the event of the
book itself yielding no help, then the customary sources of information
are turned to, the best for British cataloguers being Halkett and
Laing's _Dictionary of the Anonymous and Pseudonymous Literature of
Great Britain_ (though this is not absolutely reliable). The British
Museum, London Library, or other important catalogues at command should
be consulted, particularly the catalogues of the place from which the
book comes, as the wanted information may be known locally. For French
books Barbier's _Dictionnaire des ouvrages anonymes_ is useful.
The method of cataloguing an anonymous book may be shown here. The
title-page of that chosen reads
The failure of Lord Curzon: a study in "imperialism": an open
letter to the Earl of Rosebery, by "Twenty-eight years in
India." 1903
The preface opens with a statement that the writer has adopted
anonymity though quite aware that it is the thinnest of screens if
there is any wish to pierce behind it, and he goes on to say that
a twenty-eight years' acquaintance with India, etc., suggests some
knowledge of the matter he discusses, thus showing that "Twenty-eight
years in India" is not the title of another book, but a species of
pseudonym. If this "thinnest of screens" cannot be penetrated, and the
mere suggestion that it can should serve to put the cataloguer on his
mettle, then there are two ways of entering the book regarding it as
strictly anonymous. One is to enter uniformly by the first word of the
title not an article as
Failure, The, of Lord Curzon: a study in "imperialism,"
by "Twenty-eight years in
India." 1903
The better way to enter anonymous books when concerned with particular
persons or places is under the names of such persons or places,
provided they are named on the title-pages, as
Curzon of Kedleston, Lord. The failure of
Lord Curzon: a study in "imperialism," by
"Twenty-eight years in India." 1903
This is a sufficient entry, as any person wanting the book could not
fail to remember that it related to Lord Curzon unless he thought
of Indian administration, which would be the subject-entry for it.
Another method, much the same in principle, is to enter under the first
substantive in the title.
If the name of the author is ascertained later and with certainty, as
this was, the entry must be altered accordingly
O'DONNELL, C. J. The failure of Lord Curzon:
a study in "imperialism," by "Twenty-eight
years in India." 1903 354.54
When literal exactness is the custom of the library the author's name
as above would be enclosed in brackets to show that it is an addition
made by the cataloguer under the rule previously alluded to. If that is
the method decided upon for entering anonymous books, the first-word
entry is still retained, with the author's name added.
Failure, The, of Lord Curzon: a study in
"imperialism," by "Twenty-eight years in
India" [C. J. O'Donnell.] 1903 354.54
With the author's name revealed the entry under Lord Curzon becomes a
subject-entry
=Curzon of Kedleston=, _Lord_:
O'Donnell, C. J. The failure of Lord Curzon.
1903 354.54
The author's name was obtained from a newspaper paragraph some months
after the publication of the book, and verified before use. If the
paragraph had been of the speculative nature of the following, it
would have been wiser to ignore it, and wait for something more definite
"The mention of Mr. Jack London suggests an interesting
question of authorship. There has been some discussion about
the anonymous author of the lately published 'Kempton Wace
Letters.' Now, in that book we find the superscription, 'The
Ridge, Berkeley, California'; and we can think of only three
writers who talk about California--'Gertrude Atherton,' Miss
Beatrice Harraden, and Mr. Jack London. The style of the
'Kempton Wace Letters' is so remote from that of the two
first-named, and on the other hand is so much like that of the
young Californian, that we venture to suggest Mr. London as the
author."
Paragraphs of this kind always appeal to the careful cataloguer, and
keep his mind on the alert until the point is settled one way or other.
One so obviously inspired as the following is authoritative enough for
use
"Sir Charles Eliot, whose authorship of the important work on
the Near East, 'Turkey in Europe,' by 'Odysseus,' is now an
open secret, has produced in 'The East Africa Protectorate,' to
be published by Mr. Edward Arnold on March 8th, an account of
the country of which he recently resigned the Commissionership."
There is another method of cataloguing anonymous books sometimes
seen, viz., bringing them all together under a heading "Anon." It
has nothing to commend it unless it be the apparent advantage of
having all anonymous books in one place. This is somewhat akin to the
practice of grouping all thin books under the comprehensive heading
"Pamphlets"--comprehensive because if the idea is carried out logically
only two headings are required, "Pamphlets" and "Books."
Another class of anonymous books is that in which they are stated to
be "By the Author of" some other book which is named. These are dealt
with in the same way as any other anonymous books, except that it is
convenient to furnish a list of the books that a library possesses
written by such an author, this list being given under the title of the
best-known book, if such can be distinguished--if not, the one most
frequently named on the title-pages of the rest of the books is taken,
when references can be given from the others. Examples are
Laddie.
-- Miss Toosey's mission.
-- Tip cat.
Miss Toosey's mission, by the Author of
"Laddie."
_See also_ Laddie.
If italics are preferred to quotation marks, the style will be instead
Tip cat, by the Author of _Laddie_.
_See also_ Laddie.
Instead of grouping the books under "Laddie," a covering note can be
appended to each book by the author as
Laddie.
Other books by the same author are _Lil_, _Miss
Toosey's mission_, _Tip cat_.
or the style, if preferred, may be
Miss Toosey's mission.
_Other books by the same author are_ Laddie,
Lil, Tip cat.
It is all the more necessary to follow out this method of entry in the
case of sequels to such books. For example there is a book
Lady of the decoration, The.
and its sequel
Lady married, The, by the Author of "The lady
of the decoration."
when the books can be entered together and in order of reading as
Lady of the decoration, The.
-- Lady married, The, by the [same author.]
Other and better-known instances are the books "by the Author of
'Elizabeth and her German Garden.'" Here, however, the identity of the
author has been ascertained, and the books are all brought together in
the ordinary way under her name (Countess von Arnim), and are not put
under "Elizabeth and her German Garden," the entry for which book would
disclose the name of the author and direct to the main-entry (Arnim),
where all her books are to be found.
Further troublesome books are those in which the authors' names are
veiled by initials which may be given on the title-pages or at the
end of the prefaces. The method of entry is much the same as that for
books altogether anonymous, except that either an entry or a reference
is given from the _last_ initial (from the first also if thought to be
required) to the entry word adopted. The full title of the book taken
in illustration reads:
The makers of Hellas: a critical inquiry into the philosophy
and religion of Ancient Greece, by E.E.G.; with an
introduction, notes, and conclusion by Frank B. Jevons, M.A.,
Litt.D. 1903
The editor tells us that the author died before the work was in print,
and the author requested him to publish it without revealing the
authorship. Even if the author had lived the book would have appeared
anonymously or under a pseudonym. We may presume that the initials are
those of the author's name, when we have choice of entry as if the
initials were not given, as
Makers of Hellas, The: the philosophy and
religion of Ancient Greece, by E.E.G.; ed.
by Frank B. Jevons. 1903 180
with references from the initials and the Editor as
G., E. E. _See_ Makers of Hellas.
Jevons, Frank B. (_Ed._) _See_ Makers of Hellas.
or, more conveniently and just as usefully, with an entry instead of a
reference under the initials
G., E. E. The makers of Hellas: the philosophy
and religion of Ancient Greece; ed. by Frank
B. Jevons. 1903 180
the reference from the Editor then being changed to
JEVONS, Frank B. (Ed.) _See_ G., E. E.
or, under the circumstances, an entry might be given
JEVONS, Frank B. (_Ed._) The makers of Hellas,
by E. E. G. 1903 180
when the first entry that under "Makers" can be dispensed with. The
subject-entry is
=Greece, Ancient=:
_Philosophy and Religion._
G., E. E. The makers of Hellas. 1903 180
and a reference, hardly wanted, but better given
Hellas. _See_ Greece, Ancient.
An entry of the above character with a bare initial takes precedence
of all the G's in the alphabetical arrangement, and therefore is not
placed as Gee but before Gaa, because the letters following the initial
are an unknown quantity (G----).
In the event, likely enough, of the name covered by the initials being
ascertained, the entry should then be given under the name. Instances
of these are
On the banks of the Seine, by A.M.F., Authoress of "Foreign
courts and foreign homes." 1900
Days and hours in a garden, by "E.V.B." 1884
when the authors being known the entries are
FALLS, Alice M. On the banks of the Seine. 1900
or more particularly exact
F[ALLS], A[lice] M. On the banks of the Seine.
1900
B[OYLE], E. V. Days and hours in a garden.
1884
with the essential references in such cases
F., A.M. _See_ Falls, Alice M.
B., E.V. _See_ Boyle, E. V.
These books may serve to illustrate more than the one point. The first
does not need a title-entry under "On," and certainly none under
"Banks" or "Seine," as the title is a fanciful one, which is hardly
likely to be remembered in any connection apart from its author and
subject. If a contrary view were taken, the most that could be given
would be this entry:
Seine, On the banks of the. Falls, A. M. 1900
which is altogether misleading, as the book has nothing to do with
the river, but is a series of sketches of French historical events
occurring in Paris. The correct entry therefore is
=France=:
_History._
Falls, A. M. On the banks of the Seine.
1900 944
In contradistinction the second book is most likely to be remembered by
its title as
Days and hours in a garden. Boyle, E. V. 1884
This is one of the forerunners of a long series of books of garden
diaries or essays, containing notes upon flowers, birds, and other
things connected with gardens, and the thoughts they suggest upon a
variety of subjects, and is, by no means, a practical book for the
working gardener. Such books, while inevitably coming under a heading
"Gardens and Gardening," need to be grouped together apart from the
practical books under a sub-division, "Literary Miscellany," or some
other suitable term.
There are books, too, with initials in the place of the authors' names
which obviously do not stand for a name as
The Athanasian Creed, by LL.D. 1861
or the last initial is clearly not part of the name, as
A sermon preached at the funeral of Lady Mary
Armyne, by J. D., M.A. 1676
The first book is better regarded as entirely anonymous, which it
virtually is, as
Athanasian Creed, The, by LL.D. 1861 238.1
and the second upon the lines previously indicated as
D., J., M.A. A sermon preached at the funeral
of Lady Mary Armyne. 1676 252.9
or, even better still, as
Armyne, Lady Mary, Sermon preached at the
funeral of, by J. D., M.A. 1676 252.9
with the reference, if considered necessary,
D., J., M.A. _See_ Armyne, Lady Mary.
The initials may at times cover a pseudonym when, if this happens to
be unknown, the method of entry would as a matter of course be similar
to that outlined above. If it is known that the initials represent a
pseudonym or phrase-pseudonym, of which A.L.O.E., meaning "A Lady of
England," is a well-known example, then the entry is given under the
first letter and not the last, thus
"A.L.O.E." (Charlotte M. Tucker). House
Beautiful; or, the Bible museum. 1868
and following the customary procedure for pseudonym the reference is
given from the real name
Tucker, Charlotte M. _See_ A.L.O.E.
Here again it is recommended to alphabetize as if the first initial
(A) stood alone, and at the beginning of the alphabet rather than as
Aloe. This may not be a matter of much moment, but it is one of those
apparently trivial details which in the aggregate make the catalogue
more accurate, more convenient, and more useful.