New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-11
American Chronology and Index Of American
Newspapers.

AT one of the meetings of the National His
torcal Society last winter, Mr. Edwin Williams read
q paper proposing general Chronological Index OF
the tiles of American ia the Library Ut the
Historical Society, extending over space OF about
century and quarter The subject was referred TO
select Committee viz. Edwin Williams Maunscll d.
Field and j. Romeyn Brcdhead, which Committee, at
the last meeting of the Society the 9Th inst, made
the following report;
The Special Committee to whom was referred tho
subject OF proposition by Edwin Williams, for gen
eral historical and analytical index Of American news
papers, respectfully rpor
1hat the merits and facts OF the case were 'uiiy set
forth in the original paper read before tho Society oy
the Chairman OF this Committee, and In . subsequent
Inc importance of the proposed Index is admitted by
thinking men Of oil classes; aud merchants, bankers,
lawyers, thysicians clergymen, cnolars sn muse On
geeed In the busy pursuits OF industry AMI commerce.
10 whom the subject has been mentioned navo PROM
ned their countensnce AMI support TO the undertaking
little reflection cannot iii 10 comnehdtne pan nsel
,o the vor of every member OF the Historical Society,
established 1t especially for the preservation ana
piesenDg 10 the public, records Tor future history IL
Il has been considered worthy OF the support OF inc
crowned heads OF Europe 10 exhume from the dast OF
aRes the relics OF antiquity, and such distinguished vVa
RES Of science Champoon Belzoni Bunsen Lspsius.
Lsyard and others, have devoted their lives 10 tho ser
vice OF their respective G0yernncnts Ia developing tho
curosiiies Of monumental Egypt and Assyrs, surely t
is worthy OF this Society 10 eShume from the dust OF
shelves and the lumber Of newspaper tiles the elements
Of the unwriiton history Of our own country.
To carry the proposition Into effect it Is recommended
by this Committee that Index Association DO formed
Of these persons who will subscribe nifty dollars Zach,
amounting all a. HUNDRED shares and the books
issued In a similar shape to Holmes American An
nsl- TO the number Of LOO copies. in two volumes,
octave 10 belong 10 the subscrbers leaving tho Socy
free from pecuniary responsibility Respectnly sub
United. (Siyned) EDWIN WhLANs,
MAuNsELL b. FIELD.
Mr. Williems npresenting the report, said fho index
would probably occupy three such volumes az no
held M his hand; that WA "lIolmes's Aunss, now
very ,caree and valuable book. He then went on 70
make the following statement IN connection with the
subject and one which app excite good deal Of
n,sret Doctor Holmes had complied his annaA com
menone Of the period Of the discovery OF America IN
1890 and continued them thence down 20 1876 andom
the conciuion OF that work b 1880 there was hiatus
OF (our wears during which had no chronology save
In the uDindexed and 6les OF newspapers
! I'm 1890 Williams New.York Annual Register" was
eoumcpced and continued TOR ten years la the same
/ wear The American Almsnsc" was first published ss
Boston and has been continued down TO the time
now forming twenty four volumes, OF upwards oil feo
hundred pages each lie would suggest therefore, nss
ire for the four years for which we had no
/ eop,ecutive chronology, be first indexed
/ The President asked whether the chairman oil the
! con, mttee had any motion to make.
Andrew Warner Eco, moved that the report be adopt
ed and the present committee continued with powers,
which motion was unanimously carried