Theatre 201: Browsing

Browsing the Stacks

Williams College Libraries arrange materials on the shelves using the Library of Congress Classification System. This system groups together materials on similar subjects in the same call number range. This system is used in the book stacks and in the reference collection. Knowing the call number range for a particular subject will allow you to browse the shelves for materials.

The areas below are useful in helping to understand the historical context and design elements appropriate for that context:

• General and World History: D
  (World History has breakdowns by country. Within each category, it is further arranged by time period.)
   
• American History: E and F

• Manners and Customs: GT
  • Houses. Dwellings: GT 170-474
  • Costume. Dress. Fashion: GT500-2370
    ​
• Social History: HN
   
• Music: M
  • History and Criticism: ML 159-360 (arranged by special time periods and then by country)
  • Musical Theater: MT955-956
    ​
• Fine Arts: N
  • History of Art: N5300-7418 (arranged by time periods and movements, followed by countries arranged by time period then movements)
  • Special Subjects of Art: N7570-8266
    • Portraits: N7575-7624 (see detailed list)
    • Humans in art: N7625.5-7649.A-.Z
    • Other special subjects: N8217-8266 (see detailed list)
  • Painting: ND
  • Architecture: NA
  • Decorative Arts: NK
    • Interior Decoration. House Decoration: NK1700-3505
      ​
• Technology: T
  • Artistic Photography: TR644-687 (see detailed list)
    • Portraits: TR680-681
    • Fashion Photography: TR679
  • Clothing Manufacture. Dressmaking. Tailoring: TT490-695
  • Hairdressing: TT950-979
  • Home Economics: TX

• Literature (General). Drama: PN1600-3307
  • Drama. History: PN 1720-1861
  • Dramatic representation. The Theater: PN2000-3307
    • By time period: PN2131-2193
  • Collections of General Literature. Drama: PN6110.5-6120

The following areas of literature also have call number ranges for drama history and criticism and drama collections. You will also find plays and criticism in the subject area for individual authors. The call number areas for individual authors are broken down by time period and then alphabetical by author.

• Romance Literatures: PQ      
  • French Literature

    • Drama History and Criticism: PQ500-591

    • Drama Collections: PQ1211-1241

    • Authors: PQ1411-2726

  • Italian Literature​

    • Drama History and Criticism: PQ4133-4160

    • Drama Collections: PQ4227-4245

    • Authors: PQ4265-4926​

  • Spanish Literature

    • Drama History and Criticism: PQ6098.7-6129

    • Drama Collections: PQ6217-6241

    • Authors: PQ6271-6726​

• English Literature: PR
  • Authors: PR1490-6126
  • Drama Collections: PR1241-1273
  • Drama History and Criticism: PR621-739
    ​
• American Literature: PS
  • Drama History and Criticism: PS330-352
  • Drama Collections: PS623-635
  • Authors: PS700-3626
    ​
• German Literature: PT
  • Drama History and Criticism: PT605-709
  • Drama Collections: PT1251-1299
  • Authors: PT1501-2728