Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-03
Nations Great Library

pieces are said to be embalmed in these
portable vaults. Their contents and
significance have never been revealed.
Robert Todd Lincoln, son of the Presi-
dent, had been their custodian. When
he died, the papers came to the library,
according to terms of Mr. Lincoln's will
For 81 years after my death, these
boxes shall not be opened he wrote
emphatically. Rest assured, then, that
no one may know what the Lincolns
bequeathed TO the National Library.
Actual gift of these heirlooms pre-
coded Mr.. Lincoln'S death. Three
years before his demise, he wrote the
librarian a letter, assuring him that
the national library would be the re-
ciplent And in his declining life. he
made regular visits to Herbert Put
nam, inquired about facilities for stor-
ing sacred things; about the life span
OF paper, and the likelihood of fire.
What diplomat other than Herbert
Putnam could have engineered this
gift? He stifed outward show of
anxiety and tried to make Mr.. Lincoln
feel at ease, to understand that Wash
ington and the national library would
give his heirloomS a sacred, eternal
resting place. Springfield, Ill, Lin
coins burial place. put forth a strong
bid for Lincolniana. A fortunate de-
cision placed the trust in the Library
of Congress.
What specific value can be attached
to these documents Th-l nothing Is
known of their contents? Specifically,
that question cannot be answered. we
Judge only by the fact that Robert
Todd exercised such meticulouS care
in diSpoSing them: that they descended
directly from father to son; that secrets
held scaled for almost a century are
worth more than paper written on
The least that may be said for this
bequeSt is that it will condition his
tory, if not rewrite it. The Nation.
and world, must wait with bated
breath.
WITH the new policy of DR.. Putnam
to place experts at the head of
each division-the library bounds TO
the forefront among institutions Of CO.
temporary learning. The chief Of the
map division is an expert photographer,
the chief of the legal division is a full
fledged barrister and composer heads
the music division. They serve as in
terpretive experts. liaisons between the
AANA oiy - eACdouACS dIlO tIIS ScI1eIdl pun
lie or specialist, not as professors or
teachers.
Yet none of this activity duplicates.
DR.. Putnam's treasure house" aims to
fill needs, to supplement what others
lack, to supply unusual data for unusual
purposes. Ask yourself, then, whether
this institution remains a library. If
it does, new light Is thrown on the
term; photographers had best take note
and condition all future definitions Of
library" No longer an arranged coll
lection of books" 1t Is haven for the
soul and spirit of man, not In the
ecclesiastical sense. but In the realm of
undiluted eStheticiSm. In other words,
the simple sign over the door should
read, Here dwell the arts"
Americas culture is direct out
growth of this institution. Who would
study Cathay's history and philosophy
must come here to consult the largest
collection Of Orientalia outside China
who would be verSed in teachings of
men of might. the Hebrew prophets.
must come here to consult some forty
distinct sets of the Talmud; who would
catalog his private library must come
here for set of printed cards from a
collection that approximates sc. 1000, 600;
VINO would see the mirror to America a
hundred years ago must read the
library's newspaper files: who would
trace development of printing must
see its unrivaled collection of printers
marks; who would know Of cotempo-
rary apostles OF light must inquire FOR
their names at the Rare Book Division:
VINO would feel the spell Of Lincoln,
Washington, Franklin, jefferson and
Madison must come here to see their
moods, personalities and ideals set down
in then own handwriting.
AN knowledge springs from this
granite building. Its Inspiration de-
rives from treasures 1t harbors. And so
we call 1t the House of Great Mems
Souls.