For researchers seeking information and librarians trying to answer questions about a wide range of proper names, this new reference identifies some 350,000 entries in more than 60 widely held reference sources to consult for information on 200,000 proper names. Biographical resources and entries for most historical persons are not indexed, since they are already covered in existing index resources. PNMI identifies sources of information for a wide range of proper names of historical and cultural significance, ranging from allusions and art works to militant groups and Supreme Court decisions. Literature, politics, law, religion, mythology, geography, history, ethnic studies, science and technology, and weather are among the many subject areas represented. For every indexed reference source, full bibliographic data, plus details of the source's coverage and arrangement, are provided. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Obviously modeled on Gale's
Biography and Genealogy Master Index, this set indexes entries for proper names, other than personal names, that appear in 68 English-language reference works. Because of the wide variety of subjects represented by the works chosen for inclusion (among them literature, politics, medicine, science, music, history, and religion), the more than 200,000 index entries range from song titles to battles, from geographic entities to mythical figures, from television programs to court cases.
Sources indexed in Proper Names Master Index (PNMI) were selected on the basis of two criteria: that they "provide authoritative information on names," and that they "be widely held by public and academic libraries." Among the titles indexed are such general works as the Harper Dictionary of Modern Thought and the New Century Cyclopedia of Names and an eclectic assortment of more specialized sources, including 12 of the Oxford companions, Ben{‚}et's Reader's Encyclopedia, Halliwell's Film Guide, Popular Names of U.S. Government Reports, and Dictionary of Wines and Spirits. In a surprising number of instances, the editor has not indexed the most recent edition of a source. For example, the fifth edition (1979) of Black's Law Dictionary is indexed rather than the sixth edition (1990), and the fourth edition (1988) of the Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, 1946-Present is listed instead of the fifth (1992).
Entries appear alphabetically except for a numerically arranged section for names beginning with numbers (e.g., 60 Minutes, 1812 Overture), which precedes the alphabetized entries. Following each entry are codes representing the sources in which the name appears. These source codes and their corresponding titles are listed on the inside covers of each volume and again following the introductory material. A particularly useful feature is the provision of an encircled P after a code to indicate when a source provides pronunciation of the name. In addition, when a source is not arranged alphabetically or when the name indexed does not appear under the same heading in the original source, the appropriate page number, section number, or other information designating the location of the entry is provided.
Both volumes contain a foreward that provides historic and linguistic background on proper names, a guide to the use of the index, and a descriptive bibliography. The latter includes complete bibliographic information for each source indexed, an annotation describing its coverage and organization, and an explanation of which and approximately how many entries from the source were selected for indexing. This list also includes the complete Library of Congress classification number and the Dewey classification for each work and provides space for local call numbers to be added. The publisher is to be commended for having designed the covers of these volumes in such a way that none of the information on the spines will be obliterated by the addition of a call number.
Only six of the sources indexed in this work are also indexed by Joe Ryan's First Stop: The Master Index to Subject Encyclopedias (Oryx, 1989). Since that source excluded articles of fewer than 250 words as well as those not accompanied by a bibliography, the amount of overlap between the two works is inconsequential.
Most experienced and knowledgeable reference librarians will not need to consult PNMI very often since they will be able to take their users directly to a source that is suitable for their needs. Moreover, indiscriminate and uncritical use of this index could lead a user to inappropriate sources. For example, someone seeking historical information on the Illustrated London Times will not be well served by the eight word entry in Webster's Dictionary of Proper Names, the only source cited for that publication. However, for those elusive allusions or when patrons cannot place a name in its context (e.g., when they do not know whether a title is a song, painting, novel, etc.), this may come in handy in public and academic libraries.
While the introduction describes this new work as a ready-reference tool, it is actually a master index meant to direct researchers to other sources pertinent to their topics. Covering 68 reference titles rich in proper names, this work provides the briefest of information, listing the names alphabetically and indicating in which of the indexed titles material will be found. Few page numbers are shown, though a symbol identifies entries that include pronunciation. Over 200,000 entries fill the two-volume set, necessitating fine print in a four-column format. The 68 sources indexed include the "Oxford Companion" series, pronunciation and subject dictionaries, subject encyclopedias, and place-name handbooks, among others. The proper names indexed here span a broad range of places, works of art and titles in the media, wars, societies, nicknames, and scientific terms from world history. Oddly enough, no explanation is given after each entry as to which of these many fields it belongs, only in which of the indexed titles it appears. Thus "Rio Grande" has 17 listings but nothing conveniently to indicate if the reference is to the river, song, city, or motion picture. More commonly, entries have just one or two citations, somewhat lessening the value of this tool. The Dick Cavett Show is pretty clearly a television program and would first be checked in that subject area rather than through consulting this index. For less obvious names, such as Clinis, this tool will be useful for quickly identifying the need for a mythological dictionary. Given the price, the lack of descriptive detail, and the unlikelihood of institutions owning many of the sources indexed, this will be a marginal purchase for all but the largest public and academic libraries.
James Moffet, Baldwin P.L., Birmingham, Mich.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
