What is an Index?
A Few Notes on Indexes and Indexers

This 1879 book gives rules for the compilation of indexes and provides a list of important printed indexes and concordances.

Henry Benjamin Wheatley (Author)

9781108021531, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 November 2010

136 pages
21.6 x 14 x 0.8 cm, 0.18 kg

Henry Benjamin Wheatley (1838–1917) was a bibliographer and editor with a prodigious output of books and articles to his name. Brought up after the death of both his parents by his brother Benjamin Robert, himself a skilled bibliographer and cataloguer, Henry worked for many years for the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Arts; he was a founder member of the Library Association, and produced an edition of Pepys' diary which was not superseded until the 1970s. This 1879 work is one of two which he produced on the subject of indexing, and which led him to become known as 'the father of British indexing': the Wheatley Medal awarded by the Society of Indexers is named after him. This book shows the development of indexes, gives rules for their compilation and provides a bibliographical list of important indexes and concordances. It remains a fascinating introduction to the subject.

Historical Account
Practice of Index-making: 1. Compilation
2. Arrangement
3. Printing
Preliminary list of English indexes
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900 [DSBF]