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https://confluence.cornell.edu/x/I3rHFScope: This procedure gives bare-bones instructions for cataloging a single manuscript according to the standard Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (Manuscripts), aka DCRM(MSS), whose text is available at http://rbms.info/dcrm/dcrmmss . This procedure assumes that the bib record will be created in OCLC, while the holdings and item records will be created in FOLIO.
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Unit: RMC
Date last updated:
Date of next review: October 20232025
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Anchor A A
A. Fixed fields
| A | |
| A |
Note: Fixed fields not listed below are left blank.
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Type (Type of record): t (for manuscript text) or p (for mixed material)
BLvl (Bibliographic level): m (for individual item ) or c (for collection) [NB: OCLC accepts only c if the type of record is p]or just a few items)
Desc (Descriptive cataloging form): a
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Ctry (Country): use appropriate MARC country code for the place of production, not for the location of the repository as prescribed in DACS
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Anchor B B
B. Variable fields [ _ used to denote blank indicators; bolded fields are required if applicable]
| B | |
| B |
040 __ COO $b eng $c COO $e dcrmmss (Note: OCLC will fill in $a, $c, and also $e rda; delete that, add $b, and add $e dcrmmss at the end)
099 _9 Collection numbernumber (optional)
1xx x_ Creator [100 1_ for individual, 100 3_ for family, 110 for corporate body, etc.]
Note: the creator is the one who creates the intellectual content of the item. So for a manuscript by person A which is copied by person B, the creator is still person still person A, even though person B was B was responsible for the physical production of the manuscript copy.
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- With/Bound-with notes: 7B18.1
6xx xx: Subject headings: Archivists use subject headings partly to group together manuscripts on similar topics, and also to capture what we have relating to people in various occupations. So in addition to the usual headings, consider adding a subject heading such as Lawyers—[place] if the creator is a lawyer. We have a lot of manuscripts by actors and actresses, so it’s worth adding a subject heading for them when you come across them (e.g. Actors $z France). A term such as Politicians $z (country) $v Correspondence can be useful especially when the creator is an obscure person who likely won't be searched for by name.
655_7 Form/genre (with $2 aat or $2 rbgenr at end, depending on whether the term you're using comes from the Art & Architecture Thesaurus or from RBMS Genre Terms)
700 1_ Name of another contributor or otherwise related individual, such as a translator, copyist, addressee (for the person a letter is addressed to), etc., followed by $e and that person's role. See MARC Code List for Relators for terms to use for their role.
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Anchor C C
C. Holdings record fields (bolded fields are required if applicable)
| C | |
| C |
Call number for a bound manuscript:
Prefix: Archives ; call number: (collection number) Bd. Ms. 1; suffix: size designation (if other than "regular")
Holdings note
--If the item is a gift, use note type Source of acquisition; text: Gift of (donor's name)
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