Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-24
TO KEEP THE PAPERS
Proposed Removal of Manuscripts to
Congressional Library.
THEY ARE OF HISTORICAL VALUE
Throw Light on Early Record Of
the Country.
MIR. YOUNG'S SUGGESTION

Mr. John Russell Young, librarian of Con-
gress entertains the hope that the resolu-
ton offered in the Senate by Mr. Hoar, pro-
posing the transfer of historical manuscript
from the different departments of the gov
eminent to the Library of Congress, will
pass Congress.
> The resolution is as follows:
THAT the joint committee on the library
is hereby authorized to cause such his
torical manuscripts as are in the possession
of either of the departments of the govern
ment to be transferred to the National
Library. under suitable regulations for their
care and preservation: Provided, That no
such transfer shall be made from any de-
partment without the approval of the head
of such department
In conversation with a Star reporter to-
day. Mr. Young said:
Il believe the transfer of these manu-
scripts to fire-proof repositories would be a
relief to the departments remembering that
they are of historical and not administra-
tive value. The suggestion to this end in
my annual report was the result of my ex-
perlence as librarian and the outcome OF
talks with the heads of departments"
In his annual report Mr.. Young called at
tention to the extent and value of the
manuscript collections in the following
words:
In war, state and Navy Dcpartmcnts
The Department of State has the most
important collection of manuscript archives,
Among them are papers of Washington in
$50 volumes folio, Madison in - and Jeffer-
sons in 137 volumes quarto. The Franklin
papers are in 80 volumes and those of Mon
roe in % volumes quarto. The Hamilton
papers are in 80 volumes folio. For these
the government paid S1G5OO0. The Depart
ment of State came into possession of the
documents relating to the revolutionary
var. not because such an arrangement was
suitable, but because there was no other
bra: CHI of the government to which they
might go. Now that Congress has created
department of manuscripts, this should
be their destination.
The manuscript archives of the War De-
partment began in 1900. In the record and
pension division of this department is gath
cred a large mass of Inaccessible material
covering in the main the revolutionary pc
rcd. and in consequence having interest
oriy because of it's historical value This
consists of muster rolls. roster and COM
pany returns. in many instances minute de-
scrlPtiVe accounts, records OF army SER
vice, commissions and papers of similar
character. The most interesting, though
not, the most valuable. volumes are the
oaths of allegiance taken at Valley Forge.
which embrace the officers of the American
army from Washington down.
The manuscript archives of the Navy
Department, fortunately, Were saved when
the department was burned by the British
In 1914. Secretary Jones reports the pres
ervation of the papers and effects except
the furniture of the office. AS in the War
Department the correspondence is arrang-
ed in two groups, letters received and let
tiers sent. An interesting series is that
known captains letters in $50 vol
umes, beginning in 1905. OF nearly equal
import are the masters commandant let
ters.' 1SO4-1S3I, and the commanders let
in a