Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-04-24
CARE OF TREASURES
HOW MANUSCRIPTS ARE PRE-.
SERVED At WASHINGTON.
Congressional Library Holds Many Of
IncaIcuIabIe Value to the His
torian-Repairer's Duty ls to
Prevent Their Destruction.

Scholars everywhere are aware that
the congressional library holds manu-
scripts of value incalculable to the
historian, and, as these priceless treas
ures are available. for use by stu
dents, there is constant pilgrimage
of learned and studious men to Wash
tngton to consult them. Persons hav-
ing no knowledge of the manner Of
caring for and preserving valuable his
torical documents might we'll wonder
that such papers, often very old and
presumably in poor state of preserva-
ton, could be submitted to examina-
ton and study without injury, If no:
| absolute destruction That is a prob
lem which experts have happily solved.
Not only are damaged and time-worn
manuscripts restored in great measure
by those who have made careful study
of this distinct art, but they are mount
ed in such a way that ordinary han
ding does not injure them, and so
that they can be used as freely as any
book of reference and perhaps with
even less danger of resulting damage
than is likely to befall the ordinary
reference work.
Many of the most valuable docu-
ments coming into the possession of
the library of congress have received
very bad usage and some of them
are torn and mutilated beyond the
possibility of complete repair. With
all of them, however, something can
be done, and occasionally very sur.
prising results are obtained. From
the standpoint Of the repairer of doc
uments it was fortunate thing that
most of the papers of historical value
were written with fast ink, made from
nut gals by primitive but efficient
processes, and that the paper used
was Of pure linen, handmade, and re-
sistant to the tooth of time. What
has proved to be a distinct draw
back was the tendency of the person
who wrote those historic documents to
economic in the use of paper, which
was not only expensive in itself, but
often bore stamp tax as well, sc
that the writing very frequently was
carried out to the very edge of the
paper on the right-hand side. In con
sequence, when the edges have be
come worn with much use or from
age portions of the text have become
irretrievably lost. Only conjecture
by the student can fill. out these
blanks. The repairer does not atemp
such feats.
Worthington G. Ford, chief of thu
division of manuscripts in the library
of congress, is considered the leading
authority in his specially in this coun
try, and in John c. Fitzpatrick, assist
ant chief of the division, he has /:
capable aid. Mr.. Ford, who is con
Quoting great labor in the editing
and publication of valuable histori,
papers, is now working on the restora
tion and preservation of the Georg,
Washington manuscripts, comprising
eight large collections and about SC, OO(
pieces.
These papers," said Mr.. Ford
comprise the most valuable collection
the government holds, not only his
torically but geographically. The,
are more used than any other papers
We are expending more care and at
tention on this collection than W.
give to ordinary historical papers.
may say that no two collections de
lnand the. same treatment, but thu
Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton
papers and the records of the con
tinental congress are Of especial valu:
from every point of view, and the,
} are given our best care. Merely gaug
ing 1t from a money standpoint, the
Washington collection is easily worth
100000, and from a historical stand
Doint it is priceless"