Definition

The documentation and management of information about a named iconographical, literary, mythological, or religious character, animal, theme, or story, or a named historical or fictional event. It may also contain information about a named structure, particularly if the structure is not cataloged separately as an work in its own right. (CDWA)

Requirements

• Allow users to compile authorized terms or headings used by a single organization or consortium in cataloging, indexing, or documentation (CDWA)
• Allow for the management of synonyms and related terms, including non-hierarchical "associative relationships" among authorities
• Allow users to create hierarchies within authority records
• Enable term control in intake records, object records, and other authorities
• The authority should be compliant with ISO and NISO standards for thesauri (CDWA)

Standards, Guidelines + Use Cases

From CDWA

Standard general sources include the following, arranged in order of preference:

Iconographic Themes

• Garnier, François. Thesaurus iconographique : système descriptif des représentations. Paris: Léopard d'or, 1984.
• ICONCLASS (most useful for Western religious and mythological subjects) http://www.iconclass.nl/.
• Narkiss, Bezalel, et al. Index of Jewish Art: Iconographical Index of Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts. Jerusalem and Paris: Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Institut de recherche et d'histoire des textes, 1976-1988.
• Roberts, Helene E. ed. Encyclopedia of Comparative Iconography: Themes Depicted in Works of Art. 2 vols. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn, 1998
• Stutley, Margaret. Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1985.

Fictional Characters

• Magill, Frank N. Cyclopedia of Literary Characters. Revised Ed. Edited by A.J. Sobczak. Pasadena, California: Salem Press, 1990-1998.
• Seymour-Smith, Martin. Dent Dictionary of Fictional Characters. London: Orion Publishing Co., 1991.

Events

• Grun, Bernard. Timetables of History: Horizontal Linkage of People and Events. 3rd ed. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.
• Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 2nd ed. Thompson, Sue Ellen and Helene Henderson, compilers. Detroit, Michigan: Omnigraphics, 1997.
• Kohn, George Childs. Dictionary of Wars. Revised ed. New York: Facts on File, 2000.
• Library of Congress Subject Headings. Library of Congress Authorities. online Washington, DC: Library of Congress. http://authorities.loc.gov/.
• Mellersh, H.E. L. and Neville Williams. Chronology of World History. 4 vols. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 1999.

Names of Buildings

• America Preserved: Checklist of Historic Buildings, Structures, and Sites. 60th ed. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, 1995.
• Avery Library. Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals at Columbia University. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co.; Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Trust, 1994-
• Dictionary of Art. 34 vols. Jane Turner, ed. New York: Grove, 1996, or by subscription at http://www.groveart.com/.
• Fletcher, Sir Banister. History of Architecture. 18th ed. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975.
• Library of Congress Subject Headings. Library of Congress Authorities. online Washington, DC: Library of Congress. http://authorities.loc.gov/.
• Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Adolf K. Placzek, ed. New York: Free Press; London: Collier Macmillan, 1982.

Associated Wireframes

Associated Services

Schema

Subject Authority Schema

Concept Authority Schema