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| Melvil Dewey |
You’ve heard comments like
these:
“Nonfiction sounds so negative. Let’s come up with a new name.”
“We shouldn’t define something
by what it isn’t.”
by what it isn’t.”
“Instead of nonfiction, why don’t we use true books or real books or fact books?”
But despite protests like
these, the term nonfiction seems to
stay with us. Did you ever wonder where the term came from in the first place? I
did, so I did some research. Here’s what I discovered.
these, the term nonfiction seems to
stay with us. Did you ever wonder where the term came from in the first place? I
did, so I did some research. Here’s what I discovered.
Our story begins in 1876.
That’s when Melvil Dewey invented a (mostly) ingenious book cataloging system.
Librarians were so impressed with the Dewey Decimal System that it quickly
spread through libraries across America and the rest of the world too.
That’s when Melvil Dewey invented a (mostly) ingenious book cataloging system.
Librarians were so impressed with the Dewey Decimal System that it quickly
spread through libraries across America and the rest of the world too.
By the early 1900s, a growing number of library patrons were complaining that it was hard to find a good novel. That’s because “fiction” (novels and short stories) were interspersed among all the other categories of “literature” (essays, letters, speeches, satire) in the 800s.
And
that’s not all. The books in the 800s were organized by original language of
publication. So novels by American writers were nowhere near novels by German
writers or Portugese writers.
that’s not all. The books in the 800s were organized by original language of
publication. So novels by American writers were nowhere near novels by German
writers or Portugese writers.
So
sometime between 1905 and 1910, librarians started pulling novels and short story
collections out of the 800s. They created a separate “fiction”
section with books arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
sometime between 1905 and 1910, librarians started pulling novels and short story
collections out of the 800s. They created a separate “fiction”
section with books arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
Soon,
people began calling everything else left behind (still arranged according to
Dewey’s system) “nonfiction.” And the word stuck.
people began calling everything else left behind (still arranged according to
Dewey’s system) “nonfiction.” And the word stuck.
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Topics
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6 Responses
A fun bit of history, Melissa. Thanks for sharing. I wonder why they decided to leave the fairy tales and folk tales in the nonfiction. I can see having the myths and legends in with the religion section. But those others…not so much.
Pretty cool…thanks Melissa!
Nice history bit! But it was Melvil Dewey, not John (who was an educational reformer), who invented the Dewey Decimal System.
Ah, you're right. Thanks so much. I just fixed it.
Speedy! Thanks, Melissa.
Yay! I'm not the only one who inadvertently switches Melvil out with John!