Developing a Pilot Faceted Indexing Matrix to Provide Exploratory Subject Access to the Luigi Pio Tessitori Photographic Collection

Purpose. Discusses the development of a pilot faceted indexing matrix to provide exploratory subject access to the collection of historic black-and-white photographic negatives taken by the Italian Indologist Luigi Pio Tessitori (1887-1919) during his stay in India from 1914 to 1919. The matrix has a twofold purpose: first, to walk the indexer through the subject indexing process to assure that it is conducted systematically and methodically; and second, to help the information architect design and build multiple faceted interface structures – from flat to hierarchical – that would support users’ exploration and navigation tasks based on the subject facets identified in the photographs by the indexer. Design/methodology/approach. Combines Panofsky’s method of visual subject analysis with the principles of facet analysis developed by Ranganathan and furthered by the UK Classification Research Group. Findings. Although Shatford’s matrix provides a valuable starting point to help identify the Of and About aspects of representational (figurative) pictures, it has not been developed to the point at which it can be said to be an operational tool for rigorous facet analysis and classification of pictorial subjects. Research limitations/implications. The developed matrix is specific to the Luigi Pio Tessitori photographic collection. Practical implications. Although specific to the Luigi Pio Tessitori photographic collection, the developed matrix and the accompanying commentary provide conceptual and practical guidance that can be used by other indexers and information architects involved in the creation of exploratory faceted subject access to collections of representational pictures. Originality/value. Adapts and expands Shatford’s matrix to make it more consistent with the facet analytical method.