Understanding ‘Knowledge Organization Systems’ & ‘Ways of Knowing’
Early Modern recipe books are tangible knowledge organization systems with documented ways of knowing.
Understanding each of these concepts allows us to more fully value these information objects.
Knowledge Organization Systems
Knowledge organization systems (KOSs) are exactly as they sound: systems for organizing information. These systems are meant to make locating and accessing information easier for the user, whether they be a researcher, public library patron, or professional using a company database. In short, KOSs serve the purpose of efficiently connecting people to the information they seek.
Knowledge organization systems are directly shaped by a particular perspective or worldview, informed by the type of information contained and the community accessing/using it. As such, KOSs take many forms, from classification schemes like the Dewey Decimal System to tangible works such as Indigenous basketry. There is no “one size fits all” approach to knowledge organization.
Recipe Book, 18th Century (Wellcome Collection, MS.8042; p.7)
Ways of Knowing
Simply: How do we gain knowledge? There is a spectrum of ways of knowing, some of which are quite commonplace; attending school, reading books, and speaking with experts are just a few examples.
Knowledge might be gained through experience, observation, reason, authority, or even intuition. Each category offers its own unique advantages, though a particular way of knowing might not be appropriate for each circumstance. Ways of knowing- like knowledge organization systems- are often reflective of the community or environment.
English culinary and medical recipe book, 18th century (Wellcome Collection, MS.8468; p.40)