Classification System
The Classification System used for the library of The Augustan Society, Inc., is unique to our collection, as is common among special libraries. It has not (yet) been given a name.
Like most such systems, it contains several groups of characters that may code for different things depending on the classification and need. The first of these is the class designation. These consist of a letter for the primary category, additional letters for a sub-category, and often a group of two letters or a letter and a numeral for specific subclassifications.
First Line
Primary Classifications
- A = Arms (Heraldry)
- C = Chivalry
- E = Encyclopediæ
- F = Fiction
- G = Genealogy
- H = History
- M = Maps, Atlases, Gazetteers
- N = Numismatics
- P = Philatelics
- R = Royalty, Nobility, Biography
- S = Staff support
- W = Who's Who
Other categories may well prove necessary over time.
Secondary Classifications
- A = Arms, general
- AT = Arms, Tartans
- AV = Arms, Vexillology
- C = Chivalry
- CA = Chivalry, Arms & Armor
- CI = Chivalric Insignia
- CM = Chivalry, Militaria
- CO = Orders of Chivalry
- E = Encyclopediæ
- F = Fiction
- G = Genealogy
- GF = Genealogy, Family
- GFC = Genealogy, Family, Collective
- GFN = Genealogy, Family, by Name
- GG = Genetic Genealogy
- GI = Genealogical Indices
- GM = Genealogical Magazines (general)
- GN = Genealogy, National*
- GP = Genealogy, Peoples****
- GR = Genealogy, Regional
- GS = Genealogy, State**
- H = History
- HAN = History, Anthropology
- HAR = History, Archaeology
- HC = Castles, Architecture
- HE = History, Eras
- HEA = History, Ancient
- HEAR = History, Arthurian
- HEC = History, Crusades
- HED = History, Age of Discovery
- HEM = History, Medieval
- HER = History, Renaissance
- HF = Faith, Religion, Myth
- HFC = Faith, Christian
- HFD = Faith, Druidic
- HFI = Faith, Islamic
- HFJ = Faith, Judaic
- HFM = Mythology
- HG = Geography (not including maps)
- HN = History, National*
- HP = History, Peoples***
- HR = History, Regions (multiple nations)
- M = Maps, Atlases, Gazetteers
- N = Numismatics
- P = Philatelics
- R = Royalty & Nobility
- RB = Biography****
- RBC = Biography, Collective
- RH = Royal & Noble Houses
- S = Staff support
- W = Who's Who
Tertiary Classifications
Some categories are naturally large, and deserving of further subdivision. These come in the several types shown below. Be advised that not all possible subdivisions have been created. For example, if there is only one book on a particular national history, it may well have been left under HN rather than assigning its own classification.
National Classifications
GN and HN are subdivided by nations. Two-letter codes are used for nations represented in the current TLD list found online at Wikipedia. (This source is preferred as there are a number of competing agencies and standards.) Nations not represented on this list are assigned two character cutter codes. Note that this results in nations being shelved out of strict alphabetical order (sometimes wildly so, as Switzerland uses CH).
New codes will be assigned as needed, using the TLD list where possible, and Cutter numbers where not.
Country codes in use include:
| *A8 = Austria-Hungary | *GE = Georgia (nation) | *N3 = Naples |
| *AM = Armenia | *GR = Greece | *NO = Norway |
| *B9 = Byzantine Empire | *GT = Guatemala | *O8 = Ottoman Empire |
| *BB = Barbados | *H3 = Hawai'i (as a nation) | *OM = Oman |
| *BS = Bahamas | *H6 = Holy Roman Empire | *PO = Poland |
| *C3 = Carthage | *HU = Hungary | *PT = Portugal |
| *CA = Canada | *IL = Israel | *R6 = Rome |
| *CH = Switzerland | *IM = Isle of Man | *RU = Russia |
| *CN = China | *IN = India | *S3 = Scotland |
| *CU = Cuba | *IS = Iceland | *SA = Saudi Arabia |
| *DE = Germany | *IT = Italy | *SY = Syria |
| *DK = Denmark | *JM = Jamaica | *SZ = Swaziland |
| *E6 = England (see also G7, UK) | *JO = Jordan | *UK = United Kingdom (see also E6, G7, IM, S3, W3) |
| *EE = Estonia | *JP = Japan | |
| *EG = Egypt | *LT = Lithuania | *US = United States (see also State codes) |
| *EI = Ireland | *LY = Libya | |
| *ET = Ethiopia | *M5 = Minos | *VA = Vatican City |
| *FR = France | *M6 = Moravia | *W3 = Wales |
| *G7 = Great Britain (see also E6, IM, S3, UK, W3) |
*MC = Monaco | |
| *MX = Mexico |
Many locations have been part of different countries over the centuries. Items are shelved by the name of the ruling country at the time in question. When works cover a long period, they are shelved under the current name, or rarely under the most common one.
This is a particular challenge for what's now the United Kingdom. While there's a tendency in genealogy to use UK for all areas now included in the country, this is not the case in the field of history. There are many works that pertain only to Scotland, Wales, or Ireland. These works are shelved under those names as a means of subdividing the UK. A very few works address only the period when the name of the country was England or Great Britain, and those are shelved there.
State Classifications
Classification GS is subdivided by state. It may prove useful to create HS and subdivisions at some future point. At present, only US states have classifications. It is fully expected that Canadian provinces will be added once sufficient volumes are cataloged to warrant it. New codes will use the two-letter abbreviations assigned by the USPS or Canada Post. State codes in use include:
