Author or title when citing a book?

I'm confused, again! I am missing something but I can't see what it is. Looking at the "QuickSheet, Citing Ancestry Databases & Images" for citing "CITY DIRECTORIES; IMAGES" it looks like the title is cited first in both the Source List Entry and the Full Reference Note. Since I am citing a book I checked EE 3rd Edition and all the QuickCheck models in chapter 12 seem to require the author be listed first.

I note that the QuickCheck models all use the word "Author" where in the text the word compiler is used after the authors name. Both the QuickSheet guide and the text in EE are citing R. L. Polk, but the guide does not use the word compiler but the text in EE does. I'm sure this is where I am going wrong but I want to be sure I create my citations correctly so I am  asking for some help.

Thank You, Ron 

Submitted byEEon Sat, 07/30/2022 - 20:26

Hello, Ron,

EE 12.5 through 12.9 discuss the various roles that appear in the "author" field of a citation: author, abstractor, compiler, translator, transcriber. EE's glossary (pp. 819 and 821, 3d ed. revised) also define "authored work" and "compiled work." These sections should help you grasp when to note that the name in the author's field represents a compiler.

The directories cited on the QuickSheet do not have a designated author or compiler. City directories usually do not. Usually we are given only the name of the publisher. Information for those city directories is compiled by many canvassers going door-to-door. The data is then typeset and published. In the cited examples, R. L. Polk is the publishing firm those issued the self-titled city directories. Citing R. L. Polk in the author field, R. L. Polk in the title field, and R. L. Polk in the publisher's field would  be a bit redundant, yes?

 

Submitted byRon Stephenon Tue, 08/02/2022 - 13:04

Yes. Thank you for the clarification. I will do more research as you suggest on my end to get a better understanding of the differences.