HRAF - Human Relations Area File:  GN301 .H8

• WHAT:  The HRAF is a massive survey of over 300 world cultures containing background information and specific data on a tribe, ethnic category, country, or cultural activity, as well as, belief systems, superstitions, political structure, architecture, kinship units, settlement patterns, etc.
  
  The WWU Libraries does not own the complete HRAF collection.  This complex series of microforms is supported by  a printed user's guide available on the literature carousel near the Microform Index shelves near the south windows on Wilson 2 West.
   
• FORMAT & SCOPE:  Microfiche.  Partial / selected holdings only.
   
• ORGANIZATION:  Each citation for this collection will contain a "Culture Number" (ex. AM1) which will designate which area of the collection the document is located in.  Second is a "Category Number" (or subject area number) within the culture (ex, Category 10-103) which may encompass one or more fiche.  And third a "Document Number" which refers to the document within those categories.  Document Numbers are printed large enough on the fiche to be visible without magnification.  The HRAF is a work in progress that continues to be added to.  As a result the headers on these fiche are inconsistient and may be confusing.
   
• USING THE HRAF:  Detailed instructions and information for using this collection.
   
• INDEX:  There are three indexes to the HRAF.  The first two listed below should be used in conjunction with each other:
                  Outline of World Cultures   GV405.M83 1975
                          Provides description of cultures by continent and HRAF "Culture Codes".
                          Cultures that are part of the our collections have pencil notations in the index.
                  Outline of Cultural Materials   GN345.3 .O95 1967
                          Provides descriptions of cultural features such as "Extended Families"
                          and the HRAF "Category Numbers" for them.
  
                  With these two tools you can locate the material about a particular aspect of a culture.
  
                  HRAF Source Bibliography  Z733 .H8 A34 (two binders)
                          In addition to the indexes above there are two loose leaf binders which contain a
                          listing of the specific articles and works contained in the HRAF.  These binders
                          are arranged by "Culture Codes".  There is an index to the codes in the back
                          of Binder #2.
  
                          A number precedes each article cited in these binders which can be used to
                          locate the article on the HRAF fiche.  First find the "Culture Code" in the
                          microfiche drawer and then look for the author's name and the citation number at
                          the top center of the card.  In instances where there are several short items on one
                          fiche only the first fiche and the last number and authors are shown. 
                          Those that fall between are also on the fiche.