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
- 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
