Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11

These manuscripts are often docu-
mented with original letters, orders and
reports. Sometimes they are written
in pencil upon the cheapest paper. They
reflect the confusion and modification
of the loyalist classes at the success OF
the revolution and their grief at the
state of Russia. What Was the Secret
of RaSputin's Strength" what Was
the Real Cause of Our DOWNFALL"
Such titles as these alternate with more
terSe commentaries on subjects such as
The Tenth Army Corps in the Car
pathians,' or THE State Of the Baltic
Fleet in 1917"
The policy of the Hoover War Library
Is comprehensive and international. The
records of allies, enemies and neutrals
alike are preserved and the library is
not concerned If the language in which
the documents are written is not widely
known in America. The Polish, Czech
ish, Finnish and Scandinavian collec-
tions have been built UP with the same
breadth of plan that was followed in
gathering German. French and English
publications. Documents from Africa,
South America and the Orient have
their places on the library shelves.
Files of Publications.
The library maintains war period files
of the principal foreign newspapers and
periodicals, and purchases books from
lists recommended by leading scholars
in each country. Files of official gov
eminent publications are acquired by
purchase and gift. Statistical publica-
tions of the great European cities are
also collected Finally, there is an i'm
| portant class of material which Is Sc
cured from political parties. manufac-
| turcrs associations, chambers of COM
merce. labor unions, arti-alcohol leagues
and all the innumerable interest asso-
cations which put into print. either for
| their members or for the public, records
expressive of their point of view.
The library maintains that II Is .
workshop for historians, rather than
museum or gallery Of war art. It has
concentrated its attention upon the pres
| ervation of materials which, in the
| judgment of its directors, will be most
useful to historians and has given little
| notice to the acquisition of merely
spectacular items. such as rare war
posters or collections of war stamps.
Such show pieces, though more interest,"
ing to a casual visitor than long sets
of statistical reports. are less useful to
the serious investigator.
When Herbert Hoover addressed the
American Historical Association at
its last meeting he spoke whinSically Of
the possibility Of his admission to the
heaven of historians. His credential
was the Hoover War Library, a sig
nificant product of the union of bust.
nesslike enterprise and intellectual en-
thusiasm, created and administered to
facilitate impartial historical investiga-
ton. The library provides American
to them If they are to be helpful in
interpreting world affairs.
Period Of Reconstruction.
In the years since the war. as the
world gradually worked its way to
stable basis Of peace, the directors of
| the Hoover War Library came to in
| clude the period Of reconstruction with
In the scope of their interests. For IL Is
becoming more and more apparent that
the World War, as a historical episode,
did not end In 1918 when military OPP
! eraticns ceased. Historians now regard
the war as great period Of world revo-
! luton, of which the year 1918 was more
nearly the mid-point than an ending
| The world as it Is today, with the
| United States in its singular position Of
power and benevolent aloofness; with
| new nations Sprawled over half of Eu.
rope and feeling their way toward sta
bility; with Russia engaged In the most
stupendous social and political expert
n1ent in historic times, Is war-created
world. The study of the war is q
study of the origins of things-as-they-
are. The intention which inspires the
administration Of the Hoover War
Library Is not an antiquarian's interest
in half-forgotten military episodes, but
a practical interest in the present and
! future.
The Hoover War Library will make It
easier for America to understand the
world. That Is its function, in the eyes
of its founder. American scholars are
taking an increasingly important share
IN the intellectual leadership of civiliza-
ton. Despite the condeScension which
| Europe still feels toward America where
things OF the mind are concerned. we
may be able to contribute serenity and
detachment in the study of recent
European history which the European
scholar seldom achieves