"She had an unusual ability for research work of a high order and, had her tastes turned in that direction, would have made one of the great reference librarians of the country" —Isadore Mudge Wilson Bulletin for Librarians

It's a point of pride at H.W. Wilson that the professionals who craft the references the company sells to librarians are librarians themselves: over 100 Wilson staff members hold MLS degrees. Among the librarians that have earned H.W. Wilson its reputation for quality are a few who have made an indelible mark on the world of librarianship.

One such person is Minnie Earl Sears, creator of the Sears List of Subject Headings, who joined H.W. Wilson in 1923. Just published in its 18th Edition (and 80th year), Sears List of Subject Headings has been described by American Reference Books Annual as "a required tool for those preparing books for small to medium-sized libraries." Generations of catalogers have turned to Sears List for essential, up-to-date headings that optimize patron access to their library's collection—a fitting legacy for a reference librarian with a passion for cataloging.

A native of Lafayette, Indiana, (b. November 17, 1873) Minnie Earl Sears earned her B.S. at age 18 from Purdue University—the youngest graduate in her class. Two years later (in 1893) she held an M.S. degree, and in 1900 received a B.L.S. degree from the University of Illinois.

Her particular interest was cataloging. Isadore Mudge, friend and co-editor of several works with Sears, remembers her in a 1934 issue of Wilson Bulletin for Librarians: "She had an unusual ability for research work of a high order and, had her tastes turned in that direction, would have made one of the great reference librarians of the country. But from the beginning she was interested especially in the scholarly side of cataloging and cataloging research, and in the problem of subject cataloging."

Building on experience as Head Cataloger at Bryn Mawr College and University of Minnesota libraries (and as First Assistant of the Reference Catalog Division of the New York Public Library), Minnie Earl Sears joined the Wilson staff in 1923. At Wilson, she seized the opportunity to use her knowledge and insights to assist not just one library, but libraries throughout the country.

While Minnie Earl Sears is author or co-author of a score of works, it was at H.W. Wilson that she produced the references for which she's best remembered. Her List of Subject Headings for Small Libraries, first published in 1923, filled a long-time need among smaller libraries and soon became a tool for teaching cataloging in library schools.

From the start, this work reflected Sears's pioneering commitment to standardized cataloging, exemplified by her following the form of Library of Congress subject headings. Over time the Sears List was also linked by way of associated numbers to the Dewey Decimal system. The new 18th Edition of Sears includes classification numbers that conform to the new 14th Abridged Edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification.

In response to user requests, the Sears List's second edition (1926) saw the addition of "see also" references. In the third edition (1933), Minnie Earl Sears added a new section "Practical Suggestions for the Beginner in Subject Heading Work" (today's "Principles of the Sears List"). This important document was also published as a separate pamphlet, which went on to be translated into several languages. "Principles of the Sears List" remains a widely used resource for teaching subject cataloging.

With the sixth edition (1950), the title of the work was at last changed to Sears List of Subject Headings, a posthumous honor in recognition of the pioneering and fundamental contributions made by Miss Sears.

Minnie Earl Sears also made important contributions to other seminal Wilson reference works. She edited the Standard Catalog for Public Libraries (1931) and the second edition of the Standard Catalog for High School Libraries (1926). She introduced Wilson's Essay and General Literature Index (1931), compiled Song Index (1926-1934), and edited the third and fourth editions of Children's Catalog (1925, 1930).

She went on to join the faculty of the Columbia University School of Library Service in 1927 and served there until 1931, organizing the first graduate course in cataloging for the Masters' degree. Sears was also active in the ALA and New York Library Association, serving as chairman of the ALA Catalog Section, 1927-28, and Chairman of the New York Regional Catalog Group, 1931-32.

Minnie Earl Sears died on November 28, 1933, at the age of 60. Her work continues to touch the lives of librarians today.