El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-26

tOrical association which puts it in
form to be easily accessible to the pres
ent and future student of history
Often historical material is stumbled
upon accidentally. Most of the recent
ly published letters of Alexander Ste
phens were discovered Unexpectedly in
an old barn in South Carolina Old at
tics and storehOuses frequently contain
manuscripts and documents of much
historic value. Quite as much valua-
bic material is being discovered acct
dentally by persons affiliated with the
association as is secured by the most
painstaking research for some special
object.
Historical societies of the states in
the Mississippi valley have united in
raising funds to pay for the preserva-
ton of a record of all the public docu-
ments referring to this important terri
tory preceding its purchase from
France. This material is in France
under the custody of the French gov
eminent and a systematic and complete
list of the contents Of these documents
is now being prepared for publication in
America.
Publishing Results.
The commission of public archives Of
the American Historical association is
now publishing the results of it's re-
lomatic relations of Texas during it's in
dependence This report includes many
letters from men connected with this
important era which have never before
been made public and which throw
much new light upon the subject
The Oregon Society.
The Oregon Historical society has in
progress of publication. an interesting
manuscript pertaining to the early his
tory of that state It is Journal writ
ten by Peter Skene Ogden describing
hte famous Snake expedition made into
that territory from Canada in 1926 and
N1S27. This expedition was under the
auspices of the Hudson Bay company
and the material now being published
has been copied by Miss Agnes A Laut
from the original manuscript in the
possession of the Hudson Bay company
The Oregon State Historical associa-
ton. through David Zeisberger, also is
pursuing an interesting research re-
garding the history of the indians ma
tive to that locality.
The organ of the American Historical
association Is the American Historical
Review. a large magazine issued quar-
terly. This magazine publishes most
of the material gathered by the asso-
citation in the form of special articles,
reproduced documents and historical
variations The Review is sent to all
members. The other publica tons of the
association consist chiefly of reports
issued from time to time through the
agency of the Smithsonian institution.
An important branch of the work be-
ing performed by the public archives
commission is the examination of the
condition and character Of the public
documents of the nation in the different
states, with a view to obtaining such
information concerning them as will
make their existence more generally
known and available for study. The
commission endeavors to secure state
legislation whenever necessary TO pro-
vide for the preservation Of these doc
uments- The state Of Maryland
through its legislature, has recently
made liberal appropriations fof this
purpose, as has also Virginia and sew
eral other states.
New England States I end.
In connection with the preservation
of historic documents as well as their
systematic arrangeruer t. 1t must be not
ed that the New England states are
greatly in advance. They have anthem
tic records and minute details of mos.
matters connected with the early histo-