Human Relations Area File (HRAF)

Location: McKeldin Library
Call number: MCK-PER M-FICHE

Human Relations Area File (HRAF). (McKeldin Library does not own the complete collection).

Description

In the margins of each page, next to each line of the sources reproduced, a code indicates the topic under discussion. A comprehensive list of the subject categories assigned to the texts appears in the Outline of Cultural Materials. Each subject is given a unique number. See below for location and further information about the Outline of Cultural Materials.

A code at the top of each card indicates the name of the society under discussion. The Outline of World Cultures lists the cultures of the world. Each cultural category is assigned an alphanumeric designation. See below for location and further information about the Outline of World Cultures.

Category 116 of each File contains a full set of pages from each processed source, arranged in page order. These pages can be used to establish the context for any particular annotation found under the subject categories.

Index/Guide

McKeldin reference GN 345.3.M87 1975

The Cutline of World Cultures (OWC) is a manual which presents a systematic listing of the contemporary and historic cultural units of the world. It divides the world into eight major geographic regions, each designated by a code letter:

• A: Asia
• E: Europe
• F: Africa
• M: Middle East
• N: North America
• O: Oceania
• R: Russia
• S: South America

Each of the eight regions is subdivided, usually by geographic or political unit. This unit is indicated by the addition of a second letter (see below for example). Each sub region is further delineated by a number which corresponds to 1) geographical cultural unit, 2) country entity or 3) culture bearing population unit, variously called "cultures," "societies," tribes," etc. The alphanumeric designation for each cultural unit and for the corresponding File, if there is one, is called the OWC code. Files are arranged by OWC code. For example: EAST BRAZIL

• SMl. South Brazil
• SM2. Aweikoma
• SM3. Caingang
• SM4. Guarani

McKeldin reference GN 345.3.095 1982

Outline of Cultural Materials (OCM). Within each file, source materials are organized according to a comprehensive hierarchical classification system inrolving over 700 num¬bered subject categories. The OCM presents these subjects with their assigned numbers as follows:

• 16 DEMOGRAPHY
  • 161 Population
  • 162 Composition of Population
  • 163 Birth Statistics
  • 164 Morbidity
  • 165 Mortality

McKeldin reference Z 7161.H8 1969

HRAF Source Bibliography. This loose leaf notebook contains information about the books, articles, pamphlets and manuscripts whieh are included in the HRAF library. The pages are arranged withill the notebook by the alphanumeric codes outlined in the OWC (see above). When new items are annotated and added to the basic collection, information about the additions is inserted in the HRAF Source Bibliography. Many materials are still being processed, so that not everything listed in the Source Bibliography has been annotated in the microfiche collection in McKeldin Library. A complete collection of the HRAF materials is available in microfiche at the University of the District of Columbia, Mt. Vernon Campus.

Kept behind the McKeldin reference desk

Robert O. Lagace, The Nature and Use of the HRAF Files: A Research and Teaching Guide. This guide explains the HRAF system and illustrates its uses through examples.