Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-18
Ts0SE MISSING BOOKS.
EX.sTATE LIBRARIAN WALLIS MAKES
AN EXPLANATION.
Instead of 5000 Books Having Been
Lost, He Says There Are But 1876,
of Small Value

Trustees in your issue of two weeks ago
Sunday appeared a statement which, If
allowed to pass without some explanation,
would do me a great injustice. In the
headlines of your article it was stated that
nay successor told the Trustees that my &C.
counts are wrong. Several papers through
cut the State have even stated that was
short in money. can hardly be respectful
in replying to this for it is false, and has
not even shadow of truth in it. I called
on W. D. Perkins and requested to see his
report made to the Board of Trustees,
showing that l was short in money, aud
he replied that nothing of the kind had
ever been intimated, and as far as he knew,
everything was correct. Believing that he
would do me the justice to correct this
matter, l have delayed replying until the
present time. The State Library is in
debted to me, and ask my successor to be
honorable enough to state whether or not
my denial is correct.
My successor states that George T. Clark,
late Deputy Librarian under ex-Librarian
Wallis, was appointed at my request to
represent me in taking an inventory of the
property in the Library, and tina: Mr.
Clark's report showed several thousand
volumes missing.
On the last of February, when the pres
ent Trustees took Office, asked them to
have an inventory taken of the property in
the Library, so l would know what they
received and what books were missing, and
at the same time / offered to stay with
them two months, without pay, to assist
them in the matter. This offer they re-
fused, but appointed Mr.. Leake and others
to go on with the inventory. On the 9Th
of April, when my term expired, they had
not then completed checking off from the
cards and catalogues, which represented
the books in the Library, so at my request
Mr.. Clark was appointed to finish the
checking off and report to the Trustees,
which he did. HIS report comprises less thai,
135 U0lttnleS missing.
Many of these volumes are unimportant
and almost valueless official reports re-
ceived by exchange with other States.
Some of the books reported missing were
found Immediately upon list being de-
livered to me- and others are charged in
the receipt book TO responsible persons, and
will DE either returned or paid for. In so
large library ii is very easy to overlook
some of the books, and l am satisfied that
many of those apparently missing will
eventually be found.
This completed Mr.. Clark's duty so far
as was concerned, but for some unknown
reason my successor attempted to count the
books in the Library, which count was not
superintended by Mr.. Clark, or reported by
him as correct. If had had any knowl-
edge that such high handed piece of bust
ness as this would have been attempted,
would have entered my protest immedi-
ately. Every one familiar with libraries
know that this is not the correct way of
taking an inventory of library, as il is
absolutely impossible to arrive at correct
conclusion, and W. s. Leake was fully
aware of the fact after it was explained to
him. But, Notwithstanding this he con-
tinued with the count. should have been
informed of this action, for / was inter-
ested in it, and not my successor. 1t was
immaterial TO him how many books were
missing or during whose administration,
for the last forty years, they disappeared.
1t was stated that the register of the Lii
brary called for 1886 volumes, while by
actual count there were found to be but
1887 volumes, and the inference was that
5000 volumes were gone, for the loss of
which l was responsible. Such is far from
being the true state of the case. Let it be
understood that an accession register is
kept in which every book, map or pamph-
let received is entered and given a number.
This has been the custom since the organ
ization of the State Library, in 1850, so
1885 represents the total accessions during
the forty years of its existence. During
that period 1t has been managed by many
men, has been moved from place 10 place,
and altogether has had an eventful career
That many books have been worn oat CT
lost, is not in the least surprising. Fur
thermore, il was the custom to register and
number pamphlets, aimanacs and similar
ephemeral publications, many of which
were not preserved, while those that were
have been bound in volumes containing
from ten 10 twenty five or more pamphlets
each. Thus, what in the register appears
as many books, are now counted as one.
Similarly, with many serial publications
the separate PARTS of which were numbered
and afterwards collected and bound in one
volume.
Some three years ago large number of
duplicate Government documents were re-
turned to the authorities at Washington,
and they too had, for the most part, been
registered and numbered. and several hun
bred volumes which had been registered
were destroyed during the flood, as my
predecessor. Hon. r. o. Cravens is aware
When he took possession of the Library in
1870 he did not pretend to count the vol
umes, as be knew he could not ascertain
what books were missing, but checked up
from catalogues and found large number
Of books which were not in the Library,
and which were also registered.
1t is not denied that books have been
lost from the Library but there is not q
similar Institution in the land that does
not likewise Suffer, and taking the above
facts into consideration the total loss is
comparatively small, particularly when we
remember that it covers period of forty
wears, instead of Just my administration.
In one of the largest libraries of San Fran
cisco there is discrepancy OF $1,000 vol
umes between the number called for by
the register and those found on the shelves.
In my final report made on April 9th
discussed this matter of the loss of books,
and would be much pleased if you will
have the kindness to make the following
extract from my report
The register OF this Library shows that we
have nearly $1,000 volumes. The histories OF
libraries have proven the fact that IN their
early years of existence the Librarians, in their
eagerness 70 inc ease the numbers as rapidly as
possible, registered everything in sight. After
twenty-five or thirty years elapse 1t is found
that there are hundreds of volumes short of the
supposed registered number; and this is the
case. not because they have been stolen, but,
because of their entire useleSsness. they have
been destroyed. Patent medicine almanacs,
temperance circulars, auction safes OF furniture
Advertisements, etc, have been included IN the
register which have not been considered worthy
OF shelf room, and certainly not entitled 10 be
placed in the catalogue. Tha Federal Govern
rnent forwarded this Library several incom-
piete sets of Government publications, many OF
The duplicates of which have been registered,
with the desire to complete one set in the
Library. l returned to Washington nearly 700
volumes and have presented to pubic libraries
in this State several hundred volumes more.
During the month of January we missed
several volumes out of the Library. but were
unable TO get any clue on which to base sus-
picion upon any one in particular Among the
regular visitors was young man, who appa-
rentiy was the last person 10 be guilty of theft
and who was always seen 10 leave the Library
empty-handed. Our saspicions were finally di-
reeted toward him, and upon investigation 1t
was found that he had forwarded some books TO
relatives in a distant State. There were stopped
IN transit and on inspection found to belong to
this Library. The party was arrested and SEN
fenced TO prison for three years. In addition to
state Library books, recovered at the same
time number of volumes belonging 10 the Odd
bellows and Mechanics Libraries of San Fran
cisco and 10 the odd Fellows and Public Libra
rios Of Sacramento. The thief wore a loose
fitting oyercoat provided with capaeious inside
rockets. enabling him to sec;ete large volumes
with little fear of detection. | am perfectly
satisfied that the loss of books from this Library
isuo greater than from other libraries OF the
same size, ard is much less than was anticl'
mated when the state Controller commenced &c
take an inventory OF the volumes received our
ing my term OF office. The construction OF the
library is such that it is very easy iol
any one inclined 10 theft to DO so Win
M I 1otVl ~