The Historical Development of The Dewey Decimal Classification System

Comaromi, John P.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/1778 Copy

Description

Title

The Historical Development of The Dewey Decimal Classification System

Author(s)

Comaromi, John P.

Issue Date

1975

Keyword(s)

• Classification, Dewey decimal
• Classification

Date of Ingest

2007-08-02T19:18:09Z

Abstract

"Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 on the tenth day of the tenth month.* To this fact I attribute the reason why Dewey conceived his idea of using Arabic numerals decimally to mark the subjects of books. I call this, happily, the ""birthday theory."" At this early hour you may not embrace this theory. Perhaps you will find more to your liking the ""digital-clock-on-the-bar theory."" Parched by a long prayer meeting, Dewey repaired to a local tavern to restore his depleted spirits. While staring over his beer at the digital clock on the bar, he conceived his decimal plan. Fortunately, he had stared at the clock after one o'clock, but before ten, and when the hour did not change. This theory has two known flaws: Dewey did not drink, and digital clocks were not then found on bars or anywhere. I sense your reluctance to embrace this theory as well. Nevertheless, there are only two or three views regarding Dewey's conception that are better than the ""birthday theory"" or the ""digital-clock-on-the-bar theory."" None has been proposed that is worse, however, so I withdraw both."

Publisher

Graduate School of Library Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Allerton Park Institute (21st : 1975)

ISSN

0536-4604

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

Conference Paper / Presentation

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1778

Copyright and License Information

Copyright owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1975.

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