Evening star., 1936-07-26
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
TRANSPORTATION Questions in Spotlight, and Co.
Operation Is Asked-W gtonidnd Section
of Public Library of Great Value.
The Washingtoniana Division
A Mine Of Civic Information.

A Mine OF Civic Information.
THOROUGH students Of District
civic problems are finding the
washingtoniana division Of the
Public Library Of increasing inter-
est and value. Here may be found
the background for working out
practical solutions to many Of our
problems.
Equipped as 1t Is to render such
material assistance In civic affairs,
the Washingtoniana division Is, it
self, q serious civic problem. It
had its modest beginning as a part
of the reference division, and when
set up as a separate division, was
given space partitioned OF from
the broad corridor on the second
floor at the head of the stairway.
In these cramped quarters its COLI
lection has had slow but steady
growth. The increase in the num-
Der of users of its facilities has
recently necessitated moving this
division into a larger space. better
adapted to the purpose. The Wash
ingtoniana division now occupies
nearly one-half of the large room
on the second floor at the Ninth
street end of the building. This
room served as lecture hall when
the building was FIRST occupied.
The immediate problem of this
division is the necessary increase
in personnel. Miss Ethel A. L. Lacey.
curator, Is in charge and has a
part-time assistant. the remainder
of whose time Is devoted to other
library work. Nothing more force
fully emphasizes the shortage of
personnel than the necessity for
closing this division during the
month of August. This need is due
to shifts of personnel required to
take care Of other departments,
while members Of the staff are on
vacation. The services of some w.
p. A. workers have been Of material
assistance in the preparation Of
material and other clerical work
such as the cutting and f1ling Of
clippings under the direction of the
curator. The library officials are
anxious to have civic leaders sup
plement their recommendations for
increased personnel in this division,
which Is so important to the Dis
trict, particularly from q historic
and civic standpoint.
In general. the Washingtoniana
collection may be divided into four
groups:
/. History of the District.
2. Current events of the District.
3. Social life Of Washington,
past and present.
4. Biography Of Washingtonians.
Many priceless old pamphlets.
newspaper clippings and scrap
books are just brim full of Wash
ington's historic past. Early rec
ords of the District of Columbia"
are here, being three volumes OF
manuscript records of the Com
missioners appointed to lay out the
seat Of the Government. These
are bound in three volumes and
run from 1871 to 1874. They are
perfectly preserved.
Beginning with the first Wash
ington City Directory, published in
1922, the collection includes a COM
plete set of the city directories up
to date. Among the pamphlets of
particular interest is collection OF
seven Of the eight pamphlets,
Considerations on the Govern.
ment Of the Territory of Colum-
bia," by "Epaminondas." published
in l80l-1802. The author Of these
pamphlets was Augustus Brevoort
Woodward, who later became
chairman Of the Commission of
the Territory Of Michigan when
that territory was organized out
of the Northwest Territory. 1t was
Woodward who changed the plans
OF the city of Detroit to follow
some of L'Enfant plans of WASH
ington, which was being laid out
while he was resident here.
Historic and descriptive news
articles appearing in The Star
during nearly half q century have
been preserved in scrap books,
many Of which show heavy usage.
Included in this collection are the
writings on "Old WASHINGTON" by
James Croggon, John F. Coyle,
1890-1905: Roadside Sketches"
George Simmons, 1s91-1892; THE
Rambler" articles, by J. Harry
Shannon, and the more recent
historical articles of John Clagett
Proctor. Many of the writings of
Theodore w. Noyes on Washing
ton in General" Political Equity
for the District of Columbia"
Financial Equity for the District
of Columbia" and other subjects
are preserved in indexed volumes
presented by Mr.. Noyes to the
Library.
Public-spirited citizens have long
recognized the importance Of pre-
serving valuable Washingtoniana
and making 1t readily available to
the public for reference purposes.
The collection owes much to DR..
j. M. Toner, James A. Wineberger,
william Van Zandt Cox, James F.
Hood and Washington Topham for
preserving many volumes and
documents of priceless worth.
It Is believed that there is pos
sessed by many of the old District
families books. pamphlets, docu-
ments, manuscript writings, let
ters, programs of various events
and newspapers which would fill
many a gap in the Public Library
Washingtoniana collection. Here
they would find a logical home,
be sure of preservation and be
available to the public under prop
er supervision.
Here is another problem of the
Washingtonia Division-how to To-
cate and acquire these priceless
items, which should form a part
of the collection.
This discussion of the Washing.
toniana has had a threefold OBJ
jective:
1. To arouse the interest of