Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-12
GEOGRAPHIC BOOK
GIFT TO PRESIDENT
Learned Societies Present
Copy of First Volume of
Their Publication.

A copy of the first volume of the Die
tionary Of American Biography was pre-
sented to President Coolidge at the
White House this noon by committee
Of the American Council of Learned So
cieties.
Franklin Jameson, head of the depart
ment of American history at the Library
of Congress; DR.. Allan Johnson, editor
in-chief of the dictionary and Waldo
G.. Leland, permanent secretary of the
council.
The dictionary, the compilation Of
which has been undertaken by the
American Council Of Learned Societies,
represents an attempt to present bio
graphical sketches of all Americans who
have made noteworthy contributions to
any field Of human progress. The first
volume, just completed, includes most
of the first two letters of the alphabet.
There will be 20 volumes in all, which
will be issued henceforth at the rate OF
three year.
Work Brought Down to Date.
No comprehensive work Of this sort
has been available up to the present.
Existing dictionaries of American biog-
in their scope. They are devoted eSpe-
cially to the careers of soldiers, states
men and clergymen, while the present
volume will devote equal attention to
artists, scholars, scientists, educators
physicians, inventors, business men and
many other claSSificationS. In all there
will be more than 10000 biographies.
The only restrictions adopted were
against persons now living, who will be
treated in supplementary volumes after
their deaths, persons who have never
lived within the present territory of the
United States and British officers whose
service in America was subsequent to
the Declaration Of independence.
In preparing the list, different groups
were asked to submit their own lists
These lists then were submitted to
other specialists, who revised them with
additions and omissions.
Scope of Work Outlined.
Each biography seeks to present q
complete picture of the man rather thar
a mere formal statement Of the CHIEF
events of his life. Heredity, physical
and social environment, childhood edu.
cation, character. temperament anC
physical appearance of the subject are
portrayed. To insure accuracy of de.
tail staff is maintained at the Library
of Congress to check on dates, titles, etc
Prof. Jameson has general direction
Of the undertaking. Other members OF
the committee are DR.. John H. Finley
of the New York Times, Prof Frederic
L. Paxson of the University of Wis
consin Mrs. Iphigene SulZburger OF
New York, Carl Van Doren. Charles
Warren and Dr. Allan johnson. DR.
Johnson is assisted by an editorial staff
composed of Harris E. Starr, Prof
Ernest S. Bates. George H. Genzmer
and H. w. Howard Knott.
1900 Contributors Listed.
The first eight volumes are now well
under way. There are more than LOO
contributors.
The publication Of the first volume
will be celebrated tonight at dinner
at the Roosevelt Hotel New York City
which will be attended by several hun
dred scholars. Speakers will include the
German Ambassador, Baron Friedrich
Wilhelm Won PrittWitz-Gaffron; DR.
jameson, DR.. William A. Nelson, presi-
dent Of Smith College: DR.. Edwin r. A.
Seligman Of Columbia University and
Linda Eastman, president of the Amer
lean Library Association.