One of the most prominent figures in contemporary British library and information science, Douglas John Foskett made many, varied, and important cont… - Douglas John Foskett

The (C.R.G.) in London has been discussing for some years the theory of documentary classification, and several papers have been published which reflect the course of the discussions (1–8). Beginning with an explicit disavowal of allegiance to any one published system, the Group has considered the well-known schemes, both general and special, and the work being published by those in other countries who have also been studying the subject theoretically. It has not, unfortunately, had the opportunity so far of seeing the system developed in the U.S.S.R. on the basis of the philosophy of dialectical materialism. While the Group has not been particularly satisfied with the development of the itself, we have nevertheless come to the conclusion that the method of facet analysis, first used systematically by , though sometimes occurring previously as it were by intuition, should form the basis of all forms of information retrieval.

The CRG turned its thoughts towards a much more complex matter that had received little attention from any of the other schools of thought which had been represented at the two Conferences [Dorking and ICSI]. This is the relation between general and special classifications: is there anything to be gained by pursuing the ideal of a new universal classification scheme, and if so, how will the specialist's need be served by it? How can the CRG schemes, for example, that prove so satisfactory for their users, be integrated into such a general scheme?

[The was] a typical British affair, with no resources beyond the native wit of its members, no allegiance to any existing system of classification, no fixed target, no recognition by the British Government (naturally), and at first only an amused tolerance from the library profession.