Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-09
"Nculected Archives"

Il
at Albany, n. Y, is of more thai
| passing interest to the people o
Maine. Below we give it in full a
experimenting the arguments an
labors of Major Henry s. Burrage
State Historian. Major Burrage ha
worked early and late since the offic
Legislature of 1907, to render tn
materials of our history available ant
| to conserve it for coming generations
His work is recognized as of highes
Importance to the State and deserving
| Of consideration by every Legislature
until ample provision has been made
for the care and preservation of pub
lie records.
The State Historians last repor
contains the statement of Professor
Allen Johnson of the Public Archives
Commission concerning the most
venerable records of the State OF
Maine" in the office of the county
clerk at Alfred. in York county. The
State Historian suggests that these
| original records should receive the
care and preservation which their
value demand. a transcript being suf-
tfieient for the needs of those who have
occasion to consult early records at
the York county seat. Towns have
| been unwilling to part with such
original records because of desire to
retain them for consultation by per-
sons who come to these towns expect
| ing to find the records there. The
State Historian points out that had
copies of these records of the older
towns been made long ago and suit
able care taken of the originals, loss
es now irreparable would have been
prevented.
The State Historian has purchased
for the State, out of the meagre pro-
vision of other Legislatures, some i'm
portant documents of historical value,
but of most imperative need, as we
understand it, is adequate protection
of these archives, the loss of which
would be beyond any question of dol
lars and cents. As admirably setting
forth this need we publish the above
referred to editorial:
The destruction of valuable histor
cal records of the city of Bangor
coming so soon after the much great
er havoc wrought among more fmpor-
tant documents by the burning of the
capitol at Albany, ought to reinforce
the demand for adequate protection
of archives everywhere. Bangor took
only the customary degree of pre-
caution, which amounts to little
against a conflagration. The state of
New York had a fireproof building for
housing its library and archives when
the flames ruined the former and re-
dueed many previous documents to
ashes. Not few states are in the
same condition as was New York.
They have put their archives in
apartments that may resist a small
fire but are not proof against such a
volume of flame as swept through the
AlDdiy CdpilOi. oIltT SldlSS nave
not got even so far as to give their
archives any protection whatever.
They are simply old papers tucked
away in places for which there is no
other use. and seldom disturbed save
when some investigator stirs up the
dust they have collected in long peri
DDS of neglect.
The indifference with which so
many states and cities treat their
archives is traceable to the public
ignorance of the value time worn.
yellowed papers may have. We all
appreciate the Importance of guarding
deeds, bonds and contracts. but the
vast stores of history that lie unexplor-
ed in document rooms have worth
understood by few. At present the
United States. whose example is so
potent with states. is a negleetful
sinner. for the archives of the vari
GUS departments In Washington are
surrounded not by modern defences
against fire. but by such only as the
general construction of the buildings
affords. In some departments the
archives are much better cared for
than in others. Papers of the same
general character are widely scattered.
The Library of Congress possesses
much matter of great teaching value
in its masses of original papers" and
covers them with a systematic pro-
lection. but archives necessary to
supplement them must be sought in
one of the departments" and posi-
bly, the quest will carry the student
through two or three other collections
which both for convenience or safety
should be brought together under one
control and supervision. We are
big enough nation now to follow the
example of other countries, which
have built strong places for their
archives and arranged them under the
direction of professional archivists.
If ever we take this long demanded
step, the United States should be
armed with the power to reclaim
documents and manuscripts to which
it has indisputable title that are now
in the possession of states. societies
and individuals. These are legions
in number, for in the early days.
when our Government had hardly be-
gun to take on organization, the auto
graph hunter or the collector" APP
to baUa happ al1oNad tn holm