The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-27

Boston School for Social workers: Frank
lin III. Giddings. Columbia university;
Robert &. Chaplin, Beloit college; j. Ell
bert Cutler. University OF Michigan.
The session I'm John Carter Brown Ii
brary was devoted 10 photographed sub
Jects; and several interesting papers were
presented and some discussions followed.
The address of the president, William
Coolidge Lane OF Harvard university IL
brary occupied much of the morning. and
was followed by a report OF the council
and a number OF the committees.
The next speaker was DR.. Reuben Gold
Thwaites. secretary OF the Wisconsin His
torical society, who spoke upon The
photographed Work OF the Historical
Societies." I'm part as follows:
The report consists OF a detailed state
ment of photographed publications by
historical societies OF the country. The
American Historical association has,
Trough it's general publications. the
American Historical Review and It's man
uscripts and public archives commits
sions, published much important biblio-
graphical material and inspired many 9TH
er enterprises OF like character. Biblio-
graphical work on the part of other ma
tional and state and local societies has
been desultory and sporadic I'm character.
although much OF real value has emanat-
ed from such sources. The report closes
with an appeal 90 historical societies To
be more systematic I'm their billiographi-
cal work; and II Is urged that societies
OF the same state or section. or engaged
in similar lines of special study cooperate
for such purpose.
After a general discussion led by +. II.
Severance Of Buffalo paper was read by
Clarence Brigham, Librarian OF the
Rhode Island Historical society. on THE
Need OF Bibliograph of American Colo
NAL Newspapers" short discussion OF
this subject followed the reading of the
paper which was i'm part as follows:
TO the student OF colonial and revolu-
tionary history. newspapers are undoubt-
edly the most important printed source
material. The only other collection Of
printed sources OF any great extent are
the proceedings OF the various colonial
assemblies, which reveal little concerning
the lives of the people.
How strange that so few writer's upon
historical subjects have used newspaper
fles TO enhance the value Of their work.
The chief reason for this neglect is the
great difficulty I'm locating files OF given
newspapers In sufficient completeness to
cover a subject thoroughly.
When this class OF materi ial. however.
is well utilized. the results are invariably
shown in the freshness OF treatment as
wei as in the evidence of thoroughness.
I'm view OF the scarcity OF colonial
newspapers and OF the great difficulty in
locating files, photography that would
give reference TO the location OF all is
for many historical scholars. Every IL
brary in the country that preserves files
OF early newspapers should be communi-
Gated with TO make such check list ac-
curate and complete.
ION account of the national scope or
the undertaking, the material could best
be gathered by an institution which was
national in character such as the Ameri-
can Antiquarian society. the Biblio-
graphical society OF America, or the Car
negie Institution of Washington. Whether
the photography should include all news
papers TO 1870, or cover the 18th century
with 1900 as the inclusive date. is largely
a question OF the size OF the volume de-
sired and OF the publishing fund. There
printed In the country between 174 and
1890 If papers between 1871 and 1900 were
also included. this number would be
trebled.
THE printing of a photography OF early
American newspapers would be a boon TO
historical scholars throughout the coun-
try. May the task OF preparing material
for such volume soon be undertaken,
and may the financial aid necessary to its
publication soon be granted"
Theodore Lee Cole OF Washington read
paper on the plans for union cata-
logue of American Colonial laws, after
which paper was read by Prof. James
Westfall Thompson OF the University of
Chicago on "Book-hunting as a Sport" In
which he said:
Book-hunting, like the noble art of fall
conry. has appealed peculiarly to men OF
high birth and station. Show me mans
library and | will tell you what kind of
man he is In his hours OF leisure a man
comes out of an imposed or acquired en-
vironment TO which he has become habit
uated for eight or more hours each day,
and his real nature finds expression.
mans literary Interests are often the anti
thesis of his daily pursuits and my be a
closer index to his character Sometimes
the contrast between the two interests is
very great.
''Book-collecting is both an aspect OF
culture and a study in personal psychol-
ogy. Almost every conceivable sort OF
subject has its votaries: and every scen-
tific, historical and literary subject of
great magnitude or interest is a province
In the realm OF books.
THE element OF chance in book-hunting
invests the subject with double interest.
The European book-hunter has a great
advantage over his American confreres.
Tor he receives the catalogues of London,
Paris and Leipzig houses from eight TO
ten days I'm advance OF the latter Some
times this difference in time makes all the
difference between getting and missing a
desideratum. The pleasure derived from
an old book catalogue Is as varied as
books themselves"