Classification systems provide ways to separate concepts into
relatively broad topics. Many classification systems also include
specific terminology to be used (for example, object names).
The Revised Nomenclature for Museum Cataloging:
A Revised and Expanded Edition of Robert G. Chenhall's System
for Classifying Man-Made Objects.
The Revised Nomenclature, published by the American Association
for State and Local History, is a hierarchical classification
system (and partial term list) for man-made objects (excludes
natural history objects). Nomenclature is organized on the basis
of the original function of the object. This revision as well
as the original Nomenclature are widely used in history
museums, including many Canadian museums. It has a partial lexicon;
definitions for major artefact categories are provided. A few
of the classification terms are defined as well. Revised
Nomenclature was used as a terminology source for the Art
& Architecture Thesaurus. The Revised Nomenclature
is available in print,
in English only.
Classification System for Historical Collections.
Created by the Canadian Parks Service (now Parks Canada, Department
of Canadian Heritage). Based on Chenhall's Revised
Nomenclature for Museum Cataloguing, this object classification
system was developed specifically for the historical collections
of the Canadian Parks Service.
The Parks Classification System for Historical Collections
- contains all the same categories as Nomenclature but reflects
the Parks Canada collection in its object names
- elaborates on the Nomenclature system in its categories
for military artefacts, costumes, and packaging and containers
- is used throughout the historical and ethnographic collections
of Parks Canada to support the identification, documentation,
and presentation of the national collection
- is used in preparing scope of collections statements within
Parks Canada.
The Classification System for Historical Collections is also
widely used by Canadian institutions outside of Parks Canada.
Parks Canada recommends the Classification System for Historical
Collections for use in historic sites that are not administered
by Parks Canada. It is recognized as a standard tool for managing
historical collections in many museums, museum associations,
and special interest groups at a local, regional, provincial
and federal level. Printed versions available in English
and French.
Look and Learn: Descriptive and Visual Dictionary of Objects
Parks Canada has completed the first volume of a visual dictionary
for the objects found in Parks Canada's historical collection.
The Visual Dictionary is based on the Parks Canada Classification
System for Historical Collections. The Classification
System provides the framework of categories, classes, and
object terms, whereas the Dictionary defines the lower
level of the scheme (the lexicon of object terms, the references
to alternate, broader, and narrower terms, and the illustrations).
The first volume covers the first three categories of the Classification
System: Structures, Furnishings, and Personal Artifacts.
This first volume contains 2,000 entries and 600 illustrations.
Includes an annotated bibliography. Printed version available
in English
and French
Social History
and Industrial Classification: A Subject Classification for
Museum Collections (SHIC)
Published by the SHIC Working Party of the UK's Museum Documentation
Association (now called mda,
SHIC is the product of a collaboration between a number of UK
museums to produce a subject classification for the field of
social and industrial history. It is "designed to make
links between a wide variety of museum material...according
to the sphere of human activity with which they are primarily
associated"1.
The Social History and Industrial Classification:
- provides a broad interdisciplinary structure with which
to arrange objects, photographs, archival material, etc. within
the field of human history.
- includes both abstract concepts/general materials as well
as more specific, concrete terms.
SHIC is not widely used in North America. Print
version available only in English.
ICONCLASS
ICONCLASS
- is a subject-specific international classification system
which museums can use for iconographic research and the documentation
of images.
- contains definitions of objects, persons, events, situations
and abstract ideas that can be the subject of an image.
- consists of a classification system (approximately 28,000
definitions), an alphabetical index, and a bibliography with
40,000 references to books and articles of iconographical
and cultural historical interest.
It is currently only available in English, but is reportedly being
translated to French and other languages.
Outline of Cultural
Materials
Murdock, G.P., et al. 1961. Fourth revised edition. Human Relations
Area Files, Inc., New Haven. Ethnological classification system
"reflecting human behaviour, social life, customs, material
products, and ecological settings"2. Allows multiple classification
of single objects (by material, function, form, etc.), but does
not provide object names for use within classification levels.
The Outline of Cultural Materials is part of the culture
and subject classification created and maintained by the Human
Relations Area Files, Inc.(HRAF). Based at Yale University.
English only; print publication available to be ordered at www.yale.edu/hraf/
Integrated
Taxonomic Information System - Canadian Version (ITIS *ca)
ITIS is a database created by an international partnership
of agencies and taxonomic specialists. ITIS provides
information on species names and their hierarchical classification;
it includes "documented taxonomic information of flora and fauna
from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats"3.
For each scientific name, ITIS includes "the authority
(author and date), taxonomic rank, associated synonyms and vernacular
names where available, a unique taxonomic serial number, data
source information (publications, experts, etc.) and data quality
indicators"4.
Les systèmes de classification du Réseau Info-Muse : pourquoi et comment les utiliser ?.
Published by La Société des musées québécois (SMQ), this guide describes how classification systems are used within the InfoMuse database. Available online in French only.