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Guidelines for cataloguing images using the Picture Queensland web form
Guidelines also available as Word document [new window 
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5. Creator
Field Label: PHOTOGRAPHER
Definition: An entity primarily responsible for the making the content of the resource. Examples of a Creator include a person, an organisation or a service.
Purpose: This element allows users to discover resources based on the creator of the resource. The creator could be a photographer, an artist, an author of written documents, an illustrator of visual resources, etc.
Obligation: Required if available. Default is Unknown
Input guidelines
5.1 This field is used for the creator of the intellectual content of the resource, not its presentation (eg, the name of the photographer of the original photograph, not the creator of the digital image).
5.2 If there is no information available, use the default entry 'Unknown'.
5.3 If the creator of the item is also the subject of the item, enter the name in both the PHOTOGRAPHER and SUBJECT (LCSH) fields.
For example:
- A self-portrait of photographer William Boag would include Boag, William, d. 1878 in both SUBJECT (LCSH) and PHOTOGRAPHER fields.
5.4 If it is obvious that the image is produced by an individual on behalf of an organisation then enter the individual's name in the PHOTOGRAPHER field as the person primarily responsible for the content of the resource and enter the organisation's name in the CONTRIBUTOR field.
Form of name
5.5 Consistency in the format of names will assist with accurate searching. Where possible, check the State Library of Queensland South Bank Collections catalogue or your own contributor's catalogue, in the Name and Subject search indexes. Library of Congress Name Authorities (LCNA) can also be consulted. Names are established according to general cataloguing principles, ie, according to AACR2 guidelines. It is recommended that indexers consult these catalogues first to see if the name already exists in a particular format. Following are general guidelines:
Personal names
5.6 Personal names are entered surname or family name first, followed by a comma and then the given name(s), then the honorific if it is necessary for clarification (gender, etc.).
For example:
- Smith, William
- Chapman, I. K., Mrs
If dates of birth and/or death are known, add these also, preceded by a comma.
For example:
- Smith, William, 1867-1902 (dates of birth and death are known)
- Boag, William, d. 1878 (only the date of death is known)
If only a date of birth or death is known, use the convention b. for date of birth, and d. for date of death, eg, McDonald, Elsie, b. 1893, Baker, James, d. 1915.
If it is apparent from the resource that a creator commonly uses initials in lieu of first name/s, use the initials followed by the first names in brackets where these names are known. The expansion of initials is helpful to differentiate between two people with the same surname and initials but who probably have different first names. Use this form only if the information is readily available.
For example:
- Lindt, J. W. (John William), 1845-1926
- Jackson, M. A. (Michael A.)
5.7 If in doubt, give the name as it appears and do not invert.
For example:
- Abdullah bin Nuh
5.8 Enter a name of Chinese origin that follows the normal Chinese order (surname first) under the first element of the name.
For example:
- a name that appears as Li Chiao-ping, would be entered as Li, Chiao-ping
Organisation names
5.9 For single level organisation names, or where a hierarchy cannot be determined, enter the name as it is known in direct order. Qualify in parenthesis by a geographic location if there is likely to be a conflict with another organisation of the same name but in another location.
For example:
- Chinchilla Field Naturalists' Club
- Atherton Tableland Co-operative Dairy Association
- Brisbane Boys' College
- Tattersall's Club (Brisbane, Qld.)
- Tattersall's Club (Melbourne, Vic.)
5.10 For organisational names that are part of a hierarchy (eg, a division or branch within an organisation), enter the parts of the name from the largest to the smallest unit separated by full stops. Note that for government departments the first part of the name should be the jurisdiction (ie, the highest level of government, eg, Australia (Commonwealth government), Queensland (State government), Townsville (Qld.) (Local government). It is useful to check library catalogues.
For example:
- University of Queensland. Alumni Association
- Queensland. Treasury Dept.
Commercial photographers and studios
5.11 Use the name of the photographer or studio that appears on the image or accompanying material (such as a card mount, or envelope), ie, the name that was used at the time the photograph was taken. Use the form of name that appears on the photograph or accompanying information even if it appears in a different format on several photographs.
For example:
- Mathewson & Sons
- Mathewson & Co.
- Mathewson Studio
- Mathewson Studios
Exclude extra information such as an address or location.
For example:
- Mathewson & Sons, Brisbane would be entered as Mathewson & Sons
5.12 Generally, treat a commercial photographer as a personal name and therefore entered in the PHOTOGRAPHER field, and a commercial photographic studio as a corporate body and therefore entered in the CONTRIBUTOR field. This is based on the assumption that a studio may have more than one photographer employed and we cannot be sure of the individual photographer. The PHOTOGRAPHER field will display the 'Unknown' default entry.
5.13 Consider a studio to be corporate body if the name includes words that indicate it is not a photographer operating on his/her own. Therefore, treat as a corporate body a name that includes terms such as 'and Co.', 'and Son', 'Pty. Ltd', etc., eg, Albert Lomer and Co, Mathewson &' Sons; or, if words such as Studio, Photographic Studio, etc., are clearly part of the name, eg, Poulsen Studio, Elite Studios.
5.14 A single photographer may be a commercial photographer with his own studio. In this case treat as a personal name unless there is something in the name to indicate that it is a firm (as above).
5.15 Where there is only a single photographer listed, ie, not obviously a company, enter as a personal name in the PHOTOGRAPHER field.
For example:
- Albert Lomer, Brisbane would be entered as Lomer, Albert.
- F. Whitehead, Ipswich would be entered as Whitehead, F.
- R. H. Bartlett, New Zealand would be entered as Bartlett, R. H.
5.16 Where a photographer's name and a studio name appears on the photograph, enter the photographer as a personal name in the PHOTOGRAPHER field and the studio name as a corporate body in the CONTRIBUTOR field.
For example:
- Information on the description card appears as A. A. White, White's Hill Studio, Brisbane, therefore the PHOTOGRAPHER would be entered as White, A. A. and the CONTRIBUTOR would be entered as White's Hill Studio.
5.17 Where there is only a studio name, enter the studio name as a corporate body in the CONTRIBUTOR field. The PHOTOGRAPHER field will display the 'Unknown' default entry.
5.18 If a studio is listed as the photographer on the photograph, but it has not been established in the State Library of Queensland catalogues (which will often be the case), enter the name of the studio without further qualification in the CONTRIBUTOR field. Do not include articles at the beginning of the name. If the name is in the catalogue, copy and paste with no alterations.
For example:
- The Marsden Studio, Laidley would be entered as Marsden Studio.
- Poulsen Studio, Brisbane would be entered as Poulsen Studio.
- Elite Studios, Bundaberg would be entered as Elite Studios.
- A. Lomer & Co. would be entered as A. Lomer & Co.
- Mathewson & Sons, Petrie Bight, Brisbane would be entered as Mathewson & Sons.
5.19 If it is necessary to resolve conflicts between studios of the same name, qualify by a geographic location ([city, state]) as outlined above in Organisation Names.
For example:
- Elite Studio (Longreach, Qld.)
- Elite Studio (Ipswich, Qld.)
Last updated: 4th June 2009
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