---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 15:45:26 -0400
From: Paige Andrew <[log in to unmask]>
To: Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Geographic question (fwd)

Roberta,

Allow me to jump into this question and try to help. It is one that we all
struggle with, particularly the first time that it is encountered, and I've
never felt 100% comfortable with the way these "no longer existing" towns and
cities are handled but it is at the very least a methodology to follow. Library
of Congress says, in the LC Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings, in
instruction H708 on "Linear Jurisdictional Name Changes in NARs" that it is
their policy to "assign as a subject heading or as a geographic subdivision,
only the latest name of a political jurisdiction [my stress here] that has had
one or more earlier names, as long as the territorial identity remains
essentially unchanged."  I've never completely understood the "territorial
identity" part of this although an obvious example is the breakup of Yugoslavia
into separate constituent countries.  So, in your case, if the city of
Portland, Maine "swallowed up" the town of Deering in the past then give as the
subject heading for the map Portland (Me.) and also use the geographic cutter
for Portland. Use a note to explain that Deering existed at a particular time
in history and now is a part of Portland so that your patrons will not be left
with too many questions.

I hope this helps!

Paige

At 01:30 PM 8/13/01 -0400, you wrote:
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 11:32:23 -0400
>From: Roberta Ransley <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Geographic question
>
>Hello Map listserv:
>I'm cataloging a map of a town that no longer exists. The town of
>Deering (Maine) broke first from the town of Westbrook and then
>was annexed to Portland. I find in the cutter that there isn't one for
>Deering; there is one for Westbrook and Portland. Should I just use
>Portland cutter? Make a note? Thanks- Roberta Ransley, Osher
>Map Library.

Paige Andrew
Faculty Maps Cataloger
   and Associate Librarian