Category talk:Contributors to the Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography

Edition distinction
Contributors to the Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography, hereafter IDUB. There also exist "1863" editions for which no Wikimedia Commons content is available as of January 11, 2020. However, inspection of my physical copy of an "1863" edition demonstrates that the list of contributors is not identical. This category perhaps could be modified to indicate "1876" IDUB. There were a variety of published "1876" editions, consistent in page numbers, but varying significantly in the location/inclusion of engraved plates. Less obviously, there are published "1876" edition containing text variations. For example, variation as to which contributions are preceded by an asterisk * (signifying that the subject was still living). Such variations are perhaps infrequent, but should not be presumed thoroughly investigated. Other differences between the two editions can be much more substantial. My contributions to this effort are aided by my physical copy of an "1876" edition, but the text editing is based on archive.org images from Brandeis University and uploaded to Wikimedia: https://archive.org/services/img/imperialdictiona00eadi

https://archive.org/services/img/imperialdictiona02eadi

https://archive.org/details/imperialdictiona03eadi

Klarm768 (talk) 11:39, 11 January 2020 (UTC)

Disambiguating & Clarifying IDUB Contributors
There seem to be 237 contributors. Two names identified in Category:Contributors to the Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography cannot be demonstrated to have a signature in the text. These are Author:Digby Pilot Starkey and Author:Robert William Fraser. Some unlisted signatures are assigned to listed-contributors. Most are not. Being nameless these have not been added to the Category:Contributors to the Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography.

For particular contributors or particular contributions, there are ambiguation difficulties. Some unlisted signatures have been assigned to a named contributor. Some do not. Ambiguation/Clarification notes:


 * Volume1, ##22K##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:George Alexander Macfarren is assigned signatures "G. A. M." and "G. A., M."] [AMBIG SIG: Vol. 1, Page 323, "Bach, Carl Philipp Emmanuel." G. A. M. is not explicitly the signatory contributor, but in context that fact is insufficient to deny the atribution.] [SIG COAUTHOR: Volume 1, page 690. Imbedded in contribution by "J. D." Author:James Donaldson entitled "Boethius, Anicius Manlius Severinus" is a bracketted contribution with signature "G. A. M."] [SIG COAUTHOR: Vol. 1, Page 133,  appended to contribution by "W. W." Author:James Donaldson entitled "Ambrose (Saint)" "G. A. M." contributed  a brief addendum.]
 * Volume1, ##24I##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:John Baines is assigned signatures "J. B. O." & "J. B., O."]
 * Volume1, ##25J##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:John Service is assigned signatures "J. S., G." and "J. S. G."]
 * Volume1, ##36J##, [SIG AMBIGUITY]: Contributor suspected to be signature "S." Author:M. Smith.]
 * Volume1, ##41R##, [SIG AMBIGUITY]: Contributor suspected to be signatory "E. M." Author:Edward Masson.]
 * Volume1, ##41W##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Francis Pulzsky is assigned signatures "F. P., L." & "F. P., G." & "E. P., L."]
 * Volume1, ##45Zcontin##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: "J. A." in Volume 1 List of Contributors is indicated for both both Author:James Anderson (1804-1863) and Author:Joseph Angus. But in fact Volume 1 text contains signature "J. A., L." which  is not found in Volume 1 "List of Contributors." In Volumes 2 & 3 "List of Contributors" both contain "J. A., L." identified with Author:Joseph Angus. THEREFORE Author:Joseph Angus identity is assigned to all "J. A., L." signatures in all volumes. The Volume 1 signatures "J. A." are all assigned to Author:James Anderson (1804-1863).
 * Volume1, ##104C##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Edward Francis Rimbault is assigned signatures "E. F. R." and "E. F., R." and "F. F. R."
 * Volume1, ##140G##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Joseph Angus is assigned signatures "J. A., L." and "J. A. L."] [SIG AMBIGUITY: "J. A." in Volume 1 List of Contributors is indicated for both both Author:James Anderson (1804-1863) and Author:Joseph Angus. But in fact Volume 1 text contains signature "J. A., L." which  is not found in Volume 1 "List of Contributors." In Volumes 2 & 3 "List of Contributors" both contain "J. A., L." identified with Author:Joseph Angus. Author:Joseph Angus identity is assigned to all "J. A., L." signatures in all volumes. The Volume 1 signatures "J. A." are all assigned to Author:James Anderson (1804-1863).
 * Volume1, ##140Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "S. C." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "S. C." occurs as single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##216Zcontin##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:John Anster is assigned Text-signatures "J. A., D." and "J. A. D."]
 * Volume1, ##224C##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: Contributor suspected to be "S."]
 * Volume1, ##256B##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: A volume 3 unlisted "F. F." signature is assigned to Author:Francis Espinasse based on signature-resemblance (i.e., risk-of-misreading) and content resembling so many contributions of Author:Francis Espinasse.]
 * Volume1, ##262G##, [SIG SHARED: "W. W." Author:William Webster in Volume 1 is not to be confused with "W. W." Author:William Weir in Volume 2.]
 * Volume1, ##272Zcontin##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: The signature "W. B." appears twice in this lengthy cluster of biographies, none of which is particularly more detailed. "W. B." does appear on the final one. The entire cluster is ascribed to "W. B." Author:William Bruce (1799-1882) ]
 * Volume1, ##277C##, [SIG SHARED: "G. M." Author:George MacDonald in volume 1 is not to be confused with "G. M." Author:George Moore (1803-1880) in volume 2.]
 * Volume1, ##322Zcontin##, [SIG SHARED: "W. H." Author:William Howitt in Volume 1 is not to beconfused with "W. H." Author:William Hughes in volumes 2 & 3.]
 * Volume1, ##380Zcontin##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: "E. B." is listed both as Author:Edward Baines and as Author:Edwin Beedell. But the "E. B." signature is assigned only to Author:Edward Baines. Signatures "E. B., L." & "E. B. L." are assigned solely to Author:Edwin Beedell.]
 * Volume1, ##450D##, [SIG UNLISTED: This "E. P., L." is the only instance in any IDUB Volume. This "E. P., L." signs a contribution beginning thus: "Batthyányi, Casimir, count de Németh Ujvàr, prime minister of Hungary."  It is closely followed by signatory "F. P., L." whose contribution begins thus: "Batthyányi, Louis, count de Németh Ujvàr, prime minister of Hungary." Authorship is ascribed "more-likely-than-not" Author:Francis Pulzsky.]
 * Volume1, ##482Zcontin##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Marco Aurelio Saffi is assigned signatures "A. S., O." and "A. S. O."]
 * Volume1, ##613C##, [SIG SHARED: "J. W. D." Author:John Wilberforce Doran in Volume 1 is not to be confused with "J. W. D." Author:James William Davison in Volume 3.]
 * Volume1, ##619B##, [SIG UNLISTED: "B. C." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "B. C." occurs 2 instances in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##625Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "D." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "D." single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##634Zcontin##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Robert Harrison is assigned signatures "R. H." and "H."]
 * Volume1, ##690Az##, [SIG COAUTHOR: Vol. 1, Page 644, Contribution "Boethius, Anicius Manlius Severinus" contains a 236 word-count bracketted insertion by signatory "G.A. M." Being imbedded in the contribution by "J. D." makes it difficult to comparably parse into discrete contributions.]
 * Volume1, ##747E##, [SIG SHARED: "B. B." Author:Barton Bouchier in Volumes 1 & 2 is not to be confused with "B. B." Author:John Bernard Burke in Volume 3.]
 * Volume1, ##794B##, [SIG ORPHAN: "Y. G. P.," is described as supplied through F. Bowen, U.S.; but no identity is assigned. List- and Text-signatures are found only in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##819F##, [SIG ORPHAN: "W. G" is described as supplied through F. Bowen, U.S. but no identity is assigned. List-signature is found in all three Lists of Contributors; but 4 instances of Text-signature are only in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##835B##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:L. P. Crosskey is assigned signatures "L. L. P." and "L. L., P."]
 * Volume1, ##880Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "H... N." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned any identity,  and text signature "H... N." single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##888D##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Frederic Meriton White is assigned signatures "F. M. W." and "F. W. M." Text signature "F. W. M." single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##890G##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Robert Martin is assigned signatures "R. M., A.", "R. M. A.", and "A. M., A."]
 * Volume1, ##995Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "T. I." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "T. I." occurs as single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##1146K##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Charles Terrien is assigned signatures "Ch. T." and "CH. T."
 * Volume1, ##1165E##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Edwin Beedell is assigned to signatures "E. B., L." and "E. B. L."] [SIG AMBIGUITY: The Indentity "Author: The Volume 1 "List of Contributors" contains two "E. B." entries (Edward Baines and Edwin Beedell). Edward Baines and "E. B." do not appear in Volumes 2 & 3. In Volumes 2 & 3 "List of Contributors" both assign "E. B., L." signature to identity "Beedel, Edwin." The "Author:Edward Baines" identity is assigned to all "E. B." signatures in volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##1177C##, [SIG UNLISTED: "A. C. S."  does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "A. C. S." occurs this single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume1, ##1211Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "T. B., C." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text signature "T. B., C." occurs as single instance in Volume 1.]
 * Volume2, ##14G##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:William Leitch is assigned Signatures "W. L., M." and "W. L. M."]
 * Volume2, ##32B##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: "A. M., A." is assigned to Author:Robert Martin based on visual resemblance.]
 * Volume2, ##50Zcontin##, [SIG ORPHAN: "J. P." is described as supplied through F. Bowen, U.S.; but no identity is assigned. Both List- & Text-signatures are found only in Volume 2.]
 * Volume2, ##183G##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:George Blair is assigned signatures "G. BL." and "G. Bl."
 * Volume2, ##261C##, [SIG UNLISTED: "E." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned any identity. Text-signature "E." single instance in Volume 2.]
 * Volume2, ##288I##, [SIG SHARED: "W. H." Author:William Hughes in volumes 2 & 3 is not to be confused with "W. H." Author:William Howitt in Volume 1.] [ MULTI SIG: Author:William Hughes is assigned signatures "W. H." and "W. H., L." but signature "W. H., L." is found only in the Volume 1 "List of Contributors." but never as a text signature]
 * Volume2, ##315Zcontin##, [SIG SHARED: "H. B." Author:Hugh Blackburn in Volume 2 is not to be confused with "H. B."Author:Hugh Barclay in Volume 3.]
 * Volume2, ##320F##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:George Rankine Luke is assigned signatures "G. R. L." and "G. R., L."
 * Volume2, ##459B##, [SIG UNLISTED: "R." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text-signature "R." has 20 instances in Volume 2 and 41 instances in Volume 3.]
 * Volume2, ##538J##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Richard Dillon Boylan is assigned to signatures "R. D. B." and "R. D., B."]
 * Volume2, ##573Zcontin##, [SIG SHARED: "W. W." Author:William Weir in Volume 2 is not to be confused with "W. W." Author:William Webster in Volume 1.]
 * Volume2, ##697Zcontin##, [SIG COAUTHOR: "A. W." Author:Alfred Watts & "J. N." Author:John Nichol.]
 * Volume2, ##797E##, [SIG UNLISTED: "W. C." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned an Author-identity. Text-signature "W. C." occurs as single instance in Volume 2.]
 * Volume2, ##814Zcontin##, [SIG SHARED: "G. M." Author:George Moore (1803-1880) in Volume 2 is not to be confused with "G. M." Author:George MacDonald in volume 1.]
 * Volume2, ##838A##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:N. Hamilton is assigned signatures "N. H." and "H." and "H., N. H."  Note symmetry with Author:Valentine Green Volume3a, ##403B## below.]
 * Volume2, ##1134Zcontin##, [SIG UNLISTED: "D. R." does not appear in any list of contributors and has not been assigned any identity,  and text-signature "D. R." single instance in Volume 2.]
 * Volume3a, ##294Zcontin##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Hugh Barclay is assigned Signatures "H. B." and "H. B—y."] [UNLISTED SIG: "H. B—y." is not identifiable in any IDUB directory of contributors. It is assigned to Author:Hugh Barclay.]  [SIG SHARED: Author:Hugh Barclay signature "H. B." is not to be confused with Author:Hugh Blackburn signature "H. B."] [SIG AMBIGUITY: "H. B—y." is presumably an incompletely executed disambiguation of Duplicate Signature "H. B."]
 * Volume3a, ##295B##, [SIG SHARED: "J. W. D." Author:James William Davison in Volume 3 is not to be confused with "J. W. D." Author:John Wilberforce Doran in Volume 1.]
 * Volume3a, ##306E##, [SIG MULTIPLE: Author:Valentine Green is assigned to signatures "G." and "V.G." and "G., V.G." Note symmetry with Author:N. Hamilton Volume2, ##838A## above.]
 * Volume3a, ##403B##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: Etienne Henri Mehul, a musician, is the only contribution by "F. F. R." That contributor is not identifiable in any IDUB directory of contributors. On the plausibility of topical fit and misprint of E. F. R. it has been ascribed to Author:Edward Francis Rimbault.]
 * Volume3a, ##581Zcontin##, [SIG SHARED: "B. B." Author:John Bernard Burke in Volume 3 is not to be confused with "B. B." Author:Barton Bouchier in Volumes 1 & 2.]
 * Volume3a, ##692B##, [SIG AMBIGUITY: This is the only instance of signature "F. F." Textual content and location are consistent with Author:Francis Espinasse. Signature misread by typesetter is plausible.]
 * Volume3b, ##636Zcontin##, [SIG ORPHAN: Orphan signature "H." is assigned to Author:Robert Harrison since his "R. H." signatures surround it and contain similar content.] Klarm768 (talk) 13:16, 11 January 2020 (UTC)