Evening star., 1944-07-16

Cuban bibliogr1phy, and Prof.
ing a recent acquisition of the
grounds just outside the church en-
trance.
The incident is typical of Latin Amer
lean problems with which the Hispanic
Foundation In the Library Of Congress
Is concerned and illustrates the lack OF
knowledge the people south Of our coun-
try still have Of us.
A group Of congressman, led by Rep
resentative Louis c. Rabaut, Democrat,
of Michigan. noted In q report after
trip in 194l to Latin America that
there Is undoubtedly manifest desire
on the part Of the citizens Of Latin
America to know more about the United
States but the "lack Of facilities de-
scriptive Of American life available to
our neighbors" is indicated, in this In
stance, by the fact that there was not
a single history book Of the United
States printed in Portuguese in any
public library In the entire nation of
Brazil" No wonder, the report added,
there has been so little understanding
between ourselves and the countries
south Of US"
The Library of Congress was called on
to remedy the situation. It asked the
co-ordinator Of inter american affairs
'for funds to publish history Of America
In Spanish, The project was then
turned over to the Hispanic Foundation,
headed by DR.. Lewis Hanke, former
Harvard teacher. Consultation with DR..
Howard Wilson. Harvard professor Of
education and chairman Of the Amer
lean History Text Books Committee;
other authorities and the State Depart
ment were held before the librarian.
Archibald MacLeish, was advised that
the Life OF the North American People"
by H. N. Faulkner. T. Kepner and H.
Bartlett, was chosen as best suited for
translation. Translated into Spanish by
E. de Champourcin, the book was printed
and distributed by the leading Mexican
publisher, Fond de Cultura Economica,
in 194l. BY 1914 Ecuador was asking
for second edition.
The importance Of reciprocal knowl-
edge was recognized more than 100
years ago by the Library, which ordered
the Committee on Acquisitions to "pur-
chase. at Havana, books and periodicals
to the amount Of $50 annually" During
the Mexican War in 1848 the committee
authorized the librarian Ito purchase
all the constitutions and laws Of Mexico,
also to subscribe for newspaper pub
nshed in Vera Cruz and for one pub
hshed in the city Of Mexico" Twenty
years later the best catalogue of Costa
Rican birds was issued by the American
ornithologist. George N. Lawrence.
The First Step.
The need for definite center around
which to build reciprocal knowledge and
relationships was recognized as time
went on. In 1927 Archer M. Huntington,
founder Of the Hispanic Society of
America, gave the Library 100000 to
buy books published in the Hispanic
world within 10 years preceding date Of
purchase" This was the first step.
The appointment Of DR.. David Rubio
Of Catholic University in 1881 as con-
sultant in Hispanic literature was the
next.
Establishment of the Hispanic Found
alton In 1899 as central agency with
in the Library then followed Opening
of the Library Annex released needed
space, and an anonymous donor gave
$4,000 to furnish the room. It was
opened on July /, 1899, with DR.. Rubio
as curator Of the Hispanic collection
and DR.. Hanke as director OF the
foundation. DR.. Robert G. Smith Of the
University Of Illinois subsequently joined
the staff as assistant director.
Latin-American Consultantships.
The principal aim OF the Foundation
is to gather IAN unsurpassed collection
Of published material pertaining to
Spain, Portugal and the countries Of
Latin America" Efforts to achieve 1t
now revolve around the establishment
Of LAtin-American consultantships to
help build up resources in special fields.
Two aims contributing to mutual un-
derstanding is the help being given to
the National Library Of Peru and the
sending Of technical assistants to Il
braries and museums In Latin America
requesting them.
The consultantships were established
last November when DR.. Hanke sug-
gested to Mr.. MacLeish. following the
resignation OF Dr.. Rubio. that LATIN
American specialists Be invited here for
2 to u month visits TO take the place
OF one permanent congultAnt. The Cd
vantage Of having . specialist probing
weak spots Of the Library % they could
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