Corporate name authority files
The authority record has two basic areas: The Identity Area, which generates the authorised form of the name, and the Description Area, which gives background information. It is not necessary to fill in every field in the description area.
Use paragraph tags [<p></p>] to break up large amounts of text.
Code
Comprises the Wellcome NRA code (GB 0120) and a machine-generated unique identifier. The Wellcome code is used to identify the source of the data should it be exported.
AuthorizedFormOfName
An autogenerated field based on the data in the identity area's other fields.
CorporateName
To record the legally recognised or registered title
Rules
Where the body is a firm owned by an individual and does not have a registered name, use the proprietor’s full name in natural language order.
For brands, enter the brand name here.
Examples
Firms owned by individuals: W.H. Smith (not Smith, W.H.)
Brands: Valtrex
Jurisdiction
To record if a corporate body or brand is associated with a national or local jurisdiction and the name of that jurisdiction is not implicit in the body’s title. Can be useful when the authority file relates to a brand rather than the manufacturing organisation.
Examples
Jurisdiction: Croydon Borough Council
CorporateName: Parks Department
Jurisdiction: Wellcome Foundation Limited
CorporateName: Zovirax
Subordinate
To record organisations subordinate to the authority.
DatesofExistence
To record covering dates of the organisation’s activity.
Rules
When only one year is known, enter this only and the authorised form of name will generate appropriately.
If only approximate dates are known, use “” rather c. or fl.
Examples
Only foundation year is known: 1932-
Only end year is known: -1948
Epithet
To enter a description that would help to distinguish the organisation from others of a similar name. Used sparingly, as the basic information about what the organisation did will be entered into the Activities field.
Rules
Include a profession or place qualifier
Can use to record a married woman's maiden name if she is known under both, if it is desired to emphasise a family connection, or to distinguish two women of similar names. Use with "née".
Examples
Wellcome Foundation Ltd.; Wellferon; 1957-; Pharmaceutical Brand
ParallelEntry
To record other forms authorised under RDA in a different language or script system. Rarely used.
OtherFormsOfName
To record other names under which the person was known other than the authorised form. The “A.K.A.” field.
Rules
Can include nicknames, pseudonyms or acronyms.
Only one name per field. Repeat the field as required for each name.
DatesAndPlaces
To record a general overview of dates and places of founding, dissolution etc. Use in conjuction with the Address field (see below).
Examples
Founded in 1957
Incorporated 1 Oct 1984
Formed in 1936 as the Board of Trustees. Renamed the Board of Governors in 1992.
Address
To enter known place(s) from which the body operated: address of head office, factory address(es) etc.
Examples
28 Portman Square, London (c.1946-1958)
52 Queen Anne Street, London (1958-1927)
1 Park Square West, London (1972-1992)
185 Euston Road, London (1992-2004)
215 Euston Road, London (2004-present)
Nationality
To record nationality.
Rules
Use rather than English or Scottish, and Spanish rather than Catalan or Castilian.
For countries that have subsequently achieved political independence or political union it is legitimate and relevant to use the modern nationality (e.g. “Italian” even when referring to documents created before the creation in 1861 of “Italy” as it known today.)
Activity
To provide contextual background information, as you would in the Admin_History field in the main catalogue record.
LegalStatus
To record the status of the corporate body: e.g. British limited company, private company, charity, etc.
Rules
Record any Acts of Parliament, Royal Charters etc. relevant to its founding or evolution.
Examples
Registered company
Private limited company
Registered charity
IdentifiersForCorporateBodies
To record company registration number, registered charity number, etc., as appropriate.
Registered Charity No. 229642
Registered Number: 236211
Relationships
To note significant relationships with other organisations: predecessors, successors, separate bodies that engage in collaborative projects with it etc.
Examples
Parent body: Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR).
A department of the Wellcome Trust. Preceded by the Medical Photographic Library.
Governing body and legal entity for the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Notes
To record any other relevant information.
Use this field very sparingly.
ArchivistNotes
To record the name of the person creating the authority entry, the date done (in format MMM YYYY) and sources used.
Rules
To record the rules under which the authority record was compiled.
Default text sets these out and should not normally require alteration.
Library_of_Congress_identifier
To record a Library of Congress authority record serial number, when one exists.
Creator, Creater, Modifier, Modified
To record the creator and modifier of the records, and the date created and modified
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