Seymour Lubetzky papers, 1938-2003
Finding aid prepared by Mary Priest, 2015; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
Processing of this collection was generously supported by the Constantine and Perina Panunzio Endowment for University Archives.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2015 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Seymour Lubetzky papers
Collection number: 1544
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
11.2 linear ft.
(8 record cartons and 8 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1938-2003
Abstract: Seymour Lubetzky (1898-2003) was a professor in the UCLA School of Library Service (1960-69) and a descriptive cataloging
theorist. The collection consists of subject and correspondence files, lecture notes, and audio tapes from the 1930s through
the 2000s related to Lubetzky's work in cataloging and classification in the Library Information Science discipline.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Lubetzky, Seymour
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are
retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where UCLA Library Special Collections does not
hold the copyright.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Reel-to reel audio materials are present and may need to be digitized prior to use or require special equipment for access.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Seymour Lubetzky Papers (Collection 1544). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Donated by Seymour Lubetzky in 1987. Addition was donated by Richard Lubetzky in 2003.
Processing Information
Finding aid edited by Josh Fiala in 2002. Addition processed by Mary Priest in 2015 in the Center for Primary Research and
Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Jillian Cuellar. Processing of this collection was generously supported by the Constantine
and Perina Panunzio Endowment for University Archives.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Seymour Lubetzky was born in a small village, in what is now known as Belarus, on April 28th, 1898. It was there that he studied
literature and languages and worked as a teacher before immigrating to the United States in 1925. Lubetzky studied languages
at UCLA, receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1931. In 1932, the University of California, Berkley awarded Lubetzky a master’s
degree in German languages and library science. After graduation, Lubetzky worked as a cataloger at UCLA and began regularly
publishing articles on cataloging principles. In 1943, Lubetzky was hired at the Library of Congress to help process a backlog
of books needing to be cataloged. His questioning of the existing cataloging system led to his publication of several articles
including Rules for Descriptive Cataloging and Cataloging Rules and Principles. Principles from these articles carried into
standards for the field and are still used in libraries across the world today, including the Library of Congress. Lubetzky
worked as a professor in the UCLA School of Library Science from 1960-1969, but continued to be active in the field long after
his retirement. His works earned him honors from the American Library Association including the Melvil Dewey Medal in 1977
and an honorary lifetime membership in 2002. Seymour Lubetzky was 104 when he died on April 5th, 2003.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of subject and correspondence files, lecture notes, and audio tapes from the 1930s through the 2000s relating
to Lubetzky's work in cataloging and classification in the Library Information Science discipline.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1: Original Collection, 1938-1987
- Series 2: Addition, 1929-2002
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Lubetzky, Seymour--Archives.
University of California, Los Angeles. School of Library Service--Faculty--Archival resources.
Catalogers--United States--Archives.
Series 1: Original Collection.
1938-1987.
Carton 1
Institute on Catalogue Code Review, vol.3-11.
Physical Description: In two black binders.
Carton 1
Drafts of rule revisions.
Carton 1
Principles of Descriptive Cataloging.
Physical Description: Mimeo with data sheets.
Carton 1
The Library Association: Cataloging Rules Sub-Committee--minutes and memoranda.
1949-1960.
Carton 1
Correspondence and memoranda as UCLA professor at School for Libary Service. (?), outgoing and incoming interfiled.
1960-1969.
Carton 2
Audiotapes. no.1-33. Contents not clearly identified; possibly a recording of a conference's proceedings.
Physical Description: 33 Scotch (3M Brand) 7 1/2 inch reel-to-reel.
Carton 3
Drafts and copies of papers by Seymour Lubetzky and others. Also includes some minutes and notes taken at various meetings.
1938-1965.
Physical Description: 70 folders.
Carton 4
Various contents.
Physical Description: 24 folders.
Carton 4
Specialist in Bibliograprhic and Cataloging Policiy.
1951-1960.
Physical Description: 5 folders.
Carton 4
Harvard College Library, working papers.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 4
Rule revisions and office memoranda.
Carton 5
Offprints of articles sent to, collected by Seymour Lubetzky.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Carton 5
Letter to Academic Senate, UCLA. and Bibliography for cataloging course.
1960 1963.
Carton 5
Drafts of memoranda and papers.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 5
Miscellaneous notes.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Carton 5
Evaluation of Seymour Lubetzky's job performance at Library of Congress.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 5
Correspondence, marked Private.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 5
Cataloging Code Revision Steering Committee.
Physical Description: 11 folders.
Carton 5
The Function of Main Entry in the Alphabetical Catalog.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 5
Draft of AACRI.
Physical Description: 6 folders.
Carton 6
Draft of AACRI.
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Carton 6
British Library Association.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 6
Various papers and manuals.
Physical Description: 23 folders.
Carton 6
Syllabi for courses in School of Library Service.
Physical Description: 31 folders.
Carton 7
Commentary of various library issues by Seymour Lubetzky and others.
Physical Description: 7 folders.
Carton 7
School of Library Service, UCLA, staff meetings.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Carton 7
Recommendation by Seymour Lubetzky for Professor Baughman.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Seymour Lubetzky's Bio-bibliography.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Draft of lecture presented in British Columbia.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Notes on cataloging projects and issues.
Physical Description: 4 folders.
Carton 7
School of Library Service, committee notes.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Bibliographic Dimensions in information Control.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Engagements, letters and announcements concerning Seymour Lubetzky's lectures.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
ETV Newletter.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Faculty Center.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Articles on filing.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Grants, applications for.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Syllabi, class list, and evaluations for cataloging course taught by Seymour Lubetzky at University of Illinois Gradate School
of Library Science.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Carton 7
Institute on Future of Library Education.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
InterLibrary Loans.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Kneller Report Committee, SLS.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Law Librarianship.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Map Librarianship.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Curriculum guidelines for Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS).
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Powellisms.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Library Research Clearinghouse, research.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
San Francisco Lectures.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
Travel.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
School Librarianship.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
University Bulletin.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
UCLA Library borrowing.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Carton 7
MAGLP (Multi-Area Group Library Program).
Physical Description: 12 folders.
Carton 7
Library Curiosities, includes unpublishied version of Seymour Lubetzky's
Manual of Descriptive Cataloguing..
Carton 8
MAGLP.
Physical Description: 2 folders.
Carton 8
Code Revision Committee.
Physical Description: 3 folders.
Carton 8
Notes, commentaries, memoranda on cataloguing issues and code revision.
Physical Description: 20 folders.
Series 2: Addition.
1929-2002.
Language of Material:
English
Scope and Content
This addition to the collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, and course materials. This series also contains academic
journal publications from The Library Quarterly and The Library Journal, files from Lubetzky’s time with the Library of Congress,
and a number of his published articles.
Organization and Arrangement
Folders arranged alphabetically by subject.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Reel-to reel audio materials are present and may need to be digitized prior to use or require special equipment for access.
Box 1, Folder 1
Anglo-American Cataloging Rules.
1966-1967.
Box 1, Folders 2-3
Awards and Honors.
1934-1998.
Box 1, Folder 4
Canadian Committee on Cataloging Principles.
1961.
Box 1, Folder 5
Catalog Code Revisions.
1961-1967.
Box 2, Folder 1
Cataloging Examples.
1967-1972.
Box 2, Folders 2-6
Correspondence.
1939-1992.
Box 3, Folder 1
Course Materials.
1963-1971.
Box 3, Folder 2
Department of State Librarian Program Report.
1964-1965.
Box 3, Folders 3-4
Institute on Catalog Code Revision.
1950-1960.
Box 3, Folders 5-6
Library of Congress.
1943-1960.
Box 5, Folders 1-2, Box 4, Folders 1-5
Library Journals.
1940-1975.
Box 6, Folder 1, Box 5, Folders 3-5
Manuscript Drafts.
1931-1977.
Box 6, Folder 2
Manuscript for Cataloging Book.
1969.
Box 6, Folder 3
National Park Library System.
1929-1936.
Box 6, Folder 4
New York Institute on the Catalog.
1973-1979.
Box 7, Folders 1-3, Box 6, Folder 5
Box 7, Folder 4, Box 8, Folder 1
Research Files.
1940-1977.
Box 8, Folder 2
Study Of Cataloging Program.
1965-1969.
Box 8, Folder 3
Subject Cataloging Institute.
1971.
Box 8, Folders 4-5
Elaine Svenonius Files on Lubetzky.
1969-2000.
Box 8, Folder 6
University of Illinois Cataloging Seminar.
1967-1970.
