Catalogs & Guides
The variety of collections the APS holds necessitates multiple searching devices. While automation lends itself towards greater integration of searching tools, the level of detail that each type of material requires varies greatly. Researchers who know exactly what collection they wish to work with will frequently go directly to the EAD finding aid to look at the inventory. Other researchers who may be curious to know if we have any materials that relate to their searches may peruse VOLE to determine what books and manuscript collections the APS owns that pertain to a certain subject. Please read on for a detailed description.
Printed materials
Our entire collection of printed materials is indexed and fully searchable through VOLE: The Vaughan Online Catalog. VOLE contains bibliographic records of all books, periodicals, newspapers, and broadsides held by the APS. A particular benefit of the APS catalog is that it contains selected records of articles within periodicals and edited volumes. VOLE also provides access to abstract entries for many manuscript collections and bibliographic data with thumbnails for selected images.
A large number of specialized bibliographies are available in printed form at the APS and at most major research libraries. While the majority of these bibliographies refer to manuscript collections, some also cover printed materials. We have provided an online inventory of these bibliographies for the convenience of researchers.
Manuscript materials
The hunt for manuscript materials can be arduous, at times, but we have provided several tools to assist researchers. We have traditionally provided better access to names (particularly the writers and recipients of letters) than subjects, however our records provide at least some rudimentary help. We do not index the names of individuals mentioned in collections unless the references are truly substantial.
The following are the major points of access into the APS manuscripts collections:
- MOLE: Manuscripts On-Line. MOLE contains abstracts (brief descriptions) of all collections arranged alphabetically by collection name, with links to complete EAD finding aids, when available. It is an updated version of Stephen Catlett's, A New Guide to the Collections in the American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia, 1986).
Catlett's printed Guide is now out of date, but does contain a selective subject index.
The abstracts are highly selective in what they say about the collections, and cannot represent the complete content.
EAD finding aids. An alphabetical listing of EAD finding aids is also available on the APS website. These finding aids provide detailed description as well as inventories, frequently to the folder level, for many of the largest and most significant collections at the APS. Xml versions of these finding aids require an xml-compatible browser to view (e.g. Internet Explorer 5+), however for older browsers we also supply html and pdf versions.
Specialized subject guides and bibliographies. The APS website includes a listing of in-depth bibliographies of APS manuscript collections relating to a variety of specific topics, including African American history, American Indian history and culture, history of medicine, genetics, biochemistry and physiology, and quantum physics.
The card catalog. Old fashioned and available only on-site, the card catalog of the APS manuscripts department remains a useful instrument for locating individual letters. It is most reliable for locating letters to or from particular individuals, but it provides very limited access to subjects as well.
Published "Papers". The APS has contributed materials to a number of "papers" projects -- print or on-line compendium of the writings of an individual. The APS holdings for Benjamin Franklin and Charles Darwin are, or will be, completely published, and we have contributed to the papers of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, Melville Herskovits, and many others. Most recently, we have cooperated with the National Library of Medicine to make selected portions of the Barbara McClintock Papers available on line.
Graphic materials
The Library holds a tremendous amount of graphic material. Not all of this material is available digitally, but the majority of it is described and searchable in the image search section of VOLE. Lists of online galleries and collections that feature appreciable graphics holdings are available on the Graphics Page.
The Digital Collections feature fully described and searchable digital images as well as other formats.
Questions regarding the graphics holdings may be directed to the Manuscripts Department or Printed Materials Department.