The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-02
No. 27. DEpARTMENT NOTES

With this. number the Departmen, rounds out full year Of Its exlstence It was organized March 2. lsOl. The Di' rector at once entered actively upon ms him practically unlimited authority in its management and the development of tts work From the first there has been ready response from all parts of tnt state. and no one has fsiied n m s,,Saae slnsss of confidence the trustees and the direct or are grateful. An examination or the results of the years doings cannot be other than gratifying to every patriotic
 While careful attention has been given every phase of the work committed to the department. the collection feature has been emphasized. The daily disap- pearance of valuable material. either by destruction or by being disposed of out of the State, called for prompt and vigorous action before further loss. Again, IL was felt that If he department was to pc n the largest degree helpful to students. 1t must afford a collection complete anu
 or the materials sought newspaper hles have been given first attention. These are now universally recognized as the leading primary source Tor his.eriSsl tse Ss pertinent are now to be found several hundred volumes, as well as single issues. covering practically every period or the States history from 1920 to the present time. A large number of miscellaneous files of value have been added: These are daily consulted. It is confidently be- lieyed that over one thousand additional volumes will be secured during the com
 The collection of printed books, pamph- lets, etc., has proceeded as rapidly as could be wished, considering the fact that additions are made by donations. Ala bama authors have been quick to re- aIa their works. The beginnings of complete sets of all public documents has been made. Also of sets of Alabama church, educa- tional political and economic nterature, as we'll as the occasional publications or societies.
 The nucleus of an excellent and va. ried museum collection has been brought together, and the location of many other unique and interesting objects has been ascertained and which will ultimately be secured.
 Perhaps no feature of the work has been more generally appreciated than the collection of pictures. This Is designed to embrace u life size oil paintings or tive Alabamians, and @ cabinet photo graphs of commanding officers or Alaba- ma regiments. battalions and batterles' eminent lawyers. educators. historians' novelists. poets scientists. indutrial lead CTS and of the members of the Alabama Constitutional Conventions Of lSl9, leoi' 1865. 1867 and 1875 The additions to the gallery have been very valuable ana va ried.
 recognizing the conspicuous position of Hon. William l.. Yancey and Admiral Raphael Semmes, effort has been direct ed toward building up special collections bearing on their lives and times. The Yancey family have placed in the coliec- tion the entire accumulation of papers left by MT. Yancey, while many other items have been presented. The Semmes collection is growing.
 The following works are in process Of compilation. viz:
 A volume of narrative sketches of Ala bama commands in the war between the States.
 A volume of counties and county boundaries, 1S0O-1900, to include in full all acts creating or changing names of counties. establishing or changing county sites or altering county boundaries.
 A volume of Alabama local history. to embrace a collection of sundry sketches or reminiscent articles, affecting coun- ties, towns or other local areas. .contrtb- uted to newspapers, and not accessible otherwise in the old newspaper files. . The value of concentrating in one great central collection all of the historical source, material, embraced in the scope of the departments activity as outlined must be apparent to all.
 For the help that has been given the thanks of the department Is extended and continued and enlarged cooperation is urged. If the assistance of every one who has the power Is given. the enlarged growth of the future cannot be predicted