Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
RE Stephanie Edward's query on subject headings for photographs:
My understanding is that LCGTM was developed to provide headings for
photographs *of* things, whereas LCSH was developed to provide headings
for works *about* the thing. The difference is subtle, such as ROBOTS
vs. ROBOTICS; you can have a photograph of the former, but not the latter.
I also understand that the folks at LC's Prints and Photographs sought to
make LCGTM as compatible as possible with LCSH, but I know two are not in
perfect harmony. LCSH prefers Sepulchural monuments while LCGTH prefers
Tombs & sepulchural monuments.
I typically go to LCSH first for reasons of uniformity with other materials.
In the absence of a heading, I then turn to LCGTM.
The problem of naming a thing, rather than a subject, can be a recurring
problem when assigning headings to photographs. You might want to seriously
consider use of Chenall's Museum Nomenclature (2nd ed) in addition to
LC headings. I don't recall if Chenall is an allowable authority in 650,
so it may have to be applied as a local heading.
-- Richard Pearce-Moses, Curator of Photographs
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1006
(602) 965-9276