Current cataloging rule (RDA):

• “A date associated with the person is required when needed to distinguish a person from another person with the same name.” — RDA Section 3, chpt 9.3
• “Take information on dates associated with the person from any source.” — 9.3.1.2 Sources of Information
• “Record dates in terms of the calendar preferred by the agency creating the data. Record a date associated with a person by giving the year alone.” — 9.3.1.3 Recording Dates Associated with Persons

There are three types of date associated with the person which are “required when needed to distinguish a person from another person with the same name.”

• Date of Birth
• Date of Death
• Period of Activity

[Common practice] Optionally, add date(s) to any personal name, even if there is no need to distinguish between headings. — AACR2 22.17A

PROBLEMS

1. When the person’s LC authority form does not have a date, but our sources present a date or dates

– Suggested treatment: Give the date(s) in the vernacular field, and leave the romanization field as given by LC name authority record.

┌100 1_ 雑賀柳香, $d 1857-1902
└100 1_ Saiga, Ryūkō

2. When there is no LC authority record eastablished for a person name

***Thumb-up rule: Be consistent ourselves.

When there is no LC authority record, check OSCAR to see if we already have records of the same person.
If found, follow the way we did on OSCAR.

Note sometimes you find information given by other sources such as Wasada, Keio, 国会図書館 (NDL), etc. For examples, a Wasada record has

┌700 1_ 花笠文京, ǂd 2代目 1857-1926.
└700 1_ Hanagasa, Bunkyō, ǂd 2 1857-1926.
┌700 1_ 歌川国政, ǂd 3世 1848-1920.
└700 1_ Utagawa, Kunimasa, ǂd 3 1848-1920.

Only take reference, but follow the way we did on OSCAR, i.e.

┌700 1_ 花笠文京, ǂd 1857-1926
└700 1_ Hanagasa, Bunkyō, ǂd 1857-1926
┌700 1_ 歌川国政, ǂd 1848-1920.
└700 1_ Utagawa, Kunimasa, ǂd 1848-1920.

Instructions on recording dates of birth for two or more persons with the same name born in the same year.
9.3.2.3