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Guide to Using Human Relations Area Files (HRAF)
What are the Human Relations Area Files?
The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is a collection of ethnographies on cultures worldwide. It was founded in 1949 at Yale University, with the texts issued on microfiche Randall Library has a selection of cultures from the microfiche collection. The library also has an excellent encyclopedia based upon the HRAF collection You may want to start your research by consulting The Encyclopedia of World Cultures (10 volumes or on CD-ROM) UNCW Reference Collection GN 307 .E53
Last Update: February 15, 2006
The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) is a collection of ethnographies on cultures worldwide. It was founded in 1949 at Yale University, with the texts issued on microfiche Randall Library has a selection of cultures from the microfiche collection. The library also has an excellent encyclopedia based upon the HRAF collection You may want to start your research by consulting The Encyclopedia of World Cultures (10 volumes or on CD-ROM) UNCW Reference Collection GN 307 .E53
Where is the HRAF Collection?
The collection is on the first floor and is part of the cataloged
microfiche collection The call number is GN4 .H85 The guides to
the cultures and cultural elements (described below) are kept on top of the
microfiche cabinet
How are the files organized?
The information in the HRAF Collection is arranged first by culture
The cultures are arranged geographically. Each culture is assigned an
alpha-numeric classification code The codes are based upon The Outline
of World Cultures (OWC), which identifies all known cultural groups A
copy of the OWC is kept on the microfiche cabinets where the HRAF
Collection is filed. The first letter of the code corresponds to the geographic region where it is (or was) located:
A=Asia
E=Europe
F=Africa, excluding the northern and northeastern portions with belong culturally in the Middle East
M=Middle East
N=North America
O=Oceania
R=Russia, including cultures located in the former Soviet Union
S=South America
Within each culture, the information is organized according to the Outline of Cultural Materials (OCM), a numerical classification system that provides subject indexing for cultural traits. There are approximately eighty broad headings that are subdivided into approximately 700 specific topics This guide is also kept on top of the microfiche cabinets and is available the Outline of World Cultures website.
How can I find which cultures are available?
Randall Library has a representative selection of the cultural files produced by HRAF, known as the Probability Sample Files These cultures were chosen because they are suitable to meet the probability sampling requirements for cross-cultural analysis
The cultures in the collection and their classification numbers are listed
below
| ASIA | NORTH AMERICA, continued | ||
| AB6 | Ainu (Japan) | NU7 | Aztec (Mexico) |
| AB43 | Okayama (Japan) | NU28 | Papago (Mexico) |
| AD5 | Taiwan Hokkien | NU33 | Tarahumara (Mexico) |
| AJ1 | Tibet | NV9 | Tzeltal (Mexico-Yucatan) |
| AO7 | Central Thai (Thailand) | NW8 | Mam (Guatamala) |
| AR5 | Garo (Assam, India) | OCEANIA | |
| AR7 | Khasi (Assam, India) | OA19 | Ifugao (Philippines) |
| AW16 | Tamil (India) | OC6 | Iban (Borneo) |
| AW42 | Santal (India) | OE5 | Javanese (Java, Indonesia) |
| AX4 | Sinhalese (Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon) | OG11 | Toradja (Celebes) |
| AX5 | Vedda (Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon) | OI8 | Aranda (Australia) |
| AZ2 | Andaman (Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India) | OI20 | Tiwi (Australia) |
| EUROPE | OJ23 | Orokaiva (New Guinea) | |
| EC1 | Hungary | OJ29 | Kapauku (New Guinea) |
| EF6 | Serbs | OL6 | Trobriands (Kiriwina Islands) |
| EH1 | Greece (modern) | OQ6 | Lau (Fiji) |
| EP4 | Lapps (Norway) | OR19 | Truk (Micronesia) |
| ES10 | Highland Scots (United Kingdom) | OR21 | Woleai (Micronesia) |
| AFRICA | OT11 | Tikopia (Micronesia) | |
| FA16 | Dogon (Mali) | OU9 | Tonga (Western Polynesia) |
| FA28 | Mossi (Burkina Faso, formerly Upper Volta) | RUSSIA | |
| FE12 | Twi (Ghana) | RV2 | Yakut |
| FF57 | Tiv (Nigeria) | RY2 | Chukchee (Northeast Siberia) |
| FF62 | Yoruba (Nigeria) | SOUTH AMERICA | |
| FJ22 | Nuer (Sudan) | SA 15 | Mosquito (Central America) |
| FK7 | Ganda (Uganda) | SA19 | Talamanca (Central America) |
| FL12 | Masai (Kenya) | SB5 | Cuna (Panama) |
| FO4 | Pygmies (Congo, formerly Zaire) | SC7 | Cagaba (Columbia) |
| FO7 | Azande (Congo, formerly Zaire) | SC13 | Goajiro (Columbia) |
| FO42 | Rundi , including Bahutu (Hutu), Batutsi (Tutsi) and
Tatwa (Twa) (Burundi and Rwanda) |
SC15 | Paez (Columbia) |
| FQ5 | Bemba (Zambia) | SD6 | Cayapa (Ecuador) |
| FQ9 | Lozi (Zambia) | SD9 | Jivaro (Ecuador) |
| FX10 | San (Bushmen) (Botswana, Namibia
and South Africa) |
SE13 | Inca (Peru) |
| FX20 | Zulu (South Africa) | SF5 | Aymara (Bolivia) |
| MIDDLE EAST | SF10 | Chiriguano (Bolivia) | |
| MA11 | Kurd (Iran, Iraq and Turkey) | SF21 | Siriono (Bolivia) |
| MO4 | Somali (Somalia) | SF24 | Uru (Bolivia) |
| MP5 | Amhara (Ethiopia) | SG4 | Araucanians (Chile) |
| MS12 | Hausa (Nigeria and Niger) | SH4 | Ona (Patagonia) |
| MS14 | Kanuri (Nigeria and Niger) | SH5 | Tehuelche (Patagonia) |
| MS22 | Teda (Chad, Niger and Libya) | SH6 | Yahgan (Patagonia) |
| MS25 | Tuareg (Algeria, Libya,Mali and Nigeria) | SI4 | Abipon (Argentina) |
| MS30 | Wolof (Senegal and The Gambia) | SI7 | Mataco (Argentina) |
| MT9 | Libyan Bedouin | SI12 | Toba (Argentina) |
| MW11 | Shluh (Morocco) | SK6 | Choroti (Paraguay) |
| NORTH AMERICA | SK7 | Cuana (Paraguay) | |
| NA6 | Aleut (Alaska) | SM3 | Caingang (South Brazil) |
| NA10 | South Alaska Eskimo | SM4 | Guarani (South Brazil) |
| NA12 | Tlingit (Alaska) | SO8 | Timbira (Northeast Brazil) |
| ND8 | Copper Eskimo (Northern Canada) | SO9 | Tupinamba (Northeast Brazil) |
| ND9 | Hare (Northern Canada) | SO10 | Bahia Brazilians (Northeast Brazil) |
| NE11 | Nootka (British Columbia) | SP7 | Bacairi (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NF6 | Blackfoot (Prairie Provinces) | SP8 | Bororo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NG6 | Ojibwa (Ontario) | SP9 | Caraja (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NH6 | Montagnais (Quebec) | SP17 | Nambicuara (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NJ5 | Micmac (Maritime Provinces) | SP22 | Tapirapa (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NM7 | Delaware (U.S. Mid-Atlantic States) | SP23 | Trumai (Mato Grosso, Brazil) |
| NM9 | Iroquois (U.S. Mid-Atlantic States) | SQ13 | Mundurucu (Amazonia) |
| NN11 | Creek (U.S. Southeastern States) | SQ18 | Yanoama (Amazonia) |
| NO6 | Comanche (U.S. South Central States) | SQ19 | Tucano (Amazonia) |
| NP5 | Fox (U.S East Central States) | SQ20 | Tucuna (Amazonia) |
| NP12 | Winnebago (U.S East Central States) | SR8 | Guiana Maroons (Guiana) |
| NQ6 | Arapaho (U.S. West Central States) | SR9 | Carib (Guiana) |
| NQ10 | Crow (U.S. West Central States) | SS16 | Pemon (Venezuela) |
| NQ12 | Dhegiha (U.S. West Central States) | SS18 | Warao (Venezuela) |
| NQ17 | Mandan (U.S. West Central States) | SS19 | Yaruro (Venezuela) |
| NQ18 | Pawnee (U.S. West Central States) | ST13 | Callinago (Lesser Antilles) |
| NR10 | Klamath (U.S. Northwestern States) | SU1 | Puerto Rico |
| NS29 | Yokuts (California) | SV3 | Haiti |
| NT9 | Hopi (U.S. Southwestern States) | SY1 | Jamaica |
| NT13 | Navajo (U.S. Southwestern States) | ||
| NT14 | Plateau Yumans (U.S. Southwestern States) | ||
| NT18 | Tewa (U.S. Southwestern States) | ||
| NT20 | Washo (U.S. Southwestern States) | ||
| NT23 | Zuni (U.S. Southwestern States) | ||
| NT25 | Mescalero (U.S. Southwestern States) |
How can I look up specific aspects of a culture or compare cultures?
After selecting the culture or cultures you wish to investigate, consult the Outline of Cultural Materials to find the classification for the cultural traits you wish to examine Use the table of contents and keyword index to identify the category, then consult the scope note to verify the definition for the category For example, category 58 is where you will find information about marriage Nine specific categories cover aspects of marriage, including Arranging a Marriage (584), Nuptials (585), and Termination of Marriage (586) The scope notes for 58 and 584 read as follows:
|
58 Marriage 58 MARRIAGE--general statements dealing with several
specific aspects of marriage. Marriage is a socially sanctioned
relationship between a man and a woman involving economic cooperation and
residential and sexual cohabitation The culturally patterned norms of
the relationship regularly specify who may and may not enter into it, how it
may be established and terminated and what each partner may and may not do
within it As a relationship, marriage is to be distinguished sharply
from the family, the social group within which it is typically embedded.
|
| 584 ARRANGING A MARRIAGE--marriage preliminaries; courtship (e.g.,
opportunities, methods); initiation of negotiations (e.g., by youth, by
girl, by parents of either); conduct of negotiations (e.g., by parents,
through a go-between); marriage brokers; proposal of marriage; methods and
consequences of rejection; requirement of consent (e.g., of youth, of girl,
of parents, of chief); betrothal (e.g., conceptualization, announcement,
ceremonial, symbols, duration); status and behavior of betrothed persons;
infant betrothal (e.g., prevalence, procedure, nullification); breaking an
engagement (e.g., reasons, procedures, consequences); adjustment to death of
betrothed (e.g., substitution of a sibling); etc See also:
Adolescent activities . . . . 883
Sex status. . . . . . . . 562 Murdock, George P., et. al 1987 Outline of Cultural Materials, 5th ed. New Haven: Human Relations Area Files, pp. 98, 99-100. |
Next, consult the microfiche collection, first finding the culture by its alpha-numeric code, then finding the category Each piece of microfiche has a header that indicates the categories included "Flasher" frames provide eye-readable numbers showing where a new category begins:
FIGURE 1: HRAF microfiche #16 for the Tiwi culture (OI20)
Pages from sources dealing with that aspect of the culture are reproduced on the subsequent frames Each source is analyzed at the paragraph level, and numerical codes are written in the margins of the work (sometimes several codes are listed on each page.) A dot beside the code you looked up will help you locate the portion of the page dealing with the cultural trait you have selected That page will also appear under each additional cultural code indicated on the page For example, Figure 2 shows a page retrieved under category 584 The same page will be reproduced under categories 592 (Family: Household), 589 (Marriage: Celibacy), 581 (Marriage: Basis of Marriage), 582 (Marriage: Regulation of Marriage), 842 (Reproduction: Conception), and 587 (Marriage: Secondary Marriages)
FIGURE 2: Page found under category 584 for Tiwi culture
Another useful category within the HRAF Collection is 116: Texts This category provides the full text of most processed sources If the selected pages reproduced under each topical category does not provide enough context for your research, consult this category for the full set of pages
How do I know what source the information comes from?
The header at the top of each page identifies the source Complete source information is given under cultural category 111 (Bibliography: Sources Processed) The header in Figure 2 lists the source as #1, by Hart and Pilling A code indicating the role of the author, evaluation score, field dates, and publication date are also given Under category 111 is found the complete information about this source (see Figure 3) The bibliographic reference and physical description of the source is followed by a brief critique.
Figure 3: Source 1 under Category 111 for the Tiwi culture
The source description ends with the field dates, analyst's name, year processed for inclusion in HRAF and an evaluation stating the role of the authors and an evaluation score Author roles are:
| A | Archeologist, Antiquarian | N | Natural or Physical Scientist |
| B | Folklorist | O | Lawyer, Judicial personnel |
| C | Technical personnel (engineers, agricultural expers, foreign aid advisors, etc.) | P | Psychologist |
| D | Physician, Physical anthropologist | Q | Humanist (philosopher, critic, editor, writer, etc.) |
| E | Ethnologist, Social anthropologist | R | Artisan (artist, musicaian, architect, dancer) |
| F | Foreign resident | S | Social scientist (other than those designated) |
| G | Government official (administrator, soldier, foreign diplomat | T | Traveler (tourist, explorer) |
| H | Historian | U | Unknown |
| I | Indigene | V | Political scientist, Propagandist |
| J | Journalist | W | Organizational documents and reports (constitutions, law codes, government or UN reports and documents, censuses) |
| K | Geographer | X | Economist, Businessman |
| L | Linguist | Y | Educator |
| M | Missionary, Clergyman | Z | Sociologist |
Evaluation scores are:
| 1 | Poor sources |
| 2 | Fair sources |
| 3 | Good, useful sources, but not uniformily excellent |
| 4 | Excellent secondary data (e.g., compilations and/or interpretations of original data and primary documents |
| 5 | Excellent primary data (e.g., travelers' accounts, ethnological studies, etc., as well as primary documents such as legal codes, other legal documents, autobiographies, etc.) |
How do I cite information from HRAF?
Cite the original source as you normally would
It is not necessary to mention HRAF
Chicago Manual of Style format:
Hart, C. W. M. and Arnold R. Pilling. The Tiwi of North Australia. New
York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1960.
APA format:
Hart, C. W. M & A. R. Pilling. (1960). The Tiwi of North Australia. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Where do I go next?
There are a few other categories in the
Bibliography section of the HRAF that will lead you to additional sources:
112: Sources consulted, but not processed for inclusion in HRAF
113: Additional references This category includes bibliographical
lists, annotated bibliographies, works referred to in the processed sources and
other information sources such as museums and archival collections
117: Field data Includes field journals and diaries and unorganized
field notes.
118: Fiction Works of fiction about the culture by non-native
authors Fiction about the culture by native authors is in categories 538
(Literature) and 539 (Literary texts)
For more information about the cultures, cultural traits, and cross-cultural analysis, be sure to consult the databases for anthropology, especially:
Acknowledgments:
The following websites were use to compile this
guide:
Human Relations Area Files (Yale)
Human Relations Area Files (Boston)
Human Relations Area Files (Cornell)
Guide to Citing HRAF (Indiana)
Accessing the HRAF Collection of Ethnography (Akron)
HRAF
(University of Calgary Library)
Guide to the Human Relations Area Files (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Last Update: February 15, 2006