New-York tribune., 1905-12-10
\ LIBRARY OF THESES.
Columbia University Collection En-
riched from Germany.

A book that cost the author $1,000 to publish
and pamphlets reclaimed from the ashcan are
found in the library of theses at Columbia Uni
versity. Learned women well as men, schol-
ars Of every land dealing with every subject for
the last few centuries are represented in the
collection of seventy-five thousand separate
works. Recently the library, that used to be
neglected, has acquired a new Importance and
has received special attention. It has doubled IN
size since Adolf Lewisohn three years ago gave
$1,000 to improve the collection
What is a thesis, anyhow? Some define 1t as
a. dust essay for which the college au-
thorities barter degree. Others say 1t is knowl-
edge In raw state and material for real books.
As matter Of fact both views are partly cor
rect but Furthermore some theses contain orig
inaI valuable knowledge not to be had else
where, and many a tome Of science or art Is
read by the innocent public without suspicion
that # is thesis
The works kept at Columbia, not to include
foreign accessions and PROFESSIONAL disserta-
tons are written by successful candidates Tor
the degree of doctor Of philosophy The theses
for lesser titles are not preserved. It is sup
posedly necessary to write the results OF some
original research IN chemistry, poetics or what
not. The professor Of the department wieIds
the blue pencil and edcts any diagram or pict-
ures Then the student must reach into his
pocket and pay for printing the essay, any
where from hundred to couple Of thousand
dollars. He must present to the college twenty
five bound or $50 unbound copies. The extra
copies are used by the college in exchanging
with other institutions, and the larger NUMBER
Of unbound copies indicates more extensive
exchange to make up for the choicer list OF
bound works.
80, TaTba 0G aYnT6inS
country is not planted more thiclly with doc
tors of philosophy. In the case Of the expensive
books however. there is hope of getting back
something through a general sale; or 1t may
profit the doctor in obtaining good teaching
lob The publication is usually made through
the university press but the candidate is at lib
erty to have the work done outside provided
set form is followed. Typewriting instead of
printing won't do.
The old custom, still followed III many col
leges. was to store these in a heap in some dark
room or cellar, either with the object OF letting
knowledge mellow by contact or to nfict upon
any one who wished to consult them toll equal
IN that Of the original writers. The modern way
is to index all book theses upon the shelves OF
+he regular library and to keep the pamphlets
in pasteboard boxes labelled according to sub
lects. If there appears to be special demand
and placed on the regular shelves.
The Iewfsohn gift made it possible to give a
contract to Fock Berlin dealer in new ana
old books. to supply $4,000 theses from the Ger
man universities and gymnasiums. A nat raUe
of six cents apiece was pald Tor the "ofhs'
whether tattered pamphlets or we'll bound DOCKS
of several hundred pages; and each onerlng was
Carefully examined TO see that there We're no
SI-,S1icafas lov roischance or Teuton thrift NO
doubt some of the goods were dear az tLe PiaG ~;
and others worth six dollars rdCneL t Cr-A as Sc
cents but this Jumping arTahseLheii' ,r, " a.
tbonpb+ more convenient TO all concerned hlaIIy
of the pamphlets prepared at HeloeIpets az az
Bonn had been read py tne IN astebaskets or ash
cans But the janitors, hating TO see WlsQonl e
lost rescued the works and sold them at 5Io a lew
pfennigs apiece to the second MANU- 'i0''
whence Columbia is enriched
How did YOU clean these treasuresT
T guess all the crime ana 6ii[,e oos1 UIians the
GOOD looking young woman IN cIharse Oh "
lumbia's theses library.
ssDo YOU like themF -,,,,,
..Sonoe are verv interesting" said Miss Will
;a,,oe dern11relv "Since last spring nave sorted
out and placed in these pasteboard boxes apout 1
thirty thousand. Yes, Cams HlSseiA ~
Leland Stanford University. ~ eo,,-,
.@Vyhv did you have to get so many Iorelgh
theses?" a nronv An,ar,oan
and English students go to Germany 10 optalIl
their degrees which adds 10 tne huLapSl' 1t "a, La
- Ii +ba dissertations are written In the IAN
ae 80 Of fbe university; but sometimes the Ger
mans allow an English written Work OF d ce1t
didate writes in English ana geeS We nave
tbeT7o in nearly all modern languages not 10
mention the editions Of Coptic Sanskrit, Ter lsl s
go n Iarrevv hooks All the early ones were done
g. o+in as Won see by this pamphlet on zoolacaI
ijyhf dated Upsala, 1749. Here's announcer on Ihe
laws Of perspective near the same oa.e, GI oila a.
and we have some German works going BACK 10
1900 Kings College, the predecessor OF Ihls
university has left US a considerable NUMBER.
1.-The scientific theses are shorest because you
ran express so much by a few figures and
| Fornulss while the literary ones are DOCKS OF
| fo11r hundred or Eve hundred pages We get
oe,,, of fhe latter from the University of Paris,
| and their faculty of law also turns out large
| volumes The Paris student may spend two
wears in writing q thesis. In some cases the
| Introduction and first chapters of a projected
/ hook are submitted q thesis. We receive py
| exchange about twelve hundred works yeaT:
Many men who have since become famous In
science or art are represented In the coIection'
| while the only authoritative studies on ~ ~cerIaIn
| subjects are theses. THESE include departments
| of archaeology Byzantine art, the Copuo church.
/ fauna of the Malay Straits and the Pescadores'
! Chinese jurisprudence and Chinese nguFiness
| the Y1atriarchate astronomy, lacen1alGtng and
Alaska The public Libraries have some OF these
| works and borrow others from the university
TseSs are some foreign periodicals devoted to
! the regular publication OF theses.
| The modern tendency is to write upon new
| and practical subjects. AS an instance, one may
j take the recent civil War and Reconsruction
| IN Alabama" book OF 500 pages oy wafer L.
! Fleming lately appointed professor OF history
! in West Virginia University. This is the work
that VIII cost the author $4,000. He has not yet
received the bill.
/ Women who have gained degrees from Co
| Iunbia as well as abroad are strong on practical
/ subjects. Mrs. Elsie Ciews Parsons, daughter
/ OF the banker, is memorialized by 6 red cloth
book on economies Naomi Noteworthy has
! Hritten on 'erhs Psychology Of Mentally De-
| frfsnt Children; Grace Harriet MacCurdy pub
/ jshed last year a Chronology OF the Extant
! PIavg of Euripides." stunning title by Ida
| Helen Ogilvie is Geology Of the Paradox Lake
| onadrangfe," and something almost satisfy
! STe ia sarhs Cults OF olbia.S by Gertrude Mary