The United States Catalog; Books in Print January 1, 1912: Entries Under Author, Subject, and Title, in One Alphabet, with Particulars of Binding, Price, Date, and Publisher

The United States Catalog, published in 1912 by the H.W. Wilson Company, represents a landmark in bibliographic organization. Compiled under the editorship of Marion Effie Potter, this monumental volume served as a comprehensive index of books in print at the start of the year. It was designed to provide booksellers, librarians, and scholars with a centralized, alphabetical reference guide to authorship, subject matter, and titles, effectively standardizing the chaotic American book market of the early 20th century.

Marion Effie Potter was a pivotal figure in the development of library indexing, and her work on this catalog reflected a shift toward the systematic classification practices that would later define the modern information era. The design of the volume focused on practical utility, emphasizing clear typography and a consistent format for details such as binding, price, and publisher. The catalog was widely praised by the library community upon its release for its exhaustive scope and the precision of its cross-referencing system, cementing its reputation as an essential tool for institutional research.