Claire K. Schultz papers

Collection

Identifier: CBI 86

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection documents Claire Schultz's pioneering work in automated information retrieval, the transition of information retrieval systems from punched cards to computers, and indexing practices for medical and scientific literature. The bulk of Schultz's papers served as a reference collection for her professional use and as a resource for her students. These materials include research and progress reports, journal articles, professional presentations, and product literature, including information on Schultz's role in the automation of the Armed Services Technical Information Agency (ASTIA) and the development of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLARS/MEDLINE system in the early 1960s. Please be aware that the Reference Collection Documents are item level card catalogs that are arranged according to Schultz's personal numbering schema.

Schultz's professional and personal correspondence and the Zatacoded subject and author indexes for the reference collection and the correspondence round out the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1950-1980.

Creator

Schultz, Claire K. (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Access to materials:

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Copyright:

CBI holds the copyright to all materials in the collection, except for items covered by a prior copyright (such as published materials). Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provisions of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Biographical Note

Claire K. Schultz was a leading figure in the development of automated information retrieval systems in the mid-to-late twentieth century. She became acquainted with automated information retrieval as librarian for Merck, Sharp and Dome between 1949 and 1957. Later she worked on natural language applications under John W. Mauchly at Sperry Rand's UNIVAC Division. She was involved with the automation of the Armed Services Technical Information Agency (ASTIA) and the development of the National Library of Medicine's MEDLARS/MEDLINE system in the early 1960s.

In addition, Schultz developed the information science curriculum at Drexel Institute of Technology and the Medical College of Pennsylvania, served as president of the American Documentation Institute (now the American Society for Information Science), and has written widely on information science topics including her Thesaurus of Information Science Terminology. Schultz retired in 1980 from her positions as professor of information science and director of libraries at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.

Extent

67 Cubic Feet (64 boxes and 15 card catalog drawers)

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection contains the papers and correspondence of Claire K. Schultz, including materials documenting her pioneering work in automated information retrieval, the transition of information retrieval systems from punched cards to computers, and indexing practices for medical and scientific literature.