Evening star., 1951-06-17
Pivote-Federol Project Urged
ToPubIish Papers Of u. S. Great
BY The Assoeioted Press

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BY the Associated Press
A Government agency proposed
yesterday a big private-federal
project to publish the papers of 66
famous Americans, with emphasis
on five early patriots.
In a tentative report to Presi-
dent Truman. who fathered the
idea, the National Historical Pub
locations Commission urged that
first attention be given the papers
OF Benjamin Franklin, John
Adams. John Quincy Adams, Alex
ander Hamilton, and James Madi-
son.
The commission is a branch of
the Governments General Serv-
ices Administration. It said the
contributions of these five patriots
to the development of the Ameri-
can Government are so significant
that complete editions of their
papers. including letters written
to them as well as by them, is
warranted.
A Matchless Series.
1t said the publication of their
papers. when added to the Gov
ernment's 39-volume hicentennial
edition of George Washington
writings and the Thomas jefferson
papers now being published att
Princeton University. would give
the Nation a "matchless series
.documenting the founding and
early history of the Republic"
The President suggested the
broad publications project in May
1850, when he accepted the first
volume Of Jeferson's papers. HeI
said he hoped this publication
would inspire educational and
other organizations to plan, with
the help of the Federal Govern
ment. publishing the works of
other great national figures.
In a letter yesterday to Jess
Larson, head of the general sery-
ices administration, acknowledge
ing the commissions first report
Mr.. Truman said:
I particularly hope that the
commissions interest in the papers
OF James Madison will bring results
ana that definite plans for their
puollcation can be completed this
year. the 200th anniversary of
Madison's birth.
Franklin's Work Cited.
/ would also like to see nlans
made soon for the publication al
BenJamin Franklin's papers
Franklin did as much as any man
IN our history to shape the kind of
country we live in today, and vet
some of his most interesting and
valuable writings exist, I am told
only in manuscript"
The President said Madison and
Franklin fought for human rights
and they helped create the first
government in modern times de-
voted solely to the well-being of itsI
ClCIZenS. he added:
The period of danger we are
in may last for many years. I am
convinced that the better we
understand the history Of our
democracy, the better we shall
appreciate our rights as free men
and the more determined we shall
be to keep our ideals alive. Pub
lications such as the commission
recommends will greatly help to
further this understanding"
Objectivity Is Sought.
In its report to the President,
the commission said the pri-
vate-Federal publications project
should be done Collectively, i'm
partially, and In the spirit OF
truth-seeking that is the ideal Of
the scholarly world" adding:
There should be no censorship
of any paper or thought or word
because an editor does not
personally approve of it. The
work should be free of partisan
bias and should be carried on
without racial. religious, or other |
prejudicies. It should be meticu-
lousy accurate"
The commission said the fl
nancing of the project should
be cooperative. 1t added:
Privately" endowed institu-
tions, local. city, and state gov
ernments and agencies, as well as
the Federal Government should
contribute their shares. And, 1t
is hoped, the great national
foundations will make grants forI
such work"
81 Others Mentioned.
Besides the "big five" for which
1t urged priority, the commission
recommended the papers of 81
other prominent Americans from
many fields for the considera-
ton of historians for possible
publications. They are:
Jane Addams, Jean Louis Ro-
dolphe Agassiz. Susan B. Anthony,
Francis Asbury. Henry Barnard,
Clara Barton, Judah Philip Ben
jamin, John Shaw Billings, Will
liam Jennings Bryan. Charles Bull
finch.
John c. Calhoun, Andrew Car
negie, John Carroll, Salmon p.
Chase, Henry Clay, Tench Coke,
Ignatius Donnelly, Stephen A..
Douglas, Thomas A. Edison,
Charles w. Eliot, Ralph Waldo
Emerson.