The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-09
PRAISED
MISSISSIPPI DIRECTOR PLEASED
 WITH ALABAMA's ARCHIVES.
Hon. Dunbar Rowland Astonished at Marvellous Progress Made by Director owen--Alabama's
 Department Model.

Hon. Dunbar Rowland. the Director o the Department of Archives and HistorS of the State of Mississippi. who has beer in the city since Tuesday on visit 70 tn State Capitol for the purpose or stuoylns the work and operations of the .AiaDaha Department of Archives and History, ul' der the dire rection of Thomas M. owen will leave this morning by the Louisviiis and Nashville train for New Orleans From that point he will return to ms home at Jackson.
 Mir. Rowland, when seen by a repre- sentative of The Advertiser at the Ex- change last evening. talked interesting of his visit. He expressed himseif az charmed with the beauty Of the capita city, its cleanliness, wide streets, the other things that attracted him. He vis' ited the City Cemetery. and viewed the spots wrere rest the remains of many ol the great dead of the State-the graves D!shop K. H. Cobhs. Governor Thomas II Watts, General 'fennent Lon1ax ana otr- CTS. The historic features of the old Cap itol building were very attractive to nim and were careIuly explored.
 While I have thoroughly enjoyed your city and my stay" said MT. Rowland. my principal object in coming here was to meet Mir. Owen of the Alabama De. partment of Archives and History ana to confer with him as to ms methoas
 
 the State Of Mississippi has within the last ninety days created similar de- partment. and on my election as Director felt that I ought in order to, nttingly equip myself for my important duties. to come to Montgomery and investigate MT. owens work.
 ::The Alabama department Is the pio- neer, and 1 think satisfactorily settles the entire problem of the States duty to its history and archives. Many other States had given help to history, but in no one has the question of admimstra- tion been so nicely adjusted to the duty imposed as in Alabama. In Mississippi we therefore followed your good example, and our people are full of enthusiasm in support of the department. know of no legislation in Mississippi In recent years which has so met the public ap- proval.
 ous progress already made by MT. Owen. The collections he has brought together are priceless, and if they were lost couid never be replaced. The several hundred yoIumes of early newspapers particularly attracted me. hardly thought so many had been preserved, and the wonder ts where they have been found. These old files have value as source Of historical material which is constantly increasing While I was in the department several students came in to consult them.i
 ''The collection of historical portraits and paintings Is quite extensive. and was greatly pleased to find the work ei such artists as Peale. Sully, West, Bill lings. Fagg. Marble and others. Too high an estimate cannot be placed or such a collection. The likenesses of the great ones of our past when viewed by those who came after serve both to stini- ulate and inspire.
 Your department s exceedingly for tunate in possessing the 1ancey manu- scripts and papers. which l lad the pleas ure of examining in part. Mir. Yancey is F. rsuf h and the exploitation of his life and work is both privilege and duty. While al the department 1t was my good fortune to meet ColoEel J. w, DuJose. the author