The Arizona sentinel., 1885-02-07

an Imperial Library, ABOUT oUoU
volumes were obtained. Then,
was the sale 10 London of the
Ramirez collection. and the sale
in New York of Squier's manus-
cripts, and score of others that
brought to Mr.. Bancroft's Library
large and important additions.
The business was originally
established on Montgomery street
near Merchant. Both business
and Library having assumed
considerable proportions, in 1863
Mr.. Bancroft erected a large
building on Market street, and
moved into it, the Library being
placed on the fifth floor. There
it remained, subject to no small
risk from fire, until 1881, when
Mr.. Bancroft puschased a large
lot on Valencia street, built in the
middle of it a two-story and
basement brick building, 40 by 60
feet, covered all the openings
with strong iron shutters, and in
it placed his books, maps, and
manuscripts, which by this time
bered $4,000, besides 400 files
of Pacific Coast newspapers.
There they newsstand, ,buildingand
books, a monument to the eleva-
ton of mind and patient devotion
of the collector.
AS before Intimated, it was not
until after several years had clap
sed from the beginning of the col
lecting, nor until the Library
numbered over $4,000 volumes,
that Mr.. Bancroft entertained
serious thoughts of authorship.
But During the process of COLLECTS
ing there had arisen in him
strong desire for production. He
wished during his lifetime to see
his collection utilized. By the
year 1868 this desire became 80
strong in him that he determined
to place in his brothers. hands the
active management of the busi-
ness, retaining his interest in it
neverth eless, and TO devote the
remainder of his life to literary
pursuits.
1t seemed due to science, to his.
tory, and to philosophy, that in>
formation concerning new and
rapidly developing country, in
formation of vast importance to
its occupants and to mankind
everywb ere, should not be SIM
ply boarded by its possessor, but
should be made the common pro-
perty of all. Hence it was that
Mr.. Bancroft concluded that he
could do no better work, none
that would more benefit mankind
or reflect higher credit on him.
self, than to sift this material and
bring together and arrange these
facts in a series of at once COM
pact and exhaustive works. In
other words, he determined to
write and publish a number of
books, with this new Western
Coast as the basis of them all,
taking up one subject after anoth-
er, such as its native races, its
history, and the like, and to con-
tinue his labors as life and health
should be spared.
The results are now being pla-
ced before the world at the rate
of three or four new volumes a
year. in grand historical series,
such as must forever constitute
the foundation of all historical
research on the Western Coast of
North America. Following the
Native Races of the Pacific States
IN VOLS, are the histories of Cen
tral America; Mexico; The North
Mexican States; New Mexico and
Arizona; California; Nevada;
Utah; TIE Northw west Coast;
Oregon; Washington, Idaho, and
Montana; British Columbia, and
Alaska. Following the history
proper will be supplementary
volumes under titles of California
Pastoral; California Inter-Pocula;
Popular Tribunals; Essay and
Miscellany, and Literary Indus
tries.