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Re: Subject terms for race



Hello, Lynnea.

This has been the subject of much debate, and some Society of American Archivists annual meeting sessions.  On the one hand, some folks consider it "---ist" (name your bias) to track this information.  But as you have recognized, there are some who find these access points very helpful for their studies.  The argument has been put forward that this information should be suppressed because it can be manipulated, or interpreted, to promote wrong-headed points of view.  I say, don't blame the data.  

Now, let's bring this down to "cases".  What sort of records have you got-- personnel files?  You should take steps to protect the privacy of individuals who might still be living.  

If you want to get a consensus of "informed" opinion, put your question to the various SAA minority roundtables, and the Privacy & Confidentiality RT.


Judy Robins, C. A.,
Collections Supervisor,
Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology
520 N. Northwest Highway
Park Ridge, IL  60068-2573

Tel:  847-825-5586

Fax:  847-825-1692

e-mail:  j.robins@ASAHQ.org



-----Original Message-----
From: Lynnea Kleinschmidt [mailto:pommern99@ATTBI.COM]
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 4:11 PM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Subject terms for race


I have posted this question to the museum listserv.  Someone suggested I
post the question to this listserv as well.

I am the coordinator for an IMLS museum-library collaboration grant.  We are
using three controlled vocabulary lists:  AAT, TGM1, and LCSH for providing
subject access.  We are cataloging World War II shipyard materials, so
gender and race are important issues for the stories of the work force and
for our community.  The policy for applying race access has been discussed.

Do you usually identify the race of people in your documents when you
catalog them.  If so, do you identify the race of everyone or only that of
selected persons?

Is anyone applying the controlled vocabularies I mentioned?

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