Evening star., 1936-12-12
By Lucy Salamanca.

SSV Y yHAT is past is pro-
M logue," wrote William
Wv Shakespeare, and the
words are inscribed on
the pedestal under the figure that
tanks the left side of the north
portico, facing Pennsylvania avenue,
Of the National Archives Building.
The figure is that of a girl, young
and beautiful of countenance, who,
lifting her eyes from the empty pages
Of the open book she holds, gazes
with profound contemplation into the
future. For all her life is ahead, but
she can face the future with that
uplifted countenance and far-seeing
eye because assurance and wisdom
have arisen from the ashes of the
past.
The very essence, I believe, of the
spirit that fostered to naturalization
the National Archives Building in
Washington has been captured and
expressed in this female figure by
Robert Atken. For behind the granite
walls, the steel chambers of that
building, all our recorded past, as q
Nation, Is there to light the path
We shall travel, as q Nation, In the
future. Literally millions of records,
documents, pamphlets, papers, in every
state of preservation, are being added
TO q catalogued list that will present
with the years cross section Of our
national existence, just as the tireless
and unmarked accumulatiye effort of
each single cell or coral makes, In
time, . continent to rise from the
ocean.
NO COUNTRY in the world today
boasts a more beautiful, q more
complete, or q more modern institu-
ton for the collection, repair, preser-
vation or maintenance of Government
records than the United States. The
National Archives, first occupied in
1885, from the standpoint of archi-
lecture, situation, scientific equipment,
facilities for the most expert conduct
Of its business, and personnel, Is pre-
eminent throughout the world. It
has two fundamental objectives: First,
to concentrate and preserve in q CEN
trail depository the archives Of the
United States, and, second, to arrange
and administer these archives, 50 as
to make them easily accessible to
oficials or students who desire to use
them.
In carrying out these functions, the
drst archivist Of the United States,
Robert d. w. Connor, has at his dis
posal not only the services Of q COM
plete technical and administrative
stan, but 81 levels Of stacks, search
rooms, o reference library, an exhibi-
ton hall, q projection room for show
ing historical films, thoroughly modern
vaults for the storage Of these Aims,
laboratories, cataloguing and filing di-
visions, . repair, cleaning and fumiga-
ton division, the finest Of equipment
for reproduction Of records, the benefit
of the latest scientific experiments
Of the Bureau Of Standards and the
cooperation Of every Government de-
partment in or outside Of Washington.
Fine tools, indeed. for carrying on
. job whose Importance merits the
best In labor and equipment. And, as
. result. pcsterity win not have to 60
digging about in ancient attics, old
garages, damp cellars or musty rented
spaces where dampness, insects, fires,
dust or collectors have previously raw
aged. In an effort to gather some
knowledge Of the past conduct Of the
business of government.
Prior. indeed, to the actual con-
struction Of the beautiful new building
that now stands on that portion Of
tho FEDERAL Triangle which is bounsi-