Library of Congress Subject Headings

Useful Subdivisions to Identify Primary Source Material

Subdivision Used Under To Identify
Archival Resources Countries, etc.
Topics
Brief descriptions of the types of documents and historical records about a particular place or topic available in an institution or institutions
Archives Names of people
Corporate bodies
Educational institutions
Types of corporate bodies/educational institutions
Classes of persons
Ethnic Groups
Collections of documents or historical records including notes, correspondence, minutes, photographs, legal papers
Autographs Names of people Collections or discussions of the person's autograph or handwriting
Caricatures and cartoons Names of people
Corporate bodies
Classes of persons
Ethnic groups
Names of wars
Topical headings
Collections or discussions of caricatures or pictorial humor
Catalogs Names of artists
Corporate bodies
Types of organizations
Works listing objects located in organizations, institutions or particular places
Comic books, strips Names of people
Topical headings
Correspondence Names of people
Classes of persons
Ethnic groups
Form or topical subdivision for letters from and/or to the personor people; can be subdivided by -Catalogs
Description - [dates] Cities Add -Views for pictorial works
Description and travel- [date] Countries
Diaries Names of persons Collections or discussions of the person's diaries and for individual diaries
Facsimiles Types of printed materials
Specific documents
History- Sources Countries
Names of people
Classes of persons
Ethnic groups
Topical headings no inherently historical
Collections or discussion of contemporary writings such as legal documents, letters, diaries, family papers,etc. assembled at a later time to serve as source material for research
Interviews Names of people Works consisting of transcripts of what was said during the course of the interview or conversations with a person on one or more occasions
Library Resources Countries
Names of people
Corporate bodies
Classes of persons
Ethnic groups
Topical headings
Works describing the resources and special collections available
Manuscripts Literary authors
Literary works that enter under title
Sacred works
Groups of authors
Names of literatures
Topical headings
Manuscripts - Catalogs
Manuscripts - Facsimiles
Manuscripts - Indexes
Manuscripts - Microform catalogs
Maps Countries, etc.
Corporate bodies
Topical headings
Individual maps or collections of maps
Maps - To 1800
Maps, Manuscript
Countries, etc.
Notebooks, sketchbooks Names of people Collections or discussions of the person's notebooks or sketchbooks
Numismatics Names of people Works discussing representations of the person on coins, medals, tokens, paper money, etc.
Personal narratives Names of events
Names of wars
Personal reminiscences or accounts by participants
Pictorial Works Names of people Named entities Classes of persons Ethnic groups Individual wars Topical headings
Portraits Names of people Collections or discussion of portraits of persons living after 1400; use -Art for those living before
Posters Names of people Corporate bodies Classes of persons Ethnic groups Individual wars Topical headings Collections or discussion of posters depicting the person, group, etc.
Self Portraits Names of people Reproductions or discussion of self-portraits by the person
Statues Names of people Works discussing or containing reproductions of statues of the person