In general, Titles for items in WashingtonCountyHeritage.org should:
Photographs and other primarily visual objects usually follow this format:
[Major person/place/object in image] + [optionally, the style of photograph, such as portrait]
You DO NOT need to state that it is a photograph in each case, but sometimes stating the style of photograph is useful
(Note: we loosely follow the rules for constructing Descriptive Titles in CCO Sections 1.2.2.2.2.2. - 1.2.2.2.3 )Examples:
You may include photographs of original art / artifacts from your organization's collections.* The title should describe the artifact itself (rather than the photograph of the artifact).
*This assumes, like all material that you add to WashingtonCountyHeritage.org, that you believe you have the right to publish the image. Items under copyright may be OK to publish using small thumbnail reference images only; see the AAMD Policy on the use of “thumbnail” digital images in museum online initiatives.[Work type] AND/OR [Major theme depicted in the work]
"If no descriptive title is available in an authoritative source, construct a descriptive title. If an inscribed or repository title is overly long, in a foreign language, or does not describe the work, construct a concise descriptive title in the language of the catalog record. Constructed titles may refer to the subject, the materials, the form, or the function of the work." See CCO Sections 1.2.2.2.2.2. - 1.2.2.2.3., especially the "Descriptive Titles" section, for more detailed rules. Examples:
Textual documents such as PDFs of brochures, books, etc. usually follow this format:
[Type of textual document] + on + [Topic]
Generally speaking, don't include the name of the author in the title. The author's name will appear in the Creator field.
Examples:
Note: An exception is when the text has it's own "title proper", as in a digitized book, work of art, pamphlet, etc. that was given a title by its author. In this case, transcribe the original title of the document. Examples:
See also the rules for "Titles for News & Magazine Clippings" below.
"[Original article headline]" + [article type]
You might occasionally have to include a few extra words about the topic of the article, if it's not clear from the title itself. Examples: