Bibliographical Classification: The Ideas and Achievements of Henry E. Bliss

The ideas and achievements of Henry Evelyn Bliss concerning classification are introduced, based mainly on material in the Henry E. Bliss Papers at Columbia University. The life and career of Bliss are outlined and his writing style examined. His views on various aspects of classification are described and exemplified: its functions, arrangements, adaptability, and notation. The role and qualifications of classificationers (compilers) and classifiers (indexers) are discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of standard systems, including the Library of Congress Classification, Dewey Decimal Classification, and Universal Decimal Classification, are assessed. The origins, evolution, publication, and impact of Bliss's Bibliographic Classification are described. The relationship of his scheme to the radical revision in the form of the Bliss Bibliographic Classification, 2nd edition, is explored.