Human Relations Area Files

Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is a collection of primary cultural anthropology resources covering nearly 400 cultures from different parts of the world. Fogler Library holds the originally-produced microfiche collection. The electronic format - eHRAF will eventually include all the resources that are currently in microform format. An online guide to eHRAF is available at http://www.yale.edu/hraf/userguides.html

The collection is organized by cultural group and by subject.

• The Outline of World Cultures lists all the cultural groups covered by HRAF.
• The Outline of Cultural Materials lists the various subjects covered by HRAF.

Resources to identify microfiche(s) for your topic:

• Outline of World Cultures (REF H62.B37 1983 - blue book) to identify the cultural group code you want e.g.:
  Navajo - NT13; Aymara - SF5
•  Outline of Cultural Materials (REF H62 B36 v.5 2004 - clear plastic cover book) to identify the subject code for your topic e.g.:
  Mats & Basketry - 285; Hunting & Trapping - 224
• Index to the Human Relations Area Files (REF H62.H8) to identify publications on microfiche about your topic (green folders)
• HRAF Source Bibliography (REF H62.H8) for the full citations of identified microfiche publications (white folders)

Using HRAF Microfiche Collection

Step 1. Identify the code for the cultural group you wish to research,
e.g.: NT13 for Navajo
(Use the blue book Outline of World Cultures REF H62.B37 1983)

Step 2. Identify the code for the subject you want to research,
e.g. 285 for Mats & Basketry
(Use the clear plastic covered book Outline of Cultural Materials REF H62.B36 v.5 2004) 

Step 3. Identify the resources available for your subject about your chosen cultural group
            e.g. OCM Trait Number 285
                   NT13 41 Stewart, Omer Call
(Use the green folders Index to the Human Relations Area Files REF H62.H8)

This means that information concerning Mats & Basketry (OCM code 285) among Navajo (NT13) is available in document #41 authored by Omer Call Stewart and the microfiche number is NT13 - 41..

Step 4. Identify the full citation(s) of the available resources for your topic. (Use the white folders HRAF Source Bibliography Cumulative REF H62H8)
            e.g.: Stewart, O. C. (1938). The Navajo wedding basket. Museum Notes, 10, 25-28.

Step 5. Locate the appropriate microfiche in the Government Documents area.
The microfiche collection is arranged by cultural group and within each cultural group by the document number.

Where to go for assistance

• Ask at the Reference Desk:  Hours
• Ask a Librarian

Revised: 07/08/2009
© 2000-2008 Raymond H. Fogler Library

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