Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-18

ter. as explained by Mr.. Thomas were:
For the better preservation from the de-
struction, so often experienced In large
towns and cities, by fire. as well as from
the ravages Of enemy, to which sea
ports In particular are so much exposed
in time of war, it is universally agreed
that for place of deposit for articles in
tended to be preserved for ages. and of
which many, If destroyed or carried away.
could never be replaced by others Of like
kind, an inland situation is to be pre-
ferred.
The first meeting of the. society was
held at the Exchange Coffee-house In Bos-
ton in November, 1872, and the reasons
Mr.. Thomas gave for the location or the
library fell with especial force upon the
members because of the war clouds that
were then gathering over the Atlantic.
After settling the location an appeal was
issued for books Of every description,
including pamphlets and magazines. es-
peciaIly those which were early printed.
either in South or in North America;
files of newspapers of former times, or
of the present. day, are particularly de-
sired. as our specimens with written &C
counts of them, of fossils, handicrafts
Of the aborigines. etc; manuscripts. an
cient and modern, on interesting subjects.
particularly those which give account OF
remarkable events. discoveries, Or the de-
scriptions, Of any part OF the comment or
the islands in the American seas.
The time Of the founding Of the society
was exceptionally favorable for acquiring
material of this sort and from all parts
of New England books, manuscripts and
newspapers came flowing in. The good
people of New England recognized the
importance of the enterprise and TOOK
great pride in contributing to It's coliec-
ton, and the widows and sons of reVoiu-
tionary soldiers sent In their diaries and
the letters they wrote home while they
were off in the war.
ACQUISITIONS in Collection.
Isaiah Thomas was a hustler, and was
particularly qualified for the work he had
undertaken. He was himself a public in
stitution in New England; his name stood
high in the list of revolutionary patriots;
his personal acquaintance was very large.
and he was universally respected and be-
loved for his learning, his broad-minded-
ness. his public spirit and his philan.
thropy. He was the author Of a ponder
Gus two-volume History OF Printing In
America" the materials for which were
collected while he was engaged in solicit
ing books and manuscripts Tor the Anti
quarian Society.
For the first seven years-untll lS-o-
the collection found shelter in the resi-
dence of Mr.. Thomas, but 1t became SO
large that he erected building at MS
own expense, which was described as
highly ornamental as q publick edif1ce
and we'll calculated to give respectability
and permanency to the institution. 1t
Is still standing, though in a dilapidated
condition and in the Oldest section of
Worcester
Among the most important of the early
acquisitions of Mr.. Thomas were the IL
ibraries of Richard, Increase and Cotton
Mather collections of manuscripts from
families of distinguished revolutionary
soldiers and the files of New England
newspapers which are perhaps the most
important in the country. The diary or
Mr.. Thomas himself. covering more than
thirty years, Is also of peculiar interest.
1t begins in 1905 and continues until
1S2S-only three years before his death,
which occurred April 4, 1881 He was a
national character and had very large
correspondence with public men through
out the country, which Is filled with in
formation of great historical interest.
In the Mather collection are many
ma nuscript sermons, treatises on religion.
theology, church government. medicine
and morals all unpublished; the diaries
of Increase Mather from 1850 to 1721
his autobiography, written for his chill
dren: the diaries of Cotton Mather from
| 1892 to ITO, and nearly 300 letters OF
| more or less interest.
Fortunate in Librarians.
1t has been the good fortune of the
American Antiquarian Society to have a
| series Of librarians possessing true anti
quarian tastes. gifted with ability to ex-
cite the interest of others and imbued
with a zeal that was extraordinary. The
erous in gifts and labors. and to it the
1 of the institution Is very