Think of the eHRAF databases as online “collections” of texts on past and present cultures from major regions around the world that are subject indexed. Once HRAF decides on a contemporary or prehistoric culture, chosen from a comprehensive list, we collect documents (e.g. books, journal articles, dissertations, etc.) for that particular culture. Often times we work with experts, who are anthropologists or archaeologists to give us advice on which documents to include.
For eHRAF World Cultures we use materials from HRAF’s past collection, the “Collection of Ethnography,” first published in paper slips, then in microfiche. Some documents from the microfiche are classic ethnographic works, but we also make sure to include more recent materials. Depending on the culture and materials found, the “Collection Documents,” can include anywhere from a few to 200 documents. The “Collection Documents” can be found in the Browse Cultures section of eHRAF World Cultures and in the Browse Traditions section of eHRAF Archaeology.