Possible Reconsideration to The Library of Congress Classification System’s Liberal Placements of African American Psychology and African American Social Science

Authors

Eddie Hughes, Southern University and A & M CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

SUBR Digital Commons OA Article

Abstract

The Library of Congress Classification (LCC), developed by Herbert Putnam in 1897, remains the predominant system for organizing materials in U.S. academic libraries. By integrating innovations with earlier classification systems by Charles Cutter and Melvil Dewey, the LCC divides human knowledge into 21 classes, each represented by alphabetic codes. While Psychology is classified under BF and social sciences under HQ, materials on African American Psychology and African American Social Science are primarily cataloged under Class E—History of America—specifically E185.625 and E185.86. This placement raises critical questions about the appropriateness of categorizing these subjects as historical rather than disciplinary. Given African Americans’ significant contributions to American culture, labor, and society, should African American Psychology and Social Science remain subcategories within American history, or is it time to reclassify them under their respective fields—or even create a new class? This paper examines the implications of current classification practices and explores potential alternatives for more accurate representation.

First Page

1

Last Page

10

Publication Date

Winter 1-2026

Recommended Citation

Hughes, Eddie, "Possible Reconsideration to The Library of Congress Classification System’s Liberal Placements of African American Psychology and African American Social Science" (2026). Southern University and A&M College: John B. Cade Library Publications. 16.
https://digitalcommons.subr.edu/lib_pub/16