Connecting the Dots: Using EAC-CPF to Reunite Samuel Johnson and His Circle

A project between Harvard and Yale Universities to demonstrate the benefits of using Encoded Archival Context ­ Corporate bodies, Persons, and Families (EAC-CPF) to describe creators of manuscript collections and encode meaningful semantic links between those creators themselves and the primary sources that document their lives and work. The project will focus on lexicographer Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) and his circle of fellow writers, artists, political thinkers and friends, as well as collectors thereof.

Susan Pyzynski, Associate Librarian for Technical Services, Houghton Library

Krista Ferrante, Project Archivist, Houghton Library

Melanie Wisner, Accessioning Archivist, Houghton Library

Ellen Doon and Michael Rush, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

March 2012 Update

The project is currently underway. Our progress so far: 

  • Installed the ICA AtoM software
  • Selected the names for 50 EAC-CPF records
  • Selected source of EAC-CPF records and establishing content standards
  • In the process of hiring project staff
  • Planning work for project staff
  • Held one in-person Houghton-Beinecke meeting
  • Planned meeting with our outside consultation for April 19
  • Established documentation wiki

Download the proposal:

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