Henry Evelyn Bliss (January 29, 1870 – August 9, 1955) was the author of a classification system he called Bibliographic Classification which is often abbreviated to BC and is sometimes called Bliss Classification.[1] He was named one of the 100 most important leaders in the field of library and Information science in the 20th century by American Libraries in December 1999, which praised his “subject approach to information” as “one of the most flexible ever conceived.”[1]: 40 Despite these praises, Bliss was “met with apathy and even derision in his efforts” during his lifetime.[2]: 15 His classification system was generally disregarded in favor of other more established classification systems such as the Dewey Decimal System created by Melvil Dewey and the Library of Congress Classification system, causing “more than one author” to label him as a, “prophet without honor.”[3]: 45–46 Although Bliss was an American, his system was more popular in British libraries than in American libraries. A second edition of the system has been developed in the United Kingdom in 1977. Several volumes have been published.
Henry Bliss was born in New York City. The son of Henry H. Bliss and Evalina Matilda Davis. He became the deputy librarian of City College of the City University of New York, now known as the City College of New York, in 1891, where he worked until he retired in 1940.[2]: 12 Bliss never obtained a degree of higher education yet he was extremely erudite and well learned.[3]: 45 He was also a poet and published a collection of poems entitled Better Late Than Never (1937.)[2]: 14 He was married in 1901 and had four children with his wife, Ellen deKoster, before she died in 1943.[2]: 12, 14 Bliss’ relationship with the American Library Association was strained at best. He resigned from the institution in 1933 saying that he had received “so dubious a welcome there” and was “treated like an outsider.”[4] He rejoined however in 1937.[4]: 56 Bliss was generally rather blunt and biting in his criticism of the work of other librarians, and after his wife's death, and near the end of his life, Bliss became something of a recluse.[2]: 14 Despite this, at Bliss's death in 1955 “a generous and moving obituary tribute” was written for him by none other than S.R. Ranganathan.[2]: 15 despite the fact that Bliss had criticized Ranganathan by saying that he took him, “Less seriously then some others do, including himself.” [4]: 58
Bibliographic Classification
Bliss is most remembered for his ideas on library classification and the classification system he developed, which he called Bibliographic Classification. The full four volumes of Bibliographic Classification appeared from 1940 to 1953 and “marked half a century of sustained effort” by Bliss.[2]: 11 Bliss's reasons for developing this system were primarily because of his discontent with the Classification systems that were at use at the time. For example, Bliss says, “[that] The International Institute’s adoption of the Decimal Classification some 35 years ago, [was] for the specious reason that no better system was then available.”[5] Bliss was emphatic about the fact that “good classification, ‘dignifies the library as an embodiment of knowledge.’” [4]: 61
The basis behind this system is the idea of a “subject approach to knowledge,” where books are ordered in a logical systematic way that is “intertwined with the organization of knowledge in society.”[3]: 48 Bliss stressed this relationship by saying “Organizations of Knowledge thus become organizations for thought.”[5]: 87 In an article entitled "The System of the Sciences and the Organization of Knowledge" written by Bliss in the January issue Philosophy of Science from 1935, he outlines seven major “principles of classification for organization of knowledge and thought.”[5]: 89 Briefly stated and explained, they are,
Organization - This first principle, while being fairly self-explanatory, Bliss explains by saying “Free thought, like free life, without organization, may rove and rave like Bedlam in a Tower of Babel.”[5]: 88–89
Subordination - “of the more special classes [or subjects] to the more general,” for example placing geometry under the more general subject of Mathematics.[5]: 89
Coordination – “The third structural principle, that classes, or sub-classes, of the same order, or grade, may be arranged serially either vertically or horizontally.”[5]: 89
Extension– “Serial, branched, and crossed classifications may be combined in structures of three or more extensions.”[5]: 89
Collocation – or rather, arrangement “of closely related classes for functional efficiency.”[5]: 89
Gradation in Speciality – Bliss says “as the several sciences become more definite in scope, each becomes more or less special in relation to others, and accordingly they may be arranged in a scalar series of gradation in speciality.”[5]: 92
Maximal Efficiency – This is the seventh principle “per se.” and is a result of the first six principles when they are followed.[5]: 94
Another of the important features of Bliss's work is his ideas on “Alternative Location.”[4]: 67 This simply means that Bliss provided provisions in his system for the possible different shelf locations of certain materials. This can be described as “For certain topics… two or more places would be provided and the individual library would select the one most appropriate to its needs.”[2]: 25 One critic described this as, “a handsome concession to rival school of thought.”[2]: 25
Reception
The reception of Bliss's classification system was mixed at best. Bliss said that he received “more discouragement than encouragement from the first.”[4]: 83 Many readers of Bliss's work disliked his ideas simply because of the writing style. This was because Bliss's writing was usually very complex and wordy. One critic said that Bliss's writing was “much too long. Its exposition is frequently tedious and it has an overplus of trivial observations.”[4]: 59 The reviews weren't all bad, though. Susan Grey Akers, in 1936, wrote that Bliss's system “has possibilities which are interesting and thought-provoking.”[6] Grace O. Kelley, writing in 1934 said, “a field of investigation is here presented which… would go far toward lifting librarianship to a plane of scholarship easily ranking with other disciplines which glory in the possession of subject matter which they can call their own” [7]: 665
Legacy and lasting importance
Bliss is often overlooked in the history of Library Science in favor of such giants as Melvil Dewey and S.R. Ranganathan. However, it is important to remember that “his work represents a major step along the way to the modern classification scheme.” [3]: 55 Maltby and Gill in their book The Case for Bliss, writes,“It would be easy to pronounce [Bliss’s work] as a failure. Nevertheless… no individual in the history of bibliographical classification has equaled the time spent by Bliss in ascertaining and weighing the needs of learning, in the penetrating analysis of other systems and the slow evolution of his own.”[2]
“His goals and aspirations were different from those of Melvil Dewey, whom he certainty surpassed in intellectual ability, but by whom he was dwarfed in organizational ability and drive. Dewey was a businessman, but he was in no sense as profound in his accomplishments.”[8]
Publications
1929 The Organization of Knowledge and the System of the Sciences
1933 The Organization of Knowledge in Libraries
References
^ ab Kniffel, Leonard; Sullivan, Peggy; McCormick, Edith (1999). "100 of the Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century". American Libraries. 30 (11): 38–47.
^ abcdefghij Maltby, Arthur; Gill, Lindy (1979). The Case for Bliss: Modern Classification Practice and Principles in the Context of the Bibliographic Classification. London: Clive Bingley.
^ abcd Broughton, Vanda (2008). "Henry Evelyn Bliss - the Other Immorital, or a Prophet without Honour?". Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. 40 (1): 45–58. doi:10.1177/0961000607086620. S2CID 10759862.
^ abcdefg Thomas, Alan R. (1998). "Bibliographical Classification: The Ideas and Achievements of Henry E. Bliss". Cataloging & Classification Quarterly. 25 (1): 51–102. doi:10.1300/J104v25n01_05.
^ abcdefghij Bliss, Henry E (1935). "The System of the Sciences and the Organization of Knowledge". Philosophy of Science. 2 (1): 86–103. doi:10.1086/286354. S2CID 123202772.
^ Akers, Susan (1936). "Review: [untitled]". The Library Quarterly. 6 (1): 92–94.
^ Kelly, Grace O. (1934). "Review: [untitled]". The Library Quarterly. 4 (4): 665–68.
^Garfield, Eugene (1974). "The "other" immortal: a memorable day with Henry E. Bliss" (PDF). Wilson Library Bulletin. 49 (4): 288–292. Retrieved 24 October 2016. Reprinted in Garfield, E., Essays of an Information Scientist: 1974-1976, Vol. 2., pp. 250-253
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Henry Evelyn Bliss January 29 1870 August 9 1955 was the author of a classification system he called Bibliographic Classification which is often abbreviated to BC and is sometimes called Bliss Classification 1 He was named one of the 100 most important leaders in the field of library and Information science in the 20th century by American Libraries in December 1999 which praised his subject approach to information as one of the most flexible ever conceived 1 40 Despite these praises Bliss was met with apathy and even derision in his efforts during his lifetime 2 15 His classification system was generally disregarded in favor of other more established classification systems such as the Dewey Decimal System created by Melvil Dewey and the Library of Congress Classification system causing more than one author to label him as a prophet without honor 3 45 46 Although Bliss was an American his system was more popular in British libraries than in American libraries A second edition of the system has been developed in the United Kingdom in 1977 Several volumes have been published Henry Evelyn BlissBornJanuary 29 1870New York CityDiedAugust 9 1955 1955 08 10 aged 85 NationalityAmericanOccupation s Librarian Author Poet Contents 1 Life 2 Bibliographic Classification 3 Reception 4 Legacy and lasting importance 5 Publications 6 References 7 External linksLife EditHenry Bliss was born in New York City The son of Henry H Bliss and Evalina Matilda Davis He became the deputy librarian of City College of the City University of New York now known as the City College of New York in 1891 where he worked until he retired in 1940 2 12 Bliss never obtained a degree of higher education yet he was extremely erudite and well learned 3 45 He was also a poet and published a collection of poems entitled Better Late Than Never 1937 2 14 He was married in 1901 and had four children with his wife Ellen deKoster before she died in 1943 2 12 14 Bliss relationship with the American Library Association was strained at best He resigned from the institution in 1933 saying that he had received so dubious a welcome there and was treated like an outsider 4 He rejoined however in 1937 4 56 Bliss was generally rather blunt and biting in his criticism of the work of other librarians and after his wife s death and near the end of his life Bliss became something of a recluse 2 14 Despite this at Bliss s death in 1955 a generous and moving obituary tribute was written for him by none other than S R Ranganathan 2 15 despite the fact that Bliss had criticized Ranganathan by saying that he took him Less seriously then some others do including himself 4 58 Bibliographic Classification EditBliss is most remembered for his ideas on library classification and the classification system he developed which he called Bibliographic Classification The full four volumes of Bibliographic Classification appeared from 1940 to 1953 and marked half a century of sustained effort by Bliss 2 11 Bliss s reasons for developing this system were primarily because of his discontent with the Classification systems that were at use at the time For example Bliss says that The International Institute s adoption of the Decimal Classification some 35 years ago was for the specious reason that no better system was then available 5 Bliss was emphatic about the fact that good classification dignifies the library as an embodiment of knowledge 4 61 The basis behind this system is the idea of a subject approach to knowledge where books are ordered in a logical systematic way that is intertwined with the organization of knowledge in society 3 48 Bliss stressed this relationship by saying Organizations of Knowledge thus become organizations for thought 5 87 In an article entitled The System of the Sciences and the Organization of Knowledge written by Bliss in the January issue Philosophy of Science from 1935 he outlines seven major principles of classification for organization of knowledge and thought 5 89 Briefly stated and explained they are Organization This first principle while being fairly self explanatory Bliss explains by saying Free thought like free life without organization may rove and rave like Bedlam in a Tower of Babel 5 88 89 Subordination of the more special classes or subjects to the more general for example placing geometry under the more general subject of Mathematics 5 89 Coordination The third structural principle that classes or sub classes of the same order or grade may be arranged serially either vertically or horizontally 5 89 Extension Serial branched and crossed classifications may be combined in structures of three or more extensions 5 89 Collocation or rather arrangement of closely related classes for functional efficiency 5 89 Gradation in Speciality Bliss says as the several sciences become more definite in scope each becomes more or less special in relation to others and accordingly they may be arranged in a scalar series of gradation in speciality 5 92 Maximal Efficiency This is the seventh principle per se and is a result of the first six principles when they are followed 5 94 Another of the important features of Bliss s work is his ideas on Alternative Location 4 67 This simply means that Bliss provided provisions in his system for the possible different shelf locations of certain materials This can be described as For certain topics two or more places would be provided and the individual library would select the one most appropriate to its needs 2 25 One critic described this as a handsome concession to rival school of thought 2 25 Reception EditThe reception of Bliss s classification system was mixed at best Bliss said that he received more discouragement than encouragement from the first 4 83 Many readers of Bliss s work disliked his ideas simply because of the writing style This was because Bliss s writing was usually very complex and wordy One critic said that Bliss s writing was much too long Its exposition is frequently tedious and it has an overplus of trivial observations 4 59 The reviews weren t all bad though Susan Grey Akers in 1936 wrote that Bliss s system has possibilities which are interesting and thought provoking 6 Grace O Kelley writing in 1934 said a field of investigation is here presented which would go far toward lifting librarianship to a plane of scholarship easily ranking with other disciplines which glory in the possession of subject matter which they can call their own 7 665 Legacy and lasting importance EditBliss is often overlooked in the history of Library Science in favor of such giants as Melvil Dewey and S R Ranganathan However it is important to remember that his work represents a major step along the way to the modern classification scheme 3 55 Maltby and Gill in their book The Case for Bliss writes It would be easy to pronounce Bliss s work as a failure Nevertheless no individual in the history of bibliographical classification has equaled the time spent by Bliss in ascertaining and weighing the needs of learning in the penetrating analysis of other systems and the slow evolution of his own 2 He was compared to Melvil Dewey by Eugene Garfield His goals and aspirations were different from those of Melvil Dewey whom he certainty surpassed in intellectual ability but by whom he was dwarfed in organizational ability and drive Dewey was a businessman but he was in no sense as profound in his accomplishments 8 Publications Edit1929 The Organization of Knowledge and the System of the Sciences 1933 The Organization of Knowledge in LibrariesReferences Edit a b Kniffel Leonard Sullivan Peggy McCormick Edith 1999 100 of the Most Important Leaders We Had in the 20th Century American Libraries 30 11 38 47 a b c d e f g h i j Maltby Arthur Gill Lindy 1979 The Case for Bliss Modern Classification Practice and Principles in the Context of the Bibliographic Classification London Clive Bingley a b c d Broughton Vanda 2008 Henry Evelyn Bliss the Other Immorital or a Prophet without Honour Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 40 1 45 58 doi 10 1177 0961000607086620 S2CID 10759862 a b c d e f g Thomas Alan R 1998 Bibliographical Classification The Ideas and Achievements of Henry E Bliss Cataloging amp Classification Quarterly 25 1 51 102 doi 10 1300 J104v25n01 05 a b c d e f g h i j Bliss Henry E 1935 The System of the Sciences and the Organization of Knowledge Philosophy of Science 2 1 86 103 doi 10 1086 286354 S2CID 123202772 Akers Susan 1936 Review untitled The Library Quarterly 6 1 92 94 Kelly Grace O 1934 Review untitled The Library Quarterly 4 4 665 68 Garfield Eugene 1974 The other immortal a memorable day with Henry E Bliss PDF Wilson Library Bulletin 49 4 288 292 Retrieved 24 October 2016 Reprinted in Garfield E Essays of an Information Scientist 1974 1976 Vol 2 pp 250 253External links EditWorks by or about Henry E Bliss at Internet Archive Dekker Encyclopedias A Memorable day with Henry E Bliss Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Famous Interments Bliss Classification Introduction and outline Henry E Bliss at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry E Bliss amp oldid 1124226018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
