I agree wholeheartedly with Jimmie.  Absent information in a resource ("her", "he"), don't say anything.  Certainly, don't infer anything from the name.

Gary L. Strawn, Authorities Librarian, etc.
Northwestern University Library, 1970 Campus Drive, Evanston IL 60208-2300
e-mail: [log in to unmask]   voice: 847/491-2788   fax: 847/491-8306
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit.         BatchCat version: 2007.22.416


-----Original Message-----
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lundgren,Jimmie Harrell
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:27 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] terms for sex in 375

I'd caution against making assumptions. I've had many pieces of mail addressed to "Mr." when actually I'm a "Mrs." :) 
Jimmie Lundgren

-----Original Message-----
From: Program for Cooperative Cataloging [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hall, Jack
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCCLIST] terms for sex in 375

A new question: how do we determine the sex of a person. May we infer from the forename if we assume it is (usually?) used for one sex or the other? Do we need further evidence, and what might that be? I hesitate to email someone asking: What sex are you?



Jack Hall
Manager of Cataloging Services
Linguistics Librarian
University of Houston Libraries
Houston, TX 77204-2000
phone: 713 743 9687
fax: 713 743 9748
email: [log in to unmask]