FRANKLIN COLLECTION
(approved for use September 4, 2002)
Scope
An extensive collection of books, pamphlets, prints, and manuscripts by and
about Benjamin Franklin, his contemporaries, and his times. Orginally formed
by William Smith Mason, 1888S, the collection came to Yale in 1935. Mason's
gift consisted of more than 11,000 books, 850 pamphlets, 400 broadsides and
a large group of manuscripts. At present, all manuscripts as well as books,
pamphlets, and broadsides published before 1765 are housed in the Beinecke Library.
Serial titles as well as books, pamphlets, and broadsides printed after 1765
are housed in the Franklin Collection rooms in Sterling Memorial Library.
Cf. George Simpson Eddy, "A Ramble Through the Mason-Franklin Collection," YULG
10:4 (April 1936), 65-90. Additions to the original collection are described
in brief notes in later issues of the Gazette including 15:1 (July 1940), 16-19;
16:1 (July 1941), 1-3; and 20:2 (October 1945), 23-28.
The Rare Book Team catalogs the few items, mostly adds to on-going multi-part
items, that are added to the collection each year.
Classification and Marking
The Franklin Collection has its own classification. Call numbers are assigned by the Franklin Collection before items are sent to the Rare Book Team for cataloging. Call numbers are penciled on the verso of the t.p. When cataloging is completed, Franklin items are put on a truck in the Catalog Dept. for items to be sent to Preparations.
Subject and added tracings
Standard L.C. subject headings and added tracings are made for Franklin items. No genre headings or provenance notes are made. Copy specific notes are rarely made, but may be made if needed to distinguish multiple copies on a record or to point out important copy specific features.
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