Documenting Your Collections
Info-Muse Network Documentation Guide

Les guides électroniques de la SMQ

Object Name (Identification)

Mandatory fieldField to be used with an authority listField used for ethnology and history collectionsField used for fine and decorative arts collectionsField used for science and technology collectionsField used for archaeology collections (object data and site data)Société des musées québécois Info-Muse database field

Definition:

  • This field should contain only the standardized object name.

Observations:

  1. N.B.: The Object Name field should contain the standardized name of the object and no description.
    Example

    A silver 10-cent Canadian coin

    Object Name coin
      Object Type 10 cents
      Material metal, silver
      Originating Country Canada
  2. If the object name consists of several terms inextricably associated with the object, insert them in the Object Name field.
    Example

    Object Name bedside table
     and not 
     Object Nametable
      Object Typebedside
  3. For better search results in your database, avoid a large variety of terms; draw up an authority list and add keywords as necessary.
  4. Ideally, there should be one record for each object.
    Example

    Two soup plates from the same set
    Record for the first plate

      Accession Number 1964.3.1
    Object Name soup plate
      Quantity 1

    Record for the second plate

      Accession Number 1964.3.2
    Object Name soup plate
      Quantity 1
  5. If you have a number of similar objects, you may create a single documentation record. In that case, you will have to enter the name of the object in this field and enter an interval in the Accession Number field.
    Example

    One record for four identical soup plates acquired together in 1992

      Accession Number 1992.5-8
    Object Name soup plate
     Quantity 4

Entry rules:

  1. Enter the name in the singular form unless the name is usually in the plural.
    Example

    Object Name tree shear
     but 
    Object Name sewing shears
  2. Use capitals when required by the spelling for the name.
    Example

    Object Name French horn
     and not 
     Object Name french horn
  3. Do not use quotation marks, slashes, commas, parentheses or brackets. Use hyphens only as required for spelling the name.
    Example

    Object Name cup ?
     and not 
     Object Name cup (or mug)
     but 
    Object Name hurdy-gurdy
     and not 
     Object Name hurdy gurdy
  4. If you are unsure whether your information is correct, include a space and a question mark after the keyword.
    Example

    Object Name paper press ?
  5. This field may not contain more than one entry.

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