Let me begin by apologizing for the length of this email.  I can't figure out how to make it simple.

I am cataloging a collection of annual reports from the mid 1800s to early 20th century.  The documents are Texas state publications and I have a complete run except for the 14th annual...  I've found 6 records in OCLC for this serial because the title changes slightly and the agency changes names frequently:

62416795        Texas Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

                Annual report of the board of trustees of the Texas Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

                Dates: 18uu, 187u

10386568        Texas Institution for the Deal and Dumb

                Annual report of the superintendent of the Texas Institution for the Deaf and Dumb

                Dates:  187u, 188u

10393598        Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum

                Annual report of the superintendent and board of trustees of the Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum

                Dates: 188u, 1884

62416794        Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum

                Annual report of the superintendent of the Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum

                Dates: 1885, 1885

6692143 Texas Deal and Dumb Asylum

                Annual report

                Dates: 1901, 1910

6691970 Texas School for the Deaf

                Annual report of the Texas School for the Deaf

                Dates 1911, 9999

I have these as well: 

First annual report of the president and officers of the Texas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb (published in 1857)

Second and Third annual report of the Trustees of the Texas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb (published in 1859- combined into one report)

Then there's a gap until the 13th annual report.  The first page of which reads: "As none of the reports of this Institution since the third annual report for the year terminating September 30, 1859 have been printed, the Trustees consider it desirable to present a summary...

Thirteenth annual report of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Deaf and Dumb Institution (submitted Aug 31, 1969, published 1870)

So now I have a corporate name change and I’m missing the 14^th annual report.   The 15^th (report for the year ending 1871) is now the Texas Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and that remains the name until 1884 when it changes to Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum.  It changes again with the 49^th annual report in 1905 to the Texas School for the Deaf changes back to Texas Deaf and Dumb Asylum for the 50^th report in 1906, and back once again in 1911 to the Texas School for the Deaf.

If you’re still reading, thank you.  My question concerns the records in OCLC.  I have information about the actual dates and can create two new records:

Texas Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb 1856-1859

Texas Deaf and Dumb Institution (summary of 1860 through Aug. 1969)

My question, I think, is this, I have the entire run and know what the dates should be on these records in OCLC but don’t have authorization to change anything.  What should I do?  Just leave the existing OCLC records alone and create the two new ones for the earliest reports?  Is it really necessary to have a title change every time the Board of Trustees and or the Superintendent get mentioned in the title? 

Thank you for any help you can give me.  I know as I work through this project I’m going to find lots of these kinds of serials.

Pat

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Patsy D. (Pat) Fowler
SirsiDynix Unicorn System Administrator
Hosted site: Symphony 3.4
Head, Cataloging Department
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Austin, Texas
512-463-7102

(The opinions expressed are my own & not necessarily those of my employer.)