Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

aid the recollection. The up-to-date news
paper Of today, recognizing this difficulty
and the Importance, as well, Of having
always at hand some reliable guide to its
columns, maintains a system of indexing
which is often more complete than the cata-
logue of a library.
Various Kinds of Indexes.
Callers at The Star office, who wish to
find the dates on which certain articles were
printed, are almost invariably accommo-
dated now through an index system of this
kind, covering the past ten years with con-
siderable detail. and giving explicit direc-
lions as to not only the date, but the page
and column. For office use a partly COM
plete index runs back for twenty years fur
Their. The Stars index Is particularly de-
voted to local news, although large matters
of governmental Importance and some per-
tanning to world news in general are in
Guided in this list.
In addition to the news index there is
maintained an index to all editorial mat
ters. which forms at times effective sup
plement to the larger and more detailed list
of news items When for some reason the
desired date cannot be found in the latter
an approximate reference Is to be had from
the editorial index, inasmuch as 1t Is the
custom of The Star to comment editorlally
upon the most important of events, not only
local but general.
In addition to these indexes lists are now
kept of Illustrations whicn have appeared
in past editions of The Star, alphabetically
arranged and otherwise systematized. When
necessity arises for the reprint of an old
Illustration 1t Is possible. by a reference to
att III oh
the illustration was used, but to lay hands
quickly upon the plates themselves. This
system comes into use occasionally in
emergencies for quick reference to biograph-
ical matter printed in connection with por-
traits, for which there is a demand which
will brook of no delay.
Biographies.
During recent times clippings Of the bio
graphical matter are fled in important
cases with the plates themselves. Photo
graphs which have or have not been used
In the past for the making of cuts are care
fully preserved in convenient compart-
ments In alphabetic order. with further
classifications, and systematic indexes Of
these are kept so that orders for illustra-
lions may be filed from them with mini
mum loss of time. Biographical matter
pertaining to these portraits. wherever OBJ
tainable are filed in a similar manner
WITHIN easy access.
Illustration plates are destroyed only
when the last possibility Of future use has
disappeared. The greatest care is exer-
cised as rule, in the preservation Of such
material on the ground that the constant
shifting of the news situation may at any
moment cause a revival of public interest
in men and places subject to past illustra-
ton.
The news and editorial indexes of The
Star are conducted upon the card catalogue
system. being arranged by years, with
each year classed under sub titles. in alpha
betical order, with frequent cross-refer-
ences to give the greatest possible facility
in finding published matter.
The File Room.
In small room just off from the lobby
entrance to the editorial rooms the sew
enth floor of The Star building several score
of very large books are to be seen by visit
ors These are the files" or bound vol
umes, Of The Star of past years and
months. In the old days of small Stars an
entire year could be thus collected within
covers. but the paper grew the volumes
became too bulky for convenient and secure