The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-31
A GREAT SOUTHERN LIBRARY

The plan Of the Southern Society, OF New !
York city, to establish library 10 be made |
up exclusively Of general collection Of
books, pamphlets and manuscripts bearing |
upon the history Of the Southern States IN
all its different phases social, political, lite
rary and economic, will have the warm ap- /
proyal, and it is TO be hoped the hearty CO.
operation Of Southern citizens, irrespective
OF the states in which they reside.
The proposed library, through the gem
crosby more especially Of Hugh r. Garden
Esq, the President of the southern Society,
has already reached very important pro
portions. The recent gift Of Captain Gar
den is so large in volume, and so valuable
in its composition, including as it does all
of the principal works relating to Southern
his DRY, many Of them OF the rarest charac-
ter, that in itself alone. il constitutes a
library which it would hardly be possible to
find duplicated elsewhere.
The catalogue OF this library, which has
recently been sent to THE TIMES by the
courtesy Of the Southern Society in New
Yoi K, discloscs the broadness Of its range
even In the present extent. 1t il truly
noble foundation fora great Southern library
that will be exhaustive in its scope, library
which will be sought in the very beginning
by every man. whether Northern or South
ern. who proposes to make thorough eN-
animation of all the authorities that are IN
existence relating to the general annals Of
the Southern people.
The growing prosperity of the South and
the grandeur Of its material destInies are di-
recting increased attention TO all that throws
! light upon its past. A library like that which
the Southern Society have Under advise
ment will become Of greater value ana USE
fulness every year. 1t IS an undertaking
that is prompted by the truest patriotism a
patriotism which is not limited in local
sense by the mere fact that the library viii
relate especially to one OF the great sections
OF the Union.
Preservation in an accessible form OF all
the sources Of Southern history sill be. i'm
directly at least, most important contri-
button TO the history Of the National Gov
eminent at every stage of its progress. u
will be still more important contribution
10 the history of American civilization. In
seeking. therefore, TO form the great library
which they propose, the Southern Society
are engaged in work Of national import
ance, in spite of its apparent sectional char
acter. 1t is probably too much TO expect
that they will receive assistance in their
undertaking from every part of the Union,
but from the South at least they may Justly
anticipate cordial support.
The proposed library, if carried to the
point Of development now intended, Will
subserve its purpose more fully by the fact
that it will be situated in New York city,
the metropolis IN every sense Of the
United States, than if it were established
IN one of the leading cities of the South.
Under the guardianship Of the Southern
Society. which has already become one at
the most powerful social organizations iu
New York, with a future fun Of the highest
promise for usefulness, great Southern
library would be in easy reach, not only of
Southern men who may wish TO make in-
vestigations in ths direction but also Of
| Northern men, And this latter is "a con
slderation of no mean il portance.