Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-08
RECORDS OF NATIONAL LIFE
Precious Archives Of the Nation in
Three Libraries.
HISTORY IN ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
Priceless Tones I'm state, War and
Navy Departments-ORe Library
Founded by Thomas JEFF
ferson.

In the State, War and Navy building are
three OF Washington's oldest and most
complete libraries. They afford interest in
a hundred and one different ways other
than the mere fact that they contain books.
They are the archives OF the State, War
and Navy departments.
Best known of these is the library of the
State department, on the third floor,
wherein the original draft and the origi-
nal signed copy of the Declaration OF In
dependence, the constitution of the United
States, and the articles of confederation
are kept. This library was founded by
Thomas Jefferson in 1889, and consists OF
60, volumes and $500 pamphlets, and now
is a part of the division of rolls and IL
brary.
The division might well be called the
successor to the committee on foreign cor
respondence, established prior to the de-
finitlvs treaty of peace of 1852 n the
adoption of the constitution of the United
States. for until recently it was the GUS
todian of the papers and journals of the
Continental congress, Madison and others,
which have been transferred by executive
order to the library of congress.
In the library of the State department
are kept all original acts Of congress-, all
treaties to which the United States is a
~signatory power, all proclamstions and eX-
eeutive orders. all papers relating to the
various claims, commissions, arbitrations
and boundary surveys.
The original draft of the Declaration of
Independence Is on exhibition to visitors,
but the original signed copy of that docu-
ment and the constitution and the articles
of confederation are not. Corrections
made by Franklin and Adams can be seen
in the original draft. which is in JeffeT-
sons handwriting. 1t is in a perfect state
Of preservation, and rests in an open safe
with an engraving of jefferson and his
plan OF his tomb beside it.
In the same locked safe with the declara-
ton is the constitution Of the United
States. This famous document Is in a per-
feet state Of preservation, in spite of the
fact that 1t Is only thirteen years younger
than the Declaration OF Independence.
With 1t is kept the original journal OF the
constitutional convention Of 1887. Other
papesr in the same safe are Madison's de.
papers in the same safe are Madison's de-
GUS amendments TO the constitution and
the ratification thereof by the states.
Naval War Records.
Washington's finest collection Of rare OLD
engravings and naval records is kept in
the archives of the library of the Navy
department as part OF the naval war
records. Thousands Of valuable engrav-
ings, paintings and photographs are on
file in this library. Most of them include
portraits of prominent naval commander
in the history of the United States, pic
lures Of vessels that have flown the stars
and Stripes and civil war photographs
This collection 10 equipped almost to com.
pleteness ard will be invaluable In tlme q
come, Every craft that ever flew the Stars
and Stripes as a unit of Uncle Sans navS
has it's picture in this gallery OF naval his
tory. 1t includes a photograph of the bat
tleship Maine in Havana harbor, taken OF
the afternoon OF the dag Of the explosion
One rare old engraving made in October
1888. shows the Dutch fleet under TromI
In its victory over the Spanish and Portu
suisse flesls under oequehdo, Another en-