Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-06
NOTABLE WORK PURCHASED
ACQUISITION of the Stevens Index of
Manuscripts.
TASK OF DEMONSTRATION
Over 1900 Books Catalogued Dur
ing the Year-Conferenceso on New
Copyright Law.

The report of the librarian of Congress-
made public today, shows that the library
now contains 1879. "a books. SO. 500 maps
and charts (pieces). 214.276 prints (art) and
431 80 pieces of music. The manuscripts
have not been enumerated, awaiting a
grouping of the manuscripts into volumes
The law library contains 1861 volumes
The increase of the library the past year
was 81, COS books, 1893 maps and charts,
3O,55O prints, 27,15s pieces of music
Valuable Gifts to the Library.
In his report Mr.. Putnam says in part:
1.-The library has been favored by valuable
gifts and requests. The late Woodbury.
Lowery of Washington, favorably known
writer on Spanish American history,
bequeathed to the library his collection of
manuscripts, including eighteen volumes of
copies of manuscripts relating to Florida,
New Mexico. California. etc. and a pre-
liminary list of maps of the Spanish pos
sessions within the present limits of the
United States. He also gave the library
choice of works contained in his library on
the history of Florida, New Mexico, Cali
fornia. etc. which could not already be
found in the library.
THE Bradley collection of engravings,
which includes examples of the work of
Bolswert, Carracci. Cranach, Durer, Eide
linck. Goltzius Haig, Hogarth, HOPPER.
Leyden, Mantegna, Morghen, Nanteui Os-
tade, Pontius. Potter. Rembrandt, Rubens,
Sadeler. schongauer. Strange. Toschi, Tur-
ner, Nisscher. Nosterman. Waterloo and
Wierix. in accordance with the will of the
late George Lothrop Bradley, is to come
into the permanent possession of the Ii
brary subject to the life interest of Mrs.
Bradley
a gilt of special and extraordinary value
has been received from Mr.. Crosby s. Noyes
of Washington. The collection given by
Mr.. Noyes consists of original drawings,
prints and books by Japanese artists. The
extent and value of the collection may be
appreciated by those familiar with the ia
panese art through the catalogue printed
appendix of the report. The catalogue
gives the details of IL water coors, 145
original drawings. 331 wood engravings, 81
Autographs. COS illustrated books and 81
other items. \ letter from Mr.. Noyes
printed an Introduction to the catalogue
serves in a measure as a charact erizaton
of the aims of the collector.
A Notable Purchase.
THE notable accession to the library by
purchase is that called the Stevens Cata-
logue Index of Manuscripts in the Archives
of England. France, Holland and Spain re-
lating to America, 1763-1TS3.' This index
is guide to 10000 documents of that pc
Rod existing in those archives. This great
work in $50 volumes, practically the
life work of the compiler. For many years
Mr.. Stevens gave ready assistance to Amer
lean students of foreign archives, and by
means of this catalogue index opened to
them the rich stores in public and private
collections. His intimate knowledge of
these archives and his close relations with
the custodians gave him unusual opportuni-
ties for compiling such a list and of put
ting it in the best form suited to the needs
of scholars and investigators. Compiled
with a thoroughness that leaves little to be
desired. and with full conception of the
Importance and relations of the documents
included. the work stands as complete as
possible, and never to be again undertaken
In the same or in a modified form. For
more than twenty years the value of the
index has been tested. and no doubt has
arisen as to its public utility or the expe-
diency of transferring it to the United
States. where ii could be accessible to those
who would know what the leading archives
In Europe can supply on American history
for the period covered.
mo similar index of this material exists
in any shape or form, and Mr.. Stevens was
entirely within the truth when he described
1T as the sole key to the American revolu-
tionary documents in European archives
The utility of the compilation is increased
by the manner of its manufacture: and the
list is as available for consultation by the
person wishing to know of certain subject
or period as by one wishing to know of a
certain person or his connection with the
public men of his day"
Debates on the Constitution.
The manuscript notes of debates in the
federal constitution convention taken by
John Paterson have been completed by gift
from Miss Emily G.. Paterson of Perth Am
boy n. j.
The collection of sixteen diplomas, COM
missions, etc. issued to Chancellor Kent
given to the library by Messrs
William and Edwin c. Kent of New York
The principal manuscript purchases COM
prise the papers of the Galloway family,
about 5000 pieces, consisting of letters,
ledgers. etc. of a planter an exporter of
tobacco and importer of merchandise. serv-
ing as a distributing agent for the eastern
shore Of Maryland the letters of Senator
Lyman Trumbull OF Illinois and twelve vol
umes Of the correspondence of Thomas Cor
win when Secretary of the Treasury,
1S5o-53.
THE series of ANNALS or annotated al
MANAGES of George Washington, Familiarity
known as Washington's Diary, has been
made complete, save one, by the purchase of
the Virginia Almanac for 1861 with the
manuscript daily notes of Washington"
The report refers to the destruction of the
Spanish archives in the land office at San
Francisco which had been recommended for
transfer to Washington on the ground of
their greater safety here.
The collection of manuscript maps has
been strengthened 10y the acquisition of the
collections of maps of Guiana of the West
India Islands. etc.
Thomas Jefferson in his ordinance of 1884
for the proposed states in the new territory
IS an interesting acquisition.
Work of Cataloguing
There were 117,39S books catalogued dur
ing the year. The work of Redistribution
has been carried steadily forward, about
10000 volumes now being in the reclassi-
fled section.
The publications of the library include
Journals of the Continental Congress" 3
volumes; Records of the Virginia Com
pany of London. 16l9-1624 two Volumes
select lists ON current subjects, employers
liability, mercantile marine subsidies immi-
grafton. foreign railroads, tariffs OF foreign
countries etc.
The report of the superintendent of the
Library building and grounds is incorpo-
rated in the librarians report. 1t is an ex-
position of the conduct of the physical part
of the library.
The report of the register of copyrights
shows that In the past year there were
11T.7Ol articles entered for copyright. The
receipts from the copyright office amounted
to $50. 19S, the expenditures to $40, 692 SO,
showing a balance of $4,G05.i4 in favor of
the office.
New Copyright Law.
..--i.., d. Tin.