18911962

18911962 is a compact numeric representation that appears in biographical and archival contexts as a shorthand for the life span of an individual, indicating birth year 1891 and death year 1962. Used without separators, the string functions as an identifier in certain catalogs, databases, and digitized records to signal the period during which a person lived.

In practice, 18911962 is typically understood within a broader contextual framework. It may appear in bibliographies, biographical authority records, or archival inventories where life dates accompany a name to help distinguish individuals with similar names. Some databases also store such dates in dedicated fields, while others may render them as 1891–1962 or (1891–1962). The lack of separators can lead to ambiguity unless accompanied by a name or other identifying information.

Because multiple people can share the same life span, the string alone is rarely sufficient for precise identification. Disambiguation normally requires additional data such as a full name, nationality, occupation, or a catalog designation. In library science and archival practice, life dates are part of authority control to differentiate individuals and aid researchers in locating correct materials.

See also: life dates, authority control, bibliographic records, cataloging standards.