Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-25
LIBRARY DEVELOPS
PICTORIAL RECORDS
Early American Architecture
to Be Preserved, Archi-
tects Declare.

Pictorial archives preserving ma
tional record of early American archi-
lecture are being developed in the
Library Of Congress. About 5000 neg
atives have already been received or
promised, according to statement
made public by the American 1nSti-
tute of Architects which is seeking the
cooperation of its chapters and the
public in building up the collection.
For many years the Library OF Con-
gress has served as the national re-
pository for historic, papers, presioen-
tial manuscripts and similar material,
and is in consequence becoming the
outstanding research center for stu
dents of early American history" SAID
the statement prepared for the institute
by Leicester B. Holland. chief OF the
division of fine arts of the Library OF
Congress.
Material Aspects Neglected.
"No effort, however, has been made
to record on a national scale the ma
terial aspects of our past. Costumes,
furniture, utensils and SO forth can
well be exhibited in private and local
museums, and the preservation OF MIS-
torical monuments may be left to the
care of community pride.
But for the purposes Of general
study of cur ancestral architecture,
especially for such examples as are
doomed to disappear. there Is urgent
need for a repository where photo.
graphic records from the whole United
States may be assembled.
For widest service these RECORDS
should consist not only of prints to be
studied on the spot, but Of negatives
from which prints may be supplied to
those desiring them throughout the
"The archives should consist, there:
fore, of three parts collection OF
negatives, as all-embracing as possible;
complete folio files Of prints from these
negatives, for consultation, and very
full indices. topographic, cnronoioglc
and by subject, so that desired matter
may be readily located.
Subdivision Established.
1.-THE Library of Congress Is appar-
entity the only national institution wnicn
can logically undertake this work; we
are therefore establishing SUBDIVISION
of the division of fine arts to serve as
national pictorial archives OF early
American architecture.
"Gifts of some 5000 professional or
semi profesSional negatives have already
been received or promised. BY grant
from the Carnegie Corporation these
are now being catalogued, and an ex-
tensive catalogue is also being prepared
of illustrative material which has APP
peared in books and magazines.
I'VE now turn to the public, who may
use these archives to solicit other mega
tives.
Negatives Of all sizes will be well
come; small negatives, If clear, make
good enlargements, and many buildings
now destroyed or hidden away are re-
corded only IN amateur snapshots.
Donors Names in Records.
"All negatives given to US will be
carefully indexed, with the name Of the
photographer and donor permanently
recorded, and prints may be had from
them as readily as If they were IN the
original owners files.
"Or negatives may be bequeathed and
deposited with us with the stipulation
that, though indeXed and available for
study in our folios of prints, they shall
still remain under the owners control
during his lifetime, and no prints be
furnished to others without his consent.
Eventually we hope for funds with
which to purchase professional collec-
lions and undertake pictorial surveys OF
districts not yet properly photographed.
But such funds will necessarily be con-
tingent upon the general preliminary
response to this undertaking"