Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-19
CURATOR EXPLAINS
LIBRARY METHODS
Miss Patten Describes
Gathering of Famous Wash
ingtoniana Collection

An interesting historical contribution,
descriptive Of some Of the methods fol-
lowed in conducting the already famous
Washingtoniana collection OF the Public
Library Of the District of Columbia. was
made by Miss Katharine K. Patten,
curator Of Washingtoniana, OF the
library, before the members of the News
paper Group of Special Libraries As
ISOLATION, meeting here In annual con-
ference at the Mayfiower Hotel during
the past week.
I'm 1905 the Public Library Of the
District of Columbia started a modest
collection of books. maps, pamphlets
and clippings about District OF Columbia
history and institutions" Miss Patten
explained. which was given the name
"Washingtoniana Collection
"At that time the name was larger
than the collection, which was divided
into three parts. The first part, the
books. occupied q small section reserved
for them In the stacks, the maps were
stored in cases in the librarians Office
and the vertical file was kept in the
reference room. For many years the
books Of the collection circulated freely,
their value hardly being realized, and
more attention was necessarily being
given to other phases Of the work. These
books, of which there are nearly 5000,
cover biography. history and descrip-
ton, the laws of the city from the be-
ginning Of the Government here, en-
gineering projects and the. history and
government of the public schools.
Among the rare books in the collection
are the early city directories from 1922,
early DAYS. the 1880 edition of the Ten
Miles Square and the guide books and
year books for many years. The col
lection of early fiction written about
the District of Columbia is also I'M
usually strong.
Maps Tell Story.
"How did the site of Washington
and the District of Columbia look in
1890 and 1900 when the Government
came here? The maps of the Wash
toniana collection, that fascinating study
Of the early plan of the city, tell this
story. The basis Of this valuable col
lection Of $50 maps. is what Is known
from James r. Hood many years ago.
Included in it are the embryo map.
the L'Enfant map and the Ellicott
map. The maps have been treated as
library material, shelf-listed by num-
Der and q careful record kept OF each
addition to the collection.
THE vertical file and the scrap
books: From the standpoint OF the
librarian this would probably be con-
sidered the backbone of the collection.
For this very reason in the early days
of the work more attention was given
to the building up of the vertical file.
when the library moved into its
present home in 1902 q great quantity
of loose material, bound and unbound,
came with 1t. This material was in
boxes. barrels and just loose. syS-
tematic examination was given all OF
it, duplicate copies of bound maya
zines by the dozens were Sliced, APP
propriate pamphlets were laid aside,
old newspapers carefully scanned for
interesting sidelights, the clipping OF
the current Washington newspapers be-
gun In earnest and the vertical file was
born. Clipping went on endlessly. and
the Song Of the Shears might be said
to have been the favorite poem of those
entrusted with the care Of the vertical
file This clipping kept the file up TO
date on all current topics. 1t was en-
riched greatly, however, along other
lines by the acquisition of two large
collections those of James A. Wine
berger and Francis e. Leupp.
"Mr. Wineberger was a bookseller OF
the early days, and genuine coiiector
of washington material. HIS name Is
SYNONYMOUS Wilt SOklAc "a tkAC 0OoO eAASH
Is in the Washingtoniana collection, both
books and pamphlets.
Press Collection Accurate.
"Mr. Leupp was q newspaper man,
famous in his day as being one OF the
few whose copy sent from Washington
was taken without question. His col
lection was regular newspaper mans
collection, with the additional charm to
the librarian Of Mr.. Leupps exactness
as to sources and dates. The two coll
lections were very large, and though
at first the task looked endless, the
examination of them will always remain
one of the high lights Of the early days
of the work. The difference, too, in
the character Of the two collections was
a delight. one experimenting the other
to a remarkable degree and strengthen
ing the contents of the file wonderfully.
Unto the vertical file also goes every
thing pertaining to the District In the
way Of legislation. The Congressional
Record is checked daily for bills af-
fecting the city; the Monthly Cata-
log of Public Documents is checked for
hearings and reports on these bills.
These are placed with other material on
their subject in the file, thus bringing
UP to date the status of each project.
In the case of the bridges and other
a Hfa0C well