I B RARY 

OF THE 

UN IVER.SITY 
OF ILLINOIS 



AM 

1886-89 




The person charging this material is re- 
sponsible for its return on or before 1 
Latest Date stamed below. 



Result in dismissal from the Univers.ty. 

University of Illinois Library 



ML 2 7 



IIJU- 



L161 O-1096 




PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



iU -5* 

EIGHTH GENERAL MEETING 



OF THE 



AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, 



HELD AT 



MILWAUKEE, JULY 7 TO 10, 



1886. 



BOSTON: 

PRESS OF ROCKWELL AND CHURCHILL, 39 ARCH STREET. 

1886. * 



CONTENTS. 



Title. 


Author. 


Page 




. W: F. Poole 


i 


Why librarians know 


. Ernest C. Richardson . . . 


6 




. W: C. Lane 


10 


Close classification vs. bibliography 


. W: I. Fletcher 


ii 




. G: T. Little 


'4 






16 




.F: Vinton 


17 




. E. F. Barton 


'9 


University libraries and seminary methods of instruction 


. E. H. Woodruff 


21 


Cooperation of the Newton Free Library with the public schools, 1885-86 .... 


. Miss H. P. James 


26 


The evolution of the hobby 


. W. DeM. Hooper 


27 




. R. B. Poole 


3' 






34 


Some thoughts on bibliography, especially of science, as exemplified in " Psyche " 




47 




. T. Solberg 


52 




. T. Solberg 


78 




. C: A. Cutter 


82 




. R. C. Davis 


9' 






96 






98 


Relation of the public library to the public school 


. H. M. Utley 


i3 


How to make the most of a small library 


. Miss C. M. Heviins .... 


107 


Report on aids and guides, Aug., 1883 June, 1885 


. F: M. Crunden 


ill 






33 



Proceedings 142 

First Session 142-150 

Addresses of welcome and President's re- 
sponse 142 

Address of President Poole 142-143 

Secretary's report 143-146 

Treasurer's report 146 

A.L.A. catalog 147 

Post-conference excursion 148 

Postage on library books 149, 158 

Second Session 150-156 

Life-membership 150, 151, 158, 159 

Harvard College subject-index 151-152 

Close classification 1 S 2 ~ 1 SS 

Third Session 156-158 

Letters 156 

New devices J S&~ 1 S7 

Shelves for heavy books 157 

Lloyd P. Smith 157-158, "71-172 

Postage on library books 158 

Fourth Session 158-170 

Report of Cooperation Committee 159-160 

Library buildings 160-165 

Committee on report of Cooperation Com- 
mittee 165-174 

Electric light 165-167 

Heat regulation 167-168 



First librarians' association 168 

Miscellaneous matters 169-170 

Fifth Session 170-178 

Letter from Mr. Yates 170-171 

Lloyd P. Smith 171-172 

Next meeting 172-173 

Officers 173 

University seminaries and libraries I73-I74 

Libraries and schools 175 

Binding 175-178 

Distribution of public documents 178-180 

School of library economy 178 

Sixth Session 178-183 

Distribution of public documents 179-180 

Library of U.S. agricultural department . . . 181 

Aids and guides 181 

Miscellaneous 181-182 

Resolutions of thanks 182-183 

Spelling 183 

By-law 183 

Amendment to Constitution 183 

Binding magazines 183 

Appendixes 184-188 

A.L.A. Publishing section 184-185 

The A.L.A. excursion, July 12-20 185-188 

Persons present at Milwaukee meetings .... 189-191 

A.L.A. supplementary list of members .... 192-193 



CONFERENCE OF LIBRARIANS. 



MILWAUKEE MEETING, JULY 7, 1886. 



ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, 



WILLIAM F. POOLE, LL.D., LIBRARIAN OF CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Association : 

IT is a noteworthy incident in the history of 
the American Library Association that we 
meet for our eighth annual conference in the 
great North-west, more than a thousand miles 
from the fringe of cities on the Atlantic coast, 
where it had its origin and its earlier confer- 
ences were held. I know something of the 
North-western States, and venture the state- 
ment that no city in the East has received us 
with a more intelligent and generous welcome 
than we experience to-day in Milwaukee. No- 
where are the benefits of libraries better under- 
stood, and the purposes of our organization 
better appreciated than here. We are not on 
pioneer and missionary ground, so far as a 
proper valuation of books and libraries is con- 
cerned. If you ask me : " Where in the West 
is that pioneer and missionary ground?" I 
must say I do not know. I have here an 
official invitation from a Board of Trade which 
has lately established a free public library in a 
city a thousand miles west of Milwaukee, in- 
viting this Association to hold its next annual 
conference in Denver, Colorado, and promis- 
ing a cordial welcome and every kind of hospi- 
tality. The idea which suggests to a Board of 
Trade to establish a public library, and the 
idea which the masses accept as an axiom, 
that the maintenance of such an institution is 
as legitimate an object for general taxation as 
the maintenance of a public school, seems to 
be indigenous in Western soil. If you insist 
on my localizing that pioneer and missionary 



ground to which I have alluded, I should say 
to'our Eastern friends that you left the region 
when you came into the North-western States. 
The present year marks the close of the first 
decennial period in the history of our Associa- 
tion. In reviewing briefly its record a mention 
of its precursor, a convention of eighty 
librarians and others interested in bibliography, 
which was held in New York City, in September, 
1853, must not be overlooked. Prof. Charles 
C. Jewett, of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. 
Samuel F. Haven, of the American Antiquarian 
Society, and Mr. Charles Folsom, of the Bos- 
ton Athenaeum, all of whom have passed away, 
were among its prominent members. Prof. 
Jewett was the leading spirit in the call and 
management of the convention, and its Presi- 
dent. Indeed, he may justly be ranked as the 
ablest and most zealous of the early American 
reformers in the methods of library manage- 
ment. He was the first to collect the statistics 
of the libraries of the United States, which 
he published in 1851. One week ago three of 
the librarians who signed the call for that Con- 
vention, and were present, were members of 
this Association. Two of them were our es- 
teemed associates, Mr. Smith, of the Phila- 
delphia Library Company, who died on Friday 
last, and of whom further mention will be 
made, and Dr. Guild, of Brown University. 
The third was myself, then in charge of the 
Boston Mercantile Library. If I did not fear 
to encroach upon the theme of Mr. Barton, 
who will read at this conference a paper on 



173341 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



"The Convention of 1853," I could give some 
reminiscences of its sessions. I may say, how- 
ever, that the Convention of 1853 made a last- 
ing impression on the minds of all the librarians 
who were present, and that it must be regarded 
as an era in American bibliography. Prof. 
Jewett said in his opening address : " This is 
the first convention of the kind, not only in 
this country, but, so far as I know, in the 
world." That conference aroused a spirit of 
inquiry and search after better methods. The 
card catalogue, about that time, had been 
adopted in several American libraries, and 
Prof. Jewett had prepared a system of rules for 
cataloguing, based on those of the British 
Museum, which he simplified and improved. 
Prof. Jewett had on his mind, and pressed it 
on the convention, a scheme of making the 
Smithsonian Institution a great national library. 
He had met with opposition from the scientists, 
who had no sympathy with his project, and 
wished the funds of the Smithsonian to be 
used for the printing of scientific papers. His 
scheme was later defeated by the action of Con- 
gress, and with sadness he retired from the 
Smithsonian Institution. Another project he 
was much interested in at the time ; and it was 
highly creditable to his enterprise and inge- 
nuity. It was an honest attempt to lessen the 
cost of printing elaborate catalogues, which 
were then, and are now, absorbing funds which 
ought to be expended in books. The develop- 
ment of his scheme was one of the chief topics 
considered at the Convention of 1853. In brief, 
the scheme was to stereotype in separate blocks 
the titles of books, using a material cheaper 
than metal ; keeping these blocks in stock, and 
printing from them all the library catalogues 
of the country. The material he used was 
a sort of clay from Indiana. Congress made 
an appropriation for executing the plan. I rec- 
ollect that the librarians of the country gener- 
ally favored it, and that I did not. I remember 
that I spoke of it at the time as " Prof. Jewett's 
mud catalogue." My views concerning it were 
based on some practical knowledge of legiti- 
mate typography, and from specimens of the 
work which Prof. Jewett exhibited. I doubt 
whether the scheme of stereotype blocks could 
have been a success under any circumstances ; 



but it failed in this instance from mechanical 
defects in the process, the shrinking and 
warping of the blocks in baking, and the in- 
tractable nature of the material when baked, 
which made the exact adjustment of the blocks 
on the press impossible. In presenting the 
scheme, Prof. Jewett stated that " practical 
stereotypers had said that it could not be 
done." 

It is not necessary, to be a successful man, 
that one should be successful in everything he 
undertakes. Errors, mistakes, and blunders 
even, mark the path of all the great inventors, 
and the benefactors of the race. One who was 
so full of resources and expedients in library 
economy as Prof. Jewett could afford to make 
an erroneous judgment on the process of using 
baked clay in typography. Those who in fu- 
ture years shall read the Library journal will 
find, with much which is of the highest im- 
portance, schemes which are of no practical 
value in the form in which they were presented; 
but even these may afford suggestions which, 
in other relations, will lead the reader to excel- 
lent and practical results. 

In 1855 Prof. Jewett was elected superin- 
tendent of the Boston Public Library, where, 
with such trustees as George Ticknor and 
Edward Everett, he had a part in developing 
the sagacious policy of that great institution, 
the pioneer of all the free public libraries of the 
country. If he were living to-day, with what 
zeal and charming urbanity would he have 
taken part in the exercises of this conference ! 
He would have completed his seventieth year 
on the 1 6th day of August next. Our profes- 
sion is a debtor to Prof. Jewett for his early 
and scholarly services in bibliography and in 
library economy ; and a memorial paper con- 
cerning him from Mr. Winsor, who was his 
successor in the Boston Public Library, would 
be a fitting recognition of this obligation. In 
the wide range of topics treated at the meet- 
ings of the Association, I do not recall a 
biographical memorial of any eminent American 
bibliographer who has passed away. The 
services of Ezra Abbot, George Ticknor, 
Samuel F. Haven, Joseph G. Cogswell, and 
some others, entitle them to such a recogni- 
tion. 



PRESIDENT POOLERS ADDRESS. 



At the close of the sessions in 1853, it was 
unanimously 

" Resolved, That this convention be re- 
garded as preliminary to the formation of a 
permanent Librarians' Association." 

A committee, of which Prof. Jewett was 
chairman, was appointed to draft a constitu- 
tion and by-laws, and to present them at the 
next meeting of the convention^ to be held at 
Washington City. Perhaps the retirement of 
Prof. Jewett from the Smithsonian Institution 
accounts for there being no subsequent meet- 
ing of the convention. 

If I understand the matter correctly, to our 
accomplished Secretary is due the credit of 
suggesting the revival of the excellent scheme 
of forming a Librarians' Association which had 
slumbered undisturbed for twenty-three years. 
A telegram from Mr. Leypoldt to me at Chi- 
cago, in the summer of 1876, asking if I 
would sign a call for a Librarians' Convention, 
was the first intimation I had on the subject ; 
and I replied by asking who were behind the 
scheme. On receiving a satisfactory answer I 
gladly signed the call. The conference met 
at Philadelphia, October 4, 1876, and was in 
session for three days. The American Library 
Association was there organized, a constitution 
adopted, and officers appointed. One hundred 
and three members were enrolled, eleven papers 
were read, and a variety of interesting topics 
were discussed. The proceedings filled one 
hundred and one pages of the Library journal, 
the first number of which was issued in Sep- 
tember of that year. About the same time the 
elaborate " Report on the Public Libraries of 
the United States " appeared from the Bureau 
of Education, the principal contributors to 
which were the librarians who formed the 
Association. 

The printed report of the Philadelphia Con- 
ference attracted immediate attention in Eng- 
land. Mr. E. B. Nicholson, now Librarian of 
the Bodleian Library at Oxford, urged in the 
Academy of January 27, 1877, tnat a similar 
conference be called in London. The sugges- 
tion was approved by the principal librarians in 
the kingdom, and the result was the Inter- 
national Conference of Librarians at London 
in October, 1877, and the founding of the 



" Library Association of the United King- 
dom," which has since made a brilliant record. 
Mr. Henry R. Tedder, in his introduction to 
the printed Proceedings of the London Con- 
ference of 1877, assigns its origin to the exam- 
ple and good results of the Philadelphia 
Conference. In speaking of the latter, he says : 
" This date, 1876, may almost be said to mark 
a new period in the history of bibliothecal 
science ; for at the same time was issued the 
exhaustive Report of the Bureau of Education 
on the Public Libraries of the United States, 
and in the previous month had appeared the 
first number of the Library journal, founded 
by some of the promoters of the conference. 
Perhaps the most important result has been 
the foundation of an American Library Asso- 
ciation, 'which has since undertaken much work 
of real practical use." Mr. John Winter Jones, 
Librarian of the British Museum, and President 
of the Conference, said in his inaugural ad- 
dress : "The idea of holding a Conference of 
Librarians originated in America, in that 
country of energy and activity which has set 
the world so many good examples, and of 
which a conference of Librarians is not the 
least valuable." 

The second meeting of our Association was 
held in New York City, September 4-6, 1877. 
At its close sixteen of our members sailed for 
Europe to attend the International Conference 
at London, where we were received with every 
mark of attention and hospitality, and the 
Proceedings of the Conference show that the 
American librarians had a large share in its de- 
liberations. The third meeting was held at 
Boston, June 3o-July 2, 1879; the fourth at 
Washington, February 9-12, 1881 ; the fifth 
at Cincinnati, May 11-13, 1882; the sixth at 
Buffalo, August 14-17, 1883, and the seventh 
at Lake George, September 22-25, 1885. At 
these seven meetings ninety-seven papers on 
topics relating to library economy were read, 
and the papers and discussions, as printed in 
the Library journal, fill 639 pages. In literary 
merit, and in the treatment of historical, anti- 
quarian, and biographical topics relating to our 
profession, these papers are not equal to those 
which have appeared in the proceedings of the 
British Association. They are, however, emi- 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



nently practical and suggestive, and, by confes- 
sion of English librarians, more useful than 
those of their own Association. What the 
American librarian, in his treatment of profes- 
sional topics, lacks in scholastic style, he makes 
up in suggestive helpful devices. "He refuses 
to be trammelled by conventional ideas, and 
the solemn frown of precedent has no terror to 
him. He takes delight in cutting red tape ; in 
schemes for enlarging the usefulness of his 
library; in contributing to the accommodation 
of readers ; in devising shorter paths to the 
sources of information, and better methods in 
the arrangement of his books, catalogues, and 
indexes. All his methods and contrivances do 
not survive the test of experience ; but some of 
them do. His associates have no more respect 
for a plan because it is new than because it is 
old. If it be useful it will be generally adopted. 
If it be not useful its ingenuity will not save it. 
The meetings of our Association, and the visit- 
ing of libraries, which is one of the most useful 
features in these annual gatherings, furnish 
opportunities for the exchange of ideas in 
library economy and the discussion of their 
merits. The result has been a practical agree- 
ment in this country as to the essential prin- 
ciples on which libraries should be conducted. 
There is, nevertheless, a great diversity in the 
methods by which these 'principles are applied. 
Every librarian who has ability and originality 
has methods of his own, which, if they have no 
other merit, meet the conditions of his own 
personal equation. Some librarians surround 
themselves with short-hand writers and much 
routine. Every emergency is provided for by 
a rule or contrivance, and every sort of busi- 
ness transaction, by an armory of hand-stamps. 
Other librarians take delight in doing work in 
the simplest way ; in meeting emergencies as 
they arise ; in reducing each business operation 
to its lowest terms, and in turning over to sub- 
ordinates work which they can do well. Such 
librarians are not swamped in an ocean of 
detail ; they write their own letters, are de- 
lightful correspondents, and have time to 
attend to the higher and bibliographical wants 
of their libraries. Methods which are adapted 
for one library are not necessarily adapted for 
another where the conditions are different. 



The past record of the association may be 
seen not only iri the Library journal, but 
in the practical working of the new libraries 
throughout the land which have sprung up 
under its influence. The old libraries have 
been reorganized, and, now that they are 
more intelligently conducted, meet with a 
more liberal support. 

The promptness with which our members 
engaged in the cooperative work on the 
Index to Periodical Literature, and, perform- 
ing all they promised, are now carrying on the 
Cooperative Index, is a pledge that other work 
of a similar character may be accomplished. 
Mr. Fletcher, the chairman of the cooperative 
committee, will lay before you a scheme of 
work which his committee has elaborated, 
to which I ask your respectful attention. I have 
not made myself familiar with its details, but 
I have the highest confidence in Mr. Fletcher 
and his executive ability ; and whatever he un- 
dertakes will be a success. 

What this association has done in bringing 
the public libraries and the public schools into 
closer relations the work of one supple- 
menting the work of the other in the general 
system of education is in itself an object of 
sufficient importance to justify its existence. 

The old controversy, as to whether it is 
proper to lay a public tax for the support of a 
public library, is happily ended, except in the 
Middle States ; and New Jersey, if I am cor- 
rectly informed, has at last come into line with 
the Eastern and Western States on this 
point. New York City is still wrestling with 
the problem of establishing and maintaining 
a public library without using public funds, or 
giving the municipal government any control 
of the institution. It is a problem which, in 
my judgment, can never be solved, unless there 
are citizens in New York who are ready to 
endow the library with four or five millions. 
The one million which Enoch Pratt gave to 
Baltimore will not give New York such a 
library as it needs. What would become of 
the public schools of New York City if their 
support was left to charitable contributions, and 
to passing round the hat periodically? Is the 
municipal government of New York City so 
much worse than that of other large cities 



PRESIDENT POOLERS ADDRESS. 



Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee 
that it cannot be trusted with the interests of a 
public library? No peculation or scandal has 
ever occurred in connection with the manage- 
ment of a public library. If every department 
of the corporation affairs in the cities which 
have been named were managed as well as their 
public libraries they would be model munici- 
palities. There is every reason to believe that 
a public library in New York City, organized 
under such library statutes as exist in the 
Western States, would be equally well man- 
aged. New York has no disturbing element 
which does not exist in Chicago, Cincinnati, 
or Milwaukee, unless it be the reluctance of 
wealthy men to be taxed for such an object. 
What are alleged to be disturbing elements a 
large foreign population, socialism, communism, 
anarchism are not so in fact. These people 
desire their children to be educated, and make 
no opposition to the public schools. They 
desire to read books, that their children should 
read, and that this reading should be furnished 
at the public expense. The most zealous 
friends of public libraries in large cities are the 
middle and poorer classes who carry votes, and 
it is public policy to educate these classes. 

The large legacies and gifts which have re- 
cently been made for the founding of libraries 
in this country are among the most cheering 
signs of the times. The Newberry legacy to 
Chicago, the Pratt and Peabody gifts to Balti- 
more, the Scofield gift to Oak Park, 111., the 
Fuller gift to Belvidere, 111., the Hoyt fund for 
East Saginaw, Mich., the Seymour fund for 
Auburn, N.Y., the Ames fund for Easton, 
Mass., the Nevins fund for Methuen, Mass., 
and the Board of Trade gift for Denver, Col- 
orado, are a few among the many which might 
be mentioned. The erection of library build- 
ings by private individuals for institutions 
already existing has become in New England 
a favorite and appropriate mode of expressing 
their donors' interest in libraries. 

The work for which this association was 
organized is not yet completed. We need to 
carry on the reform in the construction of li- 
brary buildings which has already begun ; that 
they shall be planned for the specific purpose 
for which they are to be used, and not simply 



as exercises in architectural display. It is a 
misfortune that the absurd plans of a building 
for the Library of Congress, which were pre- 
sented to this association at its meeting at 
Washington, in February, 1881, and con- 
demned by the unanimous voice of the mem- 
bers present, and also at the meeting of the 
association at Cincinnati the next year, have 
been adopted by Congress. 

To say that we need more discussion of the 
subject of classification would be superfluous. 
We need, however, that the discussion should 
be divested of some of the asperities and per- 
sonalities into which earnest men and honest 
men are liable to fall. We need, also, that 
the discussion should be cleared, as far as 
possible, of technicalities and abstruseness, so 
that an incipient librarian, who has not the 
wisdom of Solomon and the ingenuity of a 
magician, may understand it. We need some 
practical method of lessening the expense of 
printed catalogues, which absorb the resources 
of libraries, and, in rapidly increasing collec- 
tions, soon grow out of date. We have many 
other needs at present, and the future will fur- 
nish its own quota when these are supplied. 

In the midst of this cordial welcome and 
these happy greetings a dark shadow falls 
upon us in the death of our esteemed associate, 
Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, of the Philadelphia 
Library Company, which occurred on Friday, 
July 2. To many of us who read the announce- 
ment in the telegraphic dispatches of Saturday 
last it was a dreadful shock. We had not 
heard of his illness, and he was expected here 
with his wife and daughter. His name is on 
our programme to read a paper on " The Great 
Enemy of Books." I have a letter from him, 
dated May 10, announcing his intention to be 
present, and giving the subject of his paper. 
It is in his usual sportive vein, and a perfect 
type of his mind and temperament when in 
health. To me the death of our friend comes 
as a deep personal affliction. I made his 
acquaintance at the Librarians' Convention 
in 1853, and since that time we have been 
frequent correspondents. I never passed 
through Philadelphia without visiting him at 
his Library, or at his home in Germantown. 
He was the host of the members of the associa- 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



tion when it was formed in Philadelphia, in 1876, 
and he has attended all its conferences except 
the one at Lake George. He was one of our 
number who attended the International Con- 
ference in London, in 1877, and was one of its 
Vice-Presidents. A more lovely spirit and 
genial companion never lived. His sonorous 
laugh was something to be remembered. He 
was a fine classical scholar, and Latin to him 
was almost a vernacular. He loved to think 
and talk and write in Latin, and his letters 
were often half, and sometimes wholly, in 
Latin. His mind had a mediaeval tinge, which 
led him to take delight in the monkish Latin of 
the middle ages. He was by nature and habit 
a conservative, and he had a right to be one. 



He was the librarian of the oldest library, not 
connected with a college, in the country, where 
his father was librarian before him. He believed 
in what is old, rather than in what is new, and 
in this respect was a typical Philadelphian. 
He was never reconciled to the idea of laying 
a public tax for the support of a public library. 
" If people want to read books," he would say, 
" let them buy the books, or buy a share in a 
proprietary library," like his own. His amia- 
bility was such, however, that he never op- 
posed, except in a sportive manner, those who 
held modern ideas on these subjects. I hope 
that appropriate resolutions concerning our de- 
ceased associate may be adopted during our 
sessions, and sent to the family. 



WHY LIBRARIANS KNOW. 



BY ERNEST C. RICHARDSON, LIBRARIAN HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY. 



PRESIDENT R. D. Hitchcock, telling at the 
A Amherst Alumni dinner, last week, of the 
changes during the fifty years since his gradua- 
tion, said, "Then there were three learned 
professions, theology, law, medicine ; now 
there are four, theology, law, medicine, and 
journalism." I take this occasion, before our 
secretary, in his multiform devices and inex- 
tinguishable energy, has elevated librarianship 
into one of the mechanical arts, to offer this 
modest plea for the recognition of librarianship 
as one of the learned professions. Whether 
they profess it or not, librarians practise learn- 
ing, and they have to, or they couldn't be 
librarians. 

Of course there are exceptions, and you and 
I would be the last to deny it ; but there are 
exceptions in all the learned professions. I 
remember the true story of a negro preacher, on 
the plantation of a friend of mine in Virginia. 
This worthy man, as an example of the zealous 
worker, was admirable ; but, as the representa- 
tive of a learned profession, no great success. 
His exegesis was often at fault, and on one 
occasion he preached a sermon forbidding the 
children to play marbles, because the good 



book says, " Marble not, my bredderen." And 
yet he was a member of a learned profession ; 
and so, too, was the successful doctor of medi- 
cine, a woman by the way, whom I heard 
remark, in response to the suggestion that she 
didn't seem to be entirely familiar with Paris 
as yet, "Oh, my! guess I aint; guess I'm 
kinder green." 

But these do not prove that theology and 
medicine are not learned professions. 

The object of this paper is not mutual ad- 
miration, or self-gratulation on our superior 
learning or wisdom, and even contains some 
food for humility. 

It was suggested by the thought of the very 
varied and extensive, and yet exact and avail- 
able, intellectual culture of some of our leading 
representatives at home and abroad, whose 
names will readily suggest themselves. It 
struck me that a very considerable percentage, 
relatively to other professions, was notable in 
this regard, and it occurred to me to query 
whether this knowledge was real, or only super- 
ficial, and, if real, why it is so general. 

It is a common insinuation that librarians 
know about the outside of books without know- 



RICHARDSON. 



ing much of the ideas which they contain ; and, 
again, that their knowledge is fragmentary, scat- 
tered, and accidental. The insinuation hardly 
calls for resentment, it is so easy to demonstrate 
whether it is true or false ; and then, too, we are 
not apt in this world to resent things unless 
they have some sting of truth in them. 

Analyzing, therefore, the title of the library 
profession to be called learned, the most com- 
mon and simple test is the popular verdict. 
Did you ever notice, thus, in the first place, 
how many librarians have produced books ? I 
know that this is very far from proving that a 
man is learned, and still farther from proving 
that he is wise ; but it is one of the factors of 
the popular verdict, and the number of libra- 
rian book-producers is very large. 

Of the still larger number "who, therefore, 
only are reputed wise for saying nothing,' 1 al- 
most every one has his local reputation for 
learning. Formerly his unwisdom was often 
as great as his learning ; but the modern libra- 
rian must have real knowledge, and that of very 
extended, well-arranged character. Both repu- 
tation and observation, therefore, point to this 
same fact. 

But, passing by this first and very dubious 
claim to a title of knowledge on the basis of 
the popular verdict, to find whether a librarian's 
knowledge is real inquire, first, what the nature 
of knowledge is. 

And so we conclude again that librarians as 
a class do know, from asking what it is to know. 

To some men a steak is a steak, a book a 
book, a horse a horse, whether it be tough or 
tender, good or bad, fast or slow ; and so of 
knowledge. The careful way in which men 
sometimes treasure an accumulation of worth- 
less knowledge reminds one of the man and 
his name is Legion who fancies he has a rare 
work of untold value, in some eighteenth cen- 
tury tract, dear at half a dime. 

It is always amusing to see men cutting off 
knowledge into sections of various sizes and 
shapes, as the country grocer does a big cheese, 
and then, labelling them with some name, Latin 
or otherwise, set themselves to the mastery of 
its every detail, in profound conceit that they 
are scholars, and they alone. Knowledge is 
vital by its very nature an organism ; nay, in 



a certain real sense, if you accept the scientific, 
and at least partially true, analysis of Bain and 
Spencer, it is life itself. That man is most 
learned who has the broadest view of the va- 
ried, interdependent, nucleated facts of this 
universal organization. 

The specialist, in our growing use of the 
term, is not often the learned man. This mod- 
ern, egotistic, utterly unbearable assumption of 
so-called specialists is fundamentally opposed 
to the intrinsic nature of knowledge and life. 
One of the greatest vices of modern scholarship 
is the truly scientific method of German learn- 
ing gone to seed, in an unvital, uneconomical 
aggregate of unnecessary facts. 

It is not necessary to measure every unit in 
a symmetrical pile of bricks, and add the re- 
sults, in order to find the cubic contents of the 
pile ; nor is it necessary to measure every brick 
in the world in order to find what the size of a 
brick is. I know a man who, I think, if he was 
asked to find the size of an ordinary brick, 
would proceed, after having secured the most 
exact metrical apparatus, to take the measure 
of every brick in the world, so far as length of 
life permitted, with the truly scientific and un- 
selfish purpose of making a "complete induc- 
tion." He would, of course, die before he had 
made the induction ; but notice this, his induc- 
tion would be untrue for application, at the 
best ; for, according to him, the normal brick 
would be, say 8.0031781, and he would lay up 
in the National Treasury " a normal brick," 
which was only an approximation to the truth, 
which a less scholarly man would have ascer- 
tained more exactly in fifteen minutes. 

Travesty again, you say of this ; but no, not 
at all. Why should literary pedants be allowed 
to arrogate to themselves an aristocracy of 
learning, just because they are spending their 
lives in getting materials for useless and untrue 
generalization, in things even less vital than 
bricks? Not that I disparage the scientific 
method, very, very far from that, nor spe- 
cialization of studies. It is the only method, 
whether in Natural Science or Theology ; but it 
is in breadth of generalization and trained ra- 
pidity and accuracy of induction that all new 
expressions of truth and all increase of con- 
sciousness and life come, rather than in the ac- 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



cumulation of facts which shall be mechanically 
added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided, and 
the result labelled an induction. 

I could go on for an hour discoursing on the 
mutilators of the true method ; but, not to 
prolong, I remind you that the end of all true 
induction is the recognition of the universal 
likeness running through a series of facts, or 
groups of facts, and that knowledge and life 
are the organized total of such generaliza- 
tions, recognized in consciousness by illustra- 
tive units. 

All knowledge is classification, and a very 
heterogeneous and misty system it is with most 
of us worse, even, than Mr. well, we must 
not specify, let us say Mr. X's system. 

Every judgment that we form, every obser- 
vation we make, is the arrangement of one 
fact with reference to its likeness or unlikeness 
to some others. The man who most constantly 
observes and compares, who has learned most 
quickly to grasp all the features of resemblance 
or unlikeness, and pass the judgment of ap- 
proval or disapproval, acceptance or rejection, 
is the man who is learning fastest, and will 
know most. 

With this brief analysis of knowledge it is 
easy to see why librarians know, may know, or 
ought to know. The largeness of a man's life 
is the extent of the range of facts which he is 
accustomed to take into his every-day thoughts. 
It is the cosmopolitan vs. the provincial, the 
catholic against the dogmatist. The range of 
facts from which he makes his daily inductions 
is his greatness, and the man whose horizon is 
limited by his workshop or native town, whose 
thought is limited to a perfected pin-head, or 
Latin paradigms, or Sanscrit roots, or a couple 
of Bacteria, can only make inductions within 
those narrow limits, and cannot know, as one 
whose thoughts range round the world, and up 
to the farthest star, and down to the most mi- 
croscopic atom, and here and there, and back 
and forth, noting and comparing, in the very 
process fixing and enlarging, and preparing 
the way for newer, and broader, and truer gen- 
eralizations. 

This is the reason of the cultivation which 
comes in foreign travel, it enlarges the cus- 
tomary and natural range of thought. 



Every new science or class of facts touched 
astronomical, geological, geographical, an- 
thropological, or what not adds to possible 
knowledge. 

One of the most influential factors in this 
cultivation, this framework for knowledge, has 
always been the study of languages, ancient or 
modern. Each new language opens a new 
world ; enlarges the limits of thought at the 
same time that it increasingly compels pure 
thought, thinking the thing itself instead of 
its familiar word symbol. 

The first reason for the capacity for knowl- 
edge a librarian may possess is, therefore, the 
necessary equipment of languages, which almost 
every librarian must have, for selection, cata- 
loging, or classification of books. 

Again, the range of topics, of whose exist- 
ence, at least, the librarian must be aware, is 
as universal as knowledge itself. Notice that 
there is no such thing as knowing of a thing 
without knowing a greater or less number of 
facts concerning it. The very identification of 
a thing is the knowledge of certain facts which 
are peculiar to it. The limits through which a 
librarian's mind may range, perhaps must 
range, are almost absolutely universal. One 
of the most striking things to a librarian is the 
vast range of topics of which the average 
man, even the professional man, is absolutely 
ignorant ; has never heard the name of, much 
less inquired whether it might be fish, flesh, or 
fowl. 

A third reason is the very considerable con- 
tent of each general subject which a librarian 
must possess or acquire : 

(a) In the selection of books. 

Notice the process : In each title the librarian 
answers the question, Do we want this book? 
To answer he must answer as to (i) The sub- 
ject treated, (2) Whether it is appropriate to 
this library, (3) The relative desirability to 
others on the same subject. 

To answer the first question he must know 
a certain amount of the contents of the subject, 
for the word is simply the convenient symbol 
which represents to the mind a certain class of 
facts, and simply to know the meaning of the 
word requires a certain general vision of the 
facts and their relation. 



RICHARDSON. 



To judge its appropriateness he must know 
very much more. Whether this judgment is 
formed from title or book notice, or the book 
itself, in making it a man passes in general 
review all that he knows of the subject, the 
phases of it in which knowledge is desirable 
and will be sought. And to decide the relative 
desirability he reviews all that he knows of 
other treatises on the same subject with all that 
he knows of this, and that, too, in its relation 
to his judgment of what is true in that subject, 
and all with the practical end in view of making 
the knowledge available to others. 

This, you notice, is the constant operation in 
every title, book, or auction catalogue read, 
a constant review. 

(b) In the classification of books. 

This, we have seen, embodies the very essen- 
tial nature of knowledge, the arrangement of 
facts according to their mutual likeness or un- 
likeness. To classify a book requires the 
review of what its contents is, and what the 
relation of this to others is, and this fact con- 
tains in itself the fundamental warning against 
artificial systems of classification. 

I fear I have not brought before your minds 
this, to me, very interesting bit of analysis 
of our psychological processes, with sufficient 
clearness to give you the same interest ; but, 
in passing by many subordinate reasons, I trust 
that this fourth and final reason will, of itself, 
make clear the fact to which it is the object of 
this paper to call attention, the fact of the 
superior possibility of knowledge in the very 
exercise of the office of librarianship. 

This fourth reason is the very great, and 
hardly to be estimated, economy of time in 
adding to any desired line of knowledge, 

Lessing accepted his office of librarian largely 
for the opportunity it gave him for learning 
where things could be found, and it was his 
practice to go through each library he visited, 
taking down and examining every book. I 
fear me that the father of German literature 
confined his duties as librarian largely to this 
line of personal improvement ; but he knew how 
to learn, and owed his tremendous range and 
grasp of facts to this consistent cultivation in 
knowing where facts were to be found. 

Three of the brightest student helpers I have 



ever had, two of them with me for three years, 
and one for five or six, have told me inde- 
pendently that they considered the time they 
spent in library-work as well spent as any in 
their course, and the value of the experience 
equal to that of any single line in college or 
seminary curriculum ; and the men were men of 
unexcelled scholarship. 

Every librarian has had not few, but many, 
occasions where men have worked hours and 
days to find given facts, or lines of facts, which 
he at last finds easily for them in a quarter or 
half an hour. 

In the matter of verifying references, looking 
up given facts, and in a large range of things, 
it is far within the limit of truth to say that a 
librarian stands at an advantage of ten to one 
over the average scholar. 

And then in the matter of avoiding worthless 
and secondary or outdated sources he may save 
for himself months and years of other men's 
wasted lifetimes. These could be illustrated 
ad infinitum, but I have been too long. 

There is no limit to knowledge. There is no 
limit to memory excepting artificial or false 
classification. I sometimes think, it seems to 
have some foundation in analogy at least, that 
increase in knowledge is in geometrical pro- 
gression, as if each new fact properly placed 
had two new points of contact. 

Librarians, therefore, in brief, possess unusual 
opportunities of knowledge : (i) In knowing 
where to find facts. (2) In the constant 
necessity of receiving and forming judgment 
on facts. (3) The consequent constant, almost 
unconscious, stimulus and necessity for the ac- 
quirement of new facts. (4) The habit of the 
systematic arrangement of facts. 

The food for humility which I promised in 
the beginning lies in the fact that under such 
circumstances we don't know more. I suggest 
that, if we are in any danger of neglecting 
or despising the thoroughly scholarly side of 
librarianship for the so-called practical, we are 
narrowing our own lives and our capability of 
usefulness. 

In conclusion let me quote an estimate of 
librarians which I hope is not true, for knowl- 
edge which is not vital is not knowledge. 

As I took my seat at table, at the Plankinton 



IO 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



House this morning, some expressions which I 
caught from the conversation of two gentlemen 
at the next table showed that the subject of 
conversation was librarians. Presently one 
broke forth with so much animation that it 
was impossible not to overhear : " The [blank- 



est] lot of cranks, they may know every- 
thing, but they haven't the least idea of 
common-sense and the like." 

We are on trial. I am sure our sessions will 
show that librarians have both knowledge and 
sense. 



HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY SUBJECT-INDEX. 



BY W. C. LANE, HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY. 



^HE Subject-Index to the catalogue of the 
1 Harvard College Library, now in process 
of preparation, although its principal usefulness 
is confined to that Library, is still of some gen- 
eral interest, as it will furnish, when complete, 
the fullest list of topics for catalogue headings 
yet published. 

I ought to speak briefly of the general plan 
of our catalogue, in order that it may be seen 
what this Index is intended to be and why it 
is needed. 

In Mr. Cutter's catalogue, which has been 
the model for so many others recently pub- 
lished, all the subjects, whether general or 
special in character, are arranged in one alpha- 
betical series. In other systems (Mr. Dewey's, 
for example)' the special topics are grouped 
under more general headings, and these in 
turn under still more comprehensive classes, 
but without regard to alphabetical arrangement. 
The subject-catalogue of the library of Har- 
vard College combines features from both plans. 
Related special topics are grouped under gen- 
eral heads ; but the arrangement throughout is 
strictly alphabetical. In this it resembles the 
Brooklyn catalogue, but differs from that in 
having the special topics under many of the 
main heads separated into a number of distinct 
divisions, in this way bringing topics of the 
same kind more closely together, but increasing 
the complexity of the whole. In some cases 
this is carried so far that there are alphabets 
within alphabets in four or five degrees of sub- 
ordination. 

With such a system it is evident that the 
inquirer must frequently be in doubt just where 



he is to look for any given subject, and hence 
the need of a complete index of all special 
topics referring directly to the place or places 
in the catalogue where they will be found. 

The material for this Index was prepared by 
going through the whole catalogue (some 500,- 
ooo cards), and drawing off on separate slips 
of paper all the subordinate headings, with in- 
dications of the place where they were found. 
These were then arranged in alphabetical order, 
and to them were added whatever desirable 
additional topics or references were found in 
the Index to Mr. Dewey's Decimal Classifica- 
tion, Poole's Index, the catalogues of the Athe- 
naeum Library, the Princeton College Library, 
and the Library of the Peabody Institute, the 
American Catalogue, Haydn's Dictionary of 
Dates, Townsend's Manual of Dates, and occa- 
sionally other sources. In many of these 
works there are, of course, many subjects 
which it was not thought worth while to in- 
clude in this Index. Indeed the principal dif- 
ficulty has been to decide what to include and 
what to omit. In general, the Index is an 
index of the topics in the Harvard Library 
catalogue, but many topics have been added 
to the catalogue under which reference could 
be made to easily accessible sources of infor- 
mation, as to the entries in Pool's Index, or 
to the references in Knight's American Me- 
chanical Dictionary, and the like. It thus in- 
cludes many subjects which at present are 
treated of mainly in periodicals ; but these are 
the subjects about which books and mono- 
graphs will be written in the near future. The 
Index, therefore, cannot be considered as in 



FLETCHER. 



ii 



any sense complete or final ; additions will 
have to be made continually, but it is intended 
to stand a little ahead, or, at least, fully abreast 
of the needs of the present. 

In order to make reference more simple a 
system of numbering has been introduced in 
the catalogue for all the main headings, their 
chief divisions, and, in many cases, for each 



special topic. The numbers appear on the out- 
side of the drawers, and on the guides inside, 
and the user is led by these directly to the 
place that he wants. 

The Index will be prefaced by a brief state- 
ment of the system of classification, and a list 
of the main headings, with their chief divis- 
ions. 



CLOSE CLASSIFICATION VERSUS BIBLIOGRAPHY. 



BY W: I. FLETCHER, LIBRARIAN OF AMHERST COLLEGE LIBRARY. 



1 A HE little Latin word in the title I have given 
to this paper is, perhaps, its most signifi- 
cant word. Our president has assured the 
mayor and people of Milwaukee that we are 
a peaceful company, and I am very loath to 
introduce here anything wearing a belligerent 
aspect. But the nature of my paper is wholly 
defensive. If I assume the attitude of con- 
troversy it is not from a love of it, but be- 
cause there seems to be need that some one 
should raise the standard and blow the trumpet 
against an arch-invader, and even a penny 
whistle is better than no trumpet. 

Please observe that I labor here under the 
disadvantage of following an able champion of 
close classification, and of preparing my paper in 
ignorance of the views and arguments he may 
advance. I must, therefore, state the position 
of the close classifier as best I may from my 
knowledge of what it has generally been. 
And the best statement I can make of it is 
this : a library should be so arranged that all 
its resources on a given subject are brought 
together in one place, readers to be referred to 
that place as the chief means of directing them 
in their pursuit of the subject. 

In stating my objections to close classifica- 
tion I would mention first its necessary imper. 
fection. 

Classification, as used in the sciences, may be 
exact, and, to all intents and purposes, is so. 
But, as applied to a library, it cannot be, for 
the reason that many of the best contributions 
to the discussion of a great many subjects are 



not detachable from the books or sets which 
contain them, and which are not classible with 
them. This has been so often urged, and with 
so much force, that I need not dwell upon it. 
I know of but one means of meeting this diffi- 
culty which has been proposed, and that is the 
use of dummies. In speaking of some library 
methods we can judge them by experience ; but 
I have yet to learn of a library where the 
dummy system has been used to such an extent 
as to furnish any answer to the question, "How 
does it work?" My own impression is that it 
is likely to prove a larger and more difficult task 
to carry the dummy business to the point of 
elaborateness and efficiency proposed by the 
advocates of close classification than they sup- 
pose. 

Take, for example, the department of biog- 
raphy. Open the Brooklyn catalog under that 
heading. In repeated instances there are five 
or six titles in small print, under the name of 
some person, for one in large print. That is 
to say, five or six titles that would be repre- 
sented by dummies on the shelf, to one volume 
falling into the same final subdivision with 
them. And, if the idea of looking to the 
shelves rather than to catalogs for guidance is 
to be followed to its logical conclusion, the 
paragraphs which we find in the Brooklyn cat- 
alog, containing several lines of direction to 
periodical articles, etc., must be represented 
either by one dummy bearing this information 
on its side, or by a further set of dummies, one 
for each reference. Nor is this a mere reductio 



12 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



ad absurditm for the sake of argument. It ap- 
pears to be indubitable that to meet the wishes 
of those who would have the shelves them- 
selves exhibit the full resources of the library 
under the various divisions and subdivisions of 
literature, even the minutest of 'them, this 
dummy system must be carried to the point I 
have indicated. Even the references in Poole's 
Index must be carried out on dummies. If it 
be objected that no one has proposed anything 
so extreme as this, I would reply that it is 
simply because no one has got far enough along 
with this idea of a library being its own sub- 
ject-catalog to appreciate whither it tends and 
what it demands. 

Once entered upon I believe this scheme of 
making the library exhibit in one spot on the 
shelves its resources on a given subject will 
inexorably demand that something be placed 
upon the shelf at that spot which shall refer to 
everything contained in the library on the sub- 
ject not classible with it. Here is where we 
join issue with the system as to its practica- 
bility. In practice its demands cannot be met, 
and just the moment its advocates draw back 
from one of them they have struck their flag. 
If, for example, they say they will not parcel 
out Poolers Index in the dummy form all over 
the library, they say they will not have each 
section represent all the resources of the 
library on its subject ; and the system is nothing 
if not all-inclusive. 

Nor are the references in Poole's Index the 
only illustration that can be given of the im- 
practicability of this scheme. Is any one going 
to put into his scientific department a dummy 
for each paper in the Philosophical Transac- 
tions and similar collections? The absurdity 
of the phrase " all the resources of the library 
on a given subject," in this connection, is such 
that it only needs to be hinted at. No librarian 
will deny that catalogs and indexes must be 
consulted before one can be sure that he has 
found either the whole, or even the larger part, 
or the better part, of the references he will need 
on a certain subject. And yet the fallacy of 
close classification is carried to the extent in 
some quarters of giving readers to understand 
that their main reliance may be placed on the 
classification. By this means readers are 



misled (and this is my second objection), and 
allowed to content themselves with a partial 
grasp of the literature of a subject. I have 
found myself constantly under the necessity of 
cautioning readers against the misleading ten- 
dency of so much of classification as we have 
at Amherst ; and I believe the true attitude of 
the librarian who would help readers to do the 
best with their subjects must be this. He 
must advise and encourage them in every way 
to find what is the literature of the subject in 
hand. The work of the best librarians we have 
had in the past has been in this direction, and 
the catalogs of the Boston Public Library, 
the Boston Athenaeum, the Brooklyn Library, 
and many others, such as that of Quincy, 
Mass., have at once recognized the demand, 
and been recognized as meeting it admira- 
bly. 

The time now seems ripe for the next step in 
the progressive development of library science, 
namely, practical cooperation in the produc- 
tion of such bibliographical guides as are to 
some extent furnished by the catalogs I have 
mentioned. I have undertaken to present this 
paper at this time largely because at this point 
its subject runs in a line with the effort we are 
making through the cooperation committee to 
organize cooperative cataloging. But I regret 
the misapprehensions likely to arise from the 
use in this connection of the word cataloging. 
Cataloging is properly used only of that work 
by which we describe and locate for finding 
purposes the contents of a library, or the books 
of a certain period, or those on a special sub- 
ject. The catalogs of which I have spoken 
as showing progress in the direction of fur- 
nishing readers with the means of tracing the 
literature of subjects are marked by the addi- 
tion of what is properly bibliography. They 
answer the question to the best of their 
ability, "What can I find on my subject?" 
but being made with reference to a certain 
library they are confessedly partial as bibli- 
ographers, and only answer the question, 
" What can I find here on my subject?" 

I do not anticipate a time when this ques- 
tion must not be answered in a general way 
with the here in it, by each library for itself. 
But we are all agreed that there is a large field 



FLETCHER. 



i3 



of bibliographical work not to be well or eco- 
nomically done by each library for itself, but 
rather by a combination of libraries or by 
individual enterprise outside, and we may well 
hope and expect that the small number of such 
guides we now have (and find so useful) may 
rapidly and greatly increase. All the progress 
of the past has been in the direction of more 
and more of bibliographical guidance for the 
users of our libraries, and, if I do not greatly 
mistake, bibliography is the watchword of the 
future for us. 

Here, then, is where we join issue with close 
classification, as to its fatal defect as a sys- 
tem of guidance to the resources of a library 
on given subjects. Close classification says: 
"Here you will find all our resources on this 
subject." It will doubtless be objected that I 
lay undue stress on this as the motto of close 
classification ; but I should insist that it is 
practically the claim put forth by close classi- 
fiers, and the fulfilment of which is legitimately 
to be demanded by them. Please observe that 
I allude only to those who use close classifica- 
tion as the common guide to serve in the find- 
ing of the books, and who prefer it to cata- 
logs for that purpose. I have no issue with 
those who classify as closely as possible, so 
long as classification is relegated to its subor- 
dinate place as a minor factor in library admin- 
istration. As opposed to this motto of close 
classification, sensible classification says : "You 
will find in this place our most available re- 
sources on your subject ; " but it adds a warn- 
ing that bibliographies and catalogs and in- 
dexes must be also used. And it modestly 
refuses to be made of much account itself, 
insisting that it is not intended or adapted for 
this work of guidance beyond a most general 
and limited scope. 

I shall be asked why I make so much of a 
supposed antagonism between the two methods 
of guiding readers to what they need. Instead 
of being rival claimants to favor and use, why 
may not classification and bibliography go hand 
in hand, each supplementing the other? But 
this is a simple impossibility. The seeker after 
knowledge cannot go first both to your shelves 
and to your catalogs and bibliographical helps. 
The whole reason for existence of these elabo- 



rate schemes of classification is that they may 
furnish the reader with a short-cut to the 
knowledge he seeks, avoiding the time-honored 
and roundabout modes of study. In this con- 
nection it may be regarded as representative of 
the whole mischievous system of the new edu- 
cation, so called, which would lead men through 
the world of mind by short-cuts on account of 
the modern lack of time for culture. If the 
library system of our day has one mission more 
strongly set before it than another it is that of 
furnishing the means of culture to a people the 
whole current of whose life is in danger of being 
drawn out into the straight canal of a fatal 
specialization. May God forbid I say it with 
reverence that the library system itself should 
add another to the narrowing and specializing 
tendencies of these times ; that it should en- 
courage the disposition to save time at the 
expense of culture, by being itself an embodi- 
ment of the labor-saving, time-saving, and 
superficial spirit of the age, a spirit which 
wants nothing for a classical library but a shelf 
of " ponies." 

To sum up what I have said as to the un- 
wisdom of the proposed substitution of classi- 
fication for bibliography in a wide sense, as the 
best means of directing readers, I would char- 
acterize it as an attempt to substitute machin- 
ery for brains. Intelligent librarians and as- 
sistants, and the best obtainable intelligence 
crystallized in bibliographical books, are the 
furnishing our libraries need. To " ring out 
the old and ring in the new " here means to 
turn out the sorrowing genius of culture from 
what should be the citadel of her hopes, and fill 
her place with a set of cog-wheels. 

A few words on one more aspect of the 
scheme of elaborate classification, and I am 
done. I have attempted to show that in im- 
proving the bibliographical resources of our 
libraries, and laying the chief stress on them 
as guides to readers, we are on the solid ground 
of experience and an orderly development of 
our library system. But this Will-o'-the-wisp 
of close classification dances over the quag- 
mires of inexperience, uncertainty, and extrava- 
gance. For, of all the movements that have 
ever been made in the field of library work, 
this latest one is the most exorbitant in its 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



demands for the sinews of war. I am not 
prepared with figures as to the cost of the 
work undertaken, and to some extent done, 
where the genius of classification most reigns, 
nor should I wish to deal in particulars on this 
ground where we cannot fail to find a" consider- 
able sensitiveness. But those who care to do 
so can easily get the figures, or a basis for an 
estimate in those quarters, and I will content 
myself with predicting that they will find the 
result surprising. The expense put upon this 
work in two or three of our leading libraries is 
such that it can be justified only on the theory 
that it is done once for all, and when com- 
pleted will call for but little further expendi- 
ture. But this will prove to be a delusion. 
The more elaborate and thorough-going is 
your system the more constant and consider- 
able will be the changes dictated by one's own 
progress in knowledge and inevitable shifting 
of position on certain points, and much more 
by the constant changes in the crystallizations 
of the world's thought. Supposing a library 
had been nicely adjusted in all its parts by one 
of these schemes of close classification just 
before the appearance of Darwin's " Origin of 
Species," who can tell what modifications 



would have been made as the result of the 
earthquake caused by that book, not only in 
science, but in every branch of knowledge? 
Noblesse oblige] and just in proportion as a 
scheme is now made to fit with exactness the 
present state of knowledge and modes of 
thought will it be necessary to make changes 
and modifications as knowledge and thought 
change their shapes in the wonderfully rapid 
development of the nineteenth century. As 
well attempt to draw the figure at the bottom of 
your kaleidoscope while it is being slowly 
revolved as to catch and hold the ever-varying 
scheme of human knowledge. 

I have thus attempted, in a humble way, to 
protest against this innovation of close classify- 
ing. I have prepared this paper with a deep 
feeling of the importance of the subject, and 
an earnest desire to throw some clear light 
upon it. From those who may differ with me 
I bespeak the respect and consideration due to 
earnest conviction ; and, above all, I sincerely 
hope that here and elsewhere we may have the 
grace to conduct this inevitable and irrepress- 
ible conflict without unseemly personalities, 
and to the- ultimate triumph of the true, the 
good, and the beautiful. 



A CHARGING SYSTEM FOR SMALL LIBRARIES. 1 



BY PROF. GEORGE T. LITTLE, LIBRARIAN OF BOWDOIN COLLEGE. 



THIS system consists in merely replacing 
each book loaned by a wooden dummy 
bearing the name of the borrower. These 
dummies are pieces of board one inch in thick- 
ness, four in width, and six in length, dimen- 
sions that can be increased with advantage 
when the size of the smallest shelf will allow. 
Each has the name and registration number of 
a borrower painted or otherwise plainly marked 
on the edge or narrow surface which corre- 
sponds to the back of a book. 

1 This system of charging-, in a modified form, was 
described and advocated by Mr. Melvil Dewey several 
years since, in a paper printed in the Library journal, 
vol. 3, page 359. 



The two wider surfaces, or sides, are covered 
with sheets of note-paper, lined perpendicu- 
larly as well as horizontally, so as to give 
spaces in successive rows for book numbers 
and dates, and attached so as to be removed 
when filled. 

To charge a book the number or location 
mark is put on the dummy of the borrower, 
and this placed in the vacant space left by the 
book. When the latter is returned the dummy 
is removed, the date marked on the space 
adjoining the book number, and the account is 
balanced. 

The limitations of this system should be 
plainly stated before dwelling upon its advan- 



LITTLE. 



tages. It is adapted to small libraries only. 
I should hesitate to recommend it to any of 
more than ten thousand volumes or three hun- 
dred regular patrons, and many within each 
limit would be debarred from its use by special 
circumstances, such as a frequently changing 
clientele, free access of visitors to the shelves, 
books at an unusual distance from the counter 
or in a different room. Again, this system 
will not work well in libraries where it is desir- 
able to give daily notices of books overdue, or 
where the patrons are allowed to take several 
volumes at a time, for it cannot answer with 
readiness the question so frequently asked, 
"What other books have I out?" 

Despite the limitations just referred to, this 
method seems to me more useful and better 
suited than any other to the great majority of 
small libraries now using the ledger account, 
libraries where the one in charge knows by 
sight most of those who borrow books, attends 
to their wants in person, and especially where 
aid is wont to be asked in the selection of read- 
ing. 

Foremost among its excellences I place 
accuracy. Mistakes can and of course will 
occur under any system, but this one leaves 
little room for them. A book returned leads 
the librarian directly to the dummy containing 
the loan account of the borrower. Holding 
this in hand until another book is selected he 
is constantly reminded of his duty to make the 
proper entry. On the other side, every book 
loaned has upon the shelves visible evidence of 
the borrower in the dummy, with its location 
marked upon it as check against displacement. 

Under favorable conditions as to the ar- 
rangement of volumes this method of charg- 
ing is a rapid one. From my own experience 
I feel authorized in saying that a circulation 
of a hundred volumes a day can be attended to 
in two-thirds of the time demanded by the 
ledger account. The continual turning of 
leaves and the consultation of library-card or 
index to find the proper place involve a loss of 
time which, though slight, becomes perceptible 
when compared with the ease and quickness 
with which an entry can be made on an open 
page in the hand just at the moment needed. 

Fully as important as either of the advan- 



tages just mentioned is the ease with which the 
selection of a book can be made. If the bor- 
rower is desirous of obtaining a particular 
volume he mentions its location-mark, and, 
in case it is not in, can be informed at once 
who has it and when it will be due. If he has 
prepared a list of volumes this can be used and 
returned to him, often a great convenience 
when time and thought have been given to its 
preparation. If the selection is left to the 
librarian, as is not unfrequently the case in 
small libraries, he has before him a record of 
the past reading that will enable him to per- 
form the task wisely and quickly, without being 
repeatedly met with the remark, " I have had 
that." 

While in all large libraries the examination 
annually is a task as unwelcome and laborious as 
it is necessary, in a small library, on the fixed 
location plan and this method of charging, it 
can be made every week without unduly drawing 
upon the energies of the librarian. It is indeed 
by weekly examinations alone that he can be 
absolutely sure that no book is being kept out 
beyond the proper time. In actual practice, 
however, it will be found that popular books 
likely to be loaned from family to family with- 
out return to the library are those most apt to 
be overdue, and the frequent calls for these are 
quite sure to remind the librarian of any delin- 
quencies on the part of the borrower. 

As a rule this system does away with the 
need of book-supports. I believe, however, 
that it will be found advantageous to have the 
shelves on which the more popular works of 
fiction and the juveniles are located divided into 
compartments by upright strips of zinc or tin. 
To fix definitely the position of a book that is 
likely to be called for a dozen times a day is 
well worth the cost of fitting up a score of 
shelves in this manner. 

This system can be made as inexpensive as 
it is simple. The erection of a single house in 
the village will furnish in its waste odds and 
ends all the material needed for the dummies, 
and a portion of that leisure with which libra- 
rians and school teachers are popularly sup- 
posed to be favored will be ample to fit this 
material for service. 



i6 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



UNBOUND VOLUMES ON LIBRARY SHELVES. 



BY H. A. HOMES, LIBRARIAN OF THE N.Y. STATE LIBRARY. 



IN the N.Y. State Library there are at all 
times from i,oooto 1,200 volumes unbound 
on the shelves, filling the same places which 
they would occupy if bound. The meaning of 
the words " unbound volumes," as here used, 
is this : the covers of books, from which the 
volumes which belonged to them have been 
withdrawn, are employed to receive such classes 
of books in paper covers or pamphlets, as the 
following: (i), the writings of a single author; 
(2), numbers of periodicals ; (3), State or city 
documents; (4), serials of colleges, benevo- 
lent, scientific, or other societies ; (5) election 
sermons of various States ; (6) , eulogies col- 
lected on the same individual. Other classes 
might be mentioned, accordant with the aims 
of the library. The covers may be of octavo 
or larger or smaller size, according to the size 
of the pamphlets. The lettering on the back 
of the cover may be washed off, or covered over 
with paper pasted on to receive a new title to 
be written upon the paper. The front edges 
of both sides of the cover, in the middle, will 
have holes made with an awl, into which pieces 
of red tape, of two and three inches long, will 
be fastened, so as, by means of them, to tie 
them together with a bow as closely as desired. 
In practice, when three publications by the 
same author are on hand in pamphlet form, 
such an unbound volume may be commenced, 
to be titled with his name, and to be carded 
with his name, with full title of each publica- 
tion. Gradually, during several years, the 
volume will expand by additions made to it, so 
that, in some instances, besides being obliged 
to change for a wider cover, the expansion will 
extend in a short time from one to two volumes, 
to four, and even more than six volumes of dis- 
courses and the like, of 500 pages each volume 
for a single author. The longer the librarian 
is able to keep his collection of an author in an 
unbound condition the more complete will be his 
arrangement of the pamphlets by the date of 
their publication. Still, it is not best to leave 



such volumes unbound for too long a time, lest, 
by carelessness or malice, some pamphlet 
should disappear. 

The unbound volumes devoted to the writings 
of an author, or to other subjects, will frequently 
be composed in part of articles that have never 
appeared in pamphlet form, but have been 
made up from slips from newspapers cut down 
to an octavo page in length, and pasted upon 
octavo size leaves, as of a book. 

In the case of State or city documents the 
volume may commence with miscellaneous sub- 
jects ; but, gradually, by additions, retaining 
first and last the heading of the State or city, 
the volumes will subdivide themselves into 
reports on health, asylums, water, the poor, 
etc. When enough on any one topic are re- 
ceived to fill a volume in a continuous series 
they may be bound. The expansion on the 
card catalogue must correspond with the ex- 
pansion on the shelves, so that, when a volume 
on a particular subject regarding a city has 
been commenced, it should have its separate 
card. The volumes with the heading of a 
single city, Milwaukee for example, will finally 
have many volumes under that heading, with 
subordinate headings of charities, fire depart- 
ment, and the like. 

Unbound volumes relating to colleges will be 
commenced so soon as three or four pamphlets, 
catalogues, or other kinds regarding a particular 
college have come to hand ; and, when enough 
pamphlets have been collected to form a volume 
of four to six hundred pages, it can be bound 
in the usual manner, and ticketed Vol. I., and 
so, successively, for following volumes. For 
some of the older colleges, whose pamphlets of 
various kinds will be very numerous, as much 
classification as may be convenient should be 
indulged in, annual catalogues, triennial cata- 
logues, annual reports, obituary notices, class 
histories, inaugurations, etc. Our set of Har- 
vard College publications make thirty volumes ; 
of Yale College, twenty-four ; and of Columbia 



VINTON, 



College twenty volumes, all averaging more 
than 500 pages each. All of these have been 
bound, except three or four, which are waiting 
for the process of growth. 

The same method is pursued with periodicals 
and serials generally. If a set of thirty vol- 
umes of a review is complete, except in part of 
a volume, the part on hand is placed on the 
shelves unbound, and carded. And so, also, 
with the proceedings of ecclesiastical conven- 
tions and reports of all societies and associa- 
tions. As few as possible are to be massed in 
pamphlet volumes of a miscellaneous cast ; but, 
if there is a fair probability of obtaining enough 
to make a volume, they should remain unbound 
until enough have been obtained for at least 
a single one. 

The advantages of the system are, that, so 
far as it is carried out, one readily can tell just 
what pamphlets are in the possession of the 
library, and the inquiries of readers can be 
definitely answered. It secures the library 
from unnecessarily multiplying duplicates. The 
wants of the library are constantly suggested 
from the cards and the presence of the un- 
bound volumes. The New York State Library 
has not sufficient staff to carry out this plan as 
thoroughly as is desirable. Consequently there 
are always 10,000 loose pamphlets, assorted 
under subjects with which they have an affinity, 



waiting to be picked out, as time favors, and to 
be put in an unbound volume, or be bound up 
wi^h our thousands of volumes of miscellaneous 
pamphlets. Whereas it would be desirable that, 
under the system, all pamphlets in the library 
could be as speedily catalogued, as the books 
are, and at the same time be subject-indexed. 
The sources from whence covers in sufficient 
numbers for the purpose can be obtained are : 
from the covers of cloth-bound books when 
sent to the bookbinders by the library ; from 
the bookbinders who will give up, for a trifle, 
covers which they take off of the books which 
they bind ; and from the unused cases or covers 
prepared for editions of thin and thick volumes 
which they have occasion to bind. The same 
covers may serve several times in succession 
for fresh unbound volumes ; the first pamphlets 
placed there having become numerous enough , 
or consecutive in serial numbers enough, to 
admit of their being bound. The upper left- 
hand corner of each card of an unbound volume 
should have plainly written there, with a lead- 
pencil, u.b. or unbound. And when, in due 
time, the u.b. volume reaches a condition to 
render it expedient to bind it in the usual man- 
ner, this symbol should be rubbed off the card . 
The whole plan here set forth is especially 
adapted to a reference-library, or to the refer- 
ence department of a popular library. 



THE NEW ASTOR CATALOGUE. 



BY F. VINTON, LIBRARIAN OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY. 



THE reissue of a Catalogue of the Astor 
Library, presenting all the contents of that 
great and choice assemblage of books, is of in- 
terest to every intelligent American ; for that 
library is larger and more select than any other 
to which we are offered access. It is cause for 
congratulation that this first volume is so well 
edited and so well printed. Many things show 
that high intelligence and learned caution have 
watched over it. Oriental names have been 
skilfully treated ; and a comparison of the 
pages with the corresponding parts of the alpha- 
bet in Brunet demonstrates that few books of 



signal importance are yet wanting in the col- 
lection. The chief deficiency thus far notice- 
able is " Art (L 1 ) de verifier les dates." 

Three forms are possible in making a cata- 
logue, all depending on what stands first in the 
titles. The first thing may be an author's 
name ; or, the subject of the book may be 
written over the title as a heading ; or, the title 
may be entered under its first word. Origi- 
nally all catalogues took the first form ; the 
second makes a true subject-index ; the third is 
meant to help the memory, and is very useful 
in respect to novels, plays, and poems. But, 



i8 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



to enter every title under its first word, aggre- 
gates enormous numbers under such words as 
" History," "Address," and the like, with vory 
little benefit to anybody. Besides, it swells 
prodigiously the bulk and the cost of the cata- 
logue. We have so long been accustomed to 
the alphabetical list of authors' names that 
many people expect that in every catalogue. 
But it is useless for purposes of research. It 
is of no use except to the man who already 
knows that a certain author has written upon a 
given subject. What the student needs is in- 
formation on a certain topic ; and, if a catalogue 
shows him all the library contains on that sub- 
ject, it is all he wants. Such a catalogue is a 
true dictionary, and a dictionary is the shortest 
road to knowledge. Some catalogues unite 
the list of authors with the list of topics in one 
alphabet. That is the plan of the Boston Pub- 
lic Library. The Peabody Institute, of Balti- 
more, adds to these the series of titles under 
the first word of each. This makes a book 
exceedingly bulky and expensive. The two 
volumes of their catalogue yet issued contain 
1826 pages, of double columns, and full of small 
type. They include the titles A-G. If con- 
tinued in this manner to the end there will be 
five volumes, and much more than 4,000 pages. 
If one of these pages cost $3, the cost of 
merely printing the whole must be more than 
$12,000; and the subject-index will yet be 
wanting. 

The new Astor Catalogue gives every title 
under the author's name, and elsewhere notices 
the same book under the first word of the title. 
It gives no aid to research. All the help it 
gives is for him who remembers that a certain 
author has written on a given subject, or re- 
members the first word of a title having to do 
with it. It is true there are cross-references 



meant to guide to a few select topics. But these 
bear no proportion to the wealth of the library. 
They may be said to be of no use, for the stu- 
dent is never sure that his topic has been 
selected. They may be called excrescences, 
marring the harmony of the plan, for they can- 
not be called part of it. If this catalogue is 
to be followed by a subject-index these cross- 
references should be found there. Alas ! there 
is no promise in the preface of any subject- 
index at all ! And, if there shall be no subject- 
index, these beautiful volumes merely mock 
the inquirer. 

Another pitiable waste of work is in the 
copious tables of contents given under the 
names of learned societies. Of what use are 
they, standing where they do? Is any man 
going to read them over for the chance of 
remembering who wrote upon some subject? 
W T e may be thankful that they have been ana- 
lyzed, and that each man's contribution is under 
his name. But even that is of value chiefly to 
the biographer, for it is not also set under the 
topic discussed. 

At the beginning of each letter is a copious 
collection of initialisms found in the title-pages 
of certain books. These are a sort of pseudo- 
nyms, but they are the proper contents of a 
dictionary of initialisms, and are out of place 
here; for the words "authors and books" are 
prefixed as a heading to this catalogue, and an 
initialism is neither. 

Whatever its excellences, this catalogue 
shows want of wisdom and want of strictness 
in adhering to the plan. Its authors fixed 
their attention on details, and not on the way 
to be useful. These characteristics may not 
have originated in those who did the work, but 
in those who formed the plan, and fixed the 
lines of the cataloguers' operation. 



BARTON. 



THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN LIBRARIANS. 

BY EDMUND M. BARTON, LIBRARIAN OF THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, 

WORCESTER. 



F) EPRESENTING, as I do, a society which 
IV has for nearly seventy-five years attempted 
not only to preserve books relating to America, 
but to make them as well, I shall be excused, 
at least by my A.L.A. associates, for announc- 
ing as the subject of my short paper, that 
which relates to the dead past, and not to the 
living present. It might be added, if any fur- 
ther excuse were necessary, that the American 
Antiquarian Society had much to do with the 
calling of the meeting of 1853, and still holds 
to Ovid's sound doctrine upon it sseal, that 
"Nee poterit ferrum, nee edax abolere vetu- 
stas." 

My purpose is twofold : to give a hasty 
sketch of the proceedings of " the first Con- 
vention of Librarians that ever assembled in 
the United States," and to draw from three of 
its members and ours Messrs. Poole, Guild, 
and Smith their impressions of that intelli- 
gent and clear-headed body whom we of the 
American Library Association of 1876-1886 
may well delight to honor. 1 

The " Call," which was signed by twenty- 
four librarians, was as follows : " The under- 
signed, believing that the knowledge of books, 
and the formation and management of collec- 
tions of them for public use, may be promoted 
by consultation and concert of action among 
librarians and others interested in bibliography, 
respectfully invite such persons to meet in con- 
vention at New York, on the I5th day of Sep- 
tember next, for the purpose of conferring 
together upon the means of advancing the 
prosperity and usefulness of public libraries 
and for the suggestion and discussion of topics 
of importance to book collectors and readers." 
At the informal meeting in the chapel of the 
New York University, Thursday morning of 
the day appointed, fifty-three delegates were in 

1 Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, our friend dearly beloved, rested 
from his abundant labors on the second day of July, iSS6. 



attendance. Mr. Charles Folsom was elected 
temporary chairman, Mr. Charles C. Jewett, 
president, and Mr. Ed. B. Grant, Secretary. 
Rev. Samuel Osgood made the wise and far- 
sighted statement that " the object of the Con- 
vention will be to create a cooperative spirit 
among librarians, and there is no class in the 
community that deserves more honor ; for how 
much do we owe them ! We should call the 
attention of the people at large to the desirable- 
ness of establishing a good popular library in 
every village." He also offered the following 
resolutions, which were adopted : 

"Resolved, That while we maintain most 
decidedly the importance of libraries of the 
highest class, in furtherance of the most ad- 
vanced literary and scientific studies, and re- 
joice in the rise and progress of our few great 
collections of books for professional scholars, 
we are convinced that for the present our chief 
hope must be in the establishment and im- 
provement of popular libraries throughout the 
land. 

" Resolved, That the Business Committee 
be requested to call attention to the desirable- 
ness of a popular library manual, which shall 
embody the most important information upon 
the chief points in question, especially upon : 
I. The best organization of a library society 
in regard to its officers, laws, funds, and gen- 
eral regulations ; 2. The best plans for library 
edifices and the arrangement of shelves and 
books, with the requisite architectural draw- 
ings; 3. The most approved method of making 
out and printing catalogues ; 4. The most 
desirable principle to be followed in the selec- 
tion and purchase of books as to authors and 
editions, with lists of such works as are best 
suited for libraries of various sizes from five 
hundred to one thousand volumes or upwards. 

" Resolved, That the Business Committee be 
requested to consider the expediency of me- 
morializing Congress to procure the preparation 



20 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



of such a manual through the agency of the 
Smithsonian Institution." 

The president appointed Mr. Guild, of Provi- 
dence, and Rev. Mr. Osgood, of New York, a 
committee upon these resolutions. 

The first resolution indicated a need which 
the country was not yet ready to endorse, nor 
is it to-day fully willing to do so, though its 
wisdom cannot well be gainsaid. The second, 
as we know, bore fruit five years later, when 
the chairman of the committee, Mr. Guild, 
issued his admirable Librarian's Manual. 

Mr. Folsom read a paper on " The Duties 
apd Qualifications of Librarians and the Impor- 
tance of Libraries," and Mr. John Disturnell, 
the publisher, one in which he proposed a plan 
for the preparation of a catalogue of works re- 
lating to American history and geography, 
and statistics of population, emigration, agri- 
culture, internal improvements, minerals, coin- 
age, and banking. 

Invitations were duly received and accepted 
to dine with an association of gentlemen at the 
Kemball House, in Nineteenth street, and to 
visit the New York Historical and New York 
Society libraries. Wyman's gallery of paint- 
ings, the Crystal Palace, and Banvard's pano- 
rama. 

Mr. Guild offered the following resolutions, 
which were adopted : 

" Resolved, That this Convention be re- 
garded as preliminary to the formation of a 
Librarian's Association. 

" Resolved, That a committee of five be ap- 
pointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for 
such an association, and present them at the 
next meeting of the Convention. 

''Resolved, That when the Convention ad- 
journs it adjourn to meet in Washington City, 
at such time as the said committee shall ap- 
point. l 

" Resolved, That this committee be requested 
to suggest topics for written communications 
or free discussion at this adjourned meeting, 
and also to make such other arrangements as 
shall, in their judgment, be best adapted to 
meet the wants of the public in regard to the 
whole subject of libraries and library economy." 

1 The Second Conference was held in Philadelphia, 
October 4-6, 1876. 



Messrs. Jewett, Folsom, Grant, Haywood, 
and Guild were appointed the committee on 
permanent organization, called for by the 
second resolution. 

Mr. Lloyd P. Smith presented a resolution 
with reference to the distribution of public 
documents through the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion. Mr. Gorham D. Abbott read .the follow- 
ing, which was adopted : 

" Resolved, That the time has now arrived 
when the extension of well-selected libraries of 
one thousand, five thousand, or ten thousand 
volumes throughout the towns and villages, the 
associations, the institutions, the schools of 
every kind in the United States, has become a 
matter of the greatest importance to the future 
welfare of our country. 

''Resolved, That a committee of three be 
appointed to report a digested plan for the 
promotion of this object at the next meeting 
of this Convention;" and Messrs. Abbott, 
Haven, and Jewett were named as that com- 
mittee. 

Mr. Charles Folsom submitted the follow- 
ing: 

" Resolved, That we have examined the work 
entitled ' Index to Periodicals,' by W. F. 
Poole, librarian of the Mercantile Library 
Association of Boston, and that we approve of 
its plan and execution, and that we recommend 
a similar plan of indexing to be extended to the 
transactions and memoirs of learned societies." 

It was, on motion of Mr. Guild, 

" Resolved, That the members of this Con- 
vention cordially recommend the mutual inter- 
change of the printed catalogues of all our 
public libraries." 

An editorial in the New York Herald, of the 
issue of September 17, 1853, says: "From 
the report of the Librarians' Convention, in an- 
other part of our paper, it will be seen that 
they have not met in vain. Several resolutions 
of a most important nature to the cause of 
libraries were passed, and if carried into exe- 
cution, as we trust they will be, great and 
beneficial changes must take place in the pres- 
ent methods of arranging, classifying, and 
managing libraries throughout the United 
States. In these important particulars we are 
fast going ahead of other countries. . . . 



WOODRUFF. 



21 



There is one feature which distinguishes this 
Convention above all others, and that is the 
entire unanimity with which its proceedings 
are conducted." Let me add that it is unfor- 
tunate that the official records of this Conven- 
tion, at which so many good resolutions were 
at least made, have apparently not been pre- 
served. Lt would be of real interest to know 
who responded at the session which was given 
up to the reports of librarians. We know that 
our president reported for the Mercantile 
Library Association of Boston ; Mr. Samuel 
F. Haven, for fifteen years my beloved mentor, 
for the American Antiquarian Society ; Rev. 
Edward E. Hale, for the then newly born 



Young Men's Library Association of Worces- 
ter, of which the Free Public Library is the 
rugged offspring; Mr. Charles Folsom, for the 
Boston Athenaeum ; Mr. Reuben A. Guild, for 
Brown University; Mr. Lloyd P. Smith, for 
the Library of Philadelphia ; and Mr. Charles 
C. Jewett, for the Smithsonian Institution ; 
but beyond this short list we cannot go. It is 
probable that there were no lady members of 
the conference of '53 ; but the world moves, 
and we of '86, looking at this goodly company 
of men and women, will not only be thankful 
that we can together do the great work set 
before us, but also for the blessings which so 
surely come with its faithful performance. 



UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES AND SEMINARY METHODS OF 

INSTRUCTION. 



BY EDWIN H. WOODRUFF, CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY. 



THE recent labors of librarians have been 
almost wholly directed to library econ- 
omy. This term may be more narrowly con- 
strued as having for its object the service, 
mainly by mechanical means, of the maximum 
number of books to the largest number of read- 
ers in the shortest possible time, and at a mini- 
mum expense. In its aggravated form it is 
fully possessed of what the president of Johns 
Hopkins, on a recent occasion, aptly called the 
" statistical devil." 

The mechanical devices which library econ- 
omy has called out have hitherto relieved many 
actual necessities, and there should be no word 
of depreciation for those who have zealously 
and unselfishly devoted themselves to the in- 
vention and perfection of these labor-saving 
contrivances. Yet it is becoming noticeable 
that the engrossing inventive interest which 
has been excited, in librarians of a mechanical 
turn of mind, by the demand for the most eco- 
nomical administration of our large libraries, 
may result in blinding their eyes to those who 
should be the objects of any such contrivance 
soever, namely, the readers. This particular 



phase of library-work is beginning to be pur- 
sued for its own sake, and the result is show- 
ing in an occasional discussion of frivolous 
themes, and in the restless effort to elaborate 
simple articles that have always been of com- 
mon utility into library trinkets of somewhat 
questionable worth. 

While those librarians have been debating 
the recent advances in step-ladders, or have 
feverishly discussed the latest wrinkle in cata- 
logue cards, or have waxed violent over the 
merits of various combination pen-wipers and 
inkstands, others, comparatively few in this 
country, have been devoting themselves, in the 
privacy of their vocation, to pure bibliography, 
if what is more often sheer bibliomania should 
be dignified by a considerate euphemism. 

To these bookmen there is no odor so fra- 
grant as the sensuous pungency of crushed le- 
vant, no sight so ravishing as the gilded mazes 
of filagree tooling. A tremulous word or un- 
certain ligature made five hundred years ago by 
some lean, monkish scribe, who had too fully 
explored his cup's design at the refectory table, 
hatches a brood of their learned monographs, 



22 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



which flutter about in our libraries with piercing 
and critical notes. But this sort of bookish 
enterprise is sane and worthy too, if it does not 
go to the irrational extreme which has just been 
suggested. When, however, it is pursued, it 
may well be left to those laymen whose wealth, 
aptitude, and leisure incline them to it, and it 
should not be done at the slightest sacrifice, 
even in a library which only assumes to touch 
the people at the third or fourth remove. 

The first-mentioned tendency to reduce li- 
brary-work to service by machinery finds its 
counterpart in our present industrial condition, 
which manifests itself in the substitution of a 
few large industries for many small ones, call- 
ing for a limited number of mechanical en- 
gineers to invent and superintend, and not for 
many skilled workmen with a comprehensive 
knowledge of the scope and continuity of their 
work. There are no longer apprentices being 
equipped by various service for any emergency, 
and there are few workmen with a sense of 
mastership or ownership over their machines 
and themselves. So, too, in our libraries (for 
they are not one whit less important than the 
greatest material industries) the machinery of 
administration is now bewildering enough to 
the ordinary person, however familiar and re- 
sponsive it may be to the unseen officers ; and 
the elimination of the hearty personal interest, 
however much divided, of sympathetic libra- 
rians, leaves nothing to nurse the ardor of will- 
ing readers, or to angle for the susceptibilities 
of unwilling ones. Readers should be led to 
assert a mastership over books, and to feel the 
harmony of books with books, and of books 
with men. Something should be done whereby 
a division of part of the functions of intricate 
catalogues and microscopic classifications may 
be made, and those divisions controlled and 
supplemented by constant oral information, 
based upon extensive knowledge, and inspired 
by abundant personal sympathy. 

A sick or vicious animal will be helped 
farther toward health by a little food, fed from 
a sympathetic hand, than by all the fat oats in 
the manger. Half the frequenters of a library 
\\ant the good word and the helpful tone that 
should go with every book, but which so often 
must come from outside of it. 



The duty of a library is not merely to put a 
book into the hands of the reader in the 
shortest possible time, something that any 
book-store will do for a consideration ; but its 
highest function should be to excite in him that 
intelligent love and reverence for books, and 
responsiveness to them, which have been ex- 
perienced and celebrated by the best of minds 
of all times, to kindle in him some of the 
joy that a confirmed book-lover realizes in the 
friendship of books. When such a one scans 
a shelf of books he feels a subtle and pleasur- 
able mental activity excited within him, and 
the volumes have faces and voices for him as 
soon as he reads their titles. When his eye 
catches an old friend in dingy cloth, how his 
forefinger leaps up, draws the book from its 
place, and fondles each familiar page ! when he 
spies an inimical pamphlet, his lip twitches 
with the hint of a sneer ; how he laughs aloud 
when he recalls the jolly companionship of the 
next fellow in motley ! and best of all is his 
greeting to the new-comer in two volumes, 
large 8, full gilt, whose advent has long been 
announced, and which is destined to " mark an 
epoch," if the critics are to be believed. He 
catches his breath in a half-suppressed excla- 
mation, and, impelled forward by irresistible 
curiosity, he takes down both volumes at once, 
with a gentle scraping as they rub their neigh- 
bors' sides. When he opens them the leaves 
stand stiffly up or bend but little, as if unduly 
conscious of the weight and beauty of their 
impressions ; but, oblivious of this vanity, he 
thrusts his beak into the shadowy and honeyed 
depths between the uncut leaves, whence he 
withdraws with a meditative look, only to seek 
again for nourishment farther on. Such an 
intelligent and active love of books as this 
it should be the aim of every library to quicken 
and foster in the community which it is meant 
to serve, and the immediate practical purpose 
of this paper is an attempt to show how this 
desideratum may, in some degree, be achieved 
by a university library. It must have been 
already inferred from the foregoing that the 
chief requisite is an oral supplement to cata- 
logues, classifications, and all mechanical econo- 
mies. Those who have in mind the confession 
of the president of Harvard in speaking of 



WOODRUFF. 



card catalogues, or any one who has rescued a 
keen young student or a sagacious old professor 
from the labyrinthian complexus of an im- 
proved dictionary catalogue with its signs, 
tokens, and elusive references, must have 
recognized that thereabouts somewhere there 
is a great loss in the efficiency of the library, 
that between library economy on one side, 
and pure bibliography on the other, there has 
been left a gap to be filled in by an energy 
whose manifestation must differ from that 
shown in those two kinds of library activity. 

At the end of a four years' course in college, 
the student usually takes away with him ac- 
quirements well worth his labor. But his atti- 
tude during those years of acquisition has been 
one of passive receptivity. With youthful ap- 
petite and eupepsia he has eaten all things put 
into his mouth, and pronounced them good. 
He has been led to look upon his professors 
and text-books as final authorities in their own 
departments. He has not learned how to dis- 
tinguish and question, in a deferential way, even 
those things about which the judgment of 
youth is apt to be quite as correct as the ex- 
perience of age. He remembers the trigonom- 
etry of his freshman year as something con- 
cerned with the measurement of triangles ; 
that it used sines and cotangents ; that he 
passed an honorable examination in it; that 
his teacher was Prof. A., and the text-book was 
by B. He thinks that, twenty years hence, he 
could, if necessary, brush up his knowledge 
sufficiently to solve an easy problem. But, 
unfortunately, the professor has neglected to 
impress upon him that other men besides B. 
have written trigonometries, and that, within 
twenty years, there will be many written which 
will be far more lucid and practical, and much 
less expensive than B.'s. The professor has 
not thought to show him the mutability of 
trigonometry by giving him a peep at the backs 
of the dozens in the library ; so that at the end 
of four years he carries away of his term's 
work in this branch of mathematics, aside 
from its disciplinary value, only two things of 
practical worth. the name of one particular 
text-book, and a vague idea of its use ; when 
he should have learned also that mathema- 
ticians will not quit cooking when he has been 



served, and that twenty years hence their food 
will be more nutritious and easier of digestion. 
What is here applied to trigonometry, for pur- 
poses of illustration, is more true of literary 
and historical subjects. The practical duty of 
a college library, in addition to the general 
one of creating such a love of books as has 
been already described, is to teach the student 
how he may, if necessary, at any time in his 
post-collegiate years, seek out and use the 
books that have displaced or carried along the 
knowledge of his college-days. It should re- 
veal to him the fact that no text-book or pro- 
fessor's word is final. And he should feel that 
the college has done all it can for him when it 
has led him into the library, taught him to 
love, reverence, and use its contents, and made 
him acquainted with those books which are 
letters accrediting a man to all good books 
published, or to be published, making him 
known, and served by the best minds and 
hearts all his life through. 

This leads us to the inquiry, how students 
and library may be brought closer together, 
and what is now being done in our universities 
to offer a hope in the enterprise. At Harvard 
the chief cataloguer delivers one lecture a year 
on the use of catalogue. At Cornell and the 
University of Michigan the librarians give an- 
nually a valuable course of lectures on bibliog- 
raphy, including the history of manuscripts 
and printed books, binding, and other biblio- 
graphical detail, with some attention also to 
catalogues and other aids in the use of the 
library. Such instruction very properly has a 
place in a scheme of general education ; but 
dealing so exclusively with bibliography, it 
must be dismissed from consideration here, as 
not securing the close contact with books, and 
skill in their use, which fill the objective of this 
plea. Something has been accomplished by 
reserving books for various classes, and giving 
their members free access to them ; but, inas- 
much as students will not consult these refer- 
ences unless especially required to do so, and 
give the professor the results as proof of con- 
sultation, this plan also fails of our purpose. 

There are, however, now being introduced 
into American universities, two methods of 
instruction, which promise, in time, to offer a 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



practicable solution of the difficulty. The first 
of these is the modern seminary method, which 
has been evolved out of the old ecclesiastical 
training in defence of original theses. Its 
present application has been mainly confined to 
the study of history and political economy, 
where it fills a place similar to that g'iven up to 
laboratory and experimental work in natural 
science. The seminary may or may not be 
attendant upon recitations or a course of lect- 
ures, and is open only to a limited number of 
advanced students, to each of whom, at the 
beginning of the work, is assigned a subject, 
which may or may not be related to those 
assigned to other members. The student's 
work on that subject is carried perhaps through 
a year, reports of progress being made to the 
professor at the periodical meetings of the 
seminary. Errors of logic or rhetoric are 
revealed by a bit of Socratic banter. Errors 
of fact may be rebuked by the professor's 
reference to an authority which has escaped 
the student's search, and which he is asked to 
consult then and there, for the room in which 
the seminary is conducted, is, or should be, in 
the library building. 

At the beginning the student is given a list 
of authorities which, once searched out, only 
lead him into his subject still farther by a 
thousand allusions and foot-notes until he is 
soon beyond the professor's support, though 
not beyond his oversight and counsel. May 
be, before his task is finished, he finds that he 
has explored a corner of " original sources," 
the historian's paradise. The monograph of 
one or two hundred pages, offered as the result 
of his labor, may not always be worthy of pub- 
lication as an important contribution to knowl- 
edge, but it does nevertheless witness that the 
student has learned the chief practical use of 
the university library ; that he has become 
skilled in private research ; and, more essential 
than either, that he has felt at least a prelim- 
inary glow of that friendship for books which 
made it natural for Charles Lamb to give a kiss 
to an old folio, as Leigh Hunt once saw him 
do to Chapman's Homer. 

This is what the student has acquired from 
the librarian's point of view, and it is not 
within the range of this paper to say from the 



professor's stand-point what special historical 
knowledge has been gained by this method of 
instruction. 

The other method of instruction which brings 
its students into close relations with the library 
is the topical method, which has, thus far, like 
the seminary, been somewhat limited in its ap- 
plication. Students are assigned topics directly 
connected with the subjects being treated by 
the professor in lectures or recitations, and are 
required to make a report to the class, at a given 
time, upon the results of their library-work on 
the topic. They are directed to a few author- 
ities by the professor, and, in consulting addi- 
tional ones, they are governed by their zeal and 
the time at their disposal. Here are some of 
the topics treated in five or ten minute talks by 
members of a class in American history : Good- 
rich's "Life of Columbus; " Alden's " Life of 
Columbus ; " The Portraits of Columbus ; The 
Burial-place of Columbus. A part of the colo- 
nial period was covered in this way by students 
to whom were assigned some of the colonial 
governors, who served as subjects for so many 
brief lectures to the class. 

What the advantages of this method are 
from the teacher's stand-point can best be told 
in the words of Professor Moses Coit Tyler, 
who has for some time successfully adapted it 
to his work : 

"I have found it impossible by the two 
former [recitations and lectures] to keep my 
students from settling into a merely passive 
attitude; it is only by the latter [topical 
method] that I can get them into an attitude 
that is inquisitive, eager, critical, originating. 
My notion is that lecturing must be reciprocal. 
As I lecture to them, so must they lecture to 
me. We are all students and all lecturers. 
The law of life with us is cooperation in the 
search after the truth of history." 

From the librarian's point of view any one 
who has seen the dexterity and earnestness 
with which students reach into the books of the 
university library in search of material for these 
reports, and compares it with the indifference 
to the library displayed by students who have 
been bred down to mere passivity by lectures 
and recitations, will understand how the topical 
method affords one other help towards the 



WOODRUFF. 



achievement of that close relation to be estab- 
lished between man and book. 

Unfortunately the seminary method can be 
applied with satisfactory results only to a 
limited number of advanced students who are 
well-grounded in the general subjects with 
which they will find the object of their special 
investigation connecting itself as their work 
progresses. They must also devote much 
more time to this work than can be given to it 
by the regular student who must also answer 
the demands of other studies. The topical 
method, however, can be applied successfully 
with a much larger number of students ; and, 
although it does not carry them so far into 
knowledge of their particular subjects as the 
seminary method would do, yet it gives them 
quite as much facility in the use of the library, 
and shows them more fully the variety of its re- 
sources. 

There is no reason why both of these methods 
may not be applied with success, not only in his- 
torical study, but also to instruction in natural 
science, technology, letters, or any knowledge 
preserved and nourished by a literature, and 
having a place in the university library. 

In schemes of instruction these methods 
should take their place along with lectures and 
recitations, which will be none the less neces- 
sary for being so supplemented ; and the limit 
of the efficiency of the university library will 
be marked, so far as the students are affected, 
only at that point where the topics assigned 
must be so far subdivided, in order to serve all, 
as to require no special inquiry on the part of 
the student. Probably that point would never 
be reached. 

Both of these methods, extended in applica- 
tion and fairly used, would effect the installa- 
tion of every professor as active librarian-of his 
department in the university library, as far as 
its use by students is concerned. The miss- 
ing aid, distinct personal assistance, 'would be 
found in the professor. This plan would 
strongly emphasize and undoubtedly realize 
Carlyle's statement that " the true university is 
a collection of books," and, in bringing stu- 
dents and library together in intimacy, it would 
fulfil that use of universities 'which he said, on 
another occasion, " is, that after you have done 



with all your classes, the next thing is a collec- 
tion of books, a great library of good books^ 
which you proceed to study and read. What 
the universities can mainly do for you, what 
I have found the universities did for me, is, 
that they taught me to read in various languages 
in various sciences, so that I could go into the 
books which treated of these things, and gradu- 
ally penetrate into any department I wanted to 
make myself master of, as I found it suit 
me." 

And now a suggestion as to what can be 
done to attain similar conditions in the public 
library. You are all familiar with what has 
been done towards making the public library 
and the public schools complement each other 
in a scheme of popular education. What is 
the best way in which those outside the public 
school, but within the ken of the public library, 
can find the holy inner kingdom of books, and 
be set upon the high road to an intellectual life? 
Catalogues, classifications, and economic 
devices can contribute ; but they must be 
manned by wise heads and sympathetic hearts, 
which should search out, satisfy, and excite 
further, not only those readers who may re- 
quest help, but also the far larger number who 
may be found wasting time and patience in a 
blind and indiscriminate pursuit of information. 
Let the public library be considered by its libra- 
rians as a hospital for crippled minds, quite as 
much as an aid to those persons who already 
understand and appreciate it. There need not 
be fewer catalogue-cards with their sparse and 
grudging notes, but near the catalogues, and 
among the readers, there ought to be active 
and helpful librarians, whose sole duty should 
be to furnish dral notes and advice in extenso. 

Two of the main uses of the policeman are, 
to direct the stranger, and help the feeble. 
The great retail stores have their floor-walkers, 
who point you to the elevator or lace-counter 
with insistent unction. Railroad corporations 
have discovered that index sign-boards and in- 
tricate time-tables are riddles to many persons 
even of more than ordinary intelligence, and 
have therefore supplemented those devices in 
large depots with an oral information man who 
succeeds in adjusting the passenger-service of 
the road to the particular wants of individuals, 



26 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



and not merely to the presumptive wants of 
that abstraction, the " patron." But where, in 
our American public libraries, is there a like 
officer, whose chief duties are to set right a 
perverted reader ; to direct the lost reader 
through the crowd of 100,000 books to the 
friend he is seeking ; to tell all the connections 
to be made, and all the delays to be endured on 
the " Royal Road to Learning? " 

Let us rest a bit from the invention of me- 
chanical substitutes for personal contact with 
books and librarians, before we end up in at- 
tempting experiments for the determination of 
the mechanical equivalent of thought. 

Let us leave pure bibliography for a while 



entirely to emeritus professors and scholarly 
millionaires. Let librarians now look around 
more for an opportunity to do personal hospital 
and reformatory service. 

Poolers Index, the catalogues of Cutter and 
Noyes, the organization and administration of 
the great Boston Public Library, and the vol- 
umes of the Library jottrnal, are the best 
results of modern library-work. There are two 
more tasks here with us, which, successfully 
extended and accomplished, will take rank 
with those achievements ; and these are co- 
operative bibliographical work and the intro- 
duction of prominent and distinct personal 
assistance to readers in libraries. 



COOPERATION OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY WITH THE 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1885-6. 

BY MISS HANNAH P. JAMES, LIBRARIAN OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY. 



OUR first year of work with the public 
schools of Newton, although partial, has 
been so successful in its results in awakening 
the intelligence and interest of the pupils that 
it seems worthy of record and imitation. 

The first step taken was the establishment of 
a friendly acquaintance between the librarian 
and the teachers ; and, to that end, a personal 
visit was made by the librarian to nearly every 
school in the city, the methods of the proposed 
work explained, and the offer of every assist- 
ance on the part of the librarian given. 

Ten cards were allowed each teacher on 
which to draw books for the use of the schools, 
the selection to be confined strictly to such as 
would aid in the mental and moral growth of 
the pupils. The selecting of books for the 
lower grades of the grammar and for the 
primary schools was practically left almost 
entirely in the hands of the librarian, the 
teachers giving a list of the studies being pur- 
sued as a basis for the selections. A careful 
record was kept of the shelf-number of each 
book loaned, and the school and grade to 
which it was sent, which was of great assist- 
ance. 



The teachers of the High School and upper 
grammar grades generally indicated the special 
books, desired, or the particular points they 
wished to elucidate. 

Of the most useful and popular books in 
history, biography, travel, and natural science, 
more or less duplicates were purchased, and 
about $450 were spent in that way. 

All these books were to be used in the 
schools, or were allowed to be taken home by 
the pupils, at the discretion of the teacher, he 
or she, of course, being responsible for their 
careful use and safe return. The books were 
issued for two weeks' time, but at the end of 
that period could be renewed upon a seasonable 
request being made to that effect. The number 
of times of such renewal was unlimited, but it 
was thought advisable to have a report of the 
books every two weeks. 

Owing to a press of other work the librarian 
was unable to visit all the schools until late in the 
spring, so that the work did not have a full trial. 
One school commenced in September, four in 
October, one. each in November, December, 
and January, one each in April and May, and 
two in June. But with this partial delivery 



HOOPER. 



27 



2,300 books were loaned to the schools, inclu- 
sive of renewals. 

The Superintendent of Schools and the 
teachers are enthusiastic in their opinion as to 
the amount of good accomplished, and of 
the interest in intelligent study and reading 
awakened. Though entailing some extra care 
and responsibility upon the teachers, the books 
were found to so quicken the minds of the 
children, and create a desire to read them, that, 
when used as a reward for good lessons or 
good conduct, they served as powerful aids in 
the discipline of the schools. 

Through their diffusion, too, among families 
living at a distance from the library, and so 



unacquainted with its treasures, the work is 
having a very marked influence ; and this fact 
is indicated in a measure by an increase of our 
delivery during the first six months of this 
year of nearly 4,000 over the first six months 
of last year. Without doubt a large share of 
this increase is owing to a better knowledge of 
and interest in the library, which has been 
the result of the work of the library with the 
schools. 1 

1 [Miss James writes : " In iSSg, our per cent, of fiction 
was 67.4; the first six months of this year it was 64.7; and 
in March went down to 62.7; all of which shows that the 
increased circulation was owing to a demand for solid 
reading and study." ED.] 



THE EVOLUTION OF THE HOBBY. 

BY W. DE M. HOOPER, LIBRARIAN OF THE INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



I. OF HOBBIES IN GENERAL. 

IN classifying the natural history of the sub- 
ject my purpose will be answered by mak- 
ing three genera of the class " Imagination." 

1. The Chimera. A fabulous animal; un- 
real, the creature of a disordered imagination ; 
type of superstition and ignorance. 

2. The Hobby. Realistic; utilitarian; the 
offspring of sanity and reason ; objective ; type 
of naturalness and reality. 

3. The Ideal. The standard of perfection. 
It goes beyond nature, yet is modelled upon it. 
It is broad as the intelligence, high as the in- 
spiration, vast and deep as the scope of the 
human mind. It recognizes the lowest of cre- 
ated things as a type perfect in itself; it em- 
braces all of nature and humanity, and soars 
above the universe to fold its wings at the foot- 
stool of that Deity which is above its compre- 
hension, and which it recognizes but through 
its faith. 

How plain the evolution ! 

Out of fable into faith ; out of conjecture 
into conviction ; out of unreality into reason ; 
through chimera to crotchet ; through crotchet 
to hobby ; through hobby to inspiration ; through 
inspiration to Truth, the essence of the Divine. 



The hobby, then, occupies an intermediate 
place ; neither too illusive to discuss, perhaps 
with some profit, nor too broad and deep for 
such a paper as this. 

The very evolution of the term and its appli- 
cations follows naturally in the order of geo- 
logical and biological development : bird 
mammal man. 

Its earliest use in English was derived from 
the O.K. " hobe" and meant a small, strong- 

O 

winged falcon, trained to fly at pigeons and 
partridges ; and as hawks, like dogs and 
horses, were general pets in the days of 
falconry, and hawking was the favorite pastime, 
it is quite evident how the word " hobby " got 
its present meaning, the pursuit of an object 
for amusement and pleasure. Bartlett adds, 
" Hobby-horse is a corruption of ' hobby- 
hause ' (hawk-tossing) , or throwing off the 
hawk from the wrist. Hobby-horse is applied 
to a little pet horse by the same natural trans- 
position as a ' mews ' for hawks is now a 
stable for horses." 

The later, and better known, use of the 
word is also from the O.F. " hobin" a little, 
ambling horse. What an innocent and pleas- 
ing idea it conveys ! Little, it should be harm- 



28 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



less and under control ; ambling, it should 
not run away with us ; but a horse, and, if we 
ride it, sure to carry us somewhere. 

Again: little and not to be confounded 
with the heavy draft-horse of Perseverance ; 
ambling and does not vie with the thorough- 
bred racer of Energy, or the pawing war-horse 
of Enthusiasm ; and, still, a useful little fellow, 
mildly invigorating when gently urged, carry- 
ing us over a good deal of ground in a quiet 
way ; but, alas ! too susceptible of being ridden 
to death if exercised immoderately ; prone to 
pitch one off; and even capable of turning the 
tables and riding its master if indulged too 
far. 

James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier poet, 
in my presence, a short time ago, was bewail- 
ing his ill-luck with horses and his fear of them. 
" I verily believe," he said, " if I were to get 
a-straddle of a saw-horse the pesky thing would 
rear up and kick my brains out." Some 
people's hobbies are not unlike "Jim's" saw- 
horse. 

Hobbies,! apprehend, are self-imposed tasks 
taken up for pleasure, in contradistinction to 
those pursued only for profit; and a man's 
character is probably better revealed in his 
hobby than in anything else. He must possess 
both heart and imagination to have one ; and 
a very unpleasant and dangerous neighbor he 
would be without these : that is, without tastes, 
without inclinations, without likes. 

Hobbies are begun in childhood. How 
many boys and girls have started with a mania 
for collecting postage-stamps and crazy-quilt 
scraps, and have carried out their destiny in 
after-life by giving fabulous prices for cracked 
cups and saucers, peach-blow vases, bric-a-brac, 
and " articles of bigotry and virtue," as Mrs. 
Malaprop calls them ! 

How often people's hobbies endear them to 
us, in giving a touch of eccentricity to their 
character, and revealing many an amiable and 
lovable trait ! 

Who of us does not know some one with a 
hobby for making everybody happy, one of 
those angels of light whose sole aim seems to 
be to infuse comfort, and help, and purity into 
the lives of others ? God bless and multiply all 
such ! The world is sweeter and better and 



brighter for their presence in it, and heaven a 
gainer at their departure. 

There are some hobby-riders, of course, from 
whom the instinct of self-preservation prompts 
us to fly, the bores. It is not necessary to 
enumerate them all ; in fact- it would be im- 
possible. The musical prodigy, the amateur 
painter, the family genealogist, the croaker with 
a pet grievance or an illusionary disease, the 
critic who would lose his reputation if he praised 
anything ; the nil admirari of any kind ; that 
very American animal, you know, the mono- 
anglo-maniac ; the political economist who 
knows the country is going to the dogs, the 
gushing parent with a "smart" child, that 
despicable wretch the punster, the new convert 
to homoeopathy, the teetotal crusader, the anti- 
tobacconist, the doctrinal and dogmatic hob- 
byist, who has not suffered from some 
aggravated type of most of these afflictions, 
besides others " too numerous to mention ?" 

And then the hobbyists with but one idea, 
who delude themselves that they are leading in 
the grand race of life, and do not realize that 
their steeds are tethered to a single stake by a 
single rope, and are but trampling down the 
grass in a ring, and winding themselves up in 
an ever-narrowing range till they come to a 
sudden stop only to choke to death, or to un- 
wind themselves again. Of this type was the 
old professor in a German university. He 
had filled the chair of Greek for over sixty years ; 
and when he was dying he called to his bedside 
his son, himself a grandfather. With his last 
breath he whispered: " My son, you will suc- 
ceed me as professor of Greek. Be warned 
by my example, and do not attempt to do too 
much. I started in my work with the ambition 
to master the whole of the Infinitive mode of 
the Greek verb. Had I but confined myself 
to the Aorist tense what might I not have 
accomplished ! " And then he did what he 
should have done sixty years before he 
died. 

There is but one suggestion I would make 
regarding these hobby-riders. Shut them in a 
dark room, lock the door, and await with faith 
the natural evolution, the survival of the fittest 
(or fightesf) . 

But to return. Hobbies are born of desire, 



HOOPER. 



29 



cradled in affection, nurtured by impulse, and 
develop into achievement. 

They are born of desire, for their very exist- 
ence implies an aim, an end to be sought, an 
incentive to move to action. 

They are cradled in affection, for, of neces- 
sity, they appeal and endear themselves to the 
natural inclinations of the mind whose off- 
spring they are. 

They are nurtured in impulse, for they re- 
ceive their sustenance from the fount of the 
parent will. 

Lastly, they develop into result in the addi- 
tional knowledge, the mental discipline, and 
the breadth attained in their pursuit ; and, let 
us hope, in the incidental pleasure and help 
they may have been to others. Here we have 
aim, love, motive, achievement. What more? 

How often we hear it said, "As to that, 
consult Mr. X., it is his hobby ; " and if Mr. 
X. is a man of sense and judgment we are will- 
ing to accept his dictum. 

Since librarians are always people of sense 
and judgment it follows that they should be 
successful hobbyists ; and this leads me to treat 

II. BILIOTHECAL HOBBIES IN PARTICULAR. 

I hold it true that the librarian, if any man, 
is, in his fulness, the apostle of self-culture. No 
man, neither the preacher nor the teacher, 
and they should be synonymous, has broader 
opportunity for making his work far-reaching 
and diverse. The high and low, the rich and 
poor, senility, maturity, abdolescence and juve- 
nility, wisdom and folly, dignity and impudence, 
the scholar, the specialist, the dilletante, the 
tyro, the crank, all come ambling along to him 
in never-ending, ever-changing variety. All 
need help ; all must have it. With each we 
mount his hobby and ride apace, to set him on 
his way. A pleasant task it often is, and loath 
we are to dismount and watch our late fellow 
pursuing his way beyond our ken. But, with a 
sigh and a " God speed you," back we turn, to 
greet, perchance, some sorry wight with hobby- 
horse ungirthed and saddle all awry. Buck- 
ling and tightening this and arranging that, 
we give him a lift to his saddle, put bridle in 
his hand, and, with a word of help and encour- 



agement, away he goes, perhaps to fall again, 
perhaps to reach his goal. 

Verily, these are some of the compensations 
in the librarian's work ! 

Heigho ! what should we do if others had 
no hobbies ; and, above all, if we had none our- 
selves? We haven't. Who said so? Well, 
we just have, lots- of them, and proud we are of 
our pets. 

How about "reformed spelling" and deci- 
mal notation, classification, close and loose, 
duets rivalling in intensity and vigor those 
sung by our feline friends upon back walls in 
dead of night? And all the cooperatives, 
cooperative cataloguing, cooperative indexing, 
cooperative purchasing, and in time, perhaps 
(who knows?) cooperative reading, coopera- 
tive thinking, cooperative brains, and (why 
not?) the grand central bureau of cooperative 
management ; and so, with the aid of rubber 
stamps, stenographers, and electricity, do 
away with the necessity for librarians alto- 
gether? 

Then the subject of buildings, great and 
small ; shelf systems ; pneumatic and auto- 
matic indicators; subject colors for binding; 
buckram vs. leather ; and the school, fiction, 
and juvenile questions. Excellent hobbies, 
these ; many of them deserving a higher epithet 
than "hobby," and blossoming into the realm 
of divine enthusiasms. That's it, enthu- 
siasms, they are what the librarians need, 
enthusiasms for everything useful. 

To the librarian the cosmopolite in the 
world of letters and knowledge hobbies are 
as indispensable as steam to the engine, when 
the safety-valve is in good working order, and 
discretion and "gumption" must be his gov- 
ernor and valve. 

In the character of adviser-general to every- 
body and his wife you must be like the chame- 
leon, and take color from the immediate en- 
vironment. You whose work is never done 
must depend, to some extent, upon the knowl- 
edge of others ; but you must be independently 
dependent. Each must work out for himself 
his own scheme of salvation ; and another's 
hobby may, or may not, be of use in your own 
particular case. There is such a diversity of 
opinion among even experts in every line of 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



thought, the natural result of the different 
environment under which each one works, 
that you can but generalize the ideas of others, 
and modify them to your own surroundings. 
It is the old, old story of progress and the 
search after truth, the unanimity of the igno- 
rant, the diversity of the inquiring, the una- 
nimity of the wise. How many reach the last 
this side of the Jasper Gates? 

Let me reiterate. The librarian must have a 
hundred hobbies, but must hold them well in 
hand. Have you ever regretted the time spent 
upon one? If so, you rode it too far and too 
long. He should have a hobby for nosing into 
things in general, for character-reading, for 
finance and management, for statistics, for 
many special subjects. 

Pride in his own town and State may lead 
him into an historical society, or half-a-dozen 
local scientific and literary clubs, merely for 
the sake of studying the bibliography of his 
own city, county, or State, all to the general 
good of his constituents, let us hope, and to 
the strengthening of his personal influence 
upon them. He must have a hobby for a little 
detective business sometimes, for the protection 
of his library. A hobby for the evil influences 
of light reading and printed poison will inevi- 
tably lead him to exert more personal influence 
and direction over his readers, and a closer 
scrutiny of the class of fiction bought for his 
library. 

And so I might go on multiplying instances ; 
but you can work them out for yourselves better 
than I. 

Above all must he have a hobby for books. 
While he is not a bibliopole, a book-seller, 
he must be a book-buyer, and must study the 
art ; and to do that he must be a bibliophile in 
his love for books ; a bibliognoste in his knowl- 
edge of title-pages, colophons, editions, etc. ; 



a bibliopegist in his knowledge of their ex- 
terior and material forms, their bindings ; a 
bibliographer, learned in the lore of special 
subjects. All these are necessary to his edu- 
cation as a bibliologist ; while he must use his 
discretion and avoid the danger of becoming a 
bibliotaphe, a hoarder and concealer of his 
treasures under glass cases and in dark places, 
a bibliothecal miser, in fact ; or a bibliolatrist, 
and falling into too great worship of them ; 
or a bibliomaniac, and coveting their posses- 
sion too greatly. 

L'ENVOI. 

Cultivate hobbies ! Don't confine yourself 
to one. Dare to be broad, and to be narrow 
too, broad in a few subjects in which to verse 
yourself thoroughly ; narrow in many minor 
things of which you can but gain a superficial 
knowledge at the best ; and you will find that 
the aggregate of many narrow things will add 
wonderfully to the breadth of your general 
nature and knowledge. 

Cultivate hobbies, both in yourself and in 
others. They will bring you into sympathy 
with the many, making you useful to them, and 
them to you. 

Cultivate hobbies. Have plenty of them, but 
don't make others ride them, willy-nilly. Keep 
them to yourself, unless you can give others a 
lift with them. 

Cultivate hobbies ; they are the healthy im- 
pulses which refresh one's life ; they are the in- 
spirations, the " heavenly visions " sent to these 
latter-day generations, as were the divine com- 
mands to the prophets of old. Study them, 
attend to their voices, and be able to say with 
Paul, " Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not 
disobedient to the heavenly vision." Above all, 
have a hobby for hobbies. 



POOLE. 



THE LIBRARIAN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. 

BY R. B. POOLE, LIBRARIAN OF THE YOUNG MEN*S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF 

THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 



BY constituents is not meant political con- 
stituents. It is unfortunate for any libra- 
rian when he holds his office in a public library 
as a political favor, and library appointments 
should be as far removed as possible from all 
party influences. A public library, like any 
other public property, is susceptible of being 
used as a tool, and may easily degenerate into 
a political job, unless specially protected by its 
charter. New York city has one such library. 
The library exists for the librarians ; its con- 
stituents not readers are of the school 
of politics. The example, it is to be hoped, is 
a unique one in our country. 

A brief retrospect of the libraries and libra- 
rians of the past may help us to more fully 
comprehend the situation of the librarian and 
his constituents of to-day. 

The monk represented the librarian of the 
Middle Ages. He was not by profession a 
librarian, and yet the valuable service he ren- 
dered to literature entitles him to the name. 
He was at once chorister, master of ceremo- 
nies, transcriber, illuminator, and collector. 
Professedly the monk was a religious ascetic. 
He retired from the world to devote himself to 
religion, to a life of self-denial. His language 
was the Latin ; the books or MSS. that sur- 
rounded him were works of the Fathers, books 
of devotion, service-books, and the classics. 
These were just in keeping with his life and 
thoughts. A congenial occupation was thus 
opened to him. The hours of the cloister 
were made shorter as the monk duplicated and 
reduplicated some dainty missal, or some com- 
mentary of Augustine, or painted a miniature 
of the Virgin or of the apostles. 

However much we may differ in opinion as 
to the service rendered to religion by the mon- 
asteries of the Middle Ages, as librarians we 
have a fellow-feeling with these toiling monks, 
and are grateful to them for the service they 



have rendered the libraries of to-day by their 
preservation of works that otherwise would 
have been destroyed. There is nothing in the 
book-making arts of to-day to compare with 
the artistic skill displayed in the illuminations 
and miniature-painting which enrich and beau- 
tify the MSS. of those times. 

The monastic libraries were small, and the 
readers few. Books were loaned from mon- 
astery to monastery. They were distributed 
once a year, at the Lenten season. As each 
borrower returned his book he was catechised 
as to its contents ; if the examination was satis- 
factory he was allowed another book for the 
coming year ; if not, he must take his old book 
again. 

One not a member of the order of St. Bene- 
dict, or an attachi of Cluny or Canterbury, 
could procure the coveted treasure, sometimes, 
by pledging to return with the MS. borrowed 
a full transcription. 

Library economy in these ages was very 
simple. Catalogues were little more than inven- 
tories, and no discordant notes were chanted, 
in duets or solos, over systems of classification. 
The absolute or fixed system of shelving was 
in vogue, the books being held in their places 
by chains. The survival of this feature exists 
in the attachments of the modern city directory. 

But, not to linger longer in cloisters or ab- 
beys, we come to the age of printing and to the 
foundation of the modern libraries of Europe ; 
the treasures in the monastic libraries con- 
tributing to form their vast collections. 

The monk's occupation as a librarian was 
gone, and he was succeeded by the collector, 
the keeper, the scholar. In the centuries im- 
mediately succeeding the invention of printing 
there was a growing diffusion of knowledge by 
means of libraries. We smile at the restrictions 
imposed, and look upon them as so many 
fetters on the intellect. It is, however, to be 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



borne in mind that at this time books were 
costly a/id rare, and on this account were 
guarded with great jealousy. 

When the Bodleian library was founded it 
was stipulated by law that under no pretence 
should any book be lent to any one, no matter 
what his station. A Fellow of Corp'us Christi 
College could not enter the sacred alcoves 
alone, and he was under oath not to remove a 
book. The books were there for use, there 
can be no question ; and in the Bodleian, to 
which we have just referred, a person could 
have six books at a time to consult, and the 
library was open for six hours during the 
day. 

About 1650 Humphrey Chetham bequeathed 
,1,000 for a public library in Manchester, 
England. He was a firm adherent of the fixed 
location. " My mind and will is," he says, 
" that care be taken that none of said books be 
taken out of the said library at any time, and 
that the said books be fixed or chained." After 
specifying certain religious books, and annota- 
tions on the Bible, he adds, " and other books 
proper for the common people." It was two 
hundred years after this, in this last half cen- 
tury, before the Public Libraries Act was intro- 
duced into the English Parliament ; and from 
this period we may date a new era, both in Eng- 
land and in this country, in the dissemination 
of books and improved library methods. The 
last decade, commencing with the formation of 
A.L.A. and the beginning of our second century 
as a nation, has witnessed results hitherto una- 
chieved in library economy. It is not neces- 
sary to enlarge here upon the work that has 
been accomplished. The important thing to 
note is that the librarian of to-day should be 
en rapport with all that pertains to his profes- 
sion. He should acquaint himself with schemes 
of classification, and elect from them that which 
is best adapted for the purposes of his own li- 
brary. He should adopt the best system for 
charging, acquaint himself with the most ap- 
proved library appliances. Whether he adopt 
the classed catalogue, the dictionary, the alpha- 
beto-classed, or any other form, let it be one 
that shall be abreast of the progress that has 
been made in this department of library science. 
The librarian can scarcely keep pace with his 



fellow-librarians unless he receives the right 
hand of fellowship of the American Library As- 
sociation, and is a reader of the Library jour- 
nal or the Library notes, just launched and de- 
signed to cruise along the coast into the smaller 
ports. The advantages which the librarian re- 
ceives from these sources will qualify him better 
for his profession, but the greater advantage 
will accrue to his readers : knowledge will be 
made more available, and a bright, cheerful 
atmosphere will pervade the alcoves of his 
store-house. 

The librarian of to-day is developing to the 
full the utilitarian principle. He is practical, 
practical in his library management, practical 
in his choice of books. His constituency is 
either a particular class or the great public. 
To supply the masses with reading, and to 
make books helpful in all the vocations of life, 
is the librarian's aim. It is just here that we 
need to emulate our predecessors, the monks 
and the collectors and bookworms of the six- 
teenth and succeeding centuries. 

He must have the spirit of the collector, the 
animus of the scholar. He must not forget 
that he is an antiquarian in his zeal for utility. 
His constituency is not confined to the present ; 
he is building for posterity as well. His library 
will live after him. He therefore needs to be 
a wise master-builder. 

If the choice of books is in the librarian's 
hands, or if he occupies an important position 
in connection with the selection, his best effort 
should be given to this department. The 
responsibility is not small. He will find it 
more difficult often to reject than to select. 
He must consult the wants of his readers ; but 
there is a limit to that. Everything that is in 
print may be called for, but that is no reason 
why it should be honored with a place in a 
library. The librarian's personal equation is 
not to be the standard, but the foundation prin- 
ciples of morality, truth, and sound sense must 
guide him. No quarter should be given to 
books of doubtful morality. Fiction now finds 
a place in most libraries open to any extent to 
the public, and this class of books forms so 
large a part of the circulation of many libraries 
that it is becoming a question of no small im- 
portance as to how far public funds should be 



POOLS. 



33 



expended for such bociks as afford little else 
than pastime. A public library is a public 
educator. It is not a sluice into which every 
publisher may dump his entire wares ; as 
educators, librarians and managing boards 
have the right to maintain the purity of their 
collections, and to protect them from inunda- 
tions of worthless books. 

The librarian should be alert to supply his 
readers with all they require that will be help- 
ful, as we have said ; but, more than this, he 
should lead them. He may do so by procuring 
works of standard worth, new and old, that 
represent the best thought in any department 
of literature or science. 

Unless he has something of the spirit of the 
collector very much will elude his grasp, and 
be, perhaps, utterly lost to his library. There 
are the limited editions, now so unlimited in 
number; the privately printed book; the first 
numbers of periodicals ; the first reports of 
societies ; local histories and genealogies ; me- 
morial volumes, and the like, works whose 
value is enhanced by time. 

A librarian, to be successful, must be a lover 
of books. The novice, in applying for a libra- 
rianship, often puts it down as one of his 
cardinal qualifications that he is fond of read- 
ing. To the active, toiling worker this is not 
suggestive of business. A love of books very 
naturally suggests a taste for reading, except 
when bibliomania is in the blood. A true 
friend of books is not such because his collec- 
tion embraces Elzevirs and Aldines, or because 
they are in Grolier or Bedford bindings, or 
printed on Whatman or Holland paper, 
these are matters of just pride, but because 
the army of silent authors, marshalled under 
his leadership, will diffuse light and knowledge 
wherever they go. The librarian imbued with 
this spirit, if he finds time to read, will reflect 
what he has read. It is to be feared that the 
librarian who reads in these times is the ex- 
ception ; and yet there can be no question that, 
if he could have each day an hour or two for 
reading, time enough to acquaint himself 
with the thought of the times, and occasionally 
commune with the authors of the past, his 
efficiency would be greatly enlarged, and his 
readers would have a supplemental catalogue 



in him, corresponding, to some extent, to the 
good work contemplated by our Cooperative 
Committee. 

There are in every library very many books 
that are what we might term, to use a mer- 
cantile phrase, dead stock. From the very 
necessities of the case there must be many 
books that will be called for only at great inter- 
vals, while others never have a friendly con- 
sultation. But, aside from these, libraries will 
often have works of great practical value that 
are standing idle, because it is not generally 
known that the library possesses them. There 
may be a choice lot of works on electricity, a 
rare collection on ceramics, a fine selection ot 
engravings, representative works in the various 
industrial arts ; the call for them not being 
popular and large, they might be brought to 
the notice of a larger constituency by calling 
the attention of certain readers to them, or by 
sending a polite invitation to some manufact- 
uring firms, to some professional electricians, 
or to art schools and scientific schools. 

Periodicals, before the days of Poolers Index, 
were sealed books. Libraries have been won- 
derfully expanded where this index is used. 
Further cooperation in this direction, as 
planned by the Cooperative Committee, should 
receive hearty encouragement. The books of 
a library may be further enlarged in their use 
by publishing, on the library bulletin, the works 
in the library that illustrate important events, 
after the admirable plan initiated by Mr. Fos- 
ter, of Providence. 

If the librarian has not the time at his com- 
mand to read he has rare opportunities for 
reading character; and to be on good terms 
with his varied constituency he will have to be 
like St. Paul, all things to all men. He must 
be polite, accommodating, possess his soul in 
patience, and be unselfish in his devotion to 
his readers. Generally, his contact with his 
constituency will be pleasant and agreeable, 
but he will have to deal with certain typical 
characters that will vex and fret him. 

There is the rummager, who snarls at all 
catalogues, and wants the freedom of the 
library, not for studious research, but to gratify 
his bookish propensity. " Five minutes with 
authors " is his watchword. 



34 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



The crank, who has been defined as a person 
with an idea, without brains to carry it out, 
is a frequenter of libraries. His inquiries are 
for what the library does not possess. This 
affords him a text for lecturing the librarian 
and the managers. If the librarian's senti- 
ments are not in accord with that idea of his 
he threatens to expose him in the newspapers. 

The curiosity-hunter is another representa- 
tive reader. He is brother to the rummager, 
but he does not despise catalogues. They ex- 
hibit the oddities of the library, at least the 
odd titles, such as Luther's " Vagabonds and 
Beggars," The Foundling Hospital for Wit," 
or "The History of the Tread-mill." He 
passes quickly from one to the other, gleaning 
here and there till curiosity is satiated. 

Another reader helps the librarian materially 
in his statistics ; if he calls for one book he 
calls for an armful. The subject he is investi- 
gating may require all the light the library can 
focus upon it ; but he disposes of his armful so 
quickly that the query is, by what alchemy 
knowledge is appropriated so rapidly. It must 
be put to the credit of this age. 

The intelligent tramp is another habitid of 
libraries. He is sometimes a desultory reader, 
sometimes he is a specialist, and he investigates 



with a profound air the most difficult problems ; 
but that is as far as he goes. He is constitu- 
tionally lazy. He has some love for literature 
and science, but a far more appreciative love 
of leisure. He does nothing, produces noth- 
ing- 
Then there are walking encyclopaedias. You 
cannot name any author or work that they 
have not an acquaintance with. They can 
talk glibly on any subject ; they absorb like 
sponges, but they give out nothing. They 
have a passion for reading ; but they either do 
not, or will not, make their knowledge available 
to others. The colored man who not long 
since applied to me for something on the tooth- 
ache, as he was to deliver a lecture upon this 
interesting topic, was not of this non-productive 
class. If his monogram has been published 
it will be a good book for close classification. 

The librarian who feels the obligations of 
his position realizes that his influence as an 
educator is far-reaching, telling effectively upon 
the community in which he lives, and destined 
to extend far down the years to come. It be- 
comes him, therefore, to fully equip himself for 
his work, and to give to his constituents the 
results of his ripest experience and his most 
unselfish attention. 



KING AQUILA'S LIBRARY: A SEQUEL TO 

CLASSIFICATION." 



KING LEO'S 



BY J. SCHWARTZ, LIBRARIAN, NEW YORK APPRENTICES' LIBRARY. 1 



TOUCH of my hearers as had the pleasure 
[_O of listening to an account of " King 
Leo's Classification " at our last annual meet- 
ing are aware that Dr. Owl, Professor of 
Natural History at the University of Science 
in Aquilia, had been sent by his royal master 

'Mr. WM. F. POOLE, President of American Library 
Association : 

The manner in which the enclosed MS. came into my 
possession is so extraordinary that I feel that some ex- 
planation is due to the Association before offering it for 
perusal. 

You may have noticed that I was frequently absent 
from the interesting, but somewhat too numerous, discus- 
sions at the last Librarians' Conference. The explanation 



on an important scientific mission to the coun- 
try of King Leo. The historian who favored 
us with an account of the learned doctor's ex- 
pedition neglected to state the precise object 
of his investigation. We are fortunately in a 
position to supply this information. A little 

is simple: I was perfecting myself in the Language of 
Birds, for the study of which the charming island on 
which we were located offered unusual facilities. Thanks 
to my untiring efforts, I am now, I flatter myself, quite 
an adept. It was, therefore, easy for me to decipher and 
translate the curious and instructive history that I have 
been fortuuately able to secure in time for this conference. 
But to proceed with my story. 

At 3 o'clock, precisely, on Tuesday afternoon, on April 



SCHWARTZ. 



35 



bird, with whom we are intimately acquainted, 
states positively that Dr. Owl was only one of 
many scientists who had been sent to all parts 
of the earth to find out and definitely deter- 
mine, if possible, the natural order of things, 
with the view of applying the knowledge thus 
gained to the arrangement and classification of 
the books in the Aquila Free Public Library. 
From the same reliable source we have obtained 
a full stenographic report of the meeting at 
which this subject was discussed. 

The king was unfortunate in not being able 
to avail himself of Dr. Owl's investigations. 
It seems that the learned scientist was prepar- 
ing an essay " On the Cause of the Reflex 
Action of the Muscles of the Hoof, with Espe- 
cial Reference to the Mule," which he intended 
to read at the next meeting of the University 

1st last, as I was taking my daily constitutional, I halted 
in front of the sombre pile formerly known as the New 
York Reservoir, on whose ruins the ex-aldermanic presi- 
dent, Mr. Sanger, proposed to erect the future great li- 
brary of the metropolis, which scheme was then being bit- 
terly and (unfortunately) successfully opposed by certain 
New York librarians. By a natural association of ideas 
the proximity of the water-works suggested the propriety 
of resting for a few moments under its protecting walls, 
to drop a silent tear for the ruined prospects of the great 
Might Have Been. 

My meditations were rudely interrupted by a sudden 
fall of some heavy substance, which narrowly missed 
grazing my nose. On looking up to ascertain the cause 
of the disturbance I perceived a small bird perched on 
the top of the reservoir, who was evidently the culprit. 
I had not yet examined the missile, and, not wishing to 
meet with the fate of Tobit (especially as angels are 
rather scarce nowadays), I concluded that it would be pru- 
dent to beat a hasty retreat. Besides, I never did like fish 
anyway; and 1 think the breed that cured the venerable 
patriarch has died out long ago. But you may bet I was 
furious, and, when at a safe distance, I immediately pro- 
ceded to upbraid the unmannerly little rascal. 

" Is it weakness of intellect, Birdie? " I cried, when I 
was interrupted in my philippic by a shrill peal of 
laughter from the supposed delinquent. On inspecting 
him more closely, I was surprised and delighted to rind 
that he was my old friend and instructor, A. Blackbird, 
Esq., in whose company I had spent so many happy hours 
at Lake George. 

"It's all right, old boy," he said. " No need of getting 
excited. I threw that little package on purpose. I know 
you are gone on classification, so I've brought you some 
interesting reading. It's a full account of the big meeting 
we had on the Aquila Free Public Library. All the 
classification fellows had a ch;mce to let themselves out 
for all they were worth. But you ought to have seen our 
King Aquila go for them ! I tell you it's the big head 
he's got. There are no flies on him, and you bet he under- 



of Science. He had elaborated an ingenious 
theory, and only needed to verify it by some 
practical experiments on the mule. These he 
attempted to make while in King Leo's domin- 
ions ; but an unfortunate accident which befell 
him during these experiments so disabled him 
as to require his absence from the discussion, 
of which we have now the pleasure of submit- 
ting a verbatim report.] 

KING AQUILA'S ADDRESS. 

At the University of Science, on the I3th 
day of the month of Incubation, in the I3th 
year of his gracious majesty King Aquila, the 
meeting on the Free Public Library was opened 
by his majesty, who spoke as follows : 

" Moved by the entreaties of many of our 
loving subjects, and by the advice of our coun- 

slands his biz. So long; I must go back to the library. 
They have got my system in use there, as you will see 
by the report." 

On examining my find I discovered that it consisted of 
a number of strips of bark, with innnumerable characters 
traced on them in the Aquilian language. This language 
has a pronounced resemblance to Alwato, but the char- 
acters are quite different. They look very much like 
" crow-tracks." Even the name of the language has a 
slight resemblance to that of the future universal speech. 
It is called " Alsamee-Aquihi." But I must reserve a 
more detailed explanation of this curious language for 
a paper I am preparing for the American Philological 
Society, and proceed to give some account of the subject 
discussed. The strips of bark seem to contain an ex- 
planation, by the inventors themselves, of nine widely 
different systems of classification, with the running com- 
ments of King Aquila, who appears to have been well 
versed in bibliography. What struck me as particularly 
remarkable was the close resemblance these schemes bore 
to some of our best known Anglo-American systems of 
classifications. But when I came to consider that, as 
Stephen Pearl Andrews says, each department of nature 
is an echo or repetition of every other, the mystery was 
explained at once. 

On looking over some other parts of the package, that. 
I have not thought it necessary to translate, I found that 
there had recently been considerable discussion on " close 
classification " in Aquilia. It seems that method of ar- 
ranging books had fallen into " innocuous desuetude " in 
consequence of the arguments of certain critics whom the 
advocates of " close classification " stigmatized as " offen- 
sive partisans." I may some day reproduce the whole 
discussion, but sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 
This explanation is already so long that it is time to bring 
it to a close. Let us, therefore, hear what the Dicky birds 
say. 

Very truly yours, 

J. SCHWARTZ. 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



sellers, we have determined to establish a Free 
Public Library, and, as we desire the said 
library to reflect honor on us and on our 
realm, we have sent our ambassadors to all the 
kingdoms of the earth to inquire in what 
manner and after what order the books may be 
best arranged. We have also caused those of 
our loving subjects who have made a study of 
these matters to appear before us and explain 
their methods that we may, if possible, profit 
thereby. It is our pleasure that the Professor 
of Dreams give us his views." 

LIBRARIES MUST BE ARRANGED BY SPECIAL- 
ISTS. 

Prof. Bendix. May it please your majesty, 
I have carefully examined all the latest schemes 
for classifying books, and I reject them all. 
You will hardly believe it; but I assure you 
that not one of them arranges the science of 
dreams in the order that the learned Stickle- 
back says is correct. I have arranged my own 
library, which is mainly composed of books on 
dreams, on this system, and I find it works 
very nicely. I like this plan, because I have 
studied it, and understand it. My opinion, 
therefore, is, that the books in each grand de- 
partment be arranged according to the views 
of the latest recognized specialist therein. 
When this is done your system is complete. 
Nothing can be simpler. 

King Aquila. Is there not danger that 
some of these departments may overlap, and 
the same subject be in more than one? 

Prof. Bendix. It is true that a few other 
departments have some of the books we have. 
Thus, the Professor of Unreason has, I believe, 
works on the Philosophy of Dreams, and other 
similar topics. The Professor of Events has 
books on the History of False Dreams, and 
even, if I mistake not, on the History of True 
Dreams ; and there may be other similar cases 
of duplication ; but as we cannot possibly 
elucidate our science without these books it is 
evident that they belong to us alone. 

Here there was a loud clamor, the professors 
all speaking at once, and protesting that the 
claim was absurd, as the books in question 
plainly belonged in their departments, inas- 
much as they could not get along without them. 



When the king, by a wave of his hand, had 
imposed silence, Mr. Decimus arose and 
said : 

THE CRAZY-QUILT SYSTEM. 

Mr. Decimus. The principle of my friend 
Bendix is all right, he merely errs in its appli- 
cation. I have myself devised a plan, based on 
the idea he advocates, which has been much 
admired. People come miles to see it. I call 
it the Crazy-Quilt System, and the way I de- 
vised it was this : In our college there are pro- 
fessors of everything ; so I got each one to make 
a classification of his specialty. Now, I have 
discovered that no method of arranging books 
can be a success unless the main and sub-de- 
partments are uniformly divided by tens. By 
getting your raw material from the professors, 
arranging the departments and subdivisions in 
their natural order, and then by lengthening or 
shortening make them fit in the scheme of tens, 
you have the perfect system. If there are sub- 
jects that appear in more than one specialist's 
list you must put them where they will do the 
most good, that is, where they will best fit in 
your scheme of tens. 

King Aquila. I suppose your reason for 
making each division just 10 is to have a sort 
of proportion in your classes so that they will 
be equal in their growth. 

Mr. Decimus. The main thing is to have 
the classes just 10, neither more nor less. If 
any of the classes need subdivision you can 
make as many new ones as you please by a 
method I have discovered, which consists, of 
simply adding, at the end of the class to be di- 
vided, one of the 10 digits. By this system 
we have already made some 50,000 new heads, 
and our library is not half arranged as yet. 
Inasmuch as you can use as many figures as 
you please, the plan is practically limitless. 

One of the many valuable features of my 
system is its mnemonic or suggestive character. 
Each number is used for a distinct purpose. 
Thus, for example, the figure 5, when followed 
by a 9, means an eastern country. If the 9 
precede it means a western country. If there 
be a 6 after 9 it means the theory or philosophy 
of the subject, whereas 5 following 6 shows that 
the section in question is devoted to the history 



SCHWARTZ. 



37 



of the said class. By the same simple method 
almost every figure is invested with a particular 
significance. Hence, by combining these 
figures, as we must do in forming subdivisions, 
we are able to use the scheme as an Organon of 
discovery. We not only make new classes out 
of old ones, but we discover subjects that are 
entirely absent from other systems. For ex- 
ample, 68,294 is our symbol for the Palaeozoic 
period, and 98,364 is the way we indicate lives 
of Italian organ-grinders. If we combine the 
two thus, 6,829,498,364, we have a scientifi- 
cally precise place for the biographies of all 
Italian organ-grinders of the Palaeozoic period. 
Another example of the astonishing power of 
our figures must suffice for this branch of the 
subject. 9,321,874 is our simple mnemonic 
symbol for the 99th Assyrian dynasty, and 
956,789 represents Kalamazoo. By combining 
the two thus, 9,321,874,956,789, any facts that 
may be discovered relating to the history of 
Kalamazoo during that early period can be in- 
stantly classified. Of course some of the 
smaller public libraries will not need these 
minute divisions. They are more particularly 
intended for special and extensive collections, 
and are merely instanced to show how handy it 
is to have such classes if they should be needed. 

Another advantage of our method of number- 
ing is that the notation does not present that 
monotonous regularity which is so displeasing 
to a cultivated taste. On the contrary there 
is endless variety. Class 98 may be followed by 
99,672, this by 9,968, and this again by 999. 
Hence I call my notation the zigzag method. 

King Aqitila. It seems to us that you lose 
all the symmetry of your arrangement by tens 
if you keep tacking on figures at the end of 
your classes. It also occurs to us that it must 
require a wonderful memory for your assistants 
or students to find their way about in the end- 
less maze of divisions and subdivisions. 

Mr. Decimus. We have provided for that 
difficulty by a device which is the most valuable 
feature of my system. We make a list of all 
our subjects with their numbers, and if any one 
wants a book, or a class of books, we look in 
our list for the name of the subject, and we 
know at once where we have shelved it. All 
new subjects that arise, or that we discover by 



our method, we put them on the list. If we 
didn't they surely would be missed. 

King Aquila. A difficulty occurs to us in 
connection with your method of subdividing 
classes that are too full. Suppose 1,000 books 
in Class 623 are numbered I to 1,000, and you 
make ten new classes by adding figures to 623, 
will it not be necessary to renumber all these 
thousand books? 

Mr. Decimus. Not at all. You merely add 
the class figure and leave the book numbers as 
they were, filling up the blanks created by the 
transfers whenever you can. 

King Aquila. But you thereby destroy the 
meaning Q{ the book numbers. 623.10 meant 
the loth book in Class 623. But if you change 
this to 6231.10 the latter number has no meaning 
at all, least of all does it mean the lothbook in 
the new class. But the principal difficulty -still 
remains. Whether you change the book num- 
ber, or the class number, or both at the same 
time, it is absolutely necessary to indicate this 
change in every list or catalogue, printed or 
written, where the original number was men- 
tioned. This implies thousands of alterations. 

Mr. Decimus. I must confess that this is a 
difficult problem to solve at present, but we are 
making experiments, with satisfactory results, 
which I will lay before your majesty when com- 
pleted. 

King Aquila. As we wish to start right at 
first we cannot wait for these results ; but will 
call upon Prof. Sector, who, we understand, has 
a scheme that overcomes all difficulties. 

THE PERFECT SYSTEM. 

Prof. Sector. Your majesty is right in say- 
ing that my system solves all difficulties. I 
begin by remarking that I agree with Mr. 
Decimus that there should be a certain fixed 
number to start with. His mistake is in sup- 
posing this number to be 10. I have discovered 
that it is 35, and I have an unanswerable 
argument to prove that this alone is the perfect 
number. It is well known that there are, tak- 
ing large and small together, just 70 countries 
in the world. Now, you cannot number 70 with 
10 figures. But if we divide them and call the 
first 35 "A," and the second 35 " B," the thing 
is done. By a remarkable coincidence I have 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



also discovered that the primary natural classes 
are just 35, and not 10, as Mr. Decimus sup- 
poses, who is likewise mistaken as to their 
order. Now, if you invent a series of signs 
that amount to just 35, you have a method of 
marking a great many books with a few symbols. 
Mr. Decimus has been fortunate enough to 
invent such a numbering base, and I have 
adopted it. It is simplicity itself; you merely 
use the 9 figures and the 25 letters interchange- 
ably. Thus, 10 is expressed by "A," 35 by 
"Z," and 36 by " n." Consequently 19 does 
not mean nineteen, but 44. It is a little con- 
fusing at first, but one can be educated up to 
it. 

King Aquila. Would it not be possible to 
combine, in one class, some of the unimpor- 
tant countries about which few or no books 
have been written, rather than invent a new 
and difficult mode of notation? 

Prof. Sector. No, your majesty ; that 
would not answer at all. It is a fundamental 
maxim with me that every subject, big or little, 
must have its own number. If there are more 
than 35 subjects in a division it is easy to add 
a figure, or letter, or both ; so that it is always 
easy to provide for as many subdivisions as 
may be needed. I argue this way : the object 
of a classification is to find all the books of the 
same kind in one place. Now, how can you 
find them in one place if two or more subjects 
are put together? I have, therefore, provided, 
or intend to provide, for my system is not 
yet fully worked out, a place for every variety 
of animal, plant, and mineral ; for every king 
that ever reigned ; and for every person whose 
life has been, or may be, written. For exam- 
ple, your majesty no doubt remembers that the 
priests of Khemi read to a visiting historian 
the names of 330 kings who, they said, had 
reigned in that country. It is true we do not 
know what their names were, or what they did, 
but their names may be discovered. We may 
even unearth papyri covering their reigns. In 
so important a matter we cannot afford to leave 
anything to chance. The most serious conse- 
quences might result, if, say loo years hence, 
the histories of the reign of Ra Mentuhotep 
XIV. were mixed up with those of his prede- 
cessor Ra Sahotep XXII. 



King Aquila. How do you arrange the 
separate books remaining after your final di- 
visions ? 

Prof. Sector. That is the most beautiful 
part of my system, and I am sure your majesty 
will be pleased with it. I first divide the books 
into four sizes. Then in each size I arrange 
alphabetically by authors. Then their separate 
works alphabetically by themselves. Then the 
separate editions in strict chronological order. 
Then the translations in the alphabetical order 
of the languages. Then, finally, the individual 
translators alphabetically by their names. I 
have a set of signs to indicate all these dis- 
tinctions. It is very ingenious and very sim- 
ple when you once understand it. To know 
in which size to find a book I use a dot between 
the class number and the book number. By 
varying the thickness or position of this dot 
you know at once which size is meant. W T hen 
my library is finally arranged say in twenty 
or thirty years more I intend to separate the 
books into four parallel libraries: (i) Books 
bound in morocco ; (2) those in large type ; 
(3) those with less than 100 pages ; and (4) 
the other books. Special signs will show 
which library is meant. 

King Aquila. You seem to be a little in- 
consistent in making it a fundamental principle 
that each subject should be in one place only 
and then proposing to put it in 16. Do not 
your readers and attendants experience some 
difficulty in finding the books if all these fine 
distinctions are carried out? It also occurs to 
us that your numbers cannot be given verbally 
on account of the size dots, and that, even 
when written, there may be danger of mis- 
takes. 

Prof. Sector. This will all be provided for, 
your majesty. It is true that some of my read- 
ers complain that they cannot find the books 
without assistance ; but I tell them that a per- 
fect system can only be appreciated as a whole. 
When it is all worked out it will be perfectly 
clear and simple, that is, of course, after some 
preliminary study. Meanwhile, however, I 
have provided abundant helps. In the first 
place there is a map showing where each grand 
department is. Then in each department there 
are different-colored cards to show the location 



SCHWARTZ. 



39 



of each class, the beginning of each size, and 
so on. By consulting the map and following 
the cards there are not more than loo in each 
class you can get any book at once, provided 
you know its size, what particular edition it is; 
and whether it has less than 100 pages, is 
printed in large type, or is bound in morocco. 
It has been frequently objected that my nota- 
tion is complicated and hard to be understood. 
The charge is absurd. Why, the other day, a 
new boy was hired, and I wanted him to get a 
book for me. After merely consulting the map 
and less than a dozen guide cards I pointed 
out the shelf where the book was, and the boy 
got it without any serious difficulty. Surely a 
method must be simple that allows a raw, un- 
trained boy to get a book so easily ! 

King Aquila. Your system is certainly very 
ingenious, but we fear it is planned on too 
large a scale for our purpose. As we intend 
to start with only 50,000 volumes, we should 
not need so many classes as your system re- 
quires. 

Prof. Sector. That difficulty is easily over- 
come. You can begin by using as few classes 
as you want, and then adding the others as 
they are needed. 

King Aquila. But the difficulty remains of 
changing the numbers of the separate books 
when we have added these classes and put the 
books in new places. 

Prof. Sector. The difficulty does not exist 
in my system. It does, I know, in nearly all 
other plans, because the separate books are 
usually numbered arbitrarily. My method 
I call it so because I have improved on the 
original idea is to arrange and number 
alphabetically. All you need to do then is to 
add a sign for the new class ; the book numbers 
will remain as before. 

King Aquila. This seems plausible, but 
still a difficulty remains. The alteration of the 
class will require a corresponding correction in 
all the catalogues to show where the new places 
are. It seems to us this involves great labor, 
and we fear the time could hardly be spared in 
a busy public library. 

Prof. Sector. It might prove somewhat in- 
convenient in a public library, but where there 
is plenty of help and few readers, as is the case 



with us, the difficulty is not serious and can be 
overcome in time. 

King Aquila. We thank you for the lucid 
explanation of your system, and regret that we 
cannot use it, as it is not yet sufficiently worked 
out. Your object is certainly sublime, and we 
trust you may achieve it in time. We will 
now hear from Mr. Forgenus. 

THE REASONABLE SYSTEM. 

Mr. Forgenus. May it please your majesty, 
I am no believer in the necessity for having a 
particular number to begin with, whether 10 or 
35, or any other number. I don't see the sense 
or need of it. I use as many numbers as I 
want, neither more nor less. Looked at in 
this common-sense way the problem of classi- 
fication is very easy of solution. All you need 
to do is to find out how many primary and sub- 
ordinate subjects there are, make a list of them 
in their order, and then number them from No. 
i to the end, and your system is made. For 
future subjects that may arise I leave blank 
numbers, here and there, sometimes 50, or 100, 
or 500, as the case may be. Here you have a 
system that a child can understand : a complete 
enumeration of all known subjects, arranged in 
their natural order, and a separate number for 
each. What more can be desired ? By the 
way, I would call attention to the fact, that my 
natural order is not the same as that of Mr. 
Decimus or Prof. Sector. I suspect they have 
allowed their " personal equation" to mislead 
them. It is a sad thing to have a " personal 
equation." 

King Aquila. If you uniformly give one 
number to every subject, and some subjects 
have large literatures and others small ones, in 
the former case you will get very high numbers 
for your books. 

Mr. Forgenus. Oh, that difficulty doesn't 
bother me at all ! Numbers are cheap, and I 
use as many as I want. 

King Aquila. The difficulty is still worth 
overcoming, if possible, as long numbers take 
longer to write, are more liable to error, and 
take up more of the time of the clerks and public. 

Mr. Forgenus. Well, I don't have to write 
the numbers, so the public and the clerks can 
fight it out among themselves. But, if your 



4 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



idea is to have short numbers, you want to get 
the " Oyster System." I am most familiar with 
it, and therefore think it is the best. I don't 
at all like the "Nomad System " of Mr. Deci- 
mus, which is in use in my library. It was in- 
troduced before I got there, and I can't change 
it now. The constant shifting of the books 
about once every five years, that this plan re- 
quires, seems to me all wrong. A book should 
have one fixed place, never liable to be changed, 
and it has it on the " Oyster System." For a 
small library, such as yours will be to begin 
with, you don't need many divisions ; 40 will 
do very well. The main thing is to keep books 
of the same size together, number each volume. 
to a particular shelf, and then any one can find 
it when it is needed. The catalogue will give 
all needful information on any subject. 

King Aquila. Your idea of a permanent 
place for every book has much to commend it, 
but we hear that it is difficult to carry out for 
any length of time. What do you intend to do 
when the space you have allowed for a particu- 
lar subject is full, or what method of relief do 
you offer when a subject reaches a thousand 
volumes ? 40 divisions for 40,000 volumes seem 
hardly enough. 

Mr. Forgenus. Well, when that time comes 
you can rearrange the library. New cata- 
logues will have to be printed occasionally any- 
way, and you can renumber the books every 
time you print one say once in every ten 
years. 

King Aquila. We much dislike this con- 
stant renumbering. The worst form of " No- 
mad " arrangement seems to us far better. 
Besides, if you renumber and shift your books 
every ten years you not only commit the very 
error you condemn in Mr. Decimus's system, 
but you add to it, for his plan does not neces- 
sarily imply change of numbers. Another 
objection is this. All the readers who bought 
catalogues before the change will be compelled 
to buy new ones. The objection may seem 
trivial, but the public would not like it. 

As we have now heard from the East and the 
West we should be pleased if some representa- 
tive from the South would enlighten us on these 
knotty questions. If Prof. Faber is present we 
shall listen with pleasure to his views. 



THE PREHISTORIC SYSTEM. 

Prof. Faber. Some men become librarians ; 
others are forced to be such because they have 
failed in literature or art ; but I was born so. I 
therefore naturally admire old things. I think 
Mr. Forgenus has expressed the true principle 
of arranging books, viz., to use as many figures 
as you need. The mistake he makes is in re- 
quiring classification at all. Now, our library 
is the oldest in the country, and the arrange- 
ment begun 100 years ago is as good to-day as 
then, and will be as good 100 years hence as it 
is now. We simply arrange the books in three 
sizes, calling the first L (little size) ; the second, 
M (middle size) ; and the third, B (big size) ; 
and then number each book, in each size, in 
regular order, as it is received. We have a 
catalogue that tells us just what number every 
book has, so we can easily get any. one we 
want. 

King Aquila. Your plan is certainly sim- 
plicity itself; but itjseems to us there must be 
some advantage in having books of a kind to- 
gether, to a certain extent at least. If you 
have 100,000 volumes in your library, and a 
man wants 10 books on the same subject, your 
plan requires considerable running about from 
one end of the library to the other to get them. 

THE FROGLAND SCHEME, WITH VOWEL AT- 
TACHMENTS. 

Prof. Faber. The difficulty your majesty 
mentions has also occurred to me as a possible 
objection. I have therefore devised a plan of 
arranging by subjects, that seems to me, on the 
whole, better than the systems just explained 
by my friends. The principle I go on in my 
plan is this : anything that is old is better than 
what is new. As before stated, I naturally 
admire old things ; they are safer. Our library, 
for instance, is old, and I am myself an old 
librarian ; and even the scheme I am about to 
unfold is not mine, strictly speaking, but is an 
old one, in use for hundreds of years in Frog- 
land, which, as you all know, is a very old 
country. Its leading idea is to arrange all 
knowledge in 5 grand divisions, in the natu- 
ral order of the different sciences. By the 
way, none of the schemes just explained is quite 
correct in claiming to have this natural order. 



SCHWARTZ. 



4 1 



My improvement on the Frogland scheme con- 
sists mainly in an ingenious system of notation 
that I have devised to fit it for practical use. 
There are five departments, and five seems to 
me to be a perfect number. We have five 
senses, each foot has five toes, and each hand 
five fingers, and there are five vowels. We 
begin, therefore, by giving a vowel to each 
department. We then subdivide each depart- 
ment by lower-case letters. Further subdivi- 
sions are made by figures, using as many as 
I need. For certain occult reasons, that I am 
not at liberty to divulge at present, I omit the 
first three signs for figures and substitute in 
their place the cross, the square, and the 
pyramid, the elements, in fact, of all form. 
If this system should be considered as a founda- 
tion for the perfect system that is, doubtless, 
still to be established, I shall die happy. 

King Aquila. While we are greatly in- 
debted to you for your explanation we must 
confess that we do not precisely understand 
the raison d^tre of your system, nor what it 
proposes to accomplish. Perhaps our lack of 
comprehension is due to the fact that we are 
not old enough. Now, let us hear from Mr. 
Populus, who has, we hear, charge of one of 
the largest and best-selected libraries in our 
dominions. 

THE ABC SYSTEM. 

Mr. Populus. I do not pretend to know 
anything about systems of arranging books, as 
I have never studied them. The system in use 
in my library was not devised by me, but it 
works admirably, and I do not wish for any 
better. We improve on Prof. Faber's idea of 
discarding classification by dispensing even with 
numbers. Our books are arranged entirely in 
alphabetical order, by authors' names, and we 
have no trouble in finding any book we want. 

King Aquila. Your plan has certain ad- 
vantages as a secondary principle ; but to 
arrange the whole library in one unbroken 
alphabetical series involves the same objection 
found against Prof. Faber's first plan of one 
unbroken series of numbers. A number seems 
to us also desirable for charging books, and to 
readily find particular editions. 

Mr. Populus. I should have stated that 



we do not arrange our books in one unbroken 
series, but in three, viz., (i) The popular books, 
(2) The unpopular books, and (3) The epi- 
leptic, or those that appear by fits and starts. 
Our arrangement is, therefore, not open, in the 
same degree as that of Prof. Faber, to the 
objection that it causes useless running about. 
King Aquila. If you find it useful to 
subdivide your books at all, whether into 
3 or 33 divisions, you admit the validity of 
classification, and prove that a purely alpha- 
betical arrangement is not practicable. It is 
merely a question of degree as to how many 
classes are to be admitted, and, as we have 
already had sufficient testimony on " close 
classification," we should like to hear a word or 
two from the advocates of moderate classifica- 
tion. Dr. Utilis, we understand, has arranged 
a very large library on this plan, and we should 
be glad to have him explain his method. 

THE UTILITARIAN SYSTEM. 

Dr. Utilis. There has been a good deal of 
truth and a good deal of error in the views 
expounded before your majesty. Some of the 
schemes explained seem to me to carry their 
subdivision of classes altogether beyond the 
point of utility. Utility, as I understand it, 
means 200 classes, and not 50,000. The perfect 
number is neither 5, 10, nor 35, but just 22, 
because I have ascertained that all knowledge 
can be reduced to that number of primary de- 
partments. If we, therefore, arrange them in 
their natural order, which, by the way, none 
of the preceding systems has succeeded in dis- 
covering, we can use nearly the whole alpha- 
bet to designate them. I exclude I, Q, V, and 
X on philological grounds. The sub-classes I 
form by means of the lower-case letters, using 
these, however, scatteringly, thus : a, c, e, g, 
etc. I do this to leave room for any possible 
future class not provided for in my scheme, and 
to subdivide existing classes. Should the 
blanks be filled we can call the new class M*, 
M D , or M A , and there are other methods. I 
agree with Mr. Populus as to the advantages of 
an alphabetical arrangement by authors, but I 
differ from him in two particulars: (i) I use 
it as a secondary principle, as your majesty 
suggested, under each class ; and (2) I combine 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



the subject and author arrangement by means 
of a table of 9,999 numbers, divided into 500 
alphabetical combinations. This allows 20 
numbers for each author combination. It is 
true an author may write more than 20 works, 
but that is not my lookout. My _ system re- 
quires that no author should exceed this 
number, and I trust that my wishes will be 
respected. 

King Aquila. Is this table of numbers you 
speak of original, or has it been used before? 

Dr. Utilis. Strictly speaking it is not 
original ; but I have adopted it, with some 
improvements of my own, and have found it a 
very useful device. There is one feature in this 
table that I do not exactly understand ; but, 
having found it in the original, I did not venture 
to change it. It seems that the numbers are 
not apportioned equally. Some letters have 
more and others less. I have, however, made 
a valuable discovery. It has become clear to 
me that instead of there being more writers 
beginning with S and M than with K or N, as 
appears to be the case when we confine our 
observations to works of fact, when we come 
to works of fiction there are invariably 1,000 au- 
thors in each letter who all agreed to write just 
1,000 works each. Why this should be so I 
cannot exactly explain ; but my system requires 
it, so it must necessarily be true. By the 
simple expedient of omitting the class letter, 
on the well-known principle of " lucus a non 
lucendo" and using the initials of authors 
in its stead, I can mark 12,000,000 works of 
fiction with only 9 characters (including the 
volume and duplicate sign). The class symbol, 
of course, shines only through its absence. 

King Aquila. Your plan of leaving blanks 
for subdivided classes we have already com- 
mented on. As regards the two portions into 
which you divide your scheme, fact and fic- 
tion, we cannot understand why it should be 
necessary to change the proportion of numbers 
in each letter in the latter case. The same 
rule should hold good in both cases. Alto- 
gether, we like your plan greatly, and we will 
consider it more fully should no better one be 
offered. 

The East, the West, and the South have been 
well represented. Is there any one here who 



will tell us what the North is doing in the way 
of classification? 

THE SING-SONG SYSTEM. 

Dr. Eruditus. May it please your majesty, 
it is curious that no one should have seized 
upon the true method of nomenclature until 
the plan I am about to unfold happily occurred 
to me. It is clear that signs for books are not 
only written, but may be used vocally. The 
first principle is, therefore, that the symbols 
must be capable of being articulated. Words 
are possible only by combining consonants and 
vowels ; hence it follows that the nomenclature 
must be syllabic, that is, pronounceable. The 
preceding speaker was, therefore, quite right in 
confining the signs to designate classes to let- 
ters only. The mistake he made was in using 
such unpronounceable combinations as Rg, Rl, 
and Sr. The notation of my friend, Mr. Deci- 
mus, appears to me to be altogether too simple 
in its structure, whilst that of Prof. Sector is, 
to my thinking, far too complex. A happy 
medium is afforded by using letters alone in 
such a way that they form euphonious sounds. 
It is true these words, if I may so call them, 
convey no meaning whatever, but they can be 
pronounced ; and that is, after all, the main 
thing. 

I have also discovered that it is much easier 
to write ten letters that form words than three 
figures. Why this should be so I am unable 
to explain ; but the fact affords a powerful 
argument in favor of my system. 

The nomenclature is, however, merely inci- 
dental. My great discovery is this : Prof. 
Faber was altogether wrong in using the five 
vowels as the basis of his whole scheme. The 
fact is, they belong exclusively to the historical 
sciences, because there are, if I may so express 
myself, just five quarters of that department of 
knowledge. Thus, A can be used for Aquila 
land; E, for the Effete Despotisms; I, for the 
Islands ; O, for the Old Countries ; and U, for 
the Unclassified. The scheme is mnemonic, 
to a certain extent : vowels for history, and con- 
sonants for the other books, and each vowel ex- 
pressing the initial of the particular branch of 
history. Now, by adding these vowel classes, 
and their subdivisions, to the consonant classes 



SCHWARTZ. 



43 



we can show the particular geographical or his- 
torical development of a science. For example : 
FUNY signifies Humor, Satire, Wit, etc., and 
Ojiji means Senegambia ; hence, a Senegambia 
Joe Miller would be numbered FuNY-Ojljl. 
On the other hand, suppose we desire to keep 
together all the books relating to a country in any 
aspect, we simply reverse the method. Thus, 
Ojiji-FuNY would, as before, designate a store- 
house of Senegambian chestnuts ; OjlJi-MuNKY 
would be a work on Senegambian Simia; 
OJIJI-JAWY, a codification of its statutes; 
while Ojiji-CuKY would represent a treatise 
on its Domestic economy. The beauty of the 
system is that either method can be followed 
according to circumstances. This power of 
variation has induced the editor of the " Aquila- 
Bookist " to pronounce my system to be " the 
most remarkable ever invented." 

King Aqtiila. I suppose your consonant 
classes are arranged on the same principle as 
the vowel classes, that is, mnemonically accord- 
ing to the initials of their names? 
- Dr. Eruditus. No ; the idea had occurred 
to me, but I was led to abandon it when I 
found some one else had anticipated me. Be- 
sides, the best authorities are agreed that there 
is nothing in it. The consonant classes are 
arranged in the natural order of the subjects. 
This is the only true order that will satisfy a 
cultivated taste. Many systems claim to have 
discovered what this natural order is ; but I am 
confident none have attained it except mine. 
Furthermore, it won't do to make our methods 
too simple. I am quite willing to admit that 
it would be easier to find books if the mnemo- 
nic (or alphabetical) arrangement of classes 
were carried out consistently ; but is there not 
something higher required of a system than 
the mere convenience of readers and attend- 
ants? That seems to be reducing the whole 
problem to a purely practical question, and 
loses sight of the educational value of a scien- 
tific classification. What does the juxtaposi- 
tion of Medicine and Novels teach ? Absolutely 
nothing! On the other hand, if we place Medi- 
cine, as we logically should, immediately before 
Useful arts, or is it Mental science (I can't for 
the moment tell which) ? the educational 
value of the Association is apparent at once. 



King Aquila. As most of the readers in 
a public library are debarred from access to 
the shelves, the educational value of the mere 
juxtaposition of certain classes must be very 
small, even admitting that it exists. But your 
scheme appears to us inconsistent in that it is 
neither logical nor mnemonic. If your mne- 
monic arrangement is best for history there is 
no reason in the world why it should not work 
just as well in science. And, if the logical 
order be best for science, then it ought to 
apply equally well to history. As to your idea 
of making the signs for classes euphonious 
words, we deem it a principle of doubtful value. 
The main objection to it is that it unneces- 
sarily multiplies signs. We should greatly pre- 
fer a method that reduces the symbols required 
to a minimum. As your plan increases them 
we are afraid it will not work. Is there any 
one present who has made a study of the best 
method of economizing shelf-marks ? 

SYSTEMS OF BOOK CLASSIFICATION AND BOOK 
NUMBERING MUST BE BASED ON THE BOOKS 
THEMSELVES. 

A. Blackbird. May it please your majesty, 
my predecessor was afraid that the problem 
of classification might be reduced to a purely 
practical question. I am of the opinion that 
it admits of solution on no other basis. At 
least I propose to consider it from that stand- 
point alone, and see what will come of it. Be- 
fore stating the conclusions I have arrived at, 
by a purely practical examination and study of 
the subject, I will sum up the results arrived at 
by the preceding discussion : 

First. All the various systems explained 
to your majesty are reducible to three typical 
forms: (i) The Numerical, (2) the Alphabet- 
ical, and (3) the Classified. 

Second. Neither of the first two systems is 
adequate to meet the requirements of a library 
when used as a sole principle of arrangement. 

Third. But they are both necessary as sec- 
ondary principles of a classified arrangement ; 
the alphabetical arrangement being necessary 
to readily find individual books, and the nu- 
merical arrangement to preserve the combina- 
tion of the classified and the alphabetical sys- 
tems, and to quickly find particular editions. 



44 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Hence a perfect scheme must combine the 
three. 

Fourth. To change or. alter a book-number 
introduces confusion and waste of labor ; hence 
the numbers must be permanent, although the 
flace of the book may be changed. 

Fifth. Consequently the scheme must be 
complete at the beginning, and cannot depend 
on hap-hazard future tinkering or " adjust- 
ment to local requirements." 

It being conceded that classification is to 
be the leading principle, there are only three 
points that require to be settled, and these are : 
(A) The number of classes ; (B) The order of 
the classes, and (C) The system of notation. 
I shall briefly consider each of these heads in 
order : 

A. The Number of Classes. 

A good deal of the confusion of ideas sur- 
rounding this part of our subject is due to 
the fact that the Deductive, instead of the 
Inductive, method has been followed. As 
the things to be classified are books it would 
seem the most natural course to pursue to ex- 
amine their characteristics and peculiarities, and 
base our system on these actual facts rather 
than make the facts bend to an a priori 
theory. Now, one of the first facts, visible 
even to the naked eye of the most short- 
sighted librarian, is this : Books are of differ- 
ent sizes, from the Liliputian 64 up to the 
gigantic Elephant folio. Unless we adopt a 
heroic mode of treating this difficulty, and 
make all our shelves at least thirty inches high, 
we must graduate them to accommodate these 
physical inequalities. Consequently works on 
the same subject may be on different shelves 
according to the size of the book. Hence it fol- 
lows that a range is the limit of classification, 
and that any attempt at a " closer " classifica- 
tion is a contradiction of terms. 

To determine how many classes are needed 
in a library we, therefore, need to know only 
these two facts: (i) How many books will go 
in a range (or class), and (2) What is the 
total number of books to be classified ? A li- 
brary with ranges high enough, or long enough, 
to contain 1,000 volumes each, could have only 
one class for every thousand, or part of a thou- 



sand, volumes. If the ranges were smaller the 
number of possible classes would, of course, 
be correspondingly increased. A range small 
enough to hold only 100 volumes would permit 
10 classes for every 1,000 volumes. It will 
thus be seen at once that the whole question is 
a purely practical one, and that we cannot stir 
a step in the matter until we settle the two pre- 
liminary questions : (i) The dimensions of the 
range and (2) the total number of books to 
be classified. 

As regards the first point it will, I think, be 
generally conceded that unless the library can 
secure professional gymnasts as assistants, it 
will be better to avoid a construction of its 
shelves that requires the use of steps or lad- 
ders. In other words, a range should not be 
higher than seven feet. The length should 
avoid two things : it should not fatigue the eye 
nor bend the shelf by the weight of the books. 
Let us say that four feet be the maximum 
length. A range of these dimensions would 
allow for about seven shelves, graded to fit the 
most pronounced differences of size, and each 
shelf would hold about 30 volumes ; hence a 
range would average, say 200 volumes. 

As regards the second point the number 
of volumes to be classified the difficulty con- 
sists in providing for future accessions. We 
must fix upon some limit. But, it may be 
asked, why determine upon some arbitrary 
number at all ? Why not devise a scheme that 
will permit the library to grow indefinitely? 
The answer to this is that knowledge is con- 
tinually changing. The classifications based on 
the knowledge of 100 years ago would be almost 
useless for the students of to-day. And it is 
more than probable that the classifications of 
to-day will be equally useless 100 years hence. 
At the same time we cannot reorganize our li- 
brary to square with every correction of knowl- 
edge. If we, therefore, select loo years as the 
extreme limit of the life of a system of classifi- 
cation, we are, I think, making a very liberal 
allowance. How many volumes is a library 
likely to reach at its centennial? If we put 
the average annual increase at 10,000 volumes 

and there are but few libraries that add more 

a library might reach a million volumes be- 
fore it would need entire reorganization and 



SCHWARTZ. 



45 



reclassification. To be perfectly safe let us 
suppose that we have made an error of 50 per 
cent, in our calculations, and put the average 
increase at 20,000 volumes, our maximum will 
then be 2,000,000 volumes. Consequently, if 
the minimum number of volumes to a range 
(or class) is 200, it follows that the highest 
number of classes possible in 2,000,000 vol- 
umes is 10,000. 

But even this number is much too high, for 
these reasons: (i) Because it assumes that no 
class will exceed 200 volumes. (2) Because it 
assumes that knowledge is susceptible of a di- 
vision into 10,000 equally proportioned classes. 
While this is true of one portion of knowledge, 
viz. : books arranged by subjects, it is not true of 
another portion, viz. : books arranged accord- 
ing to their literary or other form. In the for- 
mer case the number of possible subdivisions 
is practically limitless. In the latter case we 
can only subdivide the classes or departments 
into minor forms to a limited extent. (3) Be- 
cause a scheme to be of any practical value 
ought to be short enough to be memorized : a 
list of 10,000 classes would have to be supple- 
mented by an index, with its two possible sins 
of omission of necessary topics and inclusion 
of superfluous ones. (4) Because the scheme 
ought to fit the smaller as well as the larger 
libraries. If we, therefore, assume that, in 
place of one range, each class or section 
may grow to ten, we can at once reduce our 
scheme to manageable limits, and at the same 
time fulfil all the requirements demanded of a 
shelf classification, for on that supposition we 
shall need only 1,000 sections, which is not too 
many for a small library, and is large enough 
for the most extensive collection. 

I have used the term sections in place of 
classes advisedly, because, as just shown, it is 
not possible to arrange a library under any 
number of equally proportioned classes. Some 
classes are not capable of subject subdivision, 
and yet contain many books. Fiction is such a 
class. In most public libraries in Aquilia it em- 
braces one-tenth of the whole collection. If we, 
therefore, give it but one section, we necessa- 
rily increase the shelf marks of the separate 
books of fiction. On the other hand, if we ap- 
portion the sections to suit the number of books, 



we should require loo in a scheme of 1,000, 
and then only would the shelf marks be equal 
to those in other classes. The first principle of 
numbering is, therefore, that each class must 
have as many sections as the number of books 
in it demands. A neglect of this principle will 
inevitably result in an accumulation of figures 
in the most popular classes. For these di- 
visions all happen to be rich in books but poor 
in subject divisions. What we have to do, then, 
is, from a study of existing literature, to ar- 
range the library in i ,000 as nearly equal pro- 
portions as possible, giving each class as many 
sections as the extent of its literature demands. 
But this must not be done mechanically, but 
must be controlled and modified by another 
principle : evident distinctness of subject. The 
1,000 divisions need not, and cannot be exactly 
equal, but they will approximate to that con- 
dition by observing these two rules. 

It would take too long to pursue this branch 
of the subject here, and as I have fully worked 
out a scheme of classes, based on these princi- 
ples, which is published in full in the last 
volume of the " Aquila-Bookist," any one in- 
terested in the details is respectfully referred to 
that journal. I will assume that the 1,000 
sections have been found ; the next point to be 
determined is how shall they be arranged ? 

B. The Order of the Classes. 
There are three systems to choose from ; 
there is (A) the logical or natural order of 
classes, according to which each subject has its 
exact place in the scheme according to its rela- 
tion to the class preceding or succeeding. I 
reject this method without hesitation, for these 
reasons : (i) If such a scheme be possible it 
has not yet been discovered. There are some 
3,000 or more logical classifications in existence, 
all claiming to have the Simon Pure article. 
They cannot all be right, and the chances are 
they are all wrong ; at least we have no cri- 
terion to determine for us which one is correct. 
(2) I. do not think it ever will be discovered, 
because, after 2,000 years of trying, it ought to 
have been discovered already. (3) It will be 
of no use in arranging a library even if it 
should be discovered, because books are not 
written to fit an ideal scheme, and even the 



4 6 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



most perfect system possible would have to 
bend from its ideal symmetry and order to suit 
the practical convenience of the library. " Logi- 
cally " fiction may belong on the sixth gallery, 
but practically it will be shelved on the first 
floor. 

There is, secondly (B), "The practical order," 
according to which the classes are arranged to 
suit the needs of each particular library, the 
least used books being shelved on the upper 
galleries, and the most popular ones nearest to 
the delivery counter. The difficulty with this 
method is that it can never be universal (and 
it is such an order that we want) , but must be 
modified to suit the exigencies of each library. 

There remains then only (C), " The alpha- 
betical order" of the classes, that is, first, of 
the departments by themselves ; then of the 
classes therein, and, finally, a sub-alphabetical 
arrangement of the sections or sub-classes. 
This seems to me the only rational method to 
adopt, for these reasons: (i) Provided there 
be agreement as to the names chosen for the 
classes there can be no dispute as to their 
order, which is based on the alphabet instead 
of on some metaphysical idea in the mind of 
the classifier. (2) It is universally understood, 
and is therefore universal in its application. 
(3) It is mnemonic. (4) It can be modified 
to suit the idiosyncrasies or practical needs of 
each library or librarian. It can, without dif- 
ficulty, be thrown into the " logical" or " prac- 
tical " order, and it thus combines the advantages 
of both systems without losing its own. 

C. The System of Notation. 
The maximum number of volumes contem- 
plated by our system is 2,000,000, or (allow- 
ing two volumes per work) of 1,000,000 works. 
It would be desirable, for many reasons, to 
number each volume separately, but there are 
thirteen objections to so doing, the principal 
one being that it can't be done. If we, there- 
fore, assign a separate number to each work 
only we shall be able to number a million works 
with six symbols. As the Arabic system of 
numerals is fully adequate to accomplish this 
task there is no necessity for adopting any of 
the unnatural and complicated schemes pro- 



posed in its stead. The Arabic system is under- 
stood by every one, and until it can be shown 
that it results in excessive numbers, when 
properly used, it is simply folly to propose, as a 
substitute, a system that violently disturbs the 
accepted traditions and usages of centuries. As 
all the new-fangled substitutes yet proposed 
result in numbers composed of from seven to 
ten symbols we are quite safe in sticking to a 
scheme that gets along very comfortably with 
six, and has, besides, the immense advantage 
that it does not require a special education to 
understand it. 

Without going into comparisons with other 
systems I think I may safely claim this much 
for mine : that it is entirely built up and de- 
veloped from facts and data furnished by the 
books themselves; and, as such, I respectfully 
submit it for your majesty's further considera- 
tion. 

King Aquila. Your plan seems to us more 
suited to a public library than any other we 
have yet heard, and we therefore command 
that the books in the Aquila Free Public Library 
be arranged in accordance with its principles. 
As a public library is for the benefit of all 
classes, both learned and unlearned, and as the 
latter will necessarily predominate, it is essential 
that simplicity and intelligibility be the leading 
characteristics of whatever system be adopted. 
The arrangement that is understood by the 
majority, and not merely by the learned minority 
of its patrons must be given the preference. 
For this reason we pronounce for the simple 
Arabic numbers as against the mixture of 
figures and letters in the plan of Prof. Sector ; 
for the natural and usual order of figures as 
against the zigzag method of Mr. Decimus ; 
for 1,000 divisions as against 50,000; and for 
the alphabetical order as against the logical or 
practical. While we cannot deny that all the 
systems that have been explained to us have 
merits of their own, we think most of them are 
more suited to libraries for scholars than for 
one intended for the people, and it is the latter 
alone that we wish to classify and arrange. 
Thanking you all for the profit and pleasure 
you have afforded us, we now declare this as- 
sembly dissolved. 



MANN. 



47 



SOME THOUGHTS ON BIBLIOGRAPHY IN GENERAL, AND 
ESPECIALLY ON THE BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE LITERATURE 
OF SCIENCE, AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL 
RECORD OF "PSYCHE." 



BY B: PICKMAN MANN, EDITOR OF " PSYCHE. 



'T'HE application of bibliography to the work 
1 of the student of science has increased at 
a rapid rate within the last few years. The 
custom of citing references for the purpose of 
giving credit, or of affording opportunities of 
verification of statements, is very old ; but the 
use of bibliographies as working-forces in aid 
of research is much more modern. In the 
department of entomology the attempt to pub- 
lish a current bibliography of publications of all 
kinds was not begun, so far as I know, until 
this attempt was made in " Psyche," which 
started with the numero for May, 1874, as a 
monthly publication. The limited number of 
pages which could be printed, and the lack of 
sufficient working force to keep the bibliography 
complete to date, has thus far prevented that 
full accomplishment of the work aimed at which 
was hoped for in the beginning. The work 
accomplished in the twelve years which have 
followed this beginning has served, however, 
to show the feasibility of the methods adopted 
and gradually improved, and has taught many 
useful lessons in regard to such work. 

The student of science is apt to set little 
value upon the refinements of the art of bibliog- 
raphy. If one may judge from the kind of 
work which is often put forth as bibliographical, 
by writers on science, there is hardly any kind 
of fault which may not be committed or over- 
looked by such workers. There can be no 
doubt, however, that accuracy is an indispensa- 
ble requisite to any good work in this field, 
as it is in general. Many details of the art, 
which are of interest to the collector of books, 
may be neglected in the making of bibliogra- 
phies as aids to investigation ; but this neglect 
should never involve errors in the work which 
is actually done. The width of margins, the 
weight or quality of paper, the style or elegance 



of binding, are not essential elements in such a 
bibliography ; but the date of publication, the 
name of the author, the number of pages, or 
the length of articles, and the nature of the con- 
tents are indispensable to usefulness. 

The first lesson to be learned in the making 
of a bibliography for use is the necessity of 
providing some method of indexing. If the 
titles are arranged by authors, alphabetically 
or chronologically, they cannot at the same 
time be arranged by subjects. If they are 
arranged by their principal subjects they yet 
need indexing to bring together the references 
to subordinate subjects. It is not necessary to 
say anything to convince literary workers of 
the value of indexes to individual works. All 
that has been said and might be said upon that 
subject applies with yet greater force to a bibli- 
ography which is intended to be used as a 
hand-book of literature. 

The index to a bibliography of scientific 
literature should be very detailed. To render 
practicable, within the necessary limits of bulk 
and cost, a detailed index, the method of 
reference should be very condensed. At the 
very outset it is evident that it will be imprac- 
ticable to refer to works by the citation of their 
titles in the index. Whole series of articles 
scattered through the volumes of one periodi- 
cal, or articles on related subjects, even by the 
same author, in different periodicals, some- 
times bear such similar titles that all, or nearly 
all, the words of the title must be cited to dis- 
tinguish one title from another. Frequently 
the titles are exactly alike, and the name of the 
periodical, or the date of the article, must be 
given in addition, for the sake of definiteness. 
Even in the most favorable cases the citation 
of a portion of a title occupies space which it is 
desirable to economize. 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



To secure the advantages of a condensed 
method of reference some symbolism should be 
employed. In the " Bibliotheca entomo- 
logica," published in 1863, by W: Engelmann, 
of Leipzig, from the manuscripts of Dr. H. A. 
Hagen, the titles of the works cited are ar- 
ranged under the names of the authors, chrono- 
logically, the names of the authors being 
arranged alphabetically. The several works 
of each author are designated by a current 
numeral. In the index reference is made to 
the name of the author and the current numeral 
of the work. The references are arranged in 
four columns, in fine type, on a page containing 
204 square centimeters of type. A page nearly 
solid with references is found to contain 209 
references. In the pages of "Psyche" the 
titles are arranged essentially without order, 
but each title is designated by a current nu- 
meral. In the index reference is made to the 
current numeral of the work. The references 
are arranged in two columns of larger type, 
on a page containing 201 square centimeters 
of type. The most open page of 16 so far 
printed of the index to volume 3 contains 200 
references ; the most solid, 732 ; and the aver- 
age of the first 12 pages is 440 references to 
the page. The first 20 pages of the index con- 
tain 8,079 references to 3,362 topics, including 
2,148 references to 754 authors. The number 
of titles to which these references are made is 
nominally 1,654, but some titles are dupli- 
cated. 

The usual method of making citations in 
scientific writings is to refer to individual or 
separate works by name of author, title, and 
page ; to articles in periodicals by title of peri- 
odical, date (sometimes), and page. A very 
useful device is to give in a preface or appen- 
dix a list of all the works cited, with some 
symbol attached, and to refer to this symbol 
wherever references are to be made. Some 
authors have undertaken to accept some bibli- 
ography as a standard, and to refer to the 
symbols employed in that. The catalogue of 
the Royal Society, for instance, has been used 
as a standard. One difficulty with this method 
is that the catalogue of the Royal Society 
covers only a limited period, and, in scientific 
writings especially, the most recent works are 



those which require citation the most often. 
Another difficulty, and a very serious one, is 
that the catalogue of the Royal Society is not 
generally accessible. The same difficulty must 
be experienced whatever work is accepted as a 
standard, unless a work can be produced which 
shall be so inexpensive, or otherwise accessible, 
that it may be within reach of scientific workers 
generally. 

In a current bibliography the arrangement of 
titles is a matter of very little consequence. 
The more frequent the issue of such a bibliog- 
raphy the less important does the matter of 
arrangement become. Indeed any attempt to 
substitute arrangement for an index is a " de- 
lusion and a snare." Too various subjects are 
treated in one article to admit of the possibility 
of indicating all by the arrangement of the titles. 
Whatever is attempted in this way should not 
be allowed to interfere with the practice of 
appending to each title a current numeral. 
This will enable any person who feels the need 
of an index to make one for himself with the 
greatest economy, and to make his index avail- 
able to other persons. Let us look at the 
"Cooperative index to periodicals" with this 
idea in view. We may say, in the first place, 
that an arrangement alphabetical by titles is no 
more a systematic index than one with no ar- 
rangement at all, because titles have no signifi- 
cance. Even when titles are broken up or 
made over, with the purpose of giving them 
significance, the alphabetic arrangement throws 
apart what should go together. For instance, 
I find the following entries in the " Cooperative 
index " for January to March, 1886 : 

" All sciences," instruction in, philosophical 
phase of. 

Culture and science. 

Education and a philosophy of life. 

Education, higher, organization of. 

Education in American development. 

Education, a liberal. 

Technical education, value of. 

These entries, as will be noticed, range all 
the way from "A" to " T," and the whole 
index must be read through to find what it 
contains on the relations of education to 
mental development. Twenty-seven numbers 
of the "Cooperative index" have been issued 



MANN. 



49 



already, and seven more may be expected 
before the first half decade is finished, and the 
work will be supplanted by the first volume 
of the supplement to Poole's index. Poole's 
index itself is open to the same objection. 
Another objection I would make to the whole 
system on which this and similar indexes are 
formed is that it violates the integrity of titles. 
Titles are the proper names by which books 
or articles are known and identified, and it is as 
mischievous to designate an article by the title 
"The frigate bird," because it treats of frigate 
birds among others, when the author named 
the article " Torture of the fish-hawk," as it 
would be to speak of a tow-headed man as 
" Blanco," when his parents had named him 
"Rufus." 

Scarcely any plea of economy can be raised 
against the practice of designating titles by a 
current numeral. The first 100 titles in the 
index above mentioned occupy 174 lines. The 
insertion of a current numeral after each title 
would necessitate the occupation of 16 more 
lines, or an addition of 9 per cent. ; but this 
would be at least in part offset by the saving 
resulting from the absence of any necessity for 
repeating titles under two or more catchwords. 

If each person who wishes to index the index 
must write in the current numbers in his own 
copy, there can be no assurance that another 
person will attach exactly the same numerals. 
Accidents or systematic errors may occur to 
cause a variation. Moreover, the necessity 
imposed upon each subscriber to the index to 
write in the numbers in his copy, when these 
numbers might all have been printed in the first 
place, is a great burden. As the monthly or 
quarterly " Cooperative index " is only intended 
for temporary use, there is not the same induce- 
ment to prepare a good index that there will be 
to prepare an index to the five-year volume, 
which may be looked upon as a work of per- 
manent character. It is to be hoped, therefore, 
that if the change is not made in the quarterly 
index it will be taken into consideration for the 
final work. If it is deemed advisable to insert 
current numerals in future issues of the quarterly 
index, the earlier titles could be counted, a 
statement could be made of the current numeral 
corresponding to the first title or the head of 



each column of the twenty-seven or twenty-eight 
parts earlier issued, and the current numerals 
in continuation of that count could be printed 
with the titles. 

I have mentioned already the desirability of 
making the method of reference as condensed 
as possible. Just as in a book the chapters are 
not paged separately, but the pages in a single 
series from beginning to end, so in a current 
bibliography the series of numerals should be 
continuous from volume to volume. A single 
symbol, then, the current numeral, will suffice 
for a complete and definite reference. The 
difficulties already pointed out in the use of any 
one bibliography as a standard, arising from the 
circumstance that this one standard cannot 
readily be made accessible to all students, will 
then be reduced to a minimum, for a simple 
numerical table of equivalents will suffice to 
establish the relation between any two standards 
that may be adopted, and such tables can be 
prepared in small compass and at small expense 
for printing. For instance, if, in a work which 
I may compose, I choose to make numerical 
references to the titles of works contained in 
the Bibliographical record of "Psyche," and it 
seems desirable to enable references to be made 
by my readers to some other bibliography, also 
considered as a standard, I can append a table 
in which the first column shall give the current 
numerals of the " Psyche" record, and the 
second column the corresponding numerals of 
the other standard. 

It is to be hoped that at some time in the 
future a publisher will be found to issue a bib- 
liography of entomological writings subsequent 
to 1862, to form a companion volume to Hagen's 
" Bibliotheca entomologica," which contains 
essentially all the titles of entomological works 
published prior to that date. If such a work 
were to be issued, and the titles were to be 
designated by a simple numerical symbol, as 
in " Psyche," or by a combination of an 
author's name and a numeral, as in Hagen's 
Bibliotheca, the immense amount of work ex- 
pended upon the systematic index to " Psyche " 
could be utilized by the simple expedient above 
described. I do not know of any index, except 
two or three concordances, to any work which 
is so detailed as the indexes to " Psyche." The 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



systematic index to the first volume, referring 
to 715 titles, has not been counted ; but I esti- 
mate the number of references at about 4,500. 
The alphabetic index to that volume is estimated 
to contain about 3600 references to names of 
genera and species on 218 pages. The sys- 
tematic index to the second volume contains 
5,075 references to 1,830 categories, in 731 titles ; 
and the alphabetic index contains 4,208 refer- 
ences to 758 generic and 2,714 specific names 
belonging to 1,575 genera mentioned on 296 
pages. The index to the third volume, which 
index is not yet all printed, has been mentioned 
above. 

For special purposes indexing cannot be 
carried too far. The principal objection to 
the detailed construction of indexes by literary 
workers is that the maker cannot expect to find 
himself remunerated for the labor involved. 
If, by some means, the making of an index 
once with proper care can be made to serve 
the needs of all subsequent workers, there is 
no doubt that indexes will be made oppor- 
tunely. If, for instance, the publishers of the 
" Cooperative index to periodicals " would 
designate the titles in their publication by a 
symbol such as I have mentioned, there is little 
doubt that some person would make an index, 
at least of the literature relating to some of the 
specialties treated in the periodicals indexed. 
This index could be printed either as a part of 
the "Cooperative index" itself, if it was 
esteemed worthy by the publisher, or it could 
be issued independently, as many indexes have 
been published within the past few years. Such 
an index would be of permanent value, be- 
cause by the mere construction of tables of 
equivalence it could be made to serve also as 
an index to the five-year volume hereafter to 
be issued. 

As an aid to scientific investigations the 
works enumerated in a bibliography must be 
analyzed. The analysis should indicate the 
special phase of the subject treated in the 
work. It would be impracticable within desir- 
able limits to make an abstract of each work 
enumerated, even if the bibliographer were 
such an expert in each special branch of scien- 
tific knowledge as to render him competent to 
make an abstract. The nature of the subject 



discussed can usually be determined, however, 
by bibliographers possessed of wide general 
knowledge and culture. In cases of difficulty 
the aid of specialists could be called in. In 
order to facilitate the making of analyses in 
definite and simple form each title in the bibli- 
ography should be confined as closely as pos- 
sible to one subject. For this purpose it is 
better to enter the several chapters of a work 
as separate titles, if they have separate titles, 
and treat of distinct subjects. The whole work 
can be integrated under its own title by giving 
in the analysis of it the list of its chapters, to 
which the reader is referred for details. For 
instance, I will take the annual report of a 
State entomologist, in which the several chap- 
ters have no further connection than the cir- 
cumstance that they all refer to insects, and 
that these insects are the ones to which atten- 
tion has been directed during a single year. 
First comes the title of the work as a whole. 

NEW YORK State entomologist, 1881 (Jo- 
seph Albert Lintner). First annual report. 
Albany, 1882. 22 + 381 + p., 24 X 16. 

Contains a detailed "Table of contents," 
p. 5-7 (of preface) ; a "General index," p. 345- 
378; an "Index to food-plants," p. 379-381; 
and chapters with the following titles, all re- 
corded under the name of J. A. Lintner as 
author, to u'hick reference is to be made for 
further analysis : Importance of entomological 
study, p. 1-15 ; Progress made in economic en- 
tomology, p. 15-55; Remedies for insect depre- 
dations, p. 56-63. . . . B: P. M. (1204.) 

Then come the titles of the several chapters, 
with analytical reference to the work in which 
they are contained, and with similar analyses 
of their contents. 

LINTNER, Joseph Albert. Importance of 
entomological study. (ist ann. rept. State 
entom. N.Y., 1882, p. 1-15.) 

Mentions the acceptance of late years ac- 
corded to entomological investigations by gov- 
ernments and private individuals, and describes 
the "Extent of insect depredations," "Losses 
from inse'ct depredations," "Excessive insect 
depredations in the United States," "The im- 
mense number of insects," and the "Necessity 
of a knowledge of insect habits." 

B: P. M. (1205.) 

As I have said before, the arrangement of 
titles is a matter of little importance, as it can 



MANN. 



hardly follow any system in a current bibliog- 
raphy for many numbers before the system 
of arrangement must be broken off and the 
series started anew to embrace new matter 
upon old subjects. The utmost extent to 
which it has been found worth while to attempt 
any arrangement in the latter volumes of 
" Psyche " has been to include as far as pos- 
sible material upon one subject at one time, 
and to arrange the authors and titles in one 
issue of the magazine in alphabetical order. 
Thus reference to a single numero of the maga- 
zine is somewhat facilitated ; but when the 
alphabets rise in number into the hundreds 
they might almost as well be dispensed with. 

The publication of such a bibliography as I 
have described, whether a current bibliography 
or one containing all the works which have been 
published within a certain epoch, is a great and 
costly task. It is not to be expected that such 
works will often be republished, neither is it 
necessary. The number of references which 
will be made to any one special subject is not 
likely to be so large that, in case of emergency, 
it will not be practicable to secure a manuscript 
copy of them from some correspondent who 
may have access to a copy of the bibliography. 
For instance, of the 17,650 references in the 
systematic indexes so far printed to the first 
three volumes of "Psyche," only 16 relate to the 
use of insects as food for man. The republica- 
tion of the indexes is a much more practicable 
and desirable matter. The three volumes of 
" Psyche," at present indexed, make three in- 
dexes, and the fourth volume, now five-sixths 
issued, will require a fourth. The index to the 
first volume was made according to the system 
of Dr. Hagen's " Bibliotheca entomologica ; " 
that of the second volume, according to the 
first edition of Mr. Dewey's Decimal classifi- 
cation, with a large development of certain 
departments beyond those embraced in Mr. 
Dewey's work. The index to the third volume 
is made according to the new edition of Mr. 
Dewey's classification, which embraces some 
changes made by Mr. Dewey himself in his 
classification, and other changes resulting from 
the imperfect manner in which the old classi- 
fication was extended. The three indexes do 
not correspond, therefore, in some of their 



most important features; and, while the differ- 
ence between the second and third relates to 
certain details that are not likely to occasion 
serious inconvenience to the users of the index, 
the first differs in almost every particular of 
arrangement. The 3,100 titles embraced in 
that portion of the bibliography are mostly dis- 
tinct, and their serial arrangement unimportant, 
as reference is made to them by a single series 
of current numerals ; but the same is not the 
case with the arrangement of the indexes. The 
same subjects are referred to in each index, 
and all the indexes must be examined to find 
the complete set of references to any one sub- 
ject. In reprinting the several indexes as one 
the classification numbers and the classificatory 
catchwords will be given only once, so that 
the combined indexes will occupy much less 
space than was occupied by them separately. 
Should the bibliography be continued in future 
volumes the desirability of having a combined 
index will constantly grow greater. Such an 
index could be placed in the hands of many 
students who could not afford to subscribe to 
the whole series of volumes, and would enable 
these students to know of the existence of cer- 
tain literature upon subjects in which they were 
interested, and would guide them to procure 
the more specific references in some practical 
manner. 

The principal difficulty in the preparation of 
a bibliography is in getting any person or per- 
sons to undertake the labor and responsibility 
of writing or editing the work. The magnitude 
of the task is too apparent. I find that the 
labor of writing a part and editing the whole 
of the "Psyche" Bibliography of entomology, 
in addition to my regular employment, over- 
taxes my strength. What must, then, be the 
feeling of any person who looks, for instance, 
upon the task of editing the "Essay index," 
which is so dear to the hearts and to the wel- 
fare of the members of the American. Library 
Association! If, however, the " Essay index" 
can be issued as a current bibliography, with no 
regard to the order of titles or the connection 
of subjects, but making use of such material as 
can be availed of upon opportunity, attaching 
to each title a current numeral that will serve 
for reference from an index, no editor will need 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



to feel that he has a large task before him. He 
may feel that so much as is issued is a step in 
the right direction ; that if no more is issued a 
good work has been done. He can lay down 
the editorship at any time when his strength or 
will gives out, and the work can be continued 
by others. It is only necessary that the titles 
of chapters and articles be given accurately, 
the analytical references be made fully, and the 
rest left to others, who, for their own purposes, 
will make indexes that will take the place of 
any special analyses of contents. If, at any 
time in the future, the number of references 
gathered in this way is sufficient to induce any 
person to rearrange and republish the bibli- 
ograpny according to some alphabetic or philo- 
sophic system, all previous workers will feel 
that they have contributed to the good result, 
and will share in its benefits. 



The objections which may be made to this 
seemingly random way of securing the forma- 
tion of the "Essay index " may be obviated by 
enabling all persons who wish to have some 
systematic arrangement of titles to secure 
copies of the printed lists, which can be cut up 
and made into a card catalog. 

If the publishers of the Library journal were 
not disposed to devote a few pages each month 
to the publication of such a current Essay index 
as I have described, undoubtedly the publishers 
of some more general educational magazine, or 
the United States Bureau of Education itself, 
would undertake the publication. At the end 
of the first year an annual index could be pub- 
lished ; at the end of the second year an index 
to all that had gone before ; and so in each year 
an index complete, so far as the work had pro- 
gressed, would be available for use. 



INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT IN CONGRESS, J837-IS86. 1 

BY THORVALD SOLBERG, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



HPHE earliest movement in the direction of 
1 International Copyright in the Congress 
of the United States was the presentation to 
the Senate, by Henry Clay, of Kentucky, on 
Thursday, the 2d of Feburary, 1837, in the 2d 
session of the 24th Congress, of an "Address 
of certain Authors of Great Britain." This 
memorial bears fifty-six signatures, the name 
of Thomas Moore coming first, and including 
among the other signers, the poets, Thomas 
Campbell, Robert Southey, and Samuel Rogers ; 
the novelists, Bulwer, G. P. R. James, Maria 
Edgeworth, and Miss Mitford ; both the 
D'Israelis, Henry H. Milman, Henry Hallam, 
William and Mary Howitt, Mrs. and Mr. S. C. 
Hall, Mrs. Mary Somerville, Miss Martineau, 
and Thomas Carlyle. The complaint made in 
this ' ' Address " is that, for want of a law secur- 



1 The writer is glad to use this opportunity to publicly 
acknowledge and return his thanks for friendly assistance 
received from Mr. Amzi Smith, Superintendent of the 
Senate Document Room ; Mr. Thomas H. McKey, of the 
same office; Mr. G. M. Weston, and Mr. A. W. Church, 



ing to the authors of Great Britain the exclusive 
right to their respective writings in the United 
States, injuries have been inflicted, not only 
upon their property but on their reputation, and 
on the interests of literature and science ; 
which, the memorialists think, " ought to con- 
stitute a bond of union and friendship between 
the United States and Great. Britain." The 
profits arising from sometimes extensive sales 
of their works are appropriated by American 
booksellers, and, besides, their works are 
liable to be mutilated and altered at the pleas- 
ure of the booksellers, or of any other persons 
who may have an interest in reducing the price 
of the works, or in conciliating the supposed 
principles or prejudices of purchasers, while, the 
authors' names being retained, they are made 
responsible for works which they no longer 

of the Senate Library; Mr. Ferris Finch, File Clerk of 
the House of Representatives; Mr. John G. Ames, 
Superintendent of Documents, Department of the Inte- 
rior; Mr. David Hutcheson of the Library of Congress; 
and Mr. R. R. Bowker. 



SOLE ERG. 



53 



recognize as their own. Such mutilation has 
been actually perpetrated, and the authors have 
no redress. It is pointed out that American 
authors are injured, because, the unjust, free 
appropriation of English works being open to 
the publishers, they are under no inducement 
to afford to American writers a fair remunera- 
tion for their labors. As a proof of the evil 
complained of the petitioners cite the case of 
Walter Scott, and claim that an equitable re- 
muneration from American publishers might 
have saved his life, and would, at least, have 
relieved its closing years from the burden of 
debts and destructive toil. The "Address" 
closes with the following petition: "That, 
deeply impressed with the conviction that the 
only firm ground of friendship between nations 
is a strict regard to simple justice, the under- 
signed earnestly request the Senate of the 
United States in Congress assembled, speedily 
to use, in behalf of the authors of Great Britain, 
their power of securing to the authors the ex- 
clusive right 1o their respective writings." Mr. 
Clay, upon presenting the document, said : 
" I am quite sure, Mr. President, that I need 
not say one word to commend this address to 
the attention and friendly consideration of the 
Senate, and every member of it. Of all classes 
of our fellow-beings, there is none that has a 
better right than that of authors and inventors 
to the kindness, the sympathy, and the protec- 
tion of government. And surely nothing can 
be more reasonable than that they should be 
allowed to enjoy, without interruption, for a 
limited time, the property created by their own 
genius. . . . When we reflect what important 
parts of the great republic of letters the United 
States and Great Britain are, and consider their 
common origin, common language, and simi- 
larity of institutions, and of habits of reading, 
there seems to me to be every motive for recip- 
rocating between the two countries the secur- 
ity of copyrights. Indeed, I do not see any 
ground of just objection, either in the Consti- 
tution or in sound policy, to the passage of a 
law tendering to all foreign nations reciprocal 
security for literary property." Mr. Clay, in 
conclusion, moved that the memorial be printed 
and referred to the Committee on the Library. 
Upon this Mr. William C. Preston, of South 



Carolina, while admitting the general propriety 
of the reference to that committee, said he 
thought the subject one of some difficulty, be- 
cause the American authors upon the one side 
would necessarily favor the measure, while the 
publishers had an opposite interest, and had 
arrayed themselves against the object of the 
memorial, and the subject, therefore, resolved 
itself into a complicated question of free-trade 
and protection of the mechanical arts. On 
this subject Mr. Preston was not then pre- 
pared to decide. "Great Britain," he con- 
tinued, " had two authors to our one, and was, 
therefore, more interested in the protection of 
mental labor; while the United States pub- 
lished three or four times as many books, and, 
therefore, more interested in protecting pub- 
lishers." He concluded that the subject ought 
to go to the Judiciary Committee. But Mr. 
Grundy, of that committee, said it had already 
as much before it as could be properly per- 
formed, and suggested a select committee of 
five. Mr. Calhoun, of South Carolina, made a 
few remarks to the effect that while aware the 
interests of booksellers in the United States 
were adverse to the object petitioned for, he 
did not suppose that it was of a character or 
nature such as required its rejection. The 
works for which copyrights would be secured 
constituted but a small portion of the entire 
literature of Great Britain ; and of the works 
of the distinguished names on the memorial, 
the copyright of a great portion had expired, 
which was, therefore, subject to free publica- 
tion. The proper committee, he thought, was 
that of the judiciary ; but he would not object 
to a select committee. Mr. Buchanan, of Penn- 
sylvania, felt called upon to say something in 
defence of the interests of the reading people of 
the United States. He thought that when the 
question came to be considered it would be a 
vexed and difficult question. The effect of 
granting copyrights would be that the authors 
who were anxious to have their works appear 
in a more expensive form would prevent the 
issuing of cheap editions, "which were now 
published and sent all over the country, within 
the reach of every individual," and the result 
would be the reduction of republication to one- 
half. " But to live in fame," the senator con- 



54 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



eluded, " was as great a stimulus to authors as 
pecuniary gain ; and the question ought to be 
considered, whether they would not lose as 
much of fame by the measure asked for as they 
would gain in money." It was well to ascertain 
also, " what would be the effect on the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge in this vast country." Mr. 
Grundy's motion, however, was carried, and* 
Senators Clay, Preston, Buchanan, Webster, 
and Ewing, of Ohio, were appointed to com- 
pose the select committee. On February I3th 
Mr. Cambreleng, of New York, presented the 
address of the British authors to the House 
of Representatives, without remark. It was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
but no further action was taken in the House 
in regard to it, except to order it to be 
printed. 

Two days later than the proceedings in the 
Senate, Mr. Clay presented a list of additional 
names of British authors, which by mistake 
had been overlooked, but which was now re- 
ferred to the select committee, and at his 
request the "Address" was ordered to be 
printed. On behalf of the committee Mr. 
Clay, also, moved the appointment of an addi- 
tional member, upon which Mr. Ruggles, of 
Maine was appointed. On the same day 
Senator Clay presented the "Memorial of a 
number of citizens of the United States, pray- 
ing an alteration of the law regulating copy- 
rights," which was also referred to the select 
committee on this subject. This is really the 
petition of the American authors, and has 
thirty signatures, including Longfellow, Prof. 
Felton, the eccentric John Neal, Rufus Dawes 
(the now hardly remembered Boston poet), 
William A. Duer, Dr. McVicker, and George 
P. Morris. The number of Philadelphia names 
is noticeable : Robert Montgomery Bird, Willis 
Gaylord Clark, Robert Morris, George Mifflin 
Wharton, H. Biddle, T. K. Wharton, and 
others. The names of a number of the then 
prominent journalists are also found appended 
to this petition, which first represents that the 
signers believe, " Native writers to be as in- 
dispensable as a native militia ; that, although 
foreign writers and foreign writings may be 
had cheaper, owing to the present law of copy- 
right, our people must look, for the defence of 



their habits, their opinions, and their peculiar 
institutions, to those who belong to them, and 
have grown up with them, to their own 
authors, as to their own soldiers." Second, 
owing to the want of an international copyright 
law, American authors are not able to contend 
with foreigners ; therefore, the memorialists 
pray, "that such changes maybe had in the 
present law of copyright, as, while they ensure 
to authors a safer interest in their property, to 
our own writers encouragement, and to foreign- 
ers a reasonable protection, the public may be 
secured against a discouraging monopoly, the 
commonwealth of literature open to a fair and 
liberal competition, and the groundwork laid 
for a future international law of copyright be- 
tween the Old World and the New." On 
February i6th, Mr. Clay, from the select com- 
mittee, submitted to the Senate a report, ac- 
companied by a bill to amend the copyright 
act. It was ordered that the report (which it 
is safe to assume was drawn up by Mr. Clay) 
should be printed, and one thousand additional 
copies sent to the Senate. According to this 
report, it is incontestable, " that authors and 
inventors have, according to the practice 
among civilized nations, a property in the re- 
spective productions of their genius, 
and that this property should be protected as 
effectually as any other property is, by law, 
follows as a legitimate consequence." . . . 
Furthermore, " It being established that liter- 
ary property is entitled to legal protection, it 
results that this protection ought to be afforded 
wherever the property is situated." . . . "We 
should be all shocked," continues the report, 
" if the law tolerated the least invasion of the 
rights of property, in the case of merchandise, 
whilst those which justly belong to the works 
of authors are exposed to daily violation, with- 
out the possibility of their invoking the aid of 
the laws. The committee think that this dis- 
tinction in the condition of the two descrip- 
tions of property is not just ; and that it ought 
to be remedied by some safe and cautious 
amendment of the law." This being the first 
measure proposed to Congress upon this sub- 
ject, the constitutionality of any proposed law 
was naturally a matter of consideration. As 
the reasoning presented in the report is in 



SOLE ERG. 



55 



some respects noticeable, and, as it has subse- 
quently been repeated, the paragraph is 
quoted : 

"With respect to the constitutional power 
to pass the proposed bill, the committee en- 
tertain no doubt. The Constitution authorizes 
Congress to ' promote the progress of science 
and useful arts, by securing, for limited times, 
to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to 
their respective writings and discoveries.' 
There is no limitation of the power to natives 
or residents of this country. Such a limita- 
tion would have been hostile to the object of 
the power granted. That object was to pro- 
mote the progress of science and useful arts. 
They belong to no particular country, but to 
mankind generally. And it cannot be doubted 
that the stimulus which it was intended to give 
to mind and genius in other words, the 
promotion of the progress of science and the 
arts will be increased by the motives which 
the billoff ers to the inhabitants of Great Brit- 
ain and France." 



The bill which the committee asked leave to 
introduce was the first international copyright 
bill presented to Congress, and was entitled : 
" A bill to amend the act entitled 'An act to 
amend the several acts respecting copyright.' " 
It enacted briefly stated the extension of 
the provisions and benefits of the domestic 
copyright law then in force (the act of Febru- 
ary 3 !83i) to works by the authors of Great 
Britain and Ireland, and France, published sub- 
sequently to the passage of the act ; provided, 
a printed copy of the title of the book was de- 
posited, and the other requirements of the 
domestic law complied with, and an edition of 
the work was printed and published in the 
United States simultaneously with its issue in 
the foreign country, or within one month after 
depositing the title. The bill was read twice 
without debate. 

February 2oth, Mr. Clay presented to the 
Senate the " Memorial of G. Furman and other 
public writers," and also the " petition " of the 
professors of the University of Virginia. It 
was ordered that they lie upon the table and be 
printed. The first document, which has 154 
names attached, mainly residents of New York 
City, sets out that the petitioners "have long 
viewed with regret the existing law of copy- 
right in the United States, as inconsistent with 



the spirit of the age, the diffusion of sound 
knowledge, the interests of American writers, 
and the rights generally of literary property." 
The petition enlarges upon what is termed the 
" total indifference to the rights of literary 
property," and questions whether the shadow 
of a reason can be adduced in support of the 
exception of this kind of property from legal 
protection, and closes by praying the passage 
of an international copyright law with Great 
Britain. The nine professors of the University 
of Virginia say that they have " long felt and 
lamented the inadequacy of the law of copy- 
right in the United States, to give that encour- 
agement to the literature and science of the 
country which its patriotic framers intended, 
inasmuch as our publishers are neither willing 
nor able to pay the American author for his 
labors (except in a few special cases) , so long 
as the productions of British authors can be 
republished here free of charge," and they rep- 
resent " that an individual has as just a claim 
to remuneration from those who profit by his 
literary labors, as from those who profit by any 
other species of his industry." They there- 
fore ask for a change in the law, and suggest 
that if Congress "should think the greater 
cheapness of the current British literature is 
not to be disregarded," the privilege asked for 
might be extended to British authors for a 
shorter term than that which is given to Amer- 
ican citizens. This agitation, however, pro- 
duced no effect upon Congress which resulted in 
action. In the second session of the following 
Congress, December 13, 1837, Mr. Clay again 
introduced his bill, without alteration, and it 
was now referred to the Senate Committee on 
Patents and the Patent Office. But this move- 
ment brought down upon the Senate a flood of 
memorials and petitions against the passage of 
the bill, and they were also referred to the same 
committee. Noticing only such as were ordered 
to be printed, the first of these, in chronologi- 
cal order, presented by Mr. Buchanan, January 
15, 1838, was the memorial of a number of 
" citizens " of Philadelphia, who oppose the 
bill upon the ground that its passage " would 
be productive of the most deleterious conse- 
quences to a very important branch of the 
national industry," meaning thereby, the book- 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



making establishments, of which a great por- 
tion, it is claimed, would be paralyzed upon 
the bill becoming law. A pathetic picture is 
drawn of the prospective misery of the work- 
people thus thrown out of employment, which 
would be poorly compensated for, as the peti- 
tioners put it, " by any display of ultra sym- 
pathy towards those who stand in no need of 
it." The possible effect of a copyright law 
upon the price of the honestly printed book is 
regarded with dismay, and Congressmen are 
entreated to consider how it would affect their 
constituents, " the honest farmers with their 
interesting families," who, instead of re- 
ceiving their literary supplies at a rate " almost 
too trifling to mention," would have to buy at 
a tenfold cost. On the same day this memo- 
rial was presented by Mr. Toland, of Penn- 
sylvania, to the House, and it was printed in 
the documents of both chambers. 

On February I3th Mr. Norvall, of Michigan, 
presented the "Memorial" of the Columbia 
Typographical Society, of the city of Washing- 
ton, which is signed by George C. Smoot, 
President. This document is short and to the 
effect that the passage of the bill will prove, in 
the opinion of the memorialists, " the immedi- 
ate destruction of the book-printing business 
of the United States ; and the consequent im- 
poverishment of the thousands dependent on 
this branch of industry . . . ; will greatly 
enhance the price, and limit the circulation of 
literature, confining it to the wealthy alone ; 
in fact, in every view, hostile to the interests 
of our country, without being calculated to 
promote a sale of American authors' works, 
expected from its passage." The New York 
Typographical Society also sent a document 
of considerable length, signed by its president 
and secretary, and presented to the Senate on 
March I3th, by Mr. Wright, of Massachusetts, 
and ordered to be printed. The main effort 
of the memorial is to show, as the petitioners 
put it, that "the most injurious tendency of 
this bill will be that of causing books to be 
manufactured in England that are now printed 
in this country ; " but, when it is remembered 
that one of the provisions of the bill necessi- 
tated the printing of all copyrighted books 
in this country, it is difficult to see how 



this could follow. Mr. Buchanan, on March 
igth, presented the " Memorial of Peter S. Du 
Ponceau and others, praying Congress to appoint 
committees of inquiry on the subject of copy- 
right, and to await their report before acting 
on the subject," which was laid on the 
table, and ordered to be printed ; but, 
subsequently, on March 2Qth, upon a 
motion to that effect, it also was referred to 
the Committee on Patents. This neutral peti- 
tion, it may be noted in passing, contains, 
among its signers, the names of some who 
subscribed to the first petition, of February 4, 
1837, asking the passage of a copyright bill. 
On the loth of April, also, Mr. Buchanan 
presented to the Senate what purports to be 
the "Memorial of Richard Penn Smith and 
others, against the passage of the bill to es- 
tablish an international copyright law," but 
this is (word for word) the petition presented 
by him on January I5th, with another list of 
114 signers attached. It consequently is 
twice printed in the documents of the same 
session of Congress. 

While in the House (where petitions for 
and against had been introduced in the early 
part of this year), a memorial from the 
booksellers of Boston was presented by Mr. 
Fletcher, of Massachusetts, April i6th. This 
was ordered to lie on the table, but was printed 
in the House documents for the 2d session of 
the 25th Congress. The memorialists con- 
sider the request contained in the "Address" 
of British authors as unseasonable, because, 
in the words of the memorial, "the law of 
copyright in Great Britain, as it stands at 
present, contains no express provision for trie 
protection of any but British authors ; its 
protection to foreigners, if any, is wholly con- 
structive. . . . When Great Britain shall 
have opened her doors to our authors, then, 
it would seem, a more fitting occasion would 
be presented for entertaining a proposition to 
extend to her authors a like courtesy in the 
United States." It might, perhaps, be taken 
as indicative of some growth in free-trade 
notions, that the strivers for a protection 
measure in the national Legislature nowadays 
are so averse to seeing it properly labelled, 
for in 1838 there was manifested no hesitation 



SOLBERG. 



57 



in publishing a desire for as much protection 
as could be secured. So the Boston book- 
sellers, in their memorial, say, that "in order to 
the protection of our own manufactures and 
industry, for which we are mainly solicitous, 
and on which depend our means of subsist- 
ence, we conceive that the following provisions 
should be clearly and explicity set forth in the 
proposed law : " I . The act shall not apply to 
books printed prior to its passage, nor to sub- 
sequent editions of such works ; 2. The 
American edition to appear simultaneously 
with foreign issue and within one month after 
deposit of title; 3. The work to be wholly 
manufactured in this country; 4. Copyright 
claim to be printed on back of title ; and 
5. The privileges of copyright to be reciprocal. 
On the 2 ist of May, Mr. George W. Toland, 
of Pennsylvania, presented four petitions from 
Philadelphia against international copyright, 
and Mr. W. B. Calhoun, a member of the 
House from Massachusetts, presented, June 
4th, a petition from inhabitants of that State 
remonstrating against international copyright. 
The latter was ordered to lie on the table, and 
to be printed ; but in printing the signatures 
were omitted. The Massachusetts memorial- 
ists think the passage of Mr. Clay's bill "would 
be unjust, impolitic, and hostile to that general 
diffusion of intelligence among the people 
which is the best safeguard of our republican 
institutions" unjust, they think, to the Ameri- 
can book-manufacturers, and impolitic in giving 
foreigners emoluments to which they are not 
fairly entitled. They claim also that an inter- 
national copyright law would have a retrospec- 
tive operation and impair the obligation of 
contracts, by giving copyright to new editions 
of English works already prepared at large 
expense by American publishers for the Ameri- 
can book market. The "Address" of British 
authors is criticised by the petitioners in 
several respects. Meanwhile the friends of 
the measure became active. On March igth 
Mr. Toland presented to the House of Repre- 
sentatives a petition from citizens of Philadel- 
phia praying the passage of an international 
copyright law, and April 24th, Senator Rives, 
of Virginia, and Mr. Clay, presented to the 
Senate petitions from Boston and New York of 



similar import, and Mr. Preston the memorial 
of W. Marshall & Co., and others, of Philadel- 
phia, also favorable. The Boston petition, 
which is headed by Edward Everett, and con- 
tains, among the remaining 78 signatures, the 
names of Samuel A. Appleton, George S. 
Hillard, C. C. Felton, Willard Phillips, John 
Brooks Fenno, Nathaniel Greene, William 
Beach Lawrence, and George T. Curtis, favors 
the proposed measure because it is held essen- 
tial to the encouragement and development of 
American literature, and because, in the words 
of the petitioners, "it is demanded, with much 
propriety, as an act of justice by the principal 
foreign authors interested. . . . The plea 
of the British authors appears to us to be 
founded in the plainest principles of justice. 
Our law already recognizes the right of native 
citizens to hold and transfer literary property 
as fully as it recognizes the right of transferring 
any other species of property. We cannot 
well conceive why a foreign author should not 
have the same liberty and right to consign or 
transfer literary property to his agents in this 
country that a foreign merchant has to transfer 
and consign his merchandise. ... Is not the 
distinction palpably unjust and impolitic ? . . . 
In conclusion, your petitioners would respect- 
fully urge that they consider the proposed 
measure as demanded by a due respect for the 
principles of justice founded in the use of a 
common language, by a sense of enlightened 
national reciprocity, and by the great literary 
interests of both countries." 

The New York petition bears 136 signa- 
tures, including such well-known names as 
Henry Ogden, John McVickers, Charles 
Anthon, Theodore Sedgwick, Jr., William A. 
Duer, and Cornelius Mathews. Also may be 
noted the name of Grenville A. Sackett, who 
is reputed to be the author of the first inde- 
pendent work published in this country upon 
the subject of international copyright, namely, 
the anonymous pamphlet, published in 1838, 
under the title "A Plea for Authors," etc. 
The copyright law of the United States, 
according to this memorial, " is an anomaly 
in civilized legislation," and "the effect of 
limiting the protection of copyright to 
citizens or residents is as impolitic as it is 
unjust. . . . This measure (virtually an 
international copyright law) is not only 
demanded by a just regard to the property of 
foreign writers but is imperatively required 
for the advancement of our own literature. 11 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



The memorial introduced by Senator Preston 
as from Philadelphia is word for word the 
Boston petition above, signed by publishers, 
booksellers, authors, and others. On this 
same day, also, upon the motion of Senator 
Rives, the petition of the professors of the 
University of Virginia, sent in to the Senate 
during the previous Congress, was also referred 
to the Committee on Patents. This petition, 
it will be remembered, was favorable to an 
international copyright law. A second Phila- 
delphia petition, "praying the extension of 
the advantage of copyright to all native or 
foreign residents or non-residents," was pre- 
sented by Mr. Toland to the House on May 
2 ist, and was referred to the Committee on 
the Judiciary, and printed. Its text is the 
same as that of the memorial presented to the 
Senate by Mr. Preston on April the 24th, 
having doubtless a different list of signatures ; 
but in printing the names of the signers have 
been omitted. 

By this time the Senate Committee on Pat- 
ents, to whom these various memorials had been 
referred, evidently thought they had accumu- 
lated literature enough, both pro and con, and 
they hastened to make a report, which was 
submitted by Senator Ruggles June 25th, and 
was adverse to the passage of Mr. Clay's bill. 
The committee, in this report, decline to discuss 
the question of authors 1 natural rights of liter- 
ary property, thinking it sufficient that their 
works are protected by domestic law, and 
claiming further, that " international copyright, 
in strict sense, has no existence." They seem 
to have discovered also that the British authors, 
in making their petition, entertained the sinis- 
ter purpose of monopolizing the American 
market for their works, to the destruction of 
the book-manufacturing interests of the coun- 
try ; and as to the complaints (which had re- 
peatedly, and in strong language appeared in 
the memorials) of the ill effects of free repub- 
lication of foreign works upon the growth and 
development of American literature, the com- 
mittee treat them as though they were but the 
screen for the home authors' greedy desire for 
higher prices for their own works ; and con- 
cerning the competition with foreign books, 
they doubt its existence to any degree, and in 



any case consider it as " far from undesirable," 
and " they are, therefore, persuaded that the 
benefit of such a law would inure principally 
to foreign publishers and manufacturers, to the 
great discouragement of our own, and that 
authors on either side of the Atlantic would 
derive much less advantage from it than might 
at first view be apprehended." 

Senator Clay, however, was not disconcerted 
by this adverse report on his bill, and promptly, 
in the next session of the same Congress, 
on Dec. 17, 1838, he brought in his bill for 
the third time, and it was now referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary ; and on December 
igth, upon his motion, it was ordered that the 
several memorials and petitions on the files of 
the last session should be referred to the same 
committee. But on March I, 1839, before 
any report had been made, Senator Wall re- 
quested that this committee be discharged from 
the further consideration of these petitions, 
etc., which was granted. 

Determined to keep the matter before the 
Senate, Mr. Clay, on the 6th of January, 1840, 
presented his bill for the fourth time, when it 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
of that Congress, from which committee it was 
promptly returned to the Senate two days 
later, with the report that they neither recom- 
mended nor approved of the passage of the 
bill. On the I5th of April, however, the 
Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, pro- 
ceeded to consider the subject ; but for some, 
doubtless, good reason, which is, however, 
not set out in the journals of Congress, 
Mr. Clay requested that further consideration 
of the bill be postponed to the 23d instant, 
and then be made the order of the day, which 
was agreed to ; but it failed to get a hearing on 
that day, not obtaining consideration again 
until Friday, July I7th, upon which unlucky 
day it was ordered to lie on the table. 

A second wave of copyright agitation was 
set in motion during this year, 1840. Dr. 
Francis Lieber published a letter, addressed to 
Senator Preston, on International Copyright, 
and Dickens's visit to this country in 1841 in- 
creased the agitation to a flood-tide ; where- 
upon Mr. Clay, in the following session of 
Congress, on the 6th of January, 1842, again 



SOLE ERG. 



59 



obtained leave to bring in his bill, which was 
a third time referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary. No report was made ; but we learn, 
from the record of the Senate proceedings of 
May II (upon which day Senator Preston 
asked Mr. Berrien, chairman of the committee, 
what had become of the bill), that Mr. Clay 
had inquired some time previously as to the 
committee's views upon the bill, and learning 
that an adverse report was determined upon, 
he had requested that the latter should be 
delayed for the purpose of getting further 
testimony, evidently feeling that no report was 
preferable to an adverse report. Meanwhile 
the lukewarmness of the Senate had led the 
friends of the measure to look to the House of 
Representatives in hopes of producing some 
result there, and on March 14, 1842, a petition 
by Washington Irving and twenty-four others 
was presented by Mr. Edward Stanly, of 
North Carolina, and referred to a select com- 
mittee of five members, consisting of Mr. John 
P. Kennedy, of Maryland ; Mr. Robert C. 
Winthrop, of Massachusetts ; Mr. John H. 
Brockway, of Connecticut ; Mr. John McKeon, 
of New York, and Mr. Benjamin G. Shields, 
of Alabama. 

April 12, 1842, in answer to a request from 
the House, made (the 7th of April) upon 
motion of Mr. McKeon, the President trans- 
mitted to the House the correspondence be- 
tween Lord Palmerston, British Secretary of 
State for Foreign Affairs, and the United 
States minister in London, of March 6 and 8, 
1839, enquiring whether our Government was 
then disposed to enter upon a reciprocity copy- 
right treaty. This correspondence was referred 
to the select committee on International Copy- 
right, and was printed. 

June 13, 1842, Mr. Toland presented to 
the House, and Mr. Buchanan to the Senate, 
the memorials of C. Sherman, and of T. & J. 
W. Johnson (the well-known Philadelphia law- 
book publishers) urging the inexpediency of 
an international copyright law. They were 
referred to the respective judiciary committees. 
Senator Buchanan, in presenting the petitions, 
said that they contained a brief and conclusive 
argument against the passage of an interna- 
tional copyright law, and that he was happy to 



learn that the Committee on the Judiciary were 
also unanimously against the adoption of any 
such law. His motion to print the memorial 
of T. & J. W. Johnson was referred to the 
Committee on Printing, and was favorably re- 
ported on June I5th. This last memorial from 
Philadelphia does not differ in tenor from pre- 
vious ones from that quarter . ..." A man 
is entitled to the fruits of his labor, physical 
or mental ; but what these fruits shall be must 
be determined by a regard to the general good. 
.... The argument of justice to authors, in 
favor of an international copyright law, is 
valid only so far as it may coincide with the 

good of the whole The whole question 

is one of policy, and is simply this : will it 
benefit the nation, all things considered? . . . 
All the riches of English literature are ours. 
English authorship comes free as the vital air, 
untaxed, unhindered, even by the necessity of 
translation, into our country ; and the question 
is, Shall we tax it, and thus interpose a barrier 
to the circulation of intellectual and moral 
light? Shall we build up a dam, to obstruct 
the flow of the rivers of knowledge? . . . 
Shall we refuse to gather the share of this har- 
vest, which Providence, and our own position, 
makes our own ? " So runs this writ. It is 
assumed as beyond question, that the Ameri- 
can public, rather than pay the small percentage 
additional needed to acquire from the English 
author the honest right to the use and benefits 
of these riches, would suffer the " drying up of 
such fountains of light." The American au- 
thor is relegated to the great work of popular- 
izing knowledge, which is otherwise explained 
to be adapting English works to American 
wants and wishes, and it is suggested, as a 
point of vital import, that the passage of an 
international copyright law would prevent such 
free and uncontrolled use of the foreign au- 
thors' works. A strong sidelight is thrown 
upon this document by recollecting that the 
authors of it occupied the position of law-book 
publishers, having a long list of publications, 
nearly the whole of it being the titles of Eng- 
lish law books, and that they were at the time 
issuing a series entitled the " Law Library," 
containing 104 volumes, embracing 185 distinct 
English works, and including not a single book 
by an American author. 

The session of Congress came to an end be- 
fore the select committee of the House had 
taken any action, and in the next, the 3d ses- 



6o 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, 



sion of the 27th Congress, this committee was, 
on motion of Mr. Kennedy, revived, Mr. Caleb 
Gushing being substituted for Mr. Shields. 
Dec. 14, 1842, on request of Mr. Kennedy, the 
memorial of Washington Irving, presented to 
the House on March I4th, was transferred to the 
new committee ; and on motion of Mr. Cushing 
it was resolved that this committee be em- 
powered to consider of the propriety of amend- 
ments generally in the existing law of copyright, 
and to report by bill or otherwise. For some 
reason not set forth the committee made no 
report. 

January 18, 1843, it was resolved, upon re- 
quest of Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll, of Pennsyl- 
vania, that the Committee on the Judiciary 
of the House be instructed to inquire whether 
the copyright laws might be amended, and to 
report accordingly. No report came from that 
committee upon this subject. 

The next international copyright movement 
was again in the Senate, where Mr. Choate, in 
the ist session of the 28th Congress, Dec. 15, 
1843, presented a memorial from American 
publishers, which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary, and the motion to print hav- 
ing been submitted to the Committee on Print- 
ing, was favorably reported on December i8th. 
But in the interim Mr. John Quincy Adams had 
presented the same petition to the House on 
the i6th inst., and as it thus reached the 
printer first from that branch of the Legislature 
it will not be found in the Senate documents, 
but in the Executive Documents of the House. 
The tenor of this important document is most 
readily ascertained by the following quotation : 
" Your memoralists, deeply interested, not only 
as booksellers in particular but also as Ameri- 
can citizens in general, in the greatest possible 
diffusion of knowledge and sound literature, are 
fully convinced, by their experience as traders 
in books, that the present law regulating lit- 
erary property is seriously injurious both to the 
advancement of American literature and to 
that very extensive branch of American in- 
dustry which comprehends the whole mechani- 
cal department of book-making. It is alike 
injurious to the business of publishing, and to 
the best and truest interests of the people at 
large. Your memorialists, after a careful and 
mature consideration of the important subject, 
are fully satisfied that the great interests of 
knowledge, of the industry of those who pro- 



vide the community with reading, and of the 
vast reading community itself, would be most 
essentially promoted by the passing of a law 
which would secure to the authors of all nations 
the sole right to dispose of their compositions 
for publication in the United States (whether 
they may be published in foreign countries or 
not) ; provided, always, the book be printed in 
the United States within a certain time (to be 
settled by law) after its publication in a foreign 
country ; and provided, also, that the copy- 
right for this country shall be transferable 
from the author to American resident pub- 
lishers only. Your memorialists are satisfied 
that this equitable protection would enable the 
publishers to furnish their fellow-citizens both 
with foreign and American literature in such 
forms and at such prices as would truly meet the 
wants as well as the means of the people ; while 
the writers of books would receive the just com- 
pensation for their labor and talent wherever 
their works may be read." Finally the memo- 
rialists petition Congress to enact a law secur- 
ing to foreign authors, of such countries as 
may reciprocate the privilege, the right to dis- 
pose of their works to American publishers to 
be printed in this country. This document is 
signed by twenty-three publishers and book- 
sellers, five printers, and seven binders, of New 
York, including among the first class the then 
important houses, D. Appleton & Co., Bartlett 
& Welford, Alexander V. Blake, Robert Carter, 
Francis & Co., and John S. Taylor & Co. ; 
twenty-two publishers of Boston, including T. 
H. Carter & Co., Crocker & Brewster, Samuel 
G. Drake, W. D. Ticknor & Co., and Lewis & 
Sampson ; eighteen booksellers and publishers 
of Philadelphia, including George S. Appleton, 
J. B. Lippincott & Co., and A. S. Barnes & 
Co., besides twenty-two booksellers from Hart- 
ford and other places, ninety-seven signatures 
in all. No action was taken by the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the Senate upon this memo- 
rial ; while in the House a vote rejected its 
reference to the Committee on the Library, and 
referred it to a select committee of nine mem- 
bers, Messrs. Winthrop, Adams, C. J. In- 
gersoll, E. J. Black, Reuben Chapman, Her- 
rick, Leonard, Bowlin, and Potter, of Ohio. 

Mr. Winthrop, of Massachusetts, on Mon- 
day, Jan. 15, 1844, presented a memorial 
of Nahum Capen, of Boston, which was re- 
ferred to the select committee, and on Friday 
his motion was agreed to by the House to print 



SOLE ERG. 



61 



the document. Mr. Capen's memorial is a 
lengthy argument in favor of international 
copyright, divided into three chapters: i. 
Copyrights as property recognized by law; 
2. The effect of an international copyright 
law on literature, science, and education; 3. 
The effect of an international copyright law 
upon authors and publishers. The select com- 
mittee made no report. 

Senator Johnson, of Maryland, in the first 
session of the 2gth Congress, attempted to 
revive the subject by making a motion, Jan. 
22, 1846, that the several memorials upon inter- 
national copyright on the files of the Senate be 
referred to a select committee. This was 
agreed to, and Messrs. Cass, Berrien, Dix, 
Johnson of Maryland, and Pennybacker were 
selected to form the committee ; but they do 
not seem to have taken any action. 

Like a shuttlecock this subject of inter- 
national copyright appears now in the House, 
now in the Senate, and then, again, in the 
House, where, March 22, 1848, Mr. T. Butler 
King, of Georgia, presented a memorial of 
John Jay, and also the memorial of William C. 
Bryant and others, which was ordered to be 
referred to a select committee, and April I3th, 
Messrs. King, Marsh, Ingersoll, Horace Mann, 
Morse, Hilliard, Sims, Preston, and Murphy 
were appointed to serve upon the committee. 
On the 2Qth Mr. King moved that the memo- 
rials be printed, which was agreed to, and the 
document as printed, occupying 33 octavo 
pages, contains : ist, Mr. Jay's petition ; 2d, 
the memorial of the publishers, which had 
been presented to the House Dec. 16, 1843, 
and already printed in the documents of the 
ist session of the 28th Congress ; 3d, a cata- 
logue of American books published in England ; 
and, 4th, the petition signed by William C. 
Bryant and fifteen others. Mr. Jay's document 
is the most thorough yet presented to the at- 
tention of Congress in this class. The key- 
note is struck in the first paragraph, where he 
states that, from a careful examination of the 
law of copyright then in force, he " is well 
persuaded that many injuries, direct and re- 
mote, are inflicted by the exclusion of foreign- 
ers from the privileges of that act, upon the 
rights of American authors, upon the stability 
and respectability of the American book-trade, 



and upon the interests of the American reading 
public, and that the passage of an international 
copyright law, by which foreign authors shall 
be allowed their copyright here, and American 
authors assisted to their copyright abroad, 
would not only be an act of national justice, 
but of national policy ; that it would afford to 
our native authors what they have never yet 
enjoyed, ' a fair field', ' that it would supply 
a new stimulus to intellectual exertion, infuse a 
more elevated tone into our national literature, 
give a healthier character and a wider compe- 
tition to the American book trade, and secure 
a better class of books for general circulation." 

In support of these views he'appends various 
facts and arguments. It is interesting to note 
that he sustains Mr. Clay's argument that there 
is no constitutional objection to the extension 
of copyright to foreigners, because the object 
of the constitutional clause was to promote the 
progress of science and the useful arts, which 
belong to no party or country, but to mankind 
generally. The want of an International copy- 
right act, he argues, produces: I. Injury to 
American authors, <z, in regard to the sale of 
their books at home, b, in regard to the 
sale of their books abroad ; 2. Injuries to 
American publishers and the numerous artisans 
connected with the book trade (by rendering 
the business of reprinting speculative and un- 
safe) ; 3. Disadvantageous to the reading pub- 
lic and the nation at large. The objections 
which at different times had been advanced 
against International copyright are answered 
seralim, and at length, and with much force. 
He finally urges upon Congress to extend the 
provisions of the domestic copyright act to the 
works of foreigners published after the passage 
of such a law, provided a title-page and copies 
of each work are deposited according to the 
law, besides a duplicate copy sent to the 
Smithsonian Institution, and provided the 
work is printed and published in the United 
States within a specified time. Translations 
to be included in the protection. 

The document, to which is appended a list of 
signatures headed by William Cullen Bryant, 
is but the first and the last two paragraphs of 
Mr. Jay's memorial. Among the signers are 
Charles Fenno Hoffman, Ogden Hoffman, Jr., 
and Theodore Sedgwick. 

February i, 1851, Mr. Winthrop, on the floor 



62 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



of the Senate, said : " I present the memorial 
of the American Medical Association, prepared 
in conformity with the resolution adopted 
at their late annual meeting in Cincinnati, 
and signed by their president, Dr. Mussey, 
praying for the adoption of an international 
copyright system, both as a measure of abstract 
expediency and justice, and more particularly 
as essential to secure a just remuneration to 
American authors, and a just encouragement 
to American literature. I move the reference 
of the memorial to the Committee on the Judi- 
ciary ; and, as it relates to a subject of no little 
public interest, and comes from an association 
composed of gentlemen of high scientific char- 
acter and great moral worth in all parts of the 
Union, I move that the memorial be printed." 
But, on February 4, the Committee on Printing 
reported against printing the document, and 
nothing further came of this movement. 

The next senator to say a word in favor of 
international copyright was Mr. Charles Sum- 
ner, who, July 19, 1852, presented the petitions 
of Washington Irving, James Fenimore 
Cooper, and others, with these words: "I 
have in my hands an important petition con- 
cerning American literature, signed by names 
universally honored in this country. The pe- 
tition is short, and I will read it : ' The 
undersigned, authors, publishers, booksellers, 
printers, editors, and paper-dealers, citizens of 
the United States respectfully ask that your 
honorable body will enact a law for the benefit 
of American literature which shall give to Brit- 
ish authors and publishers the same right to 
the control of their literary property in the 
United States that the law of England offers 
reciprocally to the authors and publishers of 
this country.' I have also a second petition to 
the same effect. These petitions were pre- 
pared some time ago, but only now have been 
placed in my hands. Among the illustrious 
petitioners are James Fenimore Cooper, on 
whose signature is now the sacred seal of death, 
Jonathan N. Wainwright, Hermann Melville> 
William C. Bryant, George P. Putnam, Wash- 
ington Irving, Rev. Dr. Francis L. Hawks, Dr. 
Edward Robinson, Rufus W. Griswold, Bayard 
Taylor, and John Jay. Uniting with these pe- 
titioners in their prayer, and cordially desiring 



some action of Congress on this subject, if not 
this session, yet speedily, so soon as it prac- 
tically can be done, I move that these peti- 
tions be referred to the Committee on the 
Library." The petitions were so referred, but 
no action was taken upon them. 

The following year, 1853, copyright agitation 
was begun from another quarter, namely the 
Department of State. On the I5th of Febru- 
ary five publishing firms of New York City, 
viz., D. Appleton & Co., G. P. Putnam & 
Co., Robert Carter & Bros., Charles Scribner, 
and Stanford & Swords, addressed a letter to 
Edward Everett, then Secretary of State, set- 
ting out the points which they deemed of prac- 
tical necessity in passing an international 
copyright treaty. These "points" are in 
effect, that the title of a foreign work should 
be entered in the United States District Court 
or the Department of State before its publi- 
cation in England ; the type set up, and 
the book printed and bound in this country, 
and the American publisher, in order to secure 
protection, must show his right to the book 
from the author in writing. If within thirty 
days from its publication abroad there is no 
authorized edition published here, then any one 
shall have the right of reprinting the work. 
Mr. Everett began negotiations, through the 
American minister in London, to effect a copy- 
right treaty, and, as we learn from a letter 
written by Mr. Charles Sumner, this treaty was 
reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign 
Relations, considered in the Senate, and finally 
left on the table, without any definite vote. 
In the meantime opponents of international 
copyright viewed with alarm this new move- 
ment, which they thought more likely to suc- 
ceed, perhaps, than the attempted passage of 
a bill, and in December of that year, and dur- 
ing the first four months of 1854, a dozen peti- 
tions were presented to the Senate, from 
" citizens " of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, 
Michigan, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, 
remonstrating against the ratification of a 
treaty. They were variously referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations, or Committee 
on the Library, or were laid on the table. Mr. 
James Cooper (also a senator from Pennsyl- 
vania) requested information from Mr. Henry 



SOLE ERG. 



C. Carey, "calculated to enable him to act 
understandingly in reference to the interna- 
tional copyright treaty now awaiting the action 
of the Senate," which request resulted in the 
publication of Mr. Carey's well-known " Let- 
ters on International Copyright." 

In the first session of the 35th Congress in- 
ternational copyright was again revived in the 
House by Mr. Edward Joy Morris, of Penn- 
sylvania, who, Dec. 10, 1857, gave notice of his 
intention to introduce a bill, and Jan. 18, 1858, 
presented House bill No. 82, which was referred 
to the Joint Committee on the Library ; but no 
action was taken. In the first session of the 
next Congress he asked leave to reintroduce 
his bill, and Feb. 15, 1860, presented it un- 
changed, as House bill No. 32 of that ses- 
sion, "A bill to provide for an international 
copyright law," when it was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs. Neither com- 
mittee nor House seems to have given any 
further concern to this bill, the second interna- 
tional copyright bill presented to Congress. 
The bill was never printed ; but the manuscript 
original is preserved in the file room of the 
House of Representatives. Its purport was to 
so amend the copyright act of Feb. 3, 1831, 
as to extend its provisions to persons not 
citizens of the United States, and to their 
widows and children ; such persons being the 
subjects of foreign countries granting equal 
benefits to citizens of the United States. The 
stipulations necessary to be complied with be- 
fore a copyright could be secured were the 
deposit of a printed copy of the title, before 
publication, in the clerk's office of one of the 
district courts, and the stereotyping, printing, 
and publishing of the work copyrighted in the 
United States, within one month after its pub- 
lication abroad, by a citizen of the United 
States. The importation of the foreign edition 
by the American copyright proprietor rendered 
importation, or reprinting, free to all, which 
was also the case if the publisher allowed the 
supply of any work to become exhausted. 
The provisions of the bill were not to apply to 
newspapers or periodical publications. 

During the Civil War it was not to be ex- 
pected that any thought could be given to the 
subject of copyright, and it is no surprise, there- 



fore, to find no renewal of agitation concerning 
this question until 1866. On February igth 
of that year Mr. Edwin D. Morgan, of New 
York, presented to the Senate a petition from 
citizens of that State, praying the enactment 
of an international copyright law, which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela- 
tions ; and during the months of March and 
April following Mr. Sumner presented eleven 
different petitions and memorials for the same 
object, the first of these headed by William 
Cullen Bryant, and the second signed by Henry 
W. Longfellow and others. They were all re- 
ferred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- 
tions, but were not printed ; and on February 
28th of the following year (1867), Mr. Sumner, 
from that committee, asked that it be dis- 
charged from the further consideration of these 
petitions for international copyright, without 
any report having been made by the com- 
mittee. 

Dickens's second visit to this country, in 1867, 
may partially account for the renewal of the 
agitation beginning about that time, and which 
reached Congress early in the following year, 
when Mr. Samuel M. Arnell, of Tennessee, 
January i6th, submitted the following resolu- 
tion to the House of Representatives, which 
was read and agreed to: "Resolved, That the 
Committee on the Library is hereby instructed 
to enquire into the subject of international 
copyright, and the best means for the encourage- 
ment and advancement of cheap literature, and 
the better protection of authors, and to report 
to the House by bill or otherwise." The Com- 
mittee on the Library was a joint committee, 
consisting at that time of Senators Morgan, of 
New York ; Fessenden, of Maine ; and Howe, 
of Wisconsin, and Mr. Baldwin, of Massachu- 
setts ; Mr. Spalding, of Ohio, and Mr. Pruyn, 
of New York, members of the House of Rep- 
resentatives. Promptly, Feb. 21, 1868, Mr. 
Baldwin presented to the House a report ac- 
companied by a bill, both of which were 
ordered to be printed. Mr. Pruyn asked and 
obtained consent to submit the views of the 
minority of this committee, but probably be- 
cause no further action was taken upon the 
majority report no minority report was ever 
presented. 



6 4 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Mr. Baldwin's report, the third international 
copyright report, is a considerable document, 
presenting forcibly the need for and advantage 
of a law protecting the works of foreign authors 
in the United States. The initial paragraph is 
as follows : ' ' We are fully persuaded that it is 
not only expedient but in a high degree im- 
portant to the United States to establish such 
international copyright laws as will protect the 
rights of American authors in foreign countries 
and give similar protection to foreign authors 
in this country. It would be an act of national 
justice and honor in which we should find that 
justice is the wisest policy for nations, and 
brings the richest rewards." The report con- 
tinues : " In all civilized nations it is under- 
stood that the author of a book or a work of 
art has a natural right of property in his work 
as real as that of his neighbor to any other 
kind of personal property. No right can be 
more unquestionable." Pointing out how bene- 
ficial have been the results of the international 
copyright laws and treaties of European 
countries, the committee says: "We alone 
have neglected to change the antiquated and 
vicious policy that allows our authors to 
be plundered in foreign countries, represses 
literary development in our own country, makes 
the business of publishers, to a considerable 
extent, speculative and uncertain, and encour- 
ages the circulation here of the most worthless 
English books instead of the better books from 
other countries and from our own writers, 
which, under the operation of suitable copy- 
right laws, would exclude them from the mar- 
ket." For the policy advocated by Henry 
Clay, in his report, of granting protection to 
the works of foreign authors, the following 
four reasons are given, and each sustained by 
good arguments : I . A sense of justice to the 
author's right of property in his work ; 2. The 
development of our own literature, making it 
national; 3. The improvement of the business 
of manufacturing, publishing, and selling books 
in the United States ; 4. The promotion of the 
interests of American book-buyers. It is to be 
noted that this report lays much stress upon 
the need for laws which will secure the Ameri- 
can authors' property abroad, a consideration 
which was not touched upon in the two previous 
reports. The case of Mr. Motley and his 
"History of the Dutch Republic" is dwelt 
upon as an illustration of the need of such 
protection. Another novel argument in this 
report is to the effect that the establishment of 
international copyright laws would tend to en- 



courage the publication of translations of the 
best works of foreign countries, such as the 
best French, German, Swedish, and Danish 
works (according to the report), instead of 
the republication of the worthless English 
books. The committee have thought it worth 
while to devote more than a page of their 
report to answering the objections, real or 
imagined, which have been alleged against 
the bill, especially such as have been con- 
tained in the memorials presented to Congress. 
These objections are quoted, enumerated as 
follows, and answered seratim : I. " Such laws 
would increase the price of books to American 
readers ; " 2. " No American books are repub- 
lished in Great Britain;" 3. "This policy 
would give British manufacturers of books 
entire monopoly of the American market ; " 4. 
" It would prevent the adaption of English 
books to American prejudices" (which fact 
the committee thought an excellent reason for 
an international copyright law) ; 5. "It would 
derange and oppress the American book-trade, 
by suddenly giving the benefit of copyright to 
foreign books already published here." Re- 
troactive copyright was, of course, never con- 
templated. The bill accompanying Mr. 
Baldwin's report was the third international 
copyright bill presented to Congress. It is com- 
posed of five long sections, and enacts, in brief, 
that foreign authors of books, maps, dramas, or 
musical compositions, as well as designers of 
engravings, which are first published abroad 
after the act has gone into effect, and their ex- 
ecutors or legal assigns, shall have the same 
copyrights as are granted to citizens of the 
United States ; provided, the countries of first 
publication have secured to citizens of the 
United States equal rights of copy, and upon 
the stipulation that all editions are to be wholly 
manufactured in the United States, and sold by 
publishers, citizens of the United States, one 
copy of the best foreign edition to be deposited 
in the Library of Congress and the title-page 
registered in the clerk's office of some district 
court of the United States within three months 
after first publication, and within the same 
term arrangements must have been made, in 
good faith, with an American publisher for im- 
mediate publication in the United States, and 



SOLE ERG. 



all the requirements of the domestic copyright 
law registration of title, deposit of two copies 
in Library of Congress, etc. have been com- 
plied with, as for an original American work. 
Translations are to be protected provided the 
original work has been registered in the United 
States and a copy deposited in the Library of 
Congress within four months after first publi- 
cation, and it is announced upon the title-page 
that the author reserves the right to translate ; 
and, further, that within six months after date 
of such registration of original work the author- 
ized translation has been offered to an Ameri- 
can publisher. As with the original work, 
every edition of the translation must be wholly 
manufactured in the United States, and pub- 
lished by a citizen ; the provision as to trans- 
lations to extend only to books first published 
in countries where similar protection is secured 
to American authors. A proclamation by the 
President that arrangements have been con- 
cluded with any nation shall immediately 
entitle authors and artists of such country to 
the benefits of the act. The presentation of 
the "Baldwin" report resulted in a consider- 
able agitation among authors and an increment 
to the already considerable literature upon the 
subject of an international copyright with Eng- 
land. Just previous, in October, 1867, Mr. 
James Parton contributed a forcible article to 
the Atlantic Monthly; and in 1868, Mr. Henry 
Charles Carey issued a second edition of his 
" Letters on International Copyright," while 
the " Copyright Association for the Protection 
and Advancement of Literature and Art " pub- 
lished a pamphlet entitled: "International 
Copyright," being an account of the proceed- 
ings at a meeting of authors and publishers, at 
the rooms of the New York Historical Society, 
April 9, 1868, for the purpose of organizing the 
International Copyright Association. This was 
edited by Mr. Edmund Clarence Stedman, and 
contains, besides a number of letters from 
various authors, speeches by William Cullen 
Bryant, S. Irenaeus Prime, Francis Lieber, 
Samuel Osgood, and Philip Schaff, together 
with an appendix containing "The Right of 
Copyright," by S. I. Prime, and Richard Grant 
White's article "The Copyright Question as 
it Stands," and at the end a memorial to 



Congress praying the passage of a bill to 
secure the rights of authors, artists, and de- 
signers, which is signed by 153 authors, pub- 
lishers, artists, etc. But the outside agitation 
produced no effect upon Congress, and no 
action was taken upon either bill or report 
during that session. 

In 1870 Lord Clarendon proposed, on behalf 
of the British Government, a reciprocity treaty 
for a term of five years ; but this treaty pro- 
posal seems never to have gone so far as to 
have been considered by the Senate. 

In the 2d session of the 42d Congress Mr. 
Baldwin's bill was revived by Mr. S. S. Cox, 
of New York, who introduced it, without 
change, as House bill No. 470 of that ses- 
sion. He presented it to the House Dec. 6, 
1871, when it was committed, without dis- 
cussion, to the Committee on the Library, and 
ordered to be printed. Not content with the 
prospect of a probable interment of his bill 
in the pigeon-holes of that committee, he 
moved, December nth, the consideration and 
passage of the following resolution: " Re- 
solved, That the Committee on the Library be 
directed to consider the question of an inter- 
national copyright, and to report to this House 
what, in their judgment, would be the wisest 
plan, by treaty or law, to secure the property 
of authors in their works without injury to 
others' rights and interests, and if, in their 
opinion, Congressional legislation is best, that 
they report a bill for that purpose." Mr. Kelley, 
of Pennsylvania, objected to the resolution; 
and Mr. Perce, of Mississippi, suggested that it 
be referred to the Committee on the Library, 
whereupon Mr. Cox pointed out that there was 
no propriety in doing that, as the resolution 
was a direction to that committee that they 
exercise their duty in a peculiar manner. As 
Mr. Kelley again objected to the resolution, Mr. 
Cox moved the suspension of the rules so as 
to enable him to introduce it, pending which 
the House adjourned ; but on the following Mon- 
day, December i8th, the resolution was taken 
up again, and decided in the affirmative by a 
vote of 105. On the 23d of January Mr. Cox 
moved that 500 additional copies of the bill be 
printed, which motion was referred to the Com- 
mittee on Printing, and the committee reported 
favorably February 7th, upon which Mr. Cox 
asked leave to make certain corrections in the bill 



66 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



before the extra copies were printed, which was 
granted. Of this second print of the bill it 
has been impossible to secure a copy and 
ascertain the exact nature of the corrections or 
amendments; but as the "Baldwin" bill pro- 
vided that titles should be recorded in the 
clerks' offices of the district courts, and as Mr. 
Cox had reintroduced this bill without change, 
although the domestic copyright law when 
codified, July 8, 1870, had changed the place 
of record to the Library of Congress, it is safe 
to conjecture that the bill was amended in this 
respect, and very likely in this only. Mean- 
while the Pennsylvanians felt it necessary to 
take active steps to head off the new copyright 
movement. Mr. Kelley, following Mr. Cox's 
precedent, submitted to the House an opposi- 
tion resolution on Feb. 12, 1872, which was 
also referred to the Committee on the Library, 
and was ordered to be printed. It was to the 
following effect : " Whereas it is expedient to 
facilitate the reproduction here of foreign works 
of a higher character than that of those now 
generally reprinted in this country ; and 
whereas it is in like manner desirable to facili- 
tate the reproduction abroad of the works of 
our own authors ; and whereas the grant of 
monopoly privileges, in case of reproduction 
here or elsewhere, must tend greatly to increase 
the cost of books, to limit their circulation, 
and to increase the already existing obstacles 
to the dissemination of knowledge ; Therefore 
Resolved, That the Joint Committee on the 
Library be, and it hereby is, instructed to 
inquire into the practicability of arrangements 
by means of which such reproduction, both 
here and abroad, may be facilitated, freed from 
the great disadvantages that must inevitably 
result from the grant of monopoly privileges 
such as are now claimed in behalf of foreign 
authors and domestic publishers." In the 
Senate, also, the Pennsylvania senators were 
busy pouring in memorials from " citizens" of 
that great State, who are represented as being 
"engaged in making books," and more par- 
ticularly described as type-founders, printers, 
paper-makers, music-printers, binders, and 
gold-beaters ! (Pennsylvania statesmen do not 
recognize that class of her citizens called 
authors engaged in making books). These 
various petitions were referred to the Com- 
mittee on the Library, but were not printed. 
Mr. Henry C. Carey issued his second work 
upon this subject, entitled, " The international 



copyright question considered with special 
reference to the interests of American authors, 
American printers and publishers, and Ameri- 
can readers," in which the "Baldwin" bill is 
sharply criticized and copyright of any kind 
objected to ; and on January 27th there was a 
meeting of Philadelphia " publishers, paper- 
makers, and others interested in the manufact- 
ure of books," presided over by Mr. Henry 
C. Baird, at which a memorial was adopted 
opposing international copyright for eight rea- 
sons, and this document was ordered to be 
taken to Washington and laid before the Joint 
Committee by a suitable delegation. In New 
York the booksellers and publishers of that city, 
with a delegation from Boston, held meetings 
January 23d and February 6th declaring in 
favor of copyright, and drawing up a bill em- 
bodying their ideas, which, with an argument 
in support of it by Mr. William H. Appleton 
(who drew up the bill), together with other 
documents, it was resolved should be taken to 
Washington by a committee and laid before 
Congress. At the second of these meetings 
was presented a memorial of British authors, in 
which they conceded that " the Americans 
have strong reasons for refusing to permit the 
British publisher to share in the copyright 
which they are willing to grant to the British 
author," and, expressing themselves as duly 
appreciating the force of the reasoning which 
distinguished between the British author and 
the British publisher, suggested that negotia- 
tions be renewed on the condition of American 
re-manufacture. This document was signed by 
fifty authors, including Herbert Spencer, Sir 
John Lubbock, John Stuart Mill, George Henry 
Lewis, James A. Froude, John Morley, Prof. 
Huxley, Charles Darwin, Prof. Tyndall, and 
Mr. Ruskin. Especially to be noted as among 
the number are the two persons who were 
also signers of the first "Address" of British 
authors sent to America, thirty-five years 
earlier, namely, Thomas Carlyle and Harriet 
Martineau. The executive committee of the 
Copyright Association held a meeting in New 
York, on Friday, January 26, and adopted, for 
the purpose of presentation to the Library 
Committee, a bill drawn up by Charles Astor 
Bristed, which is comprehensive in proportion 



SOLE ERG. 



to its brevity, and is to the following effect : 
"All rights of property secured to citizens of 
the United States of America by existing copy- 
right laws of the United States, are hereby 
secured to the citizens and subjects of every 
country, the government of which secures 
reciprocal rights to citizens of the United 
States." The act to take effect two years after 
its passage. 

This agitation of the subject induced the Joint 
Committee on the Library, consisting, at that 
time, of Senators Howe, of Wisconsin ; Mor- 
rill, of Maine, and Sherman, of Ohio ; and Rep- 
resentatives Peters, of Maine ; Wheeler, of 
New York, and Campbell, of Ohio; to hold 
two public meetings for the purpose of hear- 
ing testimony upon copyright, and arguments 
were listened to from Mr. Appleton, of the New 
York publishing firm ; E. L. Andrews, Esq. ; 
Mr. Bristed ; Prof. Youmans ; Isaac Sheldon, 
and the late Mr. Van Nostrand, of New York, 
in favor of some bill protecting the works of 
foreign authors ; and, as opposed to the pas- 
sage of any measure, Mr. W. P. Hazard, one 
of a committee from Philadelphia, who also 
read a communication from Mr. Henry C. Lea ; 
and Mr. Hubbard, of Boston, who read a let- 
ter from Harper & Brothers objecting to inter- 
national copyright. This letter closes with 
the following words : " In view of the great re- 
sults which have grown out of the freedom of 
literary exchange which we now enjoy, . . . 
the liberalizing, broadening, elevating influ- 
ence upon the national mind of the choicest 
thoughts of another great and cultivated people 
now so freely opened to it, it is our belief that 
the adoption of any serious restriction upon 
this freedom would be a very hazardous experi- 
ment, and possibly an irrevocable calamity to 
the nation." On the igth of February the 
Committee held a final private meeting, at 
which were presented a printed statement by 
Henry Carey Baird, and a final draft of the bill 
drawn up by American publishers, slightly mod- 
ified from that presented at the earlier meet- 
ing of the committee. ' Directly following this 

1 The text of this proposed bill is given in " The Law of 
Copyright," by W. A. Copinger, 2d ed.,8. London, 1881, 
pp. 496-497; and in the Publisher's Weekly, v. 15, 8. 
N. Y., 1879, p. 323. 



meeting of the committee, however, it was 
called upon to consider two new copyright 
bills, based upon the then novel "royalty" 
scheme of copyright, both presented to Con- 
gress upon the same day, Wednesday, Febru- 
ary 21, 1872, the one in the Senate by Mr. 
Sherman, and the other in the House by Mr. 
Beck. The two bills were ordered to be 
printed and referred to the Library Committee. 
The bill presented by Senator Sherman, com- 
monly called the "Elderkin" bill, from its 
being due to the suggestion of Mr. John El- 
derkin, grants to the foreign author of such 
country as extends similar privileges to Amer- 
ican citizens, what is called a " copyright " for 
ten years from first publication ; provided he 
delivers to the Librarian of Congress, within 
twelve months from such first publication, two 
copies of his work and complies with the other 
stipulations of the domestic copyright law; 
having done which he is at liberty to print and 
publish his work in this country himself, or he 
may contract with any publisher in the United 
States for publication at the rate of five per- 
centum of the gross cost of the publication as 
his royalty, it being especially enacted, how- 
ever, that any person or persons may republish 
the author's work, upon which, the bill pro- 
vides, he may sue them in any court of com- 
petent jurisdiction for his lawful royalty of five 
percentum of the gross cost of each publication. 
The bill introduced by Mr. Beck was suggested 
by Mr. John P. Morton, the well-known pub- 
lisher, of Louisville, Ky., and is similar in 
principle to the "Elderkin" bill, providing 
that a foreign author may obtain a copyright 
on his work on the following terms and condi- 
tions : " Before his work is first published for 
sale in this country, the title-page thereof must 
be recorded in the office of the Librarian of 
Congress, the work to be free to be printed 
and published by all responsible publishers ; 
the copyright not to exceed ten per centum on 
the selling price. The author shall have an 
agent prepared to make contracts, notice of 
which shall be given through the public press." 
Both bills stipulated that nothing in the act 
was to prevent the importation or sale of the 
foreign edition of the work. Mr. Morton, who 
suggested this bill, says, in a letter to the Hon 



68 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



S. S. Cox, " Whether Congress ought to pass 
an International copyright law or not is another 
question. But, if they should do so, they should 
look to the interests of the millions of readers, 
and not to the protection (I believe that is the 
word) of the few publishers." 

In this chronological progress our narrative 
has now reached the first set speech in Con- 
gress upon the subject of international copy- 
right, which was delivered by Mr. Archer, of 
Maryland, on the floor of the House, Saturday, 
March 23, 1872. Mr. Archer's long speech, 
which occupies nearly five pages of the Con- 
gressional Globe, is mainly devoted to the 
consideration and refutation of the arguments 
advanced by Mr. Henry Charles Carey, in his 
" Letters on International Copyright." The 
speaker's own position upon this question is 
plainly indicated in the following expressive 
passages, which open his oration: "What a 
melancholy spectacle is presented to the Chris- 
tian and moralist, in this day of boasted en- 
lightenment, by the two greatest nations on 
the globe, in their dealings with each other in 
the matter of mental commodities ! Two bands 
of literary pirates, virtually armed with letters 
of marque from their governments (for their 
governments would most assuredly protect 
them if resistance were made to their piratical 
encroachments), launch themselves boldly 
forth on the great sea of literature, and openly 
flaunting the black flag in the mid-day sun, 
swoop mercilessly down upon property which 
they know to be another's, and selecting for 
capture the richest prizes there afloat, hurry 
them into port, where they find thousands of 
eager purchasers. These purchasers having, as 
one might think, no honest scruples, propound 
no awkward queries about right and title, but 
buy and read, and ponder and profit by their 
ill-gotten merchandise just as coolly and as 
calmly as if no crime had been committed 

against the laws of God and of justice 

It is, indeed, not too much to say that such 
plain infractions of the eighth commandment, 
tacitly sanctioned as they are by our govern- 
ment, and constantly going on in our midst, 
by habituating us to scenes of open robbery, 
perpetrated with entire impunity, are enough 
to demoralize the whole nation, already deeply 
tainted with political corruption. And per- 
haps the most startling feature of the matter is 
to be found in the utter indifference with which 
the whole thing has come to be regarded, even 
by persons of undoubted integrity." 

Mr. John B. Storm , of Pennsylvania, also made 



a speech in the House on Saturday, April I3th, 
on international copyright, in which, after some 
preliminary remarks upon property in mental 
productions, and an account of the recogni- 
tion of the right of literary property in Eng- 
land, he dwells more particularly upon the 
provisions of the "Baldwin" bill, introduced 
by Mr. Cox, which he defends. These two, 
by no means great efforts, are the only speeches 
as yet delivered in Congress upon this impor- 
tant subject. 

The Committee on the Library withheld their 
report until the next session of Congress, when, 
on Feb. 7th, 1873, Senator Morrill, of Maine, 
submitted it to the Senate, whereupon it was 
ordered to be printed, and the committee dis- 
charged from the further consideration of the 
subject. On the same day he reported the bill 
introduced by Mr. Sherman without amend- 
ment, and that it ought not to pass ; and, upon 
his motion, it was ordered to be postponed in- 
definitely. 

The "Morrill" report, as printed, is a 
document of eight pages, some of these 
being taken up by tables showing the English 
and American prices of the same books, from 
which exhibits the committee conclude that the 
law of copyright in England and this country 
" tends unmistakably to check the popular dif- 
fusion of Ikerary production by largely increas- 
ing the price." The committee, in the first 
paragraph of their report, say, " that, after 
attentive consideration of the subject-matter, 
they have found the question of international 
copyright attended with grave practical difficul- 
ties, and of doubtful expediency, not to say of 
questionable authority." It had been argued 
before the committee, by Mr. E. L. Andrews, 
that the provision of the Constitution granting 
Congress power to legislate concerning authors, 
had not been limited to American authors, and 
was, therefore, intended to grant protection to 
literary and scientific productions, irrespective 
of nationality, that this was a matter of jus- 
tice and right, and that the Constitution, in 
this respect, is mandatory in its character, and, 
therefore, not to legislate in this behalf is to 
refuse the performance of an obvious duty. 
This reasoning, it will be remembered, is in line 
with that adopted by Mr. Henry Clay, in the 



SOLE ERG. 



69 



first international copyright report. In reply 
to this, the committee say (with much reason) 
that, as regards the constitutional provision, 
"The language is sufficiently comprehensive, 
doubtless, to include all authorship. But, in 
construing the Constitution, reference should 
be had to the condition of affairs at the period 
of its adoption, the obvious intent of its framers, 
as gathered from contemporaneous history, 
and must receive such construction as will 
carry out the object in view. It was, it should 
be observed, to constitute, in a qualified sense, 
a government in the interests of the people of 
the United States. Its framers would not, 
therefore, be expected to be solicitous for the 
protection of individual rights of those alien to 
its jurisdiction, nor were the circumstances of 
their national position such as were calculated to 
invite to the consideration of topics so eminently 
international in their operations and relations." 
And the report concludes : "In view of the 
whole case, your committee are satisfied that 
no form of international copyright can fairly 
be urged upon Congress upon reasons of gen- 
eral equity or of constitutional law ; that the 
adoption of any plan for the purpose which has 
been laid before us would be of very doubtful 
advantage to American authors as a class, and 
would be not only an unquestionable and per- 
manent injury to the manufacturing interests 
concerned in producing books, but a hinder- 
ance to the diffusion of knowledge among the 
people, and to the cause of universal education ; 
that no plan for the protection of foreign 
authors has yet been devised which can unite 
the support of all, or nearly all, who profess to 
be favorable to the general object in view ; and 
that, in the opinion of your committee, any 
project for an international copyright will be 
found, upon mature deliberation, to be inex- 
pedient." 

Within a year after the date of the " Mor- 
rill" report the sixth international copyright bill 
was presented to the House of Representatives 
by Mr. Henry B. Banning, of Ohio, Feb. 9, 
1874, and referred to the Committee on Pat- 
ents. The document is entitled, "A bill ex- 
tending to authors in certain cases the rights, 
privileges, and protection given inventors by 
the laws of the United States," and is a simple 
and comprehensive reciprocity copyright bill, 
granting that authors and artists of foreign 
countries publishing works after the act has 
been passed "shall have the same exclusive 
right and liberty to multiply and sell copies of 
such works in the United States that now are, 
or may hereafter be, granted by the laws of the 



United States to authors and artists who are 
citizens of the United States, subject to the 
same conditions, regulations, and limitations : 
Provided, however, That the provisions of this 
act shall not be extended to the books or other 
works of authors and artists that may be first 
published in any foreign country where the 
laws shall not, at the time of such first publica- 
tion, grant and secure to citizens of the United 
States, and to persons resident therein, privi- 
leges and benefits of copyright equal in extent 
to those herein specified." This bill unhap- 
pily, received no further attention either in the 
committee or in the House. 

In 1878 was set on foot, for the fourth time, 
a movement to secure international copyright 
by treaty. This agitation is noticeable as orig- 
inating with Messrs. Harper and Brothers, who 
had previously been so outspoken in opposition 
to any measure for this purpose. On Novem- 
ber 25th of that year they addressed Mr. Wm. 
M. Evarts, then Secretary of State, submitting 
a draft for an international copyright conven- 
tion, based upon the so-called " Clarendon 
treaty" of 1870, which has become known as 
the "Harper draft." 1 This new movement 
awakened considerable discussion. The draft 
was drawn up in the interests of publishers as 
well as authors, and while there were some 
differences expressed in matters of detail, nearly 
all the prominent publishers signified their ap- 
proval, while John Jay, James Grant Wilson, 
and Nathan Appleton, as American members 
of the International Copyright Committee of 
the Association for the Reform of the Law of 
Nations, sent a memorial approving the plan 
of treaty, to the Secretary of State, Feb. n, 
1880, and, in August of the same year, it was 
approved by fifty-two American authors, in- 
cluding Longfellow, Holmes, Whittier, and 
Emerson. In September of that year it was 
submitted by Minister Lowell to Earl Gran- 
ville. But the basis of this treaty had been 
the stipulation that English books, to secure 
copyright in this country, must be wholly manu- 
factured here, by an American citizen, within 

i The texts of the "Clarendon" treaty and of the 
"Harper draft" are printed in parallel columns in 
the Publisher's Weekly, v. 15, 8. N.V., 1879, pp. 



7 o 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



three months after original publication in Eng- 
land ; and Earl Granville, in his reply to Mr. 
Lowell, in March, 1881, stated that the British 
government favored such a treaty, but consid- 
ered it essential that the term of republication 
be extended to six or twelve months. With 
the change of administration, and the sad 
death of President Garfield, the matter ended 
without having been officially presented to 
Congress. 

In the 3d session of the 46th Congress the 
petition of Theodore D. Woolsey and others, 
for the passage of a bill extending copyright in 
the United States to foreign authors, compos- 
ers, and designers, was presented to the House 
four times between Dec. 6, 1880, and Jan. 10, 
1 88 1, and referred to the Committee on the 
Library, and it was also twice presented to the 
Senate on Dec. 9th and I3th, 1880, and re- 
ferred to the same committee. This petition 
which was signed, among 'others, by Ed. 
Everett Hale and Dr. J. G. Holland, was never 
printed, and seems to have received no further 
consideration. In the first session of the next 
Congress, on Feb. 2, 1882, and again on Feb- 
ruary 28, Mr. A. C. Harmer, of Pennsylvania! 
presented petitions of " citizens representing 
the industries connected with the book and 
printing trades," in favor of international 
copyright. These were referred to the Com- 
mittee on Ways and Means. 

The next movement in order of time was 
the introduction, on March 27th, 1882, to the 
notice of the House, by William E. Robinson, 
of New York, of an extraordinary measure in- 
tended, if taken seriously, to codify the whole 
subject of literary property. The title of this 
elaborate bill, which consists of 22 sections 
and covers 73 quarto pages, is as follows: 

"A bill to declare and define two species of 
personal rights of property in literary articles ; 
to declare and define national rights and inter- 
national rights which the Government of the 
United States, for the people thereof, possesses 
in literary articles ; to provide for the protec- 
tion of such personal rights and of such national 
and international rights ; to declare any viola- 
tion of such personal rights and of such na- 
tional and international rights to be a species 
of crime ; to classify such species of crime into 
degrees ; to fix the punishment for each degree 
of such crime; and for other purposes." In 



order to carry out the purposes of the bill, as 
defined in its title, provision is made for the 
establishment of the " United States Office of 
Literature " within the Department of the In- 
terior, to be under the immediate direction of 
the " United States Commissioner of Litera- 
ture," whose duties are defined at great length ; 
he or she (the bill providing that all the offi- 
cers may be either male or female) is to hold 
office during good behavior at a salary of $5,000 
per year. The amount appropriated in the bill, 
to carry out its various provisions, is the mod- 
est sum of $1,290,000 ! The bill may be called 
an international-copyright bill, its provisions 
being extended to foreigners by section 18 
(K) which is to the following effect: "Any 
person of a foreign nation whose government 
grants, within its jurisdiction, to any and all 
citizens of the United States the same rights in 
literary articles which it grants to its own citi- 
zens, shall have in the United States the same 
rights in a literary article originally and law- 
fully conceived and made by such foreign per- 
son, as any citizen of the United States has in 
the United States." It was ordered to be 
printed and referred to the Committee on Pat- 
ents, but seems to have been regarded more 
as a literary curiosity than as a serious legisla- 
tive document. 

The eighth international copyright bill was 
introduced by Mr. Patrick A. Collins, of Mas- 
sachusetts, to the House of Representatives, 
December 10, 1883, when it was, without dis- 
cussion, referred to the Committee on Patents, 
and ordered to be printed . 

This bill, which is entitled, " A bill to extend 
the privileges of the copyright acts to persons 
not citizens of nor domiciled in the United 
States," contains some original and novel pro- 
visions. It grants copyright to foreigners to 
the extent of the provisions of our domestic 
copyright law, by striking out of the latter the 
words " citizens of the United States or resi- 
dents therein, "and substituting the word " per- 
son ; " but the rights thus simply granted are 
made dependent upon the fulfilment of certain 
stipulations set out in Section 5 of the bill, as 
follows : " That every copyright article first 
published, represented, or performed beyond 
the limits or jurisdiction of the United States 
shall be printed and published by the author or 
proprietor, or under his authority, either in the 



SOLE ERG. 



original form or in translation, within one year 
from the date of entry, and two copies of such 
American publication delivered or deposited 
within fourteen days after the expiration of a 
year from the date of entry, in addition to the 
copies now required by Section 4956 of the 
Revised Statutes." In connection with this 
stipulation as to the American edition, Section 
1 1 specially provides that plates from which to 
print may be imported. And, according to 
Section 7, if such American publication is not 
made, any person may, after the expiration of 
one year from the date of entry of title, make a 
new entry of the title, authorship, or proprietor- 
ship, and thus obtain the exclusive right of 
republication upon giving bond, with surety, 
to the Librarian of Congress, to faithfully per- 
form the following conditions : i . Give notice 
of the original entry of copyright and of the 
subsequent entry. 2. Keep an accurate account 
of the numbers of copies printed, vouching the 
same monthly by sworn statements of printers, 
binders, and himself. 3. Make affidavit as to 
the highest retail price and of the discounts 
allowed to the trade ; and 4. Pay to the Libra- 
rian of Congress eight per centum of the high- 
est retail price for each book before it is put 
upon the market ; in default of all of which 
he shall be liable to an injunction, account, and 
treble damages. The Librarian of Congress is 
to pay to the proprietor, according to original 
entry, on demand and identification, the pro- 
ceeds, less five per centum as his commission. 
The bill is also designed to protect dramatic 
and musical compositions, it being enacted 
that the public representation of a drama shall 
be deemed to be a publication of it, and if no 
publication or representation of a foreign drama 
or musical composition occurs within a year 
after registration, any person may represent or 
perform the same upon paying the Librarian of 
Congress $20 for each performance. Mr. Col- 
lins's bill seems never to have been brought 
back to the House from its committee. 

The next move in Congress in relation to in- 
ternational copyright was the introduction of 
the much discussed "Dorsheimer" bill, pre- 
sented by the Hon. William Dorsheimer, of 
New York, to the House, January 8, 1884. 
Being put to a vote as to the committee refer- 



ence, it was agreed to refer it to the Committee 
on the Judiciary, 1 consisting at that time of 
fifteen members, including John Randolph 
Tucker, of Virginia ; William Dorsheimer, of 
New York ; Patrick A. Collins, of Massachu- 
setts, and Luke P. Poland, of Vermont. Mr. 
Dorsheimer's measure is entitled, " A bill 
granting copyrights to citizens of foreign coun- 
tries, 1 ' and contains seven sections providing, 
in the order of the sections, as follows: i. 
Foreign authors of books, maps, dramatic, or 
musical publications, shall have sole control of 
the publishing and selling of their works in 
this country, and, in case of dramas, of the 
public performance thereof, and they shall have 
the exclusive right to dramatize or to translate 
their own works ; 2. This right to continue for 
twenty-five years ; 3, but shall terminate upon 
the death of the author ; 4. No copyright, how- 
ever, to be renewed after the expiration of the 
term of twenty-five years; 5. Whenever any 
foreign country shall grant by law to citizens of 
the United States similar privileges, the Presi- 
dent shall issue a proclamation to that effect, 
from the date of which, the authors of such 
country shall be entitled to copyright in the 
United States ; 6. But the provisions of the act 
are not to apply to authors of any country 
until the President has made a proclamation as 
above ; 7. The provisions of the domestic 
copyright law, not inconsistent therewith, to 
be applied to foreign authors ; and foreign 
copyrights to be subject to the stipulations of 
the domestic law. Promptly on Tuesday, the 
5th of February, Mr. Dorsheimer submitted a 
report from the Judiciary Committee, which 
was ordered to be printed ; and reported the 
bill with some amendments, upon which it was 
placed upon the Calendar of the House. The 
amendments made in committee are to the fol- 
lowing effect: In the first section the word 
" map" is stricken out, and the provision that 
" authors shall have the exclusive right to 
dramatize, or to translate their own works" is 
modified to "may reserve" such right. The 

1 The newspaper discussions upon this bill are con- 
veniently reprinted in the Publisher's Weekly, v. 35, 
8. N. Y., 1884, pp. 39, 58-61, 91-5, 169-174, 108-207, 230- 
243, 360-374, 394-303, 3 2 3-29. 347-5', 488-9, S3-o, 572-3, 
S95-6- 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



third section is stricken out, and sections two 
and four are so amended as to make the terms 
of copyright twenty-eight and fourteen years, 
or the same as the terms granted by the do- 
mestic law. Sections five and six contain 
verbal alterations, and an amendment giving 
foreign countries the option to extend a similar 
grant to American citizens by convention of 
treaty as well as by law, and section seven is 
amended so as to more explicitly require foreign 
authors to comply with the stipulations of the 
domestic law in order to obtain a copyright. 
Three new sections are added enacting that 
whenever any foreign country shall cease to 
grant copyrights to Americans, the citizens of 
such country shall cease to enjoy literary rights 
here, and that works published or dramas pub- 
licly performed in this country before copy- 
right is obtained, or abroad one year before 
application has been made may not obtain 
protection. These amendments were doubt- 
less due to the efforts of the American copy- 
right league. The report which accompanied 
this amended bill is a very brief document, 
setting out, firstly, the provisions of the bill 
which it recommends, followed by information 
as to the copyright provisions of the most im- 
portant European countries, mainly as to the 
term of protection, etc., and a list of the copy- 
right treaties negotiated by the principal Euro- 
pean States from 1843 to 1881, and finally 
summarizes the arguments in favor of the 
measure as follows : ' ' There is no civilized 
country which does not in some form recognize 
the property which an author has in the crea- 
tions of his intellect. The committee think 
that the United States should grant this right 
of property to foreigners as well as to natives. 
There can be no just discrimination based upon 
the nationality of the person to whom the prop- 
erty rightfully belongs. The policy by which 
States refused rights of property to foreigners 
has long since been reversed. In most, if not 
in all the States of the Union, foreigners are 
entitled to hold property, both real and per- 
sonal, upon precisely the same terms as natives. 
It is manifest that the ancient discriminations 
grew out of ignorance and prejudice, and that 
the modern rule conduces to civilization and to 
the peace of nations. It is believed that, if the 
bill accompanying this report is passed, Amer- 
ican authors will receive great and valuable ad- 
vantages . . . The committee earnestly 
recommend this measure to the House, in the 



full belief that its passage will work a high and 
enduring benefit to the people of the United 
States, and contribute to the civilization and 
enlightenment of the world." 

On Monday, February 1 8th, Mr. Dorsheimer, 
under instructions from the Committee on the 
Judiciary, moved that the rules be suspended 
so as to enable him to report from the com- 
mittee, and the House to agree to, a resolution 
making the bill a special order for February 
27th, and to continue from day to day thereafter 
until finally disposed of. But even a move to 
give the bill a chance for discussion was not to 
be successful. Mr. Deuster, of Wisconsin, re- 
quested the reading of an extract from the 
Chicago Tribune to the effect that the bill was 
"a scheme to make books dear," and followed 
it by some remarks based upon the assertion 
that this is not the "land of monopolies, 
but the land of liberty . . . the powerful pro- 
tector of free competition," etc. Mr. Chace, 
now a senator from Rhode Island, then a mem- 
ber of the House, while in favor of an inter- 
national copyright and therefore favorable to 
the discussion of this bill, was opposed to it in 
its present shape, on protection grounds. Mr. 
Kasson, of Iowa, considered the bill as present- 
ing a question which it was important to dis- 
cuss, and he would therefore vote affirmatively. 
Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, desired to say that 
he was a believer in the doctrine of international 
copyright ; but the bill involved the interests of 
paper-makers, printers, bookbinders, etc., and 
he therefore thought a two weeks' interval 
should be given them to make themselves heard 
before the House was called upon to vote upon 
the bill. The question being put, 156 voted 
yea, and 99 nay ; but as 65 failed to vote, the 
resolution was lost for want of a two-thirds 
vote. Following this action in the House two 
protests were sent in, the one from citizens of 
Media, Pa., March 2oth, and the other from 
the Chicago Trade and Labor assembly, against 
the passage of an international copyright bill, 
and were presented by Mr. Everhart and Mr. 
G. R. Davis. April i6th, on motion of Mr. 
Dorsheimer, the House ordered the bill to be 
reprinted with an amendment in the nature of 
a substitute recommended by the Judiciary 
Committee. This is the third print of the bill, 



SOLE ERG. 



73 



in which the bill as originally introduced on 
January 8th, is printed in crossed type, and is 
followed by a complete print of the bill in 
italics, as it was reported from the committee on 
February 5th, there being no change in the 
text. 

President Arthur's message to Congress at 
the beginning of the 2d session of the 48th 
Congress Dec. i, 1884, recommended legis- 
lation upon international copyright in the fol- 
lowing words : " The question of securing to 
authors, composers, and artists copyright privi- 
leges in this country in return for reciprocal 
rights abroad is one that may justly challenge 
your attention. It is true that conventions 
will be necessary for fully accomplishing this 
result, but until Congress shall by statute fix 
the extent to which foreign holders of copy- 
right shall be here privileged, it has. been 
deemed inadvisable to negotiate such conven- 
tions. For this reason the United States were 
not represented at the recent conference at 
Berne." 

December 8th, same year, Mr. Spooner pre- 
sented to the House, and, Dec. igth, Mr. 
Aldrich to the Senate, a memorial of the Music 
Teachers' National Association urging the pas- 
sage of the Dorsheimer or some similar bill. 
In the House this memorial was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, while upon the 
motion of Senator Aldrich it was printed in 
the Congressional Record, and referred to the 
Joint Committee on the Library. This petition 
sets out the belief of the petitioners that musi- 
cal-art creation has not developed in America 
proportionally with the other arts, owing to the 
want of an international copyright law, and the 
consequent free reprinting of foreign musical 
works, and it is therefore urged that the 
"Dorsheimer" bill be passed. The Boston 
Handel and Haydn Society, and K. H. Darby, 
of St. Louis, and others, presented, through 
Mr. Spooner, Feb. igth, 1885, similar peti- 
tions. But, although Mr. Dorsheimer's bill 
was now upon the House Calendar, it failed to 
come up for discussion and there was no sub- 
sequent action upon it. 

On the 5th of Jan., 1885, the tenth inter- 
national copyright bill was presented to Con- 
gress by Mr. English, in the House, where it 
was read twice, ordered to be printed and re- 
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary. 



This bill deals wholly with dramatic composi- 
tions, and provides, stated as briefly as possi- 
ble, that citizens of such foreign countries as 
shall grant similar privileges to citizens of the 
United States, who shall comply with the pro- 
visions of chapter three, title sixty of the Re- 
vised Statutes relating to copyrights, within 
one year after first publication or performance, 
shall thereupon, have the sole right to reprint 
or perform their dramatic works in the United 
States for the double terms of twenty-eight and 
fourteen years, and may reserve the right to 
translate their own works. No action was 
taken upon this bill. 

The eleventh international copyright bill, 
which was drawn up by the American Copy- 
right League, was presented to the Senate on 
the 6th of January, 1885, by Mr. Hawley, of 
Conn., and was referred to the Committee on 
the Judiciary. This bill contains five sections, 
of which the first enacts, " That the citizens of 
foreign states and countries of which the laws, 
treaties, or conventions confer, or shall here- 
after confer, upon citizens of the United States 
rights of copyright equal to those accorded to 
their own citizens, shall have in the United 
States rights of copyright equal to those en- 
joyed by citizens of the United States ; " the 
fifth section providing that the proclamation of 
the President to that effect shall be conclusive 
proof that such equality of rights exists in any 
country. Section 2 enacts that the law shall 
not apply to any work published before the 
date of the act ; and Section 3, that the domes- 
tic copyright laws shall be applicable to the 
copyright created by the act ; while Section 4, 
repeals the clause (Section 4971 of the Revised 
Statutes) in the domestic law which allows the 
importation of foreign books, this being neces- 
sary in order to prevent other importation than 
that authorized by the copyright proprietor, his 
right of importation being implied. This sec- 
tion also amends the paragraph of the copyright 
law (Section 4954), which provides for the 
fourteen years' extension of copyright, by strik- 
ing out the words which limit such second 
term to citizens or residents of the United 
States ; and further amends the clause (Section 
4967) which forbids the printing or publishing 
of any manuscript without consent of the 



74 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



author, by striking out the parenthetical condi- 
tion, "if such author or proprietor is a citizen 
of the United States or resident therein." But 
the wording of the first section of this bill, to 
the effect that foreign authors are to have such 
copyrights as are conferred by our law upon 
our own citizens, makes it necessary to leave 
Section 4952 of the Revised Statutes intact, 
which grants copyright to " any citizen of the 
United States, or resident therein" which is an 
awkward necessity, and is besides likely to lead 
to confusion of construction. The committee 
making no report during that Congress, Sena- 
tor Hawley in the first session of the following 
(the 49th) Congress, reintroduced his bill 
Dec. 8, 1885, when it was again referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary. But, on the I4th 
of the same month, Senator Hoar from this 
committee asked that the committee be dis- 
charged from the further consideration of the 
bill, and that it be referred to the Committee 
on Patents, which was agreed to. On the 6th 
of Jan., 1886, the Hon. John Randolph Tucker, 
of Va., brought the bill before the House of 
Representatives, upon which it was referred to 
the Judiciary Committee of that branch of 
Congress. 

The annual message of President Cleveland, 
transmitted to Congress at the beginning of 
the present session, and dated December 8, 
1885, contains a paragraph concerning inter- 
national copyright. After speaking of the 
Berne conference of September, 1885, and our 
listening delegate there, the President says : 
"The interesting and important subject of 
international copyright has been before you for 
several years. Action is certainly desirable to 
effect the object in view. And while there may 
be question as to the relative advantage of 
treating it by legislation or by specific treaty, 
the matured views of the Berne conference can- 
not fail to aid your consideration of the subject." 

On the 2ist of January last, Senator Chace, 
who, when a member of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, had shown considerable interest in 
the subject of international copyright during 
the agitation of the " Dorsheimer " bill, intro- 
duced to the Senate the twelfth bill presented 
to Congress for the purpose of accomplishing 
the desired object. This bill was read twice, 
and referred to the Committee on Patents. It 



is worthy of notice and comment that the 
method adopted by this last bill for securing 
to the foreign author protection for his literary 
property in this country is identical with 
that suggested more than fifty years ago by 
the earliest public advocate of international 
copyright yet discovered by the writer. The 
anonymous author of the article entitled 
" Community of copyright," published in The 
Knickerbocker for October, 1 835 , speaking of the 
phraseology of the copyright act of February, 
3, 1831, which extends the privileges of copy- 
right to " any person or persons, being a citizen 
or citizens of the United States, or resident 
therein," says, after setting out at some 
length, and in strong language, the injustice 
worked by this clause, both to English and to 
American authors : " This should be reason and 
argument enough for the instant repeal of the 
oppressive clause. But, if another reason is 
required, let it be found in the meanness and 
injustice of the provision. Let the clause be, 
then, repealed, wherever it occurs in the instru- 
ment, so that all persons who choose 
foreigners and citizens alike may enjoy the 
benefit of what clearly is and manifestly should 
be considered property. . . . The act of 
1831, thus purified, would be tantamount in 
effect to the passage of an international copy- 
right law betwixt America and Great Britain." 
And in this very way the bill introduced by 
Senator Chace grants copyright to the foreign 
author, by striking out from the text of the 
domestic copyright law every clause which con- 
fines the privileges of the right conferred to 
"citizens" or "residents" of the United 
States, leaving the reading of the section of the 
Revised Statutes which creates the right, " any 
author, inventor, designer, or proprietor of any 
book, map, chart, dramatic or musical compo- 
sition," etc., shall have the sole control of the 
sale of copies thereof. But while the first sec- 
tion of the present bill so exactly carries out 
the suggestion of the writer quoted, the further 
provisions of this bill would most certainly not 
find favor with the anonymous contributor to 
The Knickerbocker, who believes in the author's 
absolute and perpetual right of property in his 
literary productions. For while the " Hawley" 
bill was limited by the reciprocity provision, 



SOLE ERG. 



75 



the copyright privilege granted by this bill is 
restricted ; ist, by the requisition of American 
manufacture ; 2d, by the absolute prohibition 
of importation ; and, 3d, by the total loss of 
literary property in case of a publisher's breach 
of contract. The provisions of Mr. Chace's 
bill, as originally introduced, may be summa- 
rized as follows : I, Amending the various sec- 
tions of the Revised Statutes so as to exclude 
the limitation of its provisions to citizens of the 
United States, thus extending to foreign 
authors the copyright therein secured to citizens 
or residents ; 2, Granting authors the exclusive 
right to dramatize or translate their copyrighted 
works. To secure these rights the copyright 
must be recorded in the office of the Librarian 
of Congress not more than fifteen days subse- 
quent to its publication in the country of its 
origin, and two copies of the best American 
edition must be deposited in the same office 
within three months after the date of recording. 
And in case the American publisher, after pub- 
lishing, abandons the publication, the copyright 
becomes void ; and during the existence of the 
copyright the importation of other editions is 
absolutely prohibited, and custom-house offi- 
cers and postmasters are required to seize all 
copies entered at the custom-houses or trans- 
mitted by mail; but, in the case of copyrighted 
translations, the prohibition of importation 
shall apply only to other translations, and not 
to the original work, unless that is also copy- 
righted. The charge for recording is to be 
one dollar, to go to defray the expenses of lists 
of copyrighted articles to be printed by the 
Secretary of the Treasury, at intervals of not 
more than a week, for distribution to collectors 
of customs and postmasters and possible sub- 
scribers at $5 per annum; the material for 
these lists to be furnished by the Librarian of 
Congress, who is to have an addition of one 
thousand dollars to his salary therefor. Each 
volume of works of more than one volume must 
be entered separately, and new, revised editions 
of foreign books heretofore published may be 
copyrighted. 

These two opposite measures, the reciprocity 
bill of the Copyright League, and Mr. Chace's 
bill, which is strongly tinged with " protection," 
both before the same Senate, awakened con- 



siderable discussion. Authors and writers 
generally naturally advocating the former (Sen- 
ate bill No. 191), and the opponents of inter- 
national copyright, as well as those in favor of 
granting a restricted right, uniting in favor of 
the latter (Senate bill No. 1178). Petitions, 
memorials, and other documents pro and con, 
were sent to the Senate Committee on Patents, 
and the committee, evidently in earnest in the 
matter of hearing all sides regarding this sub- 
ject, held public hearings on January 28th and 
agth, February I2th, and March nth. These 
meetings were well attended by authors, pub- 
lishers, and representatives from various book- 
manufacturing establishments, and the views 
of all parties were expressed without restraint. 
The American Copyright League, in defence of 
their own bill, introduced by Senator Hawley, 
were directly represented by Dr. Howard Cros- 
by, A. G. Sedgwick, Esq., and Mr. George W. 
Green ; while their bill was advocated in 
speeches by Mr. Henry Holt, the well-known 
publisher, George Ticknor Curtis, and James 
Russell Lowell, as well as by a carefully pre- 
pared " Argument," drawn up by the Execu- 
tive Committee of the League, which was 
distributed to members of the Senate Commit- 
tee in a pamphlet, and was also included in the 
printed appendix to the report of the com- 
mittee. Mr. Dana Estes, of Estes & Lauriat, 
the Boston firm, and Mr. Horace E. Scudder, 
may be said to have represented the publishers' 
side of the question, both advocating interna- 
tional copyright, but inclined to favor a clause 
in any law passed requiring the American 
manufacture of foreign books copyrighted in 
this country. It should be noticed, however, 
in regard to statements from publishers, that 
Mr. Holt's oral argument, as well as letters 
sent to the committee by George Haven Put- 
man and Harper & Brothers, was unreservedly 
in favor of the "Hawley" bill. Mr. R. R. 
Bowker, editor of the Publishers' Weekly, 
whose earnest efforts in behalf of international 
copyright, extending over many years, are well 
known to the reading public, made a brief oral 
statement, and also submitted a concise paper 
(printed with the report), in which the subject is 
considered as affecting the interests of authors, 
the interests of publishers, the interests of the 



7 6 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



public, and as affected by the principle of jus- 
tice. Mr. Gardiner G. Hubbard argued against 
copyright of any kind, and Mr. Henry C. Lea 
submitted a statement criticising the " Hawley " 
bill and advocating that of Mr. Chace, while 
Mr. Henry Carey Baird, in his statement, took 
the ground that no protection shouldbe granted 
to foreign authors until our own domestic copy- 
right laws are revised, in his words, " upon a 
rational and sound basis." Mr. Welsh repre- 
sented the Philadelphia Typographical Union, 
which union claims to have drawn up the bill 
presented by Senator Chace, and he submitted 
some two dozen " Resolutions," etc., from 
other Typographical Unions advocating the 
latter bill. Mr. Roger Sherman, of Phila- 
delphia, who boasted that he was the only de- 
fender of the rights of 55,000,000 of reading 
people against the "ring" of 200 authors, 
proved pretty conclusively that he was but the 
narrow advocate of his own interest in a single 
piratical publication ; while Joseph R. Sypher, 
Esq., gave valuable testimony as a copyright 
lawyer, setting out the legal status of the 
" Chace" bill in particular. The last hearing 
was devoted to the statement of Mr. A. R. Spof- 
ford, Librarian of Congress, a most valuable 
argument in favor of an international copyright 
law, in which he takes into consideration (i) 
the effect upon American authors and Amer- 
ican literature of the denial or the granting of 
copyright between nations ; (2) its effect 
upon foreign authors ; (3) its effect upon Amer- 
ican publishers and book-manufacturers ; (4) 
its effect upon American readers, or the great 
mass of the people, and he closes with the fol- 
lowing words : 

" Finally, Mr. Chairman, there can be no 
higher aim in statesmanship than the endeavor 
to establish justice ; for justice is the highest 
interest of all men. The authors appeal for 
what they deem a right long denied. Either 
we must hold that authorship is the only form 
of human labor that shall go unpaid, or we 
must grant a copyright that shall be paid pro 
rata by all who use the authors' works. . . . 
If, as has been said, the policy of nations is 
enlightened selfishness, and the aim of the 
legislator is not justice, but expediency, the 
question recurs, is it expedient to foster a 
brood of merely cheap and common literature, 
at the expense of the great masters of English 
and American thought and speech ? The book- 



manufacturing interests have enjoyed, for nearly 
a century, protection in every form ; the book- 
writing interests now ask you to consider their 
appeal for some measure of protection, an 
appeal seconded by the majority of the publish- 
ers and by the almost unanimous voice of the 
American press. By simple extension of the 
area of copyright, already granted by all the 
leading nations except our own, it is plain that 
the present worth of copyright to authors will 
be enhanced. If it is true that the chief glory 
of a nation is its literature, whatever Congress 
can do to promote and elevate that literature 
should be done. Beyond question, the just 
thing will be found in the long run to be the 
expedient thing, and the fact that we cannot 
do perfect justice should not deter us from 
doing as much justice as we may." 

The testimony upon the subject of inter- 
national copyright thus obtained at the hear- 
ings before the Senate committee was reported 
stenographically and printed, making a pam- 
phlet of 133 pages, of which several thousand 
copies were distributed by the committee and 
other persons interested in the subject. The 
same matter was also appended to the report of 
the committee submitted to the Senate by Mr. 
Chace, on May 21, 1886, accompanied by a 
new print of his bill, somewhat amended, which 
is given a new number as Senate bill 2496 of 
the 1st session of the 4gth Congress. 

The corrections in the new print of the 
"Chace" bill are largely verbal and unim- 
portant : instead of fifteen days being allowed 
for recording title the record must be made 
not later than the day of first publication ; 
"American edition " is emphasized to " edition 
printed in the United States ; " the clause to 
increase the salary of the Librarian of Con- 
gress is stricken out and provision made that 
he may employ an additional clerk at $1,200 
per annum to prepare the weekly lists of copy- 
right entries ; and the date set for the taking 
effect of the act is changed to the ist day of 
July, 1887. The amendments of importance 
are the striking out of the clause which renders 
the copyright void in case the American pub- 
lisher for any cause abandons the publication ; 
and the rewording of section four relating to 
the copyrighting of separate volumes of works 
of more than one volume, and of revised edi- 
tions of foreign works, prohibiting the copy- 
righting of works of which one volume has 



SOLS ERG. 



77 



been published before the act takes effect, or 
of books forming part of a series in course of 
publication at the time the act shall take effect. 
The effect of this amendment will be to ex- 
clude from the benefits of the act such deserving 
works as the "Encyclopedia Britannica," the 
"International Scientific Series," the "English 
Men of Letters " series, and the series entitled 
the " English citizen," besides other valuable 
serial publications. 

The report accompanying this amended bill 
institutes, in the first place, a comparison be- 
tween patents and copyrights, and our patent 
laws as contrasting with our copyright laws. 
The following distinction is drawn between a 
patent and a copyright: "An invention for 
which a patent is granted is but an idea put in 
a mechanical form, but the subject of the 
patent is the idea or mechanical principle, and 
that the Government protects ; whereas copy- 
right does not secure any monopoly to the idea 
or thought, but only to the form of words or 
language with which the idea is clothed." 

And the report continues: "While it is true, 
as all thinking men will admit, that the influ- 
ence of literature upon the welfare of the nation 
is and has been far more beneficent than that 
of mere invention, it is remarkable that legis- 
lation upon property in patents has proceeded 
much farther and upon a much broader basis 
than has that upon the subject of copyright. 
Herein your committee believe the people at 
large have suffered a loss. All governmental 
protection to property is based upon the in- 
herent right of each individual to the fruit of 
his own labor. We recognize the rights of the 
foreigner to be protected here in e\ r ery kind of 
property except the productions of authorship. 
... In so far as patents for the arts are con- 
cerned we put the citizens of all nations on an 
equal footing with our own. This was in the 
line with much of the legislation of the country, 
and in keeping with the general progress of in- 
ternational law, and that recognition of comity 
among nations upon which rests to a large 
degree that valuable and fructifying interna- 
tional intercourse the value of which is coming 
to be recognized by all the great civilized 
nations of the earth. The United States Gov- 
ernment has recognized this principle in its 
treatment of all international questions save 
and except this one of international copyright. 
. . . The United States alone, of all the great 
civilized nations which have made advances in 
literature, still refuses to recognize the principle 
of international comity as applied to the pro- 



duction of literary property. Your committee 
recognize the moral obligation of comity 
amongst nations, and believe that the best in- 
terests, material, moral, and intellectual, of our 
people will be promoted by adopting and acting 
upon that principle in the treatment of this 
question. . . . The theory accepted by some, 
that we may secure cheap literature which is 
beneficial to the people, by refusing to protect 
the right of the foreign author to his literary 
property, is, in the judgment of your com- 
mittee, a mistaken one." 

Having made this excellent argument in 
favor of granting copyrights to foreigners, the 
committee are thereupon necessitated to de- 
fend the restrictions upon such rights contained 
in the bill, which last, according to the report, 
4< recognizes the paramount duty of protecting, 
first, the material interests of our own people, 
and proceeds so far only in securing the rights 
of citizens of other nations as that may be 
done without injury to vested rights in this 
country or without interfering with the income 
of our own labor, . . . and that, by its 
provisions, we carefully protect the American 
publisher and the American artisans who make 
the books in this country." But, in spite of 
this language, the assertion is reiterated in the 
report that the bill commended has nothing to 
do with the tariff", free-trade, or protection. 
The matter of prohibition of importation is 
twice referred to in the report, and stated to 
be " founded upon sound and strong reason ; " 
but no reasons are given in support of the 
statement, the only defence of the clause 
being the following paragraph : " With this 
provision the operation of this bill would be 
beneficent in its influence upon all these in- 
terests ; without this safeguard a great wrong 
would be done to them." " The foreign au- 
thor cannot complain," continues the report, 
" because we give him protection in our mar- 
kets conditioned only that he publish here. The 
American artisan will be insured only that 
which he now possesses, the labor put upon 
the publication of foreign books. The Ameri- 
can publisher and the foreign will both be pro- 
tected, while the American reader, if he will 
compare the cost of books published abroad 
with that of similar books published in this 
country, the committee believe, will readily 
perceive that his interests will suffer no detri- 



7 8 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



ment. In order to secure all these interests no 
practical way could be found except the provi- 
sion prohibiting the importation of copyrighted 
books." It is curious to recall in this connec- 
tion, that on Saturday, January 27, 1872, at a 
meeting of publishers and others, at Philadel- 
phia, including Mr. Henry C. Baird and Mr. 
Henry C. Lee, who now find so many arguments 
in favor of the absolute prohibition of importa- 
tion, a protest was signed against an inter- 
national copyright bill which contained a simi- 
lar provision, because " it would enable the 
foreign author and his assignee in this country, 
by an absolute monopoly in the protection, to 
fix the price of his book without fear of com- 
petition." It would almost seem that the 
Philadelphians (who, it will be remembered, 
are the originators of this bill), convinced 
against their will that public sentiment 
in 1886 demands international copyright 
as simple justice to foreign authors, are 
determined in yielding to this sentiment to 
secure such absolute monopoly as they can, 
without regard to the cost to the American 
reader. 

To sum up, the efforts in Congress to secure 
an international copyright law have now ex- 
tended over a period of nearly fifty years, 
during which time twelve separate and distinct 
bills have been drawn up for the purpose of 
obtaining this measure, and they have been 
presented to the attention of Congress twenty- 
one times. Memorials and petitions, for and 
against, have been laid before Congress and its 
committees in great numbers, more than 
twenty of these having been deemed of 
sufficient importance to be given permanent 
record in the printed Public Documents. 
Six reports have been made upon the sub- 
ject by Congressional committees, four of 
these being favorable, and but two adverse. 
The twelfth bill, accompanied by a favorable 
report from a committee of the Senate, 
awaits the action of the present Congress. 
This bill will undoubtedly come up in the 
next session, and there is still room for 
hope that the forty-ninth Congress will not 
finally adjourn without doing itself the honor 
to pass some measure securing international 
copyright. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

BILLS. 

1837 (Feb. 16). A bill to amend the act en- 
titled " An act to amend the several acts respecting 
copyright." Presented by Henry Clay, of Ky., 2d 
sess. of 24th cong. Senate bill, no. 223. Printed, 
2 pp. 4. 

Note. This bill is reprinted in " Remarks on literary 
property. By Philip H. Nicklin," 16. Philadelphia, 1838, 
p. 36. 

1837 (Dec. 1 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Clay, 2d sess. of 25th cong. Senate 
bill, no. 32. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) 
Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

1838 (Dec. 17). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Clay, 3d sess. of 25th cong. Senate 
bill, no. 75. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) Not 
printed. 

1840 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Clay, 1st sess. of 26th cong. Senate 
bill, no. 129. (Same as S. bill, 24: 2, no. 223.) 
Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

1842 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Clay, 2d sess. of 27th cong. Senate 
bill, no. 115. (Same as S. bill, 24:2, no. 223.) 
Not printed. 

1858 (Jan. 1 8). A bill to provide for an inter- 
national copyright. Presented by Edward Joy 
Morris, of Pa., 1st sess. of 35th cong. H.R. bill, 
no. 82. MS. 

1860 (Feb. 15). A bill [etc., same title]. 
Presented by Mr. Morris. 1st sess. of 36th cong. 
H.R. bill, no. 32. (Same as H.R. bill, 35: i, 
no. 82.) MS. 

1868 (Feb. 21). A bill for securing to anthors, 
in certain cases, the benefit of international copy- 
right, advancing the development of American 
literature, and promoting the interests of publishers 
and book-buyers in the United States. Presented 
by John Denison Baldwin, of Mass., 2d sess. of 
4Oth cong. H.R. bill, no. 779. Printed, 6 pp. 

4- 

1871 (Dec. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Samuel Sullivan Cox, of N.Y., 2d sess. 
of 42d cong. H.R. bill, no. 470. (Same as H. 
R. bill, 40: 2, no. 779.) Printed, 5 pp. 4. 

Note. A second (corrected) print of this bill (500 copies) 
was ordered Jan. 23, 1872. The text of this bill is printed 
in "The publishers' and stationers' weekly trade circular," 
v. i, S B . N.Y., F. Leypoldt, no. 2, Jan. 25, 1872, pp. 39- 
40. 



SOLE ERG. 



79 



1872 (Feb. 21). A bill providing the terms on 
which copyrights may be granted to foreign authors. 
Presented by James B. Beck, of Ky., ad sess. of 
42d cong. H.R. bill, no. 1667. Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

1872 (Feb. 21). A bill for securing to authors, 
in certain cases, the benefit of international copy- 
right. Presented by John Sherman, of Ohio, 2d 
sess. of 42d cong. Senate bill, no. 688. Printed, 
2 PP . 4". 

Note. The text of this bill is printed in " The publish- 
ers' and stationers' weekly trade circular," v. i., 8. N. 
Y., F. Leypoldt, 1872, p. 209; and letters commenting 
upon it, p. 199, and pp. 295-296. 

1874 (Feb. 9). A bill extending to authors, in 
certain cases, the rights, privileges, and protection 
given inventors by the laws of the United States^ 
Presented by Henry B. Banning, of Ohio, 1st sess. 
of 43d cong. H.R. bill, no. 1825. Printed, 2 pp. 

4- 

1882 (March 27). A bill to declare and define 
two species of personal rights of property in literary 
articles ; to declare and define national rights and 
international rights which the Government of the 
United States, for the people thereof, possesses in 
literary articles; to provide for the protection of such 
personal rights and of such national and inter- 
national rights; to declare any violation of such 
personal rights and of such national and interna- 
tional rights to be a species of crime; to classify 
such species of crime into degrees ; to fix the punish- 
ment for each degree of such crime ; and for other 
purposes. Presented by William E. Robinson, of 
N.Y., 1st sess. of 47th cong. H.R. bill, no. 5463. 
Printed, 73 pp. 4. 

1883 (Dec. 10). A bill to extend the privileges 
of the copyright acts to persons not citizens of nor 
domiciled in the United States. Presented by 
Patrick A. Collins, of Mass., 1st sess. of 48th cong. 
H.R. bill, no. 770. Printed, 5 pp. 4. 

1884 (Jan. 8). A bill granting copyrights to 
citizens of foreign countries. Presented by William 
Dorsheimer, of N.Y., 1st sess. of 48th cong. H.R. 
bill, no. 2418. Printed, 3 pp. 4. 

Note. A second (amended) print was ordered Feb. 5, 
1884, 4 pp., and a third print, with original and amended 
texts was ordered, April 16, 1884, 6 PP- The text of 
the original bill is printed in " The publishers' weekly," 
v. 25, 8., N.Y., 1884, p. 59, and the text of the amended 
bill, pp. 204, 205; while comments from all sources are 
printed, pp. 39, 59-61, 91-5, 169-175, 198-207, 230-242, 261- 
2 74. 294-303, 323-9, 347-351, 380-390, 464-5, 488, 572-3, 
595-6, 666. 

(J an - 5)- A bill granting copyrights to 



citizens of foreign countries. Presented by William 
E. English, of Ind., 2d sess. of 48th cong. H.R. 
bill, no. 7850. Printed, 3 pp. 4. 

1885 (Jan. 6). A bill to establish an inter- 
national copyright. Presented by Joseph R. Haw- 
ley, of Conn., 2d sess. of 48th cong. Senate bill, 
no. 2498. Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

Note. The text of this bill is printed in " The pub- 
lishers' weekly," v. 27, 8. N.Y., 1885, p. 28; and editorial 
and quoted comments, pp. 49-52, and v. 29, 1886, pp. 20- 
3> 74-5, iQS-7- 

1885 (Dec. 8). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Hawley, ist sess. of 49th cong. 
Senate bill, no. 191. (Same as S. bill, 48: 2, no. 
2498.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

1886 (Jan. 6). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by John Randolph Tucker, of Va., 1st. sess. 
of 49th cong. H.R. bill, no. 2493. (Same as 
S. bill, 48: 2, no. 2498.) Printed, 2 pp. 4. 

1886 (Jan. 21). A bill to amend title sixty, 
chapter three, of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States. Presented by Jonathan Chace, of R.I., 
ist sess. of 49th cong. Senate bill, no. 1178. 
Printed, 4 pp. 4. 

Note. The text of this bill is printed in "The pub- 
lishers' weekly," v. 29, 8. N.Y., 1886, pp. 232-3; and 
comments, pp. 140, 233, 778-9. 

1886 (May 21). A bill [etc., same title]. Pre- 
sented by Mr. Chace, 1st sess. of 49th cong. 
Senate bill, no 2496. (S. bill, 49: I, no. 1178, 
amended.) Printed, 5 pp. 4. 



1837 (Feb. 16). Report, by Henry Clay, of 
Ky., from the Select Committee to whom was re- 
ferred the address of certain British and the peti- 
tion of certain American authors concerning Inter- 
national Copyright. Printed, 3 pp., 8, for uniform- 
ity in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th Cong., v. 
2, doc. no. 179. 

Note. Mr. Clay's report is reprinted, with comments 
upon each paragraph, in " Remarks on literary property. 
By Philip H. Nicklin," 16. Philadelphia, 1838, pp. 27-38, 
and noticed in "The American quarterly review," v. 21, 
8. Philadelphia, no. 41, March, 1837, pp. 214-229. 

1838 (June 25). Report, by John Ruggles, of 
Me., from the Committee on Patents and the Patent 
Office, to whom was referred a bill (S. bill, 25 : 2, 
no. 32) to amend the act entitled "An act to 
amend the several acts respecting copyright." 
Printed, 7 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 
25th cong., v. 6, doc. no. 494. 



8o 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



1868 (Feb. 21 ). International Copyright. Re- 
port, by Mr. Baldwin, from the Committee on the 
Library, who were instructed " to inquire into the 
subject of international copyright, &c., and to re- 
port by bill or otherwise." Printed, 6 pp., 8, in 
Reports of committees of H.R., 2d sess. of 4Oth 
cong., v. I, no. 16. 

1873 (Feb. 7). Report by Mr. Morrill, of Me., 
from the Joint Committee on the Library, on the 
resolution directing them to inquire into the practi- 
cability of securing to authors the benefit of inter- 
national copyright. Printed, 8 pp., 8, in Reports 
of committees of the Senate, 3d sess. of 42d cong., 
v. I, no. 409. 

Note. Mr. Merrill's report is reprinted in full, with 
editorial note at end, in "The publishers' weekly," v. 3, 
8., N. Y., no. 58, Feb. 22, 1873, pp. i9i->95- 

1884 (Feb. 5). Copyright to citizens of foreign 
countries. Mr. Dorsheimer, from the Committee 
on the Judiciary, submitted the following report. 
Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Reports of committees of H. 
R., 1st sess. of 48th cong., v. I, no. 189. 

Note. Mr. Dorsheimer's report is reprinted in "The 
publishers' weekly," v. 25, 8., N.Y., 1884, pp. 261-2. 

1886 (May 21 ). International Copyright. Mr. 
Chace, from the Committee on Patents, submitted 
the following report: to accompany bill, S. 2496. 
Printed, viii. + 133 pp., 8, in Reports of the com- 
mittees of the Senate, ist sess. of 49th cong , no. 
1 1 88. 

CONTENTS : Report of the Committee, including- text of 
title 60, chap. 3, Revised Statutes; and S. bill (49: i), no. 
2496: " A bill to amend title sixty, chapter three, of the 
Revised Statutes of the United States," pp. i-viii. State- 
ments made before the Committee on Patents of the 
United States Senate relating to the bill (S. no. 101) and 
the bill (S. 1178), pp. 1-133: The testimony is prefaced 
by the text of S. bill no. '191, p. i; and S. bill no. 1178, pp. 
1-2; following- which are the statements of Howard 
Crosby, pp. 3-4; Senator Joseph R. Hawley, pp. 4-6; A. 
G. Sedgwkk, pp. 6-S; Henry Holt, pp. 8-14; George 
Walton Green, pp. 14-15; S. L. Clemens ("Mark 
Twain"), pp. 15-17; George Ticknor Curtis, pp. 17-20; 
William Henry Browne, pp. 20-21; Horace E. Scudder, 
pp. 21-27 ( a ^ f Jan. 2Sth) ; James Lowndes, pp. 27-28; 
Gardiner G. Hubbard, pp. 28-33; James Russell Lowell, 
pp. 34-44; James Welsh, pp. 44-53; Dana Estes, pp. 53- 
58; R. R. Bowker, pp. 58-60 (of Jan. 29th). Brief pre- 
sented by the American Copyright League : " Interna- 
tional Copyright. Memorandum in behalf of Senate bill 
no. 191 and H.R. bill no. 2493," pp. 60-68. Statement of 
Henry C. Lea, pp. 68-73 ; statement of Roger Sherman 
(Feb. 1 2th), pp. 74-86; additional statement of Dana 
Estes (Feb. I2th), pp. 86-90; statement of Josiah R. 
Sypher (Feb. I2th), pp. 90-111; additional statement of 
R. R. Bowker, pp. 111-115; statement of Henry Carey 
Biiird, pp. 115-120; statement of Ainsworth R. Spofford 



(March nth), pp. 120-130; statements of George Haven 
Putnam, pp. 130-131; Harper & Brothers, pp. 131-132; 
John W. Lovell Co., p. 132; George Munro, pp. 132-133. 

MISCELLANEOUS (PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, ETC.). 

1837 (Feb. 2). Petition of Thomas Moore and 
[55] other authors of Great Britain, praying Con- 
gress to grant to them the exclusive benefit of their 
writings within the United States. Printed, 4 pp., 
8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 
2, doc. no. 134. 

The same : Address of certain authors of Great 
Britain (Feb. 13, 1837). Printed, 4 pp., 8, in 
Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 4, 
doc. no. 162. 

Note. The Address of British authors is reprinted, 
with remarks upon the different paragraphs, in " Remarks 
on literary property. By Philip H. Nicklin." 16. Phila- 
delphia, 1838, pp. 13-26. 

1837 (Feb. 4). Memorial of a number of citi- 
zens of the United States, praying an alteration of 
the law regulating copyrights. Printed, 2 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 2, 
doc. no. 141. 

1837 (Feb. 20). Memorial of G. Furman and 
other public writers, praying the passage of an In- 
ternational Law of Copyright. Printed, 3 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong., v. 2, 
doc. no. 192. 

1837 (Feb. 20). Petition of the professors of 
the University of Virginia, praying an alteration of 
the laws respecting Copyrights. Printed, 3 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 24th cong. v. 2, 
doc. no. 193. 

1838 (Jan. 15). Memorial of a number of citi- 
zens of Philadelphia against the passage of an In- 
ternational Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in 
Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 2, doc. 
no. 102. 

The same : Pennsylvania. Memorial of inhabi- 
tants of Philadelphia against an International Copy- 
right law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H. 
R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., doc. no. 117. 

1838 (Feb. 13). Memorial of the Columbia 
Typographical society of the city of Washington, 
against the enactment of an International Copy- 
right law. Printed, I p., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 
2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 3, doc. no. 190. 

1838 (March 13). Memorial of the New York 
Typographical society against the passage of an 
International Copyright law. Printed, 5 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, 
doc. no. 296. 



SOLBERG. 



81 



1838 (March 19). Memorial of Peter S. Du 
Ponceau and others praying Congress to appoint 
committees of inquiry on the subject of copyright, 
and to await their report before acting on the sub- 
ject. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d 
sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 309. 

The same : Pennsylvania. Petition of Peter S. 
Du Ponceau and forty-eight others, citizens of Phil- 
adelphia, against the International Copy-right law. 
Printed, 2 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. 
of 25th cong., v. 8, doc. no. 260. (Same as Senate 
memorial, 25 : 2, v. 4, no. 309, except that the 
name of Jacob K. Switz is substituted for that of 
Jacob R. Amett.) 

1838 (April 10). Memorial of Richard Penn 
Smith and others against the passage of the bill 
(S. bill, 25 : 2, no. 32), to establish an Interna- 
tional Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. 
doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 

369- 

1838 (April 1 6). Memorial of the booksellers 
of Boston, Mass., against the passage of the Inter- 
national Copyright law. Printed, 2 pp., 8, in 
Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 10, 
doc. no. 340. 

1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of 
citizens of Boston praying the passage of an Inter- 
national Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. 
doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, doc. no. 398. 

1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of 
citizens of New York praying the passage of an 
International Copyright law. Printed, 4 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, 
doc. no. 399. (Same as Senate doc. 25 : 2, no. 
398, but with different list of signatures.) 

1838 (April 24). Memorial of a number of 
citizens of Philadelphia praying the passage of an 
International Copyright law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, 
in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 5, 
doc. no. 400. 

1838 (May 21). Citizens of Philadelphia, &c. 
Memorial of citizens of the United States, princi- 
pally resident in Philadelphia, asking for the exten- 
sion of the advantage of Copyright to all native or 
foreign residents or non-residents. Printed, 3 pp., 
8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d sess. of 25th cong., v. 
10, doc. no. 383. (Same as Senate doc. 25 : 2, no. 
398, without the signatures.) 

1838 (June 4). Massachusetts, Inhabitants of. 
Remonstrance of inhabitants of Massachusetts 
against the passage of an International Copyright 
law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H.R., 2d 
sess. of 25th cong , v. 10, doc. no. 416. 



1842 (April 12). International Copyright. 
Message from the President of the United States 
transmitting the correspondence between the 
Governments of the United States and Great 
Britain in relation to the international law of 
copyright. Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Exec. doc. H. 
R., 2d sess. of 27th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 187. 

1842 (June 13). Memorial of a number of 
persons concerned in printing and publishing, . 
praying an alteration in the mode of levying duties 
on certain books, and remonstrating against the 
enactment of an International Copyright law. 
Printed, 4 pp., 8, in Pub. doc., Senate, 2d sess. 
of 27th cong., v. 4, doc. no. 323. 

1843 (Dec. 16). Copyrights: Memorial of 
citizens of the United States for an International 
Copyright law. Printed, 3 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., 
H.R., 1st sess. of 28th cong., v. I, doc. no. 10. 

The same, reprinted in Misc. doc., H.R., 1st 
sess. of 3<Dth cong., doc. no. 76, pp. 13-15. 

1844 (Jan. 15). Memorial of Nahum Capen, 
of Boston, Mass., on the subject of International 
Copyright. Printed, 10 pp., 8, in Exec, doc., H. 
R., 1st sess. of 28th cong., v. 3, doc. no. 61. 

Note. This Memorial seems to have been republished, 
" by request," in Boston, n.d., i pi., iz pp. 8. 

1848 (March 22). International Copyright. 
Memorials of John Jay, and of William C. Bryant 
and others, in favor of an International Copyright 
law. Printed, 33 pp., 8, in Misc. doc., H.R., 
1st sess. of 3Oth cong., doc. no. 76. 

Contains : John Jay's memorial, New York, March 18, 
1848, pp. 1-13. Appendix A: Memorial of citizens of 
the United States for an International Copyright law [i.e., 
Exec, doc., H.R., 38: i, no. 10], pp. 13-15. Appendix 
B : Catalogue of American books published in Great 
Britain, pp. 16-31. Memorial of W. C. Bryant and 
others, pp. 32-3}. 

1852 (July 19). Petition of Washington Irving, 
James Fenimore Cooper, and others. Printed, 
without signatures, in "The Congressional Globe," 
1st sess. of 32d cong., v. 24, part 3, p. 1832. 

1872 (March 23). Speech of S. Archer, of Md., 
inH.R. Printed in "The Congressional Globe," 
2d sess. of 42d cong., part 3, pp. I93 l ~ l 935- 

1872 (April 13). Speech of John B. Storm, of 
Pa, in H.R. Printed in "The Congressional 
Globe," 2d sess. of 42d cong., part 3, pp. 2410- 
2412. 

1884 (Feb. 1 8). Discussion in H.R. on the 
"Dorsheimer" bill (H.R. bill, 48:1, no. 2418). 
Printed in "The Congressional Record, "ist sess. of 
48th cong., v. 15, part 2, pp. 1200-1203, 



82 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



1884 (Dec. I). Message of the President 
[Chester A. Arthur], communicated to the two 
Houses of Congress, 2d sess. of 48th congress. 
Printed, I 1., 21 pp. 8, Govt. printing office, 1884. 
(Contains paragraph relating to International Copy- 
right, p. 7.) 

1884 (Dec. 19). Memorial of. the Music 
Teachers' National Association praying that steps 
be taken for the establishment of an International 



Copyright law. Printed, without signatures, in 
" The Congressional Record," 2d sess. of 48th 
cong., v. 1 6, part I, p. 348. 

1885 (Dec. 8). Message of the President 
[Grover Cleveland], communicated to the two 
Houses of Congress, ist sess. of 49th cong. Printed, 
I 1., 44 pp., 8. Govt. printing office, 1885. (Con- 
tains paragraph relating to International Copyright, 

p. 12.) 



AUTHOR-TABLES FOR GREEK AND LATIN AUTHORS. 



BY C: A. CUTTER, LIBRARIAN OF THE BOSTON ATHENAEUM. 



I HAVE prepared a table of equivalents for or 
transliterations of the names of Greek and 
Latin authors, so devised that with few char- 
acters one can give a separate mark to every 
author, to every one of his works, and to every 
edition of each work, and that these marks 
should keep the authors alfabetically arranged, 
and their works alfabetically subarranged, 
and the editions in chronological order. 

The great difficulty in the use of translitera- 
tion tables is that one can never foresee who 
will write books, and after one has used the 
best judgment in guessing the future one may 
find oneself compelled to intercalate an unex- 
pected name in some place where intercalation 
means long numbers. But there is no such 
drawback to their use for the classics. One 
knows just how many names one has to provide 
for ; the roll is made up ; one can use a mini- 
mum of figures in assigning them symbols, 
without fear that any new-comer will disturb 
the order. 

The order adopted is: I, whole works, 
chronologically arranged ; 2, translations of 
whole works alfabetically arranged by the lan- 
guages ; 3, dictionaries, commentaries, and 
other illustrative works ; 4, selections ; 5, single 
works, each with the same three divisions that 
the whole works have. 

The method of marking may be shown by an 
example : Paley's frogs would be marked v for 
Literature, P for Greek, A7 for Aristophanes, 
R for Ranae, 1878 because published in that 
year, or all together VP-A7R 1878. Rogers's 



translation of the Lysistrata would be L for 
Lysistrata, E for English, and R for Rogers, 
thus: VP-A7L.ER. 

It will be noticed that the year is written in 
full. Mr. Biscoe's scheme for giving dates 
briefly is admirable. It has only two defects. 
First, it is not self-interpreting; it does not 
suggest its meaning, but has to be understood 
by a sheer effort of memory. But I do not see 
how this could be otherwise ; if I did I would 
make a better table. Secondly, it will not last 
long enough ; it stops at A.D. 2000. I suppose 
this seems a long way ahead to our younger 
members, who do not know how time flies. Let 
them "wait till" they "come to forty year." 
2000 A.D. will be here before they know it. 
Nevertheless, I use the table in one section of 
the Athenaeum and mean to use it elsewhere. 
But in the classics it seemed better to put 
on the backs of the books a mark which 
everybody could understand at a glance, 
the usual date, 1886, 1494, etc. With our 
system of charging the four figures cause 
no delay, and the greater clumsiness of the 
mark when used as a call-number is com- 
pensated by its greater intelligibility on the 
shelf. 

As few names of languages into which the 
classics are likely to be translated begin with Y 
or z, I use these letters to mark the works 
about a classic, putting after the Y or z the 
initial of the modern author's name. (Any 
translations into Yoruba, or Zulu, or the like, I 
should mark x.) In this notation z is used for 



CUTTER. 



dictionaries, Y for commentaries and other il- 
lustrative works. 

Thus Saulcy's Campagnes de Cesar dans les 
Gaules would be VJ-C2G-YS; Ernesti's Clavis 
Ciceroniana would be vj-C7'ZE. 

I have not thought it worth while to lengthen 
the list by inserting a number of obscure 
authors of whose fragments there is, so far as 
appears in Engelmann's " Bibliotheca classica," 
no separate edition. If by chance a librarian 
should have to deal with a pamphlet about any 
of these it is easy to intercalate a number. For 
example : if one had Leist's program on Alanus, 
he would put it between Agrippa (AI5) and 
Albinovanus (Ai6), and would mark it AI55. 
Sometimes it would not be necessary to use 
a third figure, as there are vacancies among the 
two figure marks. In such work Engelmann 
should be consulted, and a number assigned 
in such a way as best to accommodate the 
other unnumbered writers. In certain cases, 
where such intercalation would be difficult, I 
have made the lists complete. 

For the Fathers of the Church a special list 
has been prepared. 

Scholia on ancient authors and modern dis- 



cussions of those scholia I should put with the 
authors commented upon (e.g., Acron's scholia 
under Horatius, VJ-H5YA) ; but as others may 
prefer to put them under the name of the 
scholiast when known, I have included scho- 
liasts in the list. 

I have several times risked a slight disturb- 
ance of alfabetical order for the sake of giving 
a single character to a prominent or voluminous 
author. For instance, I have assigned B to 
Boethius. In the improbable case that any one 
should have something by or about Balbus, Ba- 
silius, Bassus, Bellesarius, Blossius, orBocchus, 
he could not get the name before Boethius un- 
less he marked it Agg, and he would probably 
put it out of order as Bl. 

The names of some of the more common 
writers are printed in small capitals, to facilitate 
finding them in the list. If any one, glancing 
over them, wonders why for this purpose one 
was taken and another left, let him compare 
together the various lists that have lately been 
published of the 100 best novels or the ten most 
important authors, he will learn that it is not 
easy to select. 



LATIN AUTHORS (CLASS MARK vj). 



Accius 
Acron 


A 

Al 


Aquila 
Arusianus 


Acta diurna 


All 


Arvales fratres 


Adamantius 


Al 


ASCONIUS 


^Lthicus 


Alj 


Asellio 


Afranius 
Agrippa 
Albinovanus 


A1 4 
A16 


Auguralia 
AUGUSTUS Imp. 
AUSONIUS 


Alcimus 
Alcuinus 


A1 7 

Al8 


AVIANUS 
AVIENUS 


Aldhelmus 
AMMIANUS 


Al 9 

A2 


Boethius 


Ampelius 
Annales maximi 


A23 


Caecilius Balbus 
Caecilius Statius 


Anthimus 
Apicius 
Apollinaris, see Sidonius and 
Sulficius. 


A25 
A3 


Caelius Aurel. 
Caelius, M. R. 
CAESAR 
CALPURNIUS Siculus 


APULEIUS Madaurensis 


M 


Calvus 


Apuleius L. minor 
Apuleius Celsus 


A 4 1 
A42 


Capella 
Capitolinus 



A44 
M8 
AS 



A6 

AT 

A8 
A9 
B 

c 

cl 

clS 

C1 7 

C2 

C25 

C26 

C2 7 

C28 



Cassiodorus 

Cassius Hem. 

Cato philos. 

Cato, M. P., censor 

Cato, Val. 

CATULLUS 

CELSUS 

Censorinus 

Charisius 

CICERO, M. T. 

Cicero, Quint. 

Cincius, L. 

CLAUDIANUS 

Claudius Caesar 

Claudius Quad. 

Columella 

Commodianus 

Consentius 

Corippus 

Cornificius rhet. 

CURTIUS 



C3S 
4 

C4S 
048 

C5 

c6 

c6 S 

c68 

C7 

C 7 1 

c?5 

c8 

082 

c8 3 

c8 5 

c86 

c8 7 

c88 

089 

eg 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



Dares 


D 


Justinus 


J6 


Pacatus 


P 


Dictys 


Dl 


JUVENALIS 


J7 


Pacuvius 


Pl 


Dicuil 


D2 


Juvencus 


J8 


Palladius 


P3 


Diomedes 


D3 






Paterculus, C. V. 


pl5 


Domitius Marsus 


04 


Laberius 


L 


Paulus 


p! 7 


Donatus, Aelius 


D 5 


Lactantius Placidus 


Ll 


Pelagonius 


pig 


Donatus, T. C. 


D6 


Laevius 


L2 


PERSIUS 


P2 


Dositheus 


D 7 


Licinianus 


L3 


PEVIGIMUM Veneris 


P2 5 


Dracontius 


D8 


Livius Andronicus 


14 


PETRONIUS 


J"3 






Livius Patavinus 


L 5 


Peutingerana tabula 


P35 


Ennius 


E 


LUCANUS 


L6 


PHAEDRUS 


?4 


Ennodius 


E2 


Lucilius, C. 


L7 


Phalargyrius 


P42 


Epicadius 
Euanthius 


E3 
E4 


Lucilius, C. S. 
LUCRETIUS 


L8 
L9 


Phocas 
Placidus 


P43 
P45 


Eugippius 
Eumenius 


E5 
E6 


Luscius 
Lutatius 


L92 

L94 


PLAUTUS 
PLINIUS Secundus, C. 


P5 
p6 


Eutropius 
Eutyches 


E 7 
E8 


Luxorius 
Lygdamus 


L96 

1,98 


Plinius (Valerianus), C. 
PLINIUS Caecilius Secundas, 
C. 


P6 5 


Exsuperantius 


E 9 


Macer 


M 


Polemius 


p 7 l 






Macrobius 


Ml 


Pollio, C. A. 


P72 


Fabius 


F 


Maecenas 




Pompeius, Sextus 


P73 


Festus 


Fl 


Maccianus 


Ml 


Pomponius 


P 74 


Firmicus 


F2 


Mallius 


M2 


Porcius 


P75 


Firmicus, jun. 
FLORUS, Jul. 


F4 


Mamertinus 
Manilius 


M25 


Porphyrio 
Priscianus Caes. 


P76 
P77 


Florus, P. Annius 
Fortunatus 


F6 


Marcellus Empir. 
Marius Maximus 


M33 


Priscianus, Theod. 
Proba 


P78 


Frontinus 
Fronto 


F 7 
F8 


Martialis, Garg. 
MARTIALIS, M. V. 


M37 

M4 


Probus 
PROPERTIUS 


P79 

P8 


Fulgentius 


F 9 


Martianus 


M 5 


Prosper 


p85 






Maximus Taur. 


M59 


Prudentius 


p 9 


Callus 


G 


Mela 


M6 






GELLIUS, Aulus 


G3 


Merobaudes 


M 7 


QUINTILIANUS 


Q 


Germanicus 


G5 


Messala 


M8 






Gratius 


G7 


Musa 


M9 


Rabirius 


R 










Rufmus 


R4 


Hadrianus 


H 


Naevius 


N 


Rufus Festus 


*5 


Hegesippus 


Hi 


Nazarius 


Nl 


Rusticius 


R6 


Historia miscella 


H2 


Nemesianus 


N2 


Rutilius, Cl. M. 


R 7 


Homerus Lat. 


H3 


NEPOS 


N3 


Rutilius Lupus, P. 


R8 


HORATIUS 


H5 


Nepotianus 


N4 


Rutilius Rufus, P. 


R9 


Hyginus, C. J. 


H8 


Nero 


N5 






Hyginus gramat. 


H9 


Nigidius 


N6 


SALLUSTIUS 


S 






Nipsus 


N 7 


Sabinus 


si 


Idacius 


I 


Nonius 


N8 


Sabinus, Asellius 


sll 


Isidorus 


15 


Novius 


N9 


Sacerdo 


Sl2 










Salcius 


Sl22 


Jordanes (Jornandes) 


J2 


Obsequens 


o 


Santra 


513 


Juba 


J3 


Optatianus 


06 


Scaevola 


5133 


Julianus 


J4 


Orientius 


07 


Scsevus 


sU 


Junior 


J5 


Oviuius 


08 


Scaurus, M. A. 


515 



CUTTER. 



Scaurus, Q. T. 


sl55 


STATIUS 


37 


Valerius Max. 


V 4 


Scipio 


s!6 


SUETONIUS 


88 


VARKO 


V S 


Scipio ^milianus 


8166 


Sulpicia 


382 


Vegetius Ren., F. 


v6 


Scribonius Largus 


817 


Sulpicius Severus 


884 


Vegetius Ren., P. 


v61 


Scribonius Libo 


8177 


Symmachus 


387 


Velleius. See Paterculus. 




Sedulius, C. 


s!8 


Symphosius 


889 


Verrius 


v; 


Sedulius, Scotus 


S1 9 


Syrus 


S 9 


Vestricius 


V75 


SENECA, L. A. 


S2 






Vilius 


V 77 


[Seneca tragicus, if 


sepa- 


TACITUS 


T 


Victor, J. C. 


v;8 


rated 


S25] 


Terentianus 


T2 


Victor, M. 


V79 


SENECA, M. A. 


S3 


TERENTIUS Afer. 


T3 


Victor, S. A. 


v8 


Serenus, Sept. 


S33 


TIBULLUS 


T 5 


Victor Sulpicius 


V82 


Serenus Sammonicus 


S34 


Tiro 


T6 


Victor Vitensis 


v83 


Sergius 


336 


Trogus 


T8 


Victorinus, Mar. 


v85 


Servius 


34 


Turpilius 


T9 


Victorinus, Max. 


v86 


Severianus 


542 






Victorius 


v87 


Severus, C. 


346 


Vagellius 


V 


Vincentius 


v8g 


Severus, J. 


548 


Valerianus 


Vl2 


VIRGILIUS 


V 9 


Severus Sanctus 


35 


Valerius 


vl s 


Vitruvius, P. 


V 9 2 


Sidonius 


S55 


Valerius 


v!6 


Vitruvius, R. 


V93 


SlLIUS 


s6 


Valerius, J. 


V2 


Volcatius 


V9S 


Sisenna 


363 


Valerius Aedituus 


V27 


Vomanus 


vg6 


Solinus 


s6 5 


Valerius Antias 


V28 


Vopiscus 


v 9 8 


Spartianus 


867 


Valerius Flac. 


V3 


Vulcacius, M. 


V99 



WORKS OF CICERO (vj. c 7.) 



e.g., the Tusculanae, vj. 07x5 the Orator, vj. C7K. 



SELECTIONS A 

RHETORICA B 

De claris oratoribus C 

De inventione oratoria D 

Orator E 
De optimo genere orationis F 

Ad Q. fr. de oratore G 

Paradoxa H 

De partitione oratoria I 
Rhetorica ad Herennium j 

Topica K 

ORATIONES L 

Ad Antonium LA 

Pro Archia LAR 

Pro Balbo LB 

In Caecilium LC 

Pro Caecina LCA 

Pro Caelio LCB 

In Catilinam LCC 

Pro Cluentio LCL 

Pro Deiotaro LD 

Pro domo LE 



Pro Flacco 

Pro Fonteio 

De haruspicum responsis 

De lege agraria 

De lege Manilia 

Pro Ligario 

Pro Marcello 

Pro Milone 

Pro Murena 

Philippicse 

In Pisonem 

Pro Plancio 

Pro Pompeo 

Cum Populo gratulavit 

De provinc. consularibus 

Pro Quintio 

Pro Rabirio 

Pro Q. Roscio 

Pro S. Roscio 

Pro Scauro 

Cum Senatui gratulavit 

Pro Sestio 



LF 


Pro Sylla 


LSY 


LG 


Pro Tullio 


LT 


LH 


In Vatinium 


LV 


LI 


Verrinae 


LW 


LJ 


EPISTOLAE 


M 


LL 


Ad Atticum 


N 


LM 


Ad Brutum 


NB 


LN 


Familiares 


NF 


LO 


Ad Quintum fr. 


NQ 


LP 


PHILOSOPHICA 


P 


LPI 


Academica 


Q 


LPL 


Cato, de senectute 


R 


LPO 


De finibus 


S 


LPP 


Laelius, de amicitia 


T 


LPR 


De natura deorum 


U 


LQ 


De officiis 


V 


LR 


Somnium Scipionis, 


w 


LRO 


Tusculanae 


X 


LRP 


POLITICA 


Y 


LS 


De legibus 


YL 


LSE 


De republica 


YR 


LSF 







86 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 





VIRGILIUS (VJ.V9) 






Aeneis 


A 


Bucolica and Georgica 


BG 


Georgica 


G 


Bucolica 


B 


Culex 


C 








' LATIN FATHERS. 






Ambrosius 


A 


Hieronymus 


H 


Paulinus Nolanus, M. P. A. 


P 


Arnobius 


A 4 


Hilarius Pictavensis 


H 5 






Augustinus 


A6 


Hippolytus 


H6 














Ruffinus 


R 


Basilius 
Beda Venerabilis 


B 
B3 


Isidorus Hispalensis 


i 






Bernardus Claraevallensis 
Boetm'us 


B 4 
B6 


Joannes Moschus 
Joannes Damas. 


J 
JS 


Sedulius 
Silvester II., Pope 


S 

S5 


Clemens Romanus 


C 


Julius Firmicus Materna 


J9 






Cyprianus 


09 






Tertullianus 


T 


Dionysius Alex. 


D 


Lactantius 
Leo I., the Great 


L 


Titus Bostrensis 


T5 


Ephraim Syrus 


E 


Minucius Felix 


M 


Victorinus 


V 


Gregorius Turinensis 


G 






Vigilius Thapsicus 


V 7 


Gregorius Maximus 


G8 Novatianus 


N Vincentius Levinensis 


v8 


GREEK AUTHORS (CLASS MARK vp). 


Achaeus 


Al 


Andocides 


A 4 3 


Archimedes 


A66 


Achilles Tatius 


Al3 


Andromachus 


A44 


Aretaeus 


A67 


Aelianus 


AlS 


Andronicus 


MS 


Aristenetus 


A68 


Aelianus Tact. 


A16 


Anthemius 


A 4 6 


Aristides 


A6g 


Aeneas Gazaeus 


A1 7 


Antigonus 


M7 


Aristonicus 


A693 


Aeneas Tact. 


Al 8 


Antimachus 


M8 


ARISTOPHANES 


A 7 


AESCHINES 


A1 9 


Antiphon 


AS 


Aristophanes Byz. 


A 7 3 


Aeschines Socrat. 


Al9l 


Antisthenes 


A5l 


ARISTOTELES 


A8 


AESCHYLUS 


A2 


Antoninus 


A 5 2 


ARRIANUS 


A9 


AESOPUS 


A3 


Antoninius Lib. 


AS 23 


Arsenius 


A 9 1 


Aetius 


A 3 1 


Aphthonius 


A53 


Artemidorus 


A92 


Alcaeus 


A32 


Apollodorus 


AS4 


Asclepiades 


A93 


Alcinous 


A33 


Apollonius Cit. 


ASS 


Astrampsychus 


A 95 


Alciphron 


A34 


Apollonius Dys. 


A$6 


Athenaeus 


Ag6 


Alcman 


A35 


Apollonius Pyr. 


A57 


Athenagoras 


A97 


Alexander Act. 


A36 


Apollonius Rhod. 


A 5 8 


Autolycus 


A98 


Alexander Aph. 


A3&3 


Apollonius Soph. 


A59 






Alexander Mag. 


A37 


APPIANUS 


A6 






Alexander Tral. 


A 3 8 


Apsines 


A61 


Babrius 


B 


Ammonius 


A39 


Aratus 


A62 


Bacchylides 


B2 


ANACREON 


A 4 


Arcadius 


A&3 


Berosus 


B 4 


Anaxagoras 


A 4 l 


Archestratus 


A6 4 


Bion 


B6 


Anaximenes 


A 4 2 


Archilochus 


A65 


Brutus 


B8 



CUTTER. 



CALLIMACHUS 


c 


Epicharmus 


27 


Hero Alex. 


H3 


Callinus 


cl 


Epictetus 


29 


Hero Ctes. {See Heron) 


H32 


Callisthenes 


cl 5 


Epicurus 


E3 


H erodes 


H33 


Cebes 


C2 


Eratosthenes 


4 


Herodianus Ael. 


H34 


Cedrenus 


C2S 


Erinna 


E43 


Herodianus Mst. 


H3S 


Chariton 


C3 


Erotianus 


E45 


HERODOTUS 


H 4 


Chion 


C33 


EUCLIDES 


6 


Heron Alex. 


H44 


Choerilus 


c 3 6 


Eudemus 


62 


Heron Ctesias (see Hero) 


H46 


Choricius 


C39 


Eudocia 


63 


HESIODUS 


H 5 


Cleanthes 


C4 


Eunapius 


E 7 


Hesychius Alex. 


HS3 


Cleomedes 


C S 


Euphorion 


76 


Hesychius Mil. 


HSS 


Coluthus 


c6 


Eupolemus 


78 


Hierocles Alex. 


H6 


Conon 


C 7 


EURIPIDES 


8 


Hierocles gram. 


H62 


Constantinus Man. 


072 


Eustathius Ant. 


9 


Himerius 


H6s 


Constantinus Porph. 


C73 


Eustathius Mac. 


9! 


Hipparchus 


H&7 


Crates Theb. 


c86 


Eustathius Thes. 


92 


Hippocrates Cous 


H7 


Cratinus 


c81 






Hipponax 


H75 


Critias 


085 


Galenus 


G 


HOMERUS 


H8 


Ctesias 


09 


Georgius Choe. 


G2 


Horapollo 


H84 






Georgius Cod. 


G3 


Hybrias 


H8s 


Damascius 


D 


Georgius Gem. 


G 4 


Hyperides 


H9 


Damocrates 


Dl 


Georgius Pach. 


G 5 






Demetrius Cyd. 


Dl7 


Georgius Pis. 


G6 


lamblichus 


I 


Demetrius Mos. 


Dl8 


Georgius Schol. 


G7 


Ibycus 


12 


Demetrius Pep. 


Dig 


Glycas, J. 


G75 


Ion 


13 


Demetrius Phal. 


D2 


Glycas, M. 


076 


Isaeus 


14 


Demetrius Zen. 


D22 


Gorgias 


G8 


Isidorus 


15 


Democritus 


D25 


Gregoras 


085 


Isigonus Char 


16 


Demophilus 


D29 


Gregorius Cor. 


G 9 


I sis 


17 


DEMOSTHENES 


D3 


Gregorius Cyp. 


G95 


ISOCRATES 


18 


Dicaearchus 


D 3 8 










Didymus 
Dinarchus 

T\" /~* 


D4 


Hanno 
Hapluchiris 


H 
Hi 


Joannes Alex. 
JULIAN us Imp. 


J 
J6 


Dio Las. 


D 5 


Harpocration 


Hll 






Dio Chrys. 


D6 


Hecataeus 


Hl2 






Diocles 


065 


Hecataeus Abd. 


Hl3 


Laurentius Lydus 


L 


DIODORUS Siculus 


D 7 


Hecataeus Mil. 




Leo diac. 


L2 


Diogenes Apollo 


075 


Heliodorus Ernes. 


Hl4 


Leo philos. 


L2 3 


Diogenes Laert. 


D8 


Heliodorus Met. 


Hl 5 


Leonidas 


L2 5 


Dionysius Ael. 
Dionysius Byz. 


084 

D88 


Heliodorus poeta 
Hellanicus 


Hl6 
Hl7 


Libanius 
Longinus 


L3 

14 


DIONYSIUS Halic. 
Dionysius Perieg. 


D 9 

092 


Hephaestion 
Heraclides 


/ 

Hl8 


Longus 

LUCIANUS 


L6 


Diophantus 


094 


Heraclides Pont. 


H2 


Lycophron 


L7 


Dioscorides 


D95 


Heraclitus Eph. 


H22 


Lycurgus 


L8 


Dositheus 


097 


Heraclitus Myth. 


H23 


Lysias 


L 9 


Draco 


098 


Hermes Tris. 


H24 






Duris 


099 


Hermesianax 


H25 


Manetho 


M 






Hermias 


H26 


Marcianus 


Ml3 


Empedocles 


E2 


Hermippus 




Marcus 


Ml4 


Epaphroditus 


E23 


Hermippus Smyrn. 


H27 


Marinus 


M1 5 


Ephorus 


E2 5 


Hermogenes 


H28 


Matthaeus 


M1 7 



88 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Maximus 


MIS 


Phaedrus 


P22 


Scymnus 


S22 


Maximus Tyrius 


M2 


Phalaris 


P23 


Sesenus 


523 


Megasthenes 


M25 


Phanodermus 


P235 


Severus 


S2 4 


Meleager 


M3 


Phavorinus 


P24 


Sextius 


S2S 


Memnon 


M35 


Pherecrates 


P245 


Sextus Empiricus 


S26 


Menander com. 


M4 


Pherecydes Lerius 


P2 5 


Sibyllina oracula 


S2 7 


Menander rhet. 


M42 


Philemon gram. 


P259 


Simeo 


S28 


Menelaus 


M44 


Philes 


P26 


Simonides Amorg. 


829 


Mercurius 


M46 


Philetas 


P2 7 


SIMONIDES Ceus 


S3 


Michael Acorn. 


M48 


Philo Byz. 


P28 


Simplicius 


532 


Mimnermus 


MS 


PHILO Judaeus 


P29 


Socrates Ath. 


S3S 


Mnaseas 


M55 


Philochorus 


P294 


Solon 


S4 


Moeris 


M(J 


Philodemus 


P296 


SOPHOCLES 


S5 


Moschion 


M65 


Philolaus 


P29 7 


Sophron 


352 


Moschopulos 


M 7 


Philostratus 


P 3 


Soranus 


S53 


Moschus 


MS 


Philoxenus Cyth. 


?3l 


Soterichus 


S 55 


Musseus 


M9 


Phlegon 


P32 


Stephanus Byz. 


S57 


Musonius 


M9S 


Phocylides 


P 33 


Stesichorus Him. 


S59 






Photius 


p 35 


Stobaeus 


s6 






Phrynichus soph. 


P36 


Strabo 


s 7 


Nemesius 


N 


Phurnutus 


P 3 8 


Strato 


S 7S 


Nicander 


N2 


Phylarchus 




Suidas 


s8 


Nicanor 


N25 


PlNDARUS 


P 4 


Synesius 


589 


Nicephorus Blem. 
Nicephorus Bryen. 


N3 

N35 


Planudes 
PLATO 


p 45 
P 5 


Synesius Cyr. 
Syntipas 


59 


Nicephorus Greg. 


N 4 


Plotinus 


P 55 


j t 




Nicephorus Sti. 


N45 


PLUTARCHUS 


J J 

P6 






Nicetas Acorn. 


N56 


Polemo Ant. 


P61 


Terpander 


Tl 


Nicetas Eug. 


N&S 


Polemo Perieg. 


p&3 


Theanus 


T1 7 


Nicolaus Damas. 


N 7 


Pollux J., gram. 


p6s 


Themistius 


T2 


Nicomachus Geres. 


N8 


Pollux J., hist. 


p66 


Themistocles 


T2S 


Nonnus Parop. 


N9 


Polyaenus 


p68 


THEOCRITUS 


T3 


Nonnus Theoph. 


N9l 


POLYBIUS 


P 7 


Theodoretus 


T32 






Porphyrius 


P 75 


Theodorus Ducas 


T33 


Ocellus 


o 


Posidonius 


P 7 8 


Theodorus Gaza 


T33 


Olympiodorus philos. 
Onosander 


03 

oe. 


PROCLUS 
Procopius Caes. 


P8 
p81 


Theodorus Met. 
Theodorus Prod. 


T34 
T35 


Oppianus 
Oribasius 


J 

06 
08 


Psellus 
Ptolemaeus Chen. 


p86 


Theodosius Alex. 
Theodosius Trid. 


T37 
T38 


Orpheus 


09 


Ptolemaeus Cl. 
Ptolemaeus Eord. 


P8 7 
P88 


THEOGNIS 
Theon Alex. 


T 4 

T44 






Pythagoras 


P 9 


Theon Smyr. 


T45 


Paeanius 


p 


Pytheas 


P 95 


Theon Soph. 


T 4 6 


Palaephatus 


pi 






Theophanes 


T47 


Palladius 
Panyasis 


Pl2 
P1 3 


Quintus Smyrnaeus 


Q 


Theophilus 
Theophrastus 


T48 

T 5 


Pappus 


P1 4 


. 




Theophylactus 


T52 


Parmenides 


pl s 


Rhianus 


R 


Theopompus 


TS3 


Parthenius 


P1 7 


Rufus 


R 5 


Thomas Mag. 


T$6 


Paulus Aeg. 


P18 






Thrasyllus 


T58 


Paulus Silent. 


Pig 


Sallustius 


s 


Thrasymachus 


T59 


Pausanias 


P2 


Sappho 


S2 


THUCYDIDES 


T6 


Pediasimus 


P2l 


Scylax 


S2l 


Tiberius 


T63 



CUTTER. 



89 



Timaeus Socr. 


T&5 


Tzetzes 


T 9 


Zaleucus 


Z 


Timaeus Soph. 


T66 






Zenodorus 


Z2 


Trichas 


T 7 


Xenocrates 


Xl 


Zonaras 


Z 4 


Tryphioclorus 


T74 


XENOPHON Ath. 


X 


Zosimus hist. 


z6 


Tryphon 


T 7 8 


Xenophon Eph. 


x6 


Zosimus Pan. 


z8 


Tyrtaeus 


T8 


Xiphilinus 


*7 








WORKS OF PLATO 


OP-PS). 




e.g. t the Gorgias is VP. P5G, the Phaedo VP. PSPH. 


Alcibiades primus 


A 


Erastae 


ER 


Minos 





Alcibiades secundus 


A 


Eryxias 


ES 


Parmenides 


p 


Apologia Socratis 


AP 


Euthydemus 


EU 


Phaedo 


PH 


Axiochus 


B 


Euthyphro 


F 


Phaedrus 


PI 


Charmides 


C 


Gorgias 


G 


Philebus 


PL 


Civitas (See Respublica). 




Hipparchus 


H 


Politicus 


PO 


Convivium 


CO 


Hippias major 


HI 


Protagoras 


Q 


Cratylus 


CP 


Hippias minor 


HJ 


Respublica 


R 


Critias 


CQ 


De Justo 


J 


Sisyphus 


S 


Crito 


CR 


Laches 


K 


Sophista 


SO 


Definitiones 


D 


Leges 


L 


Theaetetus 


T 


Demodocus 


DE 


Lysis 


LY 


Theages 


TH 


Epinomis 


E 


Menex 


M 


Timaeus 


TI 


Epistolae 


EP Meno 


N De Virtute 


V 


WORKS OF PLUTARCH (VP. p6.) 


t.g ., the " De sera," VP.p6s. 


Aemilius Paulus 


A 


Eroticse narrationes 


E 


Otho 


O 


Agesilaus 


AG 


Eumenes 


EU 






Agis 


AH 






Pelopidas 


P 


Alcibiades 


AK 


Fabius 


F 


Pericles 


PE. 


Alexander 


AL 


Flamininus 


FL 


Philopoemen 


PH 


Antonius 


AN 


De fluviorum et montium 




Phocion 


PJ 


Aratus 


AR 


nominibus 


FM 


Pompeius 


PO 


Aristides 


AS 


Galba 


G 


Publicola 


PU 


Artaxerxes 


AT 


Gracchi 


GR 


De pudore vitioso 


pp 


Brutus 


B 






Pyrrhus 


PY 






Instituta 


H 






Caesar 


C 


Isis et Osiris 


I 


Romulus 


R 


Camillus 


CA 










Cato major 


CL 


Lucullus 


K 


De Sera numinis vindicta 


S 


Cato minor 


CC 


Lycurgus 


L 


Sertorius 


SA 


Cicero 


CI 


Lysander 




Solon 


SO 


Cimon 
Cleomenes 


CJ 
CL 


Marcellus 


M 


Sulla 


SY 


Coriolanus 


CO 


Marius 


MY 






Crass us 


CR 


Moralia 


M 


Themistocles 


T 






Musica 


MU 


Theseus 


TH 


Demetrius 


D 






Timoleon 


TI 


Demosthenes 


DE 


Nicias 


N 






Dio 


DI 


Numa 


NU 


Vitae 


V 



9 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



COLLECTIONS. 



Anecdota gracca VP'9 

Oratores VP6' 

Poetae VPP'9 

Poetae aenigmatum vpp'9 

Poetae Alexandrini VPP'9 

Poetae bucolici VPP'9 

Poetae didactici VPP'9 

Poetae epici VPP'9 

Poetae fabularum VPP'9 

Poetae gnomici VPP'9 

Poetae hyrnnorum vpp'9 

Poetae lyrici VPP'9 

Poetae satyrici VPP - 9 

Poetae scenici VPD'9 
Poetae sillographici et pa- 

rodici VPP'9 



Rhetores, vp-gS 

Scriptores vp - g 

Scriptores rei accipitrariae vp-gS 
Scriptores astronomici 
Scriptores biographici 
Scriptores commentario- 



VP'9 



Scriptores epistolographi 
Scriptores erotici et fab. 

Roman 
Florilegia 

Scriptores geographici 
Scriptores grammatici 
Scriptores historici vp-gS 

Scriptores historiarum Alex- 

andri Magri SpA'9 



Scriptores historiae By- 

zantinae 8PD'9 

Scriptores rerum inventa- 

rum vp'98i 

Scriptores mathematici vp-gS 
Scriptores medici vp'gS. 

Scriptores metrici et mu- 

sici 

Scriptores metrologici 
Scriptores rei militaris 
Scriptores mythologici VPL'9 
Scriptores rerum nat. et 

paradoxorum vp-gS 

Scriptores paroemiorum vpy'9 
Scriptores philosophi Vp-gSp 
Scriptores physiognomici Vp-gSp 



To show how the table is applied I give about a third of our shelf-list for 



HOMER. 



COLLECTED WORKS. 

Opera. Lips., 7759 VP'H8'i759 

Carmina, cur. Heyne. Lips., 1802 VP'HS'i8o2 
Church. Selections from Homer VP'HS'gc 
Whole works; tr. into Eng. by Chap- 
man VP'HS'EC 
Iliad and Odyssey; tr. into Eng. by 

Coiuper VP'HS'ECO 

Iliad and Odyssey; tr. into Eng. by 

Ogilby VP'HS'EO 

OZuvres; tr. into French by Dacier VP'HS'FD 
CEuvres; tr. into French by Gin VP'HS'FG 

Werke; tr. into German by Voss vp-HS'GV 

" " " " " (another 

ed.), vp-H8'GV2 

Arnold. On translating Homer VP'HS'YA 

" Last words on translating 
Homer VP'HS'YA'L 

Crusius. Greek & Eng. lexicon of 

Homer vp-n8'zc 

Seber. Index vocabulorum in Home- 
rum VP'HS'ZS 



SINGLE WORKS. 



Batrachomyomachia; tr. into Eng. by 
Chapman 



Ilias. 
Iliad; 
Iliad; 
Iliad; 
Iliade 



vp-H8rl768 

Vp-H8rl872 

Vp - H8i - EC 

Vp - ii8rEp 

vp - H8rEP'2 



Hymni, etc. Lips., 1858 vp-H8H'1858 

Hymn to Ceres; tr. into Eng. by 

Lucas 

Ilias. Lond., 1768 
Lips., 1872 

tr. into Eng. by Chapman 
tr. into Eng. by Pope, 1721 
tr. into Eng. by Pope. 1802 
tr. into Italian by Monti 
Collins. The Iliad 
Nagelsbach. Anmerkungen 
Scholia in Iliadem 
Pendergast. Complete concordance 

to the Iliad Vp-HSrzp 

Odyssey; [Gr.]; ed. by Hayman. 

1866 vp-HSoD'1866 

Odyssey; tr. by Bryant VP'HSoiVEB 

Odyssey; tr. by Chapman vp'iiSoD'EC 

Odyssey; tr. by Pope vp-HSoD'EP 



vp-HSi'YC 



vp - H8i'YSCH 



DAVIS. 



9 1 



Aretas A 

Athanasius A8 

Athenagoras A9 

Barnabas B 

Chrysostomus C 

Clemens Alex. 05 

Cyrillus Alex. c8 

Cyrillus Hieros. 09 

Didymus Alex. D 

Diognetum Ep. ad ny 

Dionysius Corinthius r>g 

Epiphanius E 



GREEK FATHERS. 

Eusebius Pamphilus E8 

Evagrius 9 

Georgius Pisides 

Gregorius Naz. G 

Gregorius Nys. c8 

Gregorius Thaum. eg 

Hegesippus H 

Hermas H2 

Hermias H3 

Ignatius I 

Isidorus Pelusinus 15 

Justinus Martyr J 



Methodius 



Origenes 



Papias 

Petrus Chrysol. 
Polycarpus 
Procopius Gaz. 



Tatianus 

Theophilus Antioch 
Theodoretus 
Theodorus 



P 
P2 

p6 
P8 



T 
T4 

T5 
T6 



TEACHING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN COLLEGES. 



BY R. C. DAVIS, LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. 



I HAD not performed the duties of a librarian 
long before it became evident to me that 
many of my readers were working at a disad- 
vantage. Their knowledge of books of com- 
mon reference was very limited ; they did not 
know of the existence of special bibliographies, 
and of indexes to serial publications ; that they 
could help themselves in these matters by an 
intelligent exercise of their reasoning powers 
never occurred to them. They were, in short, 
running in a rut out of which it seemed impos- 
sible for them to get. In addition to this they 
made no effort, on coming into the library 
building for the first time, to learn what they 
might expect, or what was expected of them, 
or the whereabouts of anything. They were 
willing to leave all to chance. 

As one effort to remedy these evils I decided 
to give a few lectures on the library in general, 
and on library aids in particular, at the opening 
of each college year. This I did first in 1879, 
and have continued to do since. One lecture 
(the first) has reference to the use of the library. 
I endeavor to show the student what his obli- 



gations are as a user of the library, and also 
what his rights are. I also describe the card 
catalogue, showing how it is constructed, and 
how it should be handled, with a mention of 
the printed catalogues of other libraries in our 
possession, and how they may be helpful. I 
give a list of the books of reference, with ex- 
planations of their scope and value. Particular 
attention is called to the special bibliographies 
which are becoming so numerous. And, lastly, 
I endeavor to teach that mental process which 
is available everywhere, and under all circum- 
stances, in which the present knowledge of the 
inquirer is interrogated, and made to indicate 
the direction in which further knowledge is to 
be sought. 

This lecture is followed by a second, on " The 
Books of the Year," and a third, on "Reading 
Why we Do it, and How we Should Do it." 

These lectures, delivered, as I have said, at 
the opening of the college year, are sometimes 
well attended, and sometimes not. I shall 
continue them, because I have evidence every 
year that some individuals are helped by them 



both in their ability to use books and in their 
appreciation of books. 

In the year 1881 I submitted to the Faculty 
of the University an outline of a systematic 
course of instruction in Bibliography, which 
they were desired to consider, and, if it met 
with their approval, to recommend to the Board 
of Regents for incorporation in the curriculum. 
The scheme was approved by the Faculty, 
recommended by them as desired, and, at the 
next meeting of the Board of Regents, the 
course was established. It is an elective, lect- 
ure course, of one hour per week, extending 
through the second semester. Those who take 
it, and pass a satisfactory examination, receive 
a credit of one-fifth. 

Before proceeding to give an outline of this 
course of study I will make a few explanatory 
remarks. 

I hardly need to say in this presence that, 
although Bibliography is not a new subject, and 
although it has been the specialty of a number 
of eminent scholars, its boundaries are not 
quite settled yet. While generally agreeing 
that it is the " Science of Books," writers differ 
more or less as to the extent of the field it may 
cover. 

Some of the most distinguished of the French 
and English bibliographers have included in it 
the study of ancient MSS., as well as the study 
of printed books. The writer of the article on 
the subject in the gth edition of the " Encyclo- 
paedia Britannica" confines it to a consideration 
of printed books, and applies to a consider- 
ation of ancient MSS. the term Paleography. 
There is no need of controversy here. Bibli- 
ography properly covers ancient as well as 
modern books ; it includes Paleography. If 
it is sometimes desirable to consider modern 
books alone, so it is sometimes desirable to 
consider ancient and modern books in connec- 
tion, the modern as a development of the 
ancient ; and it is sometimes desirable to con- 
sider ancient books alone. In neither case 
should the use of the term Bibliography be pro- 
hibited as inapplicable. 

This is undoubtedly a bibliographical associ- 
tion, yet the line dividing between types and 
pens, between paper, and parchment and papy- 
rus, is never crossed in the papers that are read 



at its meetings, or in the discussions that fol- 
low the readings. If there is a bibliographical 
journal published in the country it is the 
Library journal; and yet I think only one 
article of an antiquarian character has ever ap- 
peared in it, and that was followed by a note 
stating that it was an exception to the rule of 
the Journal, which " confines it to topics 
that concern the librarian as an administrator 
rather than as a scholar." 

I think the language of the announcement of 
the School of Library Economy to be opened at 
Columbia College at the beginning of the 
coming year is that " the principles of library 
management " only will be taught. Of the 
wisdom of the founders of the Association, and 
of the Journal, and of the School of Library 
Economy, in thus confining study and discus- 
sion to the utilitarian side of Bibliography 
there can be no doubt. Time and use, which 
test the wisdom of all courses of action, attest 
the wisdom of this course as regards the Asso- 
ciation and the Journal. 

But the case is altered when the subject is to 
be taught to college students not for a specific 
purpose but rather as a part of liberal educa- 
tion. The antiquarian, or historical, side is 
important then. The student should become 
familiar with that portion of the subject in all 
of its aspects. If art contributes to it as it 
does he should know what it contributes. 
If history contributes to it as it does he 
should know what is gained from history. If 
literature contributes to it as it does, largely, 
of course he should know what literature 
gives. 

In the course given at the University, there- 
fore, all these contributions from art and his- 
tory and literature are collected and arranged 
in that order which seems the most natural, 
and to the two divisions of Bibliography which 
are generally recognized, viz. : Material, or 
Practical, and Intellectual, another is added, 
which I term Historical Bibliography, and 
place first as introductory. We have, then, 
three main divisions of the general subject : 

i. HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This com- 
prises a description of the writing materials of 
the different ages; of MSS. ; of the preserva- 
tion of ancient literature ; of the revival of 



DA VIS. 



93 



learning in the fourteenth century, and that 
almost simultaneous event, the beginning of 
modern literature ; of the invention of printing 
and the improvements in the art ; of the early 
printers and their works ; of libraries, and of 
the copyright. 

2. MATERIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This has 
reference to the denominations and sizes of 
books, and their mechanical execution ; to 
bibliographical nomenclature, to editions, to 
catalogues, to buying and caring for books, etc. 

3. INTELLECTUAL BIBLIOGRAPHY. This has 
to do with the classification of literature, and 
the contents of books. 

In order to convey as clear an idea as pos- 
sible of what is taught I will give a synopsis 
of the twenty lectures which at present consti- 
tute the course. 

On Historical Bibliography there are seven 
lectures : 

I. WRITING MATERIALS. 

The origin of writing growing out of the de- 
sire of man to give expression to his thoughts 
and perpetuity to his achievements ; Rock in- 
scriptions ; Tables of stone, ivory, metal, and 
wood ; The use of coloring matter, making 
available the barks and leaves of trees, and the 
skins and intestines of animals ; Clay tablets ; 
Papyrus ; Parchment ; Wax tablets ; Palm leaf 
of the Cingalese, and other Eastern nations ; 
Origin of modern paper, and when and how a 
knowledge of its manufacture was introduced 
into Europe ; Minor materials, as pens and inks. 

2. CLASSICAL MSS. 

Forms assumed by MSS. ; The characters 
in which they were written ; How they were 
multiplied, and to what extent, in the times of 
greatest literary activity in Greece and Rome ; 
The subject illustrated by a view of books and 
reading in Rome in the first century ; The no- 
menclature of the subject ; Dangers to which 
classical MSS. were exposed ; Their preserva- 
tion through the Dark Ages ; Part of the Monks 
in the matter. 

3. THE REVIVAL OF LEARNING. 
What this revival was ; "Through 700 years," 
said Lionardo Bruni, "no one in all Italy has 



been master of Greek letters ; Petrarch ; Boc- 
caccio ; John of Ravenna, the itinerant professor 
of Latin ; Emanuel Chrysoloras, the Greek ; 
Filelfo ; Poggio, and the MSS. found and tran- 
scribed by him ; Nicholas V., and the Vatican 
library ; Vespasiano, first of modern booksell- 
ers ; Vittorino da Feltre, the model educator ; 
Aldus Manutius, the first printer of critical 
texts ; Decadence of classical learning in Italy 
in the i6th century, and its rise in Northern 
Europe from the labors of Grocyn, Linacre, 
Reuchlin, Erasmus, and others. 

4. MSS. OF THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE BE- 
GINNINGS OF MODERN LITERATURE. 

Ulphilas and the Gothic language in the 
4th century ; Cyril and the Sclavonic language 
in the gth century; Celtic MSS., and Celtic 
learning in the 7th and 8th centuries ; Arabian 
MSS., and Arabian learning in the 9th and 
loth centuries; What the MSS. of the Middle 
Ages contained that still finds appreciation in 
its entirety, or has been worked over and finds 
appreciation in other forms of literature. 

5. THE INVENTION OF PRINTING. 

The arts of the first part of the I5th cent- 
ury; Wood engraving; Playing cards; Block 
books ; Political and social condition of Europe 
in the I5th century; The invention typogra- 
phy, not printing ; The claimants to the honor 
of the invention ; Warmth of the controversy 
over these alleged inventors ; The older 
writers on the subject bibliographers rather 
than practical printers ; Their conclusions un- 
satisfactory on this account; Elimination of all 
from the list of claimants except Coster and 
Gutenburg ; A consideration of the claims of 
each ; The phenomenal books, the " Biblia Pau- 
perum," the " Ars Moriendi," the ' Speculum," 
the " Donatuses," and others ; How were they 
printed, and who printed them ? Why the ancient 
nations did not print ; The conditions that 
made the art possible in the I5th century. 

6. THE EARLY PRINTERS. 

Fust and Schoeffer ; Their "Offices of Cicero," 
the first classic printed (1465) ; Sweynheim 
and Panwartz at Subiaco and at Rome ; Their 
" Lactantius ; " Roman type first used by them 



94 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



in their edition of Cicero's Letters (1467) ; 
Nicholas Jensen ; The Manutii ; Their editions 
of the Greek classics ; The Aldine, or Italic 
type ; Ulric Gering, the first printer of France ; 
Antoine Verard, and the new school of print- 
ing founded by him ; The Estiennes, or Ste- 
phenses ; John Amerbach and his editions of 
the Christian Fathers ; Jean Froben, Amer- 
bach's successor, and the friend and publisher 
of Erasmus ; The Elzeviers ; William Caxton ; 
Wynkin de Worde ; Richard Pynson. 

7. LIBRARIES. 

Ancient libraries ; Libraries of the Middle 
Ages ; The classification of libraries ; The Li- 
brary of the British Museum ; The National 
Library of France ; The Library of the Vatican; 
The Imperial Library of St. Petersburg ; 
Harvard College Library. 

On Material Bibliography there are five 
lectures : 

I DENOMINATIONS AND SIZES OF BOOKS. 

Anonymous, pseudonymous, posthumous, 
and other names of books resulting from cir- 
cumstances of authorship ; Esoteric and exoteric 
books ; Classics ; Sizes of books, as folios, 
quartos, etc. ; How the sizes are produced ; 
This method of designating books unsatisfac- 
tory ; Efforts of librarians to change it ; Methods 
of the American Library Association and the 
United Kingdom Library Association. 

2. THE MECHANICAL EXECUTION OF BOOKS. 

Paper ; Type ; Illustrations ; Bindings, etc. 

3. EDITIONS. 

What editions are ; How they are multi- 
plied ; Wherein editions differ ; Books of 
which there are many editions ; The choice 
in editions 

4. CATALOGUES. 

Catalogues of authors ; Catalogues of sub- 
jects ; Classified catalogues ; The dictionary 
system; General catalogues, as Brunei's and 
Lownde's ; Catalogues of libraries ; Catalogues 
of collections for sale ; Written and printed 
catalogues; The card system ; Special bibliog- 



raphies ; Poole's index of periodical litera- 
ture ; The cooperative index : Bulletins. 

5- THE CARE OF BOOKS. 

The enemies of books enumerated by Mr. 
Blades, viz.: "fire, water, gas and heat, dust 
and neglect, ignorance, the bookworm, other 
vermin, bookbinders, and book collectors ; " 
How improvements in the construction of li- 
brary buildings preserves from some of these 
enemies ; In what ways ignorance is inimical 
to books ; What the bookbinder does that is 
disastrous ; The book collector, or bibliomanic : 
his idiosyncrasies ; How to pack books. 

On Intellectual Bibliography there are eight 
lectures : 

I. THE CLASSIFICATION OF KNOWLEDGE. 

Schemes of Bacon, Bentham, Coleridge, and 
others, relating particularly to philosophy ; 
Systems for the classification of books in li- 
braries, notably Bouillaud's, Ersch's, Home's, 
Brunei's, Edwards 1 , and later ones. 

In the seven remaining lectures the main 
classes into which literature is divided are 
subdivided to as great an extent as possible, 
and an endeavor is made to name the best 
books in each of the subdivisions. 

The reasons for the course that existed in 
my mind, and by which I justified the request 
for its establishment, may be formulated thus : 
The book is the student's chief tool, his sine 
qua 11011. Has he mastered the Literce hu- 
titaniores, if on the day of his graduation he 
knows little or nothing about this tool with 
which he has wrought, either its history or its 
workmanship? It has been necessary for him to 
become familiar with the theory of the evolution 
of man from a primordial cell. Should he not 
also become familiar with the fact of the evolu- 
tion of the modern book from a rock inscrip- 
tion, or, more remotely, from a grove of trees, 
or a pile of stones? Why should not the col- 
lege student be taught bibliography as well as 
philosophy, or art, or literature? It may be 
said that a knowledge of books, as books, is of 
less importance than a knowledge of philoso- 
phy, or of art, or of a particular literature. I can- 



DA VIS. 



95 



not admit it. I wish to be understood aright. 
I am not considering the relative importance 
of the subjects abstractly, weighing them, 
but their importance to the student in general. 
The exigences of life will make a demand on 
that student for bibliographical knowledge 
twice where they will make one demand for the 
other more special knowledge. I appeal con- 
fidently to the experience of college-bred men 
for confirmation of what I affirm. 

Again, it may be said that a knowledge of 
Bibliography is gained from a study of other 
subjects. Yes; something about the MSS. of 
certain ancient classical writers will be im- 
parted by the professors of the ancient lan- 
guages. Something about the various editions 
of the modern classical writers will be received 
from the professors of the modern languages. 
But all this is incidental ; the facts are few 
and disconnected, and the impressions made 
will not be permanent. For instance, if the 
student is reading the Correspondence of 
Cicero, he will probably be told that the sole 
authority for the letters " ad Familiares " is a 
MS. discovered by the poet Petrarch at Ver- 
celli. He will wonder, momentarily, how this 
happened to the sentimental Italian, with whose 
name he has always associated that of Laura, 
the woman who was the source of his inspi- 
ration, and then he will probably forget the 
fact altogether. 

Now give this fact to the student, with the 
associated facts, in a chain of interesting 
events. He beholds Petrarch in a new char- 
acter ; as a student of Cicero, and a lover of the 
old Roman literature, art, life, and philosophy. 
Laura does not appear upon the scene. 
Petrarch's utterances are those of a practical, 
earnest man. " I detested," he said, as he 
turned from what was about him back to the 
past, " I detested the frivolities and senseless 
chatter of the moderns. ... I was the 
first, in Italy at least, to bring back the style 
of our forefathers." The student will not 
forget the fact in this company, nor the 
associated facts. He will be taught not only 
that the poet was the apostle of the Renais- 
sance, but also what that great movement was, 
and what was accomplished by the actors in it. 

Again, the teacher of Italian literature will 



dwell upon the piquant style of Boccaccio, upon 
his wit and his eloquence, and will remark 
probably that it is a pity that his masterpiece, 
the " Decamerone," is too indecent to be read. 
His association with Petrarch, and his partici- 
pation in the revival of learning may be 
mentioned incidentally, but his earnest and 
successful labors in the interests of learning 
will not be given sufficient prominence to make 
him live in the mind as any other than the 
author of a fascinating, but licentious, book. 
But the page of Boccaccio's life that is open to 
the bibliographical student does not tell him 
about the " Decamerone," but describes his 
indefatigable pursuit of the relics of ancient 
literature. What lives in the memory is not a 
tale penned to delight an immoral court, but 
his noble and indignant protest against the 
mutilation of books as he looked tearfully over 
the neglected library at Monte Casino. 

While, therefore, bibliographical knowledge 
is obtained by the study of literature as 
commonly pursued, and by the study of other 
subjects, it is only at those points where the 
subjects dovetail into each other, and it is 
consequently inadequate. In the study of a 
literature, the end of the study is a knowledge 
of that literature pure and simple. The in- 
structor, at the moment that he says, " Here 
is an interesting fact, but not altogether 
relevant," calls attention away from it again. 
It can only be something " by the way." 

Now a practical consideration : A college 
education is supposed to, and generally does, 
make books a necessity. Should not a part 
of that education that makes books necessary 
include instruction in the arts of acquiring and 
caring for them? The existence of a School of 
Library Economy at Columbia may be taken 
as a justification of this instruction for 
librarians. I need only to call attention to the 
fact that any man who collects books in large 
numbers has to meet many of the responsi- 
bilities of a librarian. 

The results of the experiment may be given 
briefly. During the four years that the lectures 
have been delivered there has been an annual 
average attendance of twenty-four persons, 
regularly enrolled. Others are present, but 
are not members of the class. About ten per 



9 6 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



cent, of those regularly enrolled take the work 
for some other reason than a desire to be 
benefited by it, and they are not benefited by 
it particularly. They fail at examination. 
About twenty-five per cent, both grasp the 
subject as a whole and enter into its details 
with intelligence and enthusiasm. They speak 
often, with gratification, of finding links that 
bind together fragments of knowledge already 
possessed by them, but of which they had not 
before perceived the connection. And they 
find much that is suggestive in the matter 
brought to their notice, much that provokes 
them to profitable research in this direction 



and in that. Also they find that, as an 
immediate result of their study, their grasp 
of all the accumulations they have made is 
rendered more comprehensive. Of the remain- 
ing sixty-five per cent, it may be said that they 
do their work fairly well, and are helped by it. 
I think these results justify the establishment 
of the course, and I consider that part of the 
matter as practically settled ; but that it may 
be so modified and so changed as to produce 
far better results is certain in the nature of 
things, and I shall not only welcome sugges- 
tions but I shall also endeavor to take criticism 
in that spirit which makes it profitable. 



SOME NEW DEVICES AND ARRANGEMENTS. 



BY J. N. LARNED, OF THE BUFFALO LIBRARY. 



I HAVE here a drawing of the book-stacks 
which are being constructed in the new 
building of the Buffalo Library. They are a 
modification of the book-stack idea as devel- 
oped heretofore at Harvard, Amherst, Ann 
Arbor, and elsewhere. Instead of being carried 
to a height of six or seven stages, or tiers, 
our stack stops at two (of seven feet each) ; 
each tier having capacity for the storage of 
nearly 100,000 volumes. The construction, 
designed by the architect of the building, Mr. 
C. L. W. Eidlitz, of New York, is entirely 
novel. Since the weight to be sustained is 
comparatively small, it has been possible to 
make the structure exceedingly light. The 
standards are of iron gas-pipe, an inch in 
diameter, one pair of them to form each pier, 
if I may call it so, in each stack. Bearings of 
cast-iron, sliding upon these standards, and 
fixed in place as desired, furnish the supports 
to the shelves, and also carry, riveted upon 
them, light partition-plates of sheet-iron, to 
brace the books upon the shelves, and separate 
the shelf-sections from one another. The same 
standards support, at the height of seven feet 
from the floor, a light platform of open iron- 
work and glass, which constitutes the floor of 
the second tier of the stacks. The whole 



structure is characterized by a remarkable 
economy of materials, of cost, and of space. 
It will enable the greatest possible number of 
books to be stored in a given room, with the 
least possible obstruction of light. I am con- 
fident, moreover, that the appearance of the 
book-room filled on this plan is going to be 
decidedly agreeable to the eye. 

I have also brought with me, to show you, a 
sample book-brace, which is the fruit of a good 
deal of contriving on my part during some 
months past. I have tried most of the inven- 
tions in use for bracing the end of a row of 
books in a half-filled shelf, and have been sat- 
isfied with none of them. I wished to devise 
something that would not twist on the shelf, 
nor easily be buried out of sight among the 
books. The primary idea in my mind was of 
a groove in the shelf which should hold the 
brace squarely at right angles to itself. Start- 
ing from that notion, I experimented with 
various forms of brace, first in wood, then in 
cast-iron, finally in wire ; but it was not until 
I enlisted the help of our library janitor that 
the satisfactory book-brace was evolved. He 
combined my idea with the old idea of a bit 
of sheet-iron bent to a right angle, and put the 
combination into wire. Here you see the re- 



LARNED. 



97 



suit. The projecting wire foot slips along a 
groove in the shelf under the books against 
which the brace is to be pressed, and books 
and brace give steadiness to one another. If 
Mr. Davidson, of the Library Bureau, thinks 
as well of this little device as I do, and cares 
to add it to his library supplies, he is welcome 
to do so. 

Inasmuch as all variations of charging sys- 
tems are interesting to many librarians, I feel 
justified in bringing to your notice a double- 
entry card scheme which I am bringing into 
use, for keeping accounts with books and bor- 
rowers equally. I wished to keep the book 
side of the account without going through the 
preparatory labor of making a card or slip for 
each book, to be carried in the pocket of the 
volume, as is done in several charging systems 
heretofore devised. I have accomplished this 
by the help of the printer, whose types and 
presses take almost all the preparatory work 
off my hands, quite simply, and with little cost. 
He rules and prints for me a set of stiff cards 
10 inches long by 5^ inches wide. These 
cards are to stand on one of their long edges. 
At the top of each, on one face, is printed 
"CLASS ," and it is ruled vertically in 

20 columns. These columns are numbered 
i to 20 in a certain number of cards ; then 

21 to 40 on a second lot; 31 to 60 on a third, 
and so on to as high numbers as may be re- 
quired. Now I need only fill in the blank left 
at the top of the cards for the designation of a 
class of books, and do this on one each of the 
successively numbered cards as far as the 
number of volumes in the designated class 
may require, in order to be prepared to keep 
account of the loaning and other movements 
of every book in that class. Our books are 
shelf-marked for the relative location, i.e., 
by class-number and place-number. There is 
a column on the cards ready numbered, there- 
fore, for each book. If there are not more 
than 20 works in the class, one card of the 
first series of numbers is sufficient ; if there 
are more than 20 and less than 40, I add one 
of the second series ; and so according to 
the measure of the several classes. A set of 
pigeon-holes 8 feet long and 2^2 feet high will 
hold the necessary cards for fully 100,000 



volumes, giving plenty of room for easy work- 
ing. If there is any more economical and easy 
method of providing an "indicator" for a 
library, to show at all times the presence, or 
absence, and whereabouts of every book, I 
shall be glad to hear of it. 

My card for keeping the account with bor- 
rowers explains itself. It is 5 inches long by 
7 inches high. The following is a representa- 
tion of one face : 



1728. Smith, John. 





Mon. 


Tues. 


Wed. 


Thurs. 


Fri. 


Sat. 


1 














fti 2 














JAJfU 

CO 














4 














5 














ft? 6 














b 
ft? 7 














N 

fS 8 














9 














10 














hj 11 
o 














K 

S 18 














13 















9 8 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



This face of the card provides for one ac- 
count (with John Smith, for example) during 
the first quarter of the year. Then the card is 
turned over, and the account is similarly carried 



on through the second quarter. Another card 
is prepared for the remaining half of the year. 
The advantage of the arrangement is in the self- 
dating of every charge, which saves much time. 



ECLECTIC BOOK-NUMBERS. 



BY MELVIL DEWEY, COLUMBIA COLLEGE. 



I AGREED to talk a few minutes on this 
question of book-numbers, because I get 
almost every week inquiries from som one 
who is confused and in trouble about them. 
At the risk of repetition and commonplace to 
those who hav studied the matter, I shal speak 
of it without assuming any knowledge on the 
part of the listener, because in this way it can 
be made clearer. That this important topic 
may com within the limits of time, you must 
allow me to speak ex cathedra without stopping 
to submit proof of all my statements. I shal 
be gratful for any criticisms or suggestions, 
after my remarks appear in our Proceedings, 
which may help to mak the points clearer and 
more useful to any library. 

1. The subject is important, for it has much 
to do with rapid, accurate and economical ad- 
ministration. Som prominent libraries hav 
been long without book-numbers. So hav 
others without either class or shelf numbers. 
There ar families too that as yet hav no sewing- 
machine. 

2. The question of book-numbers is entirely 
distinct from that of class or shelf numbers, 
and from any special system. It applies no 
more to my "Decimal Classification" than to 
its various rivals. 

3. We may safely say that all libraries 
classify at least broadly, and that a growing 
number ar classing closely. The very few 
exceptions that ignore all classing on the 
shelves ar barely enuf to prove the rule. 
Som separate the library into no more than 
26 classes, lettered A, B, C, to Z. Others 
use almost as many thousand topics. The 
question of book-numbers does not arise til 
this of classification has been settled. 
Whether 20 or 20,000 heads ar used, after the 



books ar separated into these groups, their 
arrangement within each group must be 
decided. In many private libraries nothing 
further is attempted, but the books ar jumbled 
together as chance dictates. All the mathe- 
matical books ar together, and if one is wanted 
the shelves ar hunted thru til it is found. With 
time enuf it may always be found ; but to one 
who has ever used an exact call-number, such 
a jumble is as unbearable as it is extravagant. 
There is no exact designation of a book 
without writing its title, and in all the records 
and charges each entry is a standing protest 
against the folly of no book-numbers. 

It is without the province of this talk to 
discus whether the classes shall be few or 
many, lettered or numbered. We assume that 
the library has examined the question and 
chosen the plan that is best for its use ; that 
the books ar assigned to these classes, and 
bear numbers or letters showing clearly to 
which subject each volume belongs. This 
number is the class-number, and is best written 
as the numerator of a fraction whose denomi- 
nator is the book-number which shows in the 
same way the exact place of each volume 
within the class to which it is assigned by the 
class-number. The whole fraction, class 
and book numbers, together with volume- 
number if there be any, make up the "call- 
number" which is the complete identification 
of the book, used in calling for it by number, 
charging it, and in all records, and is even 
more exact than a full written title, as it 

513 
specifies the identical copy. Thus, 24 means 

2 

the 2d volume of the 24th book in subject- 
number 513. 513 is the class-number, 24 



DEWEY. 



99 



the book-number, 2 the volume-number which 
is used only for works having more than one 
volume. It is the best form of the second 
number that I am to discus. 

4. The above assumes that the relativ 
location is used. For the last year or two its 
advantages hav been so generally recognized 
that I do not now recall a case where any 
library, after lerning these advantages, has 
adopted the old fixt location. If, however, 
such a case should arise, the 513, insted of 
meaning subject-number 513, would mean 
shelf 513, i.e., in a well-numbered library, 
alcove or case 5, tier I, shelf 3, counting from 
the top. Then the question is how to arrange 
on the shelf insted of in the class. But so many 
of the advantages of any arrangement ar lost 
in not using the relativ location that with the 
fixt location the simple accession or r, 2, 3 
order is almost universally followed. Then, in 
the number above, 24 means nothing more 
than that it is the 24th book that happened to 
be put on the shelf, regardles of all other 
considerations. Indeed the use of the shelf 
insted of a class number prohibits any other 
plan, for it could be followed only temporarily 
and by rude gues-work. We wil therefore go 
on the assumption that a relativ location of 
som kind is used. 

5. General Principles. In comparing the 
merits of the over a dozen possible plans for 
book-numbers three tests must be applied, 
viz., as to simplicity, brevity and utility. Any 
book-number should be simple, brief and use- 
ful ; but to which quality the greatest weight 
should be given depends on special circum- 
stances. A library in which most of the work 
consists in charging books for a very large cir- 
culation must lay great stres on brevity. A 
university library, where scholars ar constantly 
working at the shelves and making require- 
ments unknown to a popular library, must lay 
greatest stres on what the book-number ac- 
complishes, i.e., its utility. A library where 
all the work is done by cheap help may be com- 
pelled to sacrifice both brevity and utility to 
simplicity. Before these three judges every 
system must be tried. 

Then each system may be applied either ex- 
actly or approximately: e.g., if alfabetical, by 



author's names, absolutely accurate arrange- 
ment wil require longer numbers and occasional 
alterations, as authors with very similar names 
arise, or else very long decimals must be used ; 
but if a nearly accurate order wil answer 
much shorter numbers ar practicabl. Here 
again the welthy reference-library wil be 
likely to use exact order, while the more 
popular wil content itself with the shorter 
and cheaper approximate accuracy. In choos- 
ing it must be noted that the class-numbers 
in one way affect the choice of book-num- 
bers. If the classing is close, and there 
ar few books under each number any inter- 
calation system wil waste numbering mate- 
rial much worse, and the simple I, 2, 3 sys- 
tem wil have an advantage. But if coarse 
classing is the rule and there ar many vols. 
under each number, the advantages of the 
author and time systems ar brot into promi- 
nence while their numbers ar also proportion- 
ately shorter: e.g., if there ar 1,000 books 
in a class, 900 of them wil require three figures 
in the i, 2, 3 system, i.e., all from 100 to 
999, and the book-number would be just as 
long as the Cutter number of one letter followed 
by two figures, which keeps the books in alfa- 
betical order by author's name. But if, as is 
the case in my own library, a minute classing 
is made, many topics wil hav not over ten books 
and will require in the i, 2, 3 system only a 
single figure, while in the author system the Cut- 
ter number wil be just as long as if there were 
i ,000 books. Beside if there ar only ten books 
in a class it is much less important to have them 
in alfabetical order for the quick finding of any 
one wanted, as in so small a group the eye 
catches the title almost at sight. The rule, then, 
is " the more books in each class the less the 
waste and the greater the gain by author or 
time numbers." 

6. Notation. An examination of the entire 
resources of the printing-office wil reveal only two 
systems of symbols having a fixt order wel 
enough known in themselves and to be usable for 
marking books. These ar the Arabic figures 
i, 2, 3, to 9 and the Roman letters a to z. 
While size may be indicated by special 
marks or punctuation, to introduce any other 
characters into regular notation wil cause 



100 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



more labor and confusion than any possibl 
gain. 

7. The i, 2, 3 System. The most natural 
and simplest plan is to mark the books under 
each class number I, 2, 3, as they com in. 
Here, as in every book-number, the book, not 
the volume, is numbered. This plan is simplest 
to use and explain. There ar no skips on the 
shelves or in the shelf-list. The last number 
shows the total number of books in that class to 
date. It never " blocks up, 1 ' for books may be 
added in regular order without limit or alteration. 
It is as easy to put 1,000,000 books in any class 
as to put one. The shelf-list simply goes 
straight on, and never requires re-copying or re- 
arranging. The local memory is aided by find- 
ing always the same books side by side on the 
shelves, e.g., if a green book stands between 
two red ones, a page who has brot it a few 
times wil get it without looking at number or 
title. In the I, 2, 3 system this always re- 
mains between the two red books, but in all the 
other, i.e., intercalation systems, sooner or 
later, other books or sets may com in be- 
tween. In other words, the 1,2, 3 system 
has just the advantage, and about the only one 
that the fixt-shelf system can fairly claim, a 
help to local memory. In consulting the 
shelves, if a book is out the blank numbers 
show the fact at once as in no other system. 
The shelves and shelf-list show at the end of 
each subject the latest additions to the library, 
which, to be sure, ar not always the latest 
books. 

Against these great advantages there ar two 
serious objections. This i, 2, 3 plan disre- 
gards entirely author, date, publisher, language, 
style of treatment, and every quality except the 
accident of the order in which the library 
chanced to secure it. The other objection is 
that the shelves ar not their own catalog, as 
they ar when arranged by the Cutter numbers. 
There is no help whatever in finding a book 
beyond chance memory of its place, and the 
catalog must be consulted to get the number. 

8. Alfabetically by authors. This plan is, 
of late years, growing in favor. It is quite as 
likely as the I, 2, 3 to be the first plan thot of. 
Its great advantage is that it requires neither 
memory nor a catalog to find the place of a 



book in its class. The call-number and charge 
shows not only the subject but the author, a 
great convenience at the loan-desk, where peo- 
ple constantly ask what books they hav out. 
This is the one plan that can be used with- 
out a separate book-number. A majority of 
the books hav the author's name lettered on 
the back. Many libraries arrange alfabetically 
by these names, and ar very wel satisfied. The 
saving of the book-number is obvious. The 
objections to such saving ar, that many books 
are not lettered to agree with the catalog, 
and, of course, the arrangement on the shelves 
must be under the form of entry chosen for 
the alfabetical catalog, or an absurd confusion 
results, and there is no certainty in looking for 
anything. This difficulty is removed by letter- 
ing the proper name on all these books at 
quite a little cost. The greater objection is 
that it takes much longer to arrange on the 
shelves, find again, and charge, than with a 
book-number. A librarian experienced in 
putting cards into the catalog, wil see at once 
that it is vastly slower to alfabet by words than 
to arrange by book-numbers. Another loss is 
in the irregular position on the back where the 
name chances to be lettered. The book-num- 
bers are gilded or pasted at a uniform hight 
from the shelf, so that the eye runs across the 
straight line, in a small fraction of the time it 
requires to hunt up and down the back til one 
is sure he has the right word, for many books 
hav several names on the back from which 
the page must choose each time he gets or 
replaces a book. Of course mistakes ar fre- 
quent, and then the book is lost til some one 
chances to discover its misplacement. These 
practical difficulties ar so great that som prefer 
to incur the large expense of gilding the author's 
name at a uniform hight on each book, regard- 
les of its being alredy lettered in another 
place. Then, in charging, the full name, e.g. 
Chateaubriand, must be written each time, and, 
unles the complete heding to the catalog card 
is given, there is always a chance that the same 
class may contain another book with a similar 
name. To avoid this indefinitness, some 
libraries, in charging, add in each case the 
accession number, which is, of course, exact. 
This makes a very long book-number to charge 



DEWEY. 



101 



by, and does not tel what the book is without 
reference to the accession-number. 

For fuller discussion of all these points 
those interested should read the articles by Mr. 
Cutter and others, in early vols. of the LIBRARY 
JOURNAL. In short, this going without a book- 
number, and using the author's name as in the 
book, while at first appearing to be a saving, 
really amounts to using the full name or the 
long accession-number, or both, as the book- 
number, insted of the much shorter Cutter num- 
ber. It is easy to say : "If you want alfabeti- 
cal arrangement, simply put the books so by 
the name on the back ; there is no need of 
these new-fangled schemes." But you may be 
sure that the wide-awake libraries who hav 
translated these names into Cutter numbers 
hav not done so til after they have proved that 
it is real economy. I shal, therefore, hereafter 
speak of the Cutter number as the best form 
for this alfabetical arrangement. This uses 
the author's initial, and translates the rest of 
the name into Arabic numerals on the decimal 
plan. Thus, Burns is 693 ; Burr is 694 ; Burt, 
695. These numbers combine most of the 
simplicity of the I, 2, 3 system with the great 
advantages of the alfabetical order. 

The disadvantages of this plan ar mostly 
those that inhere in any system of intercalation. 
The shelf-list must either be kept on cards (a 
method not to be approved because of the 
facility it affords for covering thefts or losses) , 
or else now and then the shelf-list must be re- 
written. As it wears out in time this re-writ- 
ing is not nearly so serious an objection as it 
would at first seem. The call-numbers wil 
average a little longer than in the i, 2, 3 
system. The local memory, as pointed out 
above, is interfered with by the constant inter- 
calation of books in the series. If the exact 
order is kept up, numbers must be altered now 
and then to correct wrong averages, or else the 
initial author number must be made so long as 
to be more objectionable than the occasional 
changes. These changes take time, and modify 
the accuracy of the old records, for the changed 
number has lost its old meaning. 

9. Time system. This plan and the trans- 
lation scheme for applying it, devised for our 
catalog department, is fully described in last 



year's Proceedings, p. 246. It continues to giv 
excellent satisfaction in the classes Science and 
Useful Arts where we applied it. The books 
stand in the order in which they were written, the 
newest work on the right, the oldest on the left. 
The historical development of the subject is 
thus constantly kept before the librarian and 
all who. go to the shelves. A book first printed 
in 1874 is markt N 4. The N in the table 
means the decade from 1870-1879, and the 
figure specifies the exact year. This scheme 
has fully met our hopes. It has all the objec- 
tions urged against the author scheme above, 
and also the fact that the shelves ar not their 
own catalog unles one knows when each book 
was first publisht. Its gain is in giving infor- 
mation of value not likely to be mapt out else- 
where. Only libraries admitting readers largely 
to the shelves would adopt it, as otherwise the 
gain would not balance the loss. 

10. Bad methods. The 1,2,3; author ; and 
time plans given above ar the only ones really 
used except in very exceptional cases. 

The eclectic system, to be described later, 
wil, I think, also com into wide favor. I wil 
merely mention the other systems that hav 
been suggested. While, for certain special 
purposes, som of them might merit partial 
adoption, I feel safe in putting them under the 
bed " Bad methods." 

a. By publishers. Used in book-stores 
for convenience in making up orders for new 
stock, tho a good classification which would 
help in selling would be vastly more useful. 

b. By colors of binding. Mere millinery. 
Affected by some private book owners who 
can't bear to hav colors side by side that 
" swear at each other." 

c. By cost. A whim, except as very costly 
books are separated for safer keeping. 

d. By style of treatment. Used wisely in 
some cases, separating out school-books, juve- 
nils, periodicals, outlines, dictionaries, etc. 

e. By merit. Used in making parallel li- 
braries, or in selecting the best reference-books 
for open shelves, etc. Som private book- 
owners risk arranging their small collections 
with the best book on each subject at the left, 
and the poorest at the right. Such grading is 
amusing, interesting, and, under some circuni- 



IO2 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



stances, profitable as an indication to the 
young readers of the family of the opinion of 
the classifier. Public libraries wil hardly risk 
such an experiment. 

f. By title. This has all the disadvantages 
of the author system without being much of a 
guide to the shelves, because titles ar so indef- 
init as compared with authors' names A 
Sunday-school library, where titles only ar 
used, might possibly work so crude a plan, but 
to determin the main word or remember ex- 
actly which was the first word of the title is so 
difficult as to neutralize any advantage in such 
an arrangement. 

g. By language. Many libraries make 
special libraries of each language, but I never 
yet herd of one that divided the books on each 
topic into language groups, tho it is an easy 
and not useles plan. In libraries where half 
the readers ar Germans it would be practi- 
cally convenient to hav all the German books 
standing at the right and the English at the 
left of each subject. Our Columbia plan of 
showing the language by color of binding ac- 
complishes the same useful end much more 
conveniently. 

h. By further subject division. This is 
very like the German who, being asked to name 
the three things he would choose if his wish 
could be fully gratified, chose, first, all the beer 
he could drink ; second, all the sauerkraut he 
could eat; third (after some reflection), som 
more beer ! As we started with the premise that 
the books had been clast as closely as was 
desirable, the introduction of " subject divis- 
ion " for a book-number seems like "more 
beer" in the old story. But, in fact, the 
plan is successfully in use, and is liked. How- 
ever close the classification may be made in 
som final sections, there wil be groups of books 
allied to each other that a critical mind wil wish 
to place side by side. If the smallest period is 
taken in English poetry, one wil wish to keep 
together the works of the same author in that 
period. If (as at Columbia) each leading poet 
has a subject number he wil wish to keep 
different editions of the same work together 
among the author's books. If he has two lives 
of the same man he will put them together. 
In short, if given a shelf full of books on any 



topic, large or small, and told to arrange them 
to suit himself, he will almost inevitably make 
groups really dependent on still closer class- 
ing. 

ii. The Eclectic Book-Numbers. I hav 
mentioned 1 1 systems abov, each of which may 
be best in som circumstances or for special 
works. The system that seems to me best, I 
call the eclectic, because it allows one to choose 
whatever seems best for each group. If a 
library has its subjects all numbered, as most 
of them hav, in Arabic figures, or with initial 
letters followed by figures, I use for book- 
numbers a, b, c, skipping freely if I foresee any 
possible use for the letters omitted. If there 
is no choice these letters simply take the place 
of i, 2, 3, to 26 in the first system described, 
and hav the advantage that twenty-six books 
may be marked with but a single letter to each. 
In close classing, few subjects hav over twenty- 
six books, and therefore nearly all book-num- 
bers ar of one character only. Another great 
advantage is gained in saving a dash or line of 
separation between class and book number, as 
is necessary if both ar figures, 513-24 unles 
separated might be read 5132-4, but 513 D 
cannot be confused however it may be written 
or read. This practical gain is very great. 

Now for the eclectic feature. If, as is usually 
the case, we prefer som arrangeiifent rather 
than the chance a, b, c, order in which the 
books came in, we make whatever seems the 
best arrangement in that case. We put it just 
where we want it on the shelves and letter it so 
it wil always be put back in that place. We 
can always mark a book to go just where we 
please by extending our decimal principle. If 
it belongs between c and d we mark it C5. 
When a book comes that should go between c 
and C5 it is C3- Another may com in as C4- 
Then, if a book finds its true place between C4 
and C5, it is C45- It is possible to put 2,600 
books (not vols.) under each minute head with 
three marks ; or 26,000 with four marks, i.e. 
C455, etc. A large library, closely clast, wil 
hav book-numbers averaging only two charac- 
ters each. 

We arrange oftenest by authors, using the 
first initial of the name, and adding figures 
where necessary. This gives, practically, the 



UTLEY. 



103 



the Cutter number, and, in skipping for addi- 
tions, we ar guided by Cutter's table. 

The time-numbers work in the same way. 

If a fair approximation wil answer, insted of 
running out the decimals one may often use 
the nearest vacant letter; e.g., if a book by 
Grant comes in, and G has already been used 
for a book by Green, the Grant book may go 
in on F or H, thus keeping the book-number 
down to a single letter, where the size and 
growth of the library, and the closenes of the 
classing, make it likely that not over 26 books 
wil com in for a generation. But probably the 
day wil com when the larger library, grown out 
of the small, wil be annoyed because of this 
economy in erly years. This brief book-num- 
ber, which saves labor for som time, now 
involves re-numbering ; the outside, as wel as 
all cards, plates, etc. In the only case which I 
recall of this " pretty-near-wil-answer " method, 
I found, som months later, that the cataloger was 
regularly adding a figure, so to keep the right 
initial in all cases. Under the right initial, it 
is not so serious if the exact order is not 
strictly observed, tho even this concession to 
short marks tries the librarian's accurate spirit. 

The most common form of the eclectic book- 
number is the I, 2, 3, with intercalations where 
wanted. This is simplest, and, for most libra- 
ries, best. If a book comes in by the same 
author, or in answer to another, or for some 
reason allied to a book alredy on the shelves, 
it is put next to it by adding a figure to its 
letter, e.g., H,Hi. If there is no such reason, 
the numbers go on to Z. Then 9 ar put in 
after each letter, Ai to Ag, Bi-Bg. Should there 
be more than 260 books in the class, we start 
off again with Aio-Alg, Bio-Big, and so on. 



Of course, if any principle other than the 
I, 2, 3 is adopted for any class, a note is made 
at the top of the shelf-sheet, showing, without 
examination, on what plan those books ar 
arranged. 

I hope I hav made the plan plain enuf so 
that any one may adopt it, and hav the satis- 
faction of doing in each case what seems best 
in that case, and yet in harmony with a well- 
digested system. 

12. Size in Shelving. From the list of 12 
systems, I hav purposely omitted that one 
which forces itself as a modifier on them all, 
and has been often used alone in private libra- 
ries, viz., by size or hight of books. 

I hav been for years satisfied that the old 
separation of books into R8, 8, 12, 16, 
1 8, 24, 32, 48, etc., was utter nonsens. 
Also that the division of this series into even 
two groups was a mistake. We ar satisfied 
that the best plan is to set all regular shelves 
2 jcm a p ar t t and to put on them every book and 
pamflet that wil go there. For Q and sm. F 
( 2 5-35 cm in hight) we turn three of these 
standard shelves into two. For F 4 and F 5 
(35~5 Cm ) we turn two standard shelves into 
one ; or, if depth of shelving does not allow of 
this, we use the shelves under the counter- 
ledge. Books over 5o cm high ar more safely 
shelved on their sides. Comparatively few 
books ar over 2S cra in hight, and these are 
largely in groups like geological reports, at- 
lases, etc. We dummy these. Our regular 
shelves ar thus made complete. To avoid the 
dummies the call number for Q and F book 
must giv a size mark. 

If I hav failed to make my points, I shal be 
glad to hear from any critic or inquirer. 



RELATION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 



BY H. M. UTLEY, LIBRARIAN OF DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



IN July, 1787, Congress passed an ordinance 
for the government ot the North-west Terri- 
tory, which embraced the whole vast region be- 
longing to the United States north-west of the 



Ohio river, in which it declared that "Re- 
ligion, morality, and knowledge being neces- 
sary to good government and the happiness of 
mankind, schools, and the means of education 



104 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, 



shall forever be encouraged." A few days later, 
and at various subsequent periods, Congress 
supplemented this act by others setting apart 
liberal grants of the public domain, in the ter- 
ritory mentioned, for the support of common 
schools. 

In Michigan the appropriation amounted to 
one section of land in every township, or one- 
thirty-sixth of the entire area. The people of 
the State added to this liberal endowment the 
proceeds of special taxes upon railroad and 
mining corporations. So that now the schools 
are maintained not only free to every child 
but with very small expense to the people. 
Nor have the other " means of education " men- 
tioned in the ordinance been overlooked. The 
Legislative Council (I am speaking of Michi- 
gan), by act approved in 1831, provided that 
any seven or more persons capable of contract- 
ing in any township or district might organize 
themselves into a corporation for the purpose 
of maintaining a library to be known as "So- 
cial Library, No. , of the township of ." 

The Legislature of the State, in 1837, ree'n- 
acted substantially the territorial act with the 
further provision for township and county 
lyceums, with the same privileges as social 
libraries. 

The first constitution of the State, adopted 
in 1835, contains this provision: "As soon as 
the circumstances of the State will permit the 
Legislature shall provide for the establishment 
of libraries, one at least in each township, and 
the money which shall be paid by persons as 
an equivalent for exemption from military 
duty, and the clear proceeds of all fines assessed 
in the several counties for any breach of the 
penal laws shall be exclusively applied to the 
support of such libraries." The present 
constitution, adopted in 1850, contains the 
same provision, omitting the words, " as soon 
as the circumstances of the State will permit," 
and omitting reference to payments for exemp- 
tion from military duty, which had been abro- 
gated. This was, however, slightly amended 
in 1881, to allow greater latitude in the applica- 
tion of the money. The Legislature of 1840 
enacted that each and every (school) district 
shall be entitled to its proportion of the clear 
proceeds of all fines collected within the several 



counties for any breach of the penal laws, and 
for penalties, or upon any recognziances in 
criminal proceedings, . . . which money, 
when received, shall be applied to the purchase 
of books for the district library, and to no other 
purpose. 

Whatever may be said as to the policy of 
school district libraries in sparsely settled dis- 
tricts as against township libraries, a subject 
over which there has been some controversy, 
the argument will not apply to cities and large 
villages. By a system of union districts a school 
district is made coextensive with the corporate 
limits of a city or village. In such districts the 
law has been of great practical benefit in the 
promotion of libraries. The moral effect of an 
established source of revenue has been excellent. 
In the principal centres of population the in- 
come from the constitutional source has gone 
far toward maintaining and improving the li- 
braries. This income varies from year to year, 
with the vigor of the administration of justice, 
and the persistence with which sureties on de- 
faulted bonds are followed. 

If it be true that ignorance is at all respon- 
sible for crime, and prison statistics seem to 
show that the criminal classes are mainly illit- 
erate, there is a degree of poetic justice in 
devoting penal fines to the advancement of 
facilities for knowledge. 

There is general consent to this disposition 
of the public moneys thus acquired. With the 
slight relaxation involved in the amendment to 
the constitution referred to, the policy entered 
upon at the beginning has been steadily fol- 
lowed. The people of any township or school 
district are authorized to levy a tax for library 
purposes. These libraries are by the law placed 
in the hands of the school-officers. We cannot 
fail to note how intimately the school and the 
library are linked throughout all this legisla- 
tion. The supreme court of the State has 
held that the library is part of the school 
apparatus. 

The facts in the case of Michigan, thus 
briefly outlined, show clearly the popular opinion 
that the library and the school are essentially 
on the same footing, and bear a mutual relation. 
Not only is this so in cities with large libraries 
and many schools, but it is equally so every- 



UTLEY. 



'05 



where. Do not the facts obviate the necessity 
for any argument based upon theory or gener- 
alization? It is hardly necessary to multiply 
words to prove that which seems to be univer- 
sally conceded. 

Practically, then, how can the library and 
the school best serve each other? If there is a 
mutual relation there is a mutual responsibility, 
and should be a mutual benefit. I am aware 
that this subject has been ably discussed before 
this Association by Mr. Green, of Worcester, 
Mr. Foster, of Providence, and others, and 
that Mr. Green's invaluable book has brought 
it home to a vastly wider circle than these 
words can reach. But we have the very highest 
authority for reiteration. It is true elsewhere, 
as in morals, that there must be "precept 
upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon 
line, line upon line, here a little and there a 
little." So I venture to lay before you some 
account of work that has fallen under my ob- 
servation. 

The public library probably cannot under- 
take to do much for the children in the primary 
departments of the schools. Nursery literature 
is not commonly regarded as within its prov- 
ince ; nevertheless, in the cases to which these 
notes refer, the work began with the youngest 
children. . It happens that books for these are so 
abundant and so cheap that every household 
that contains young children is supplied with 
them to a greater or less extent. These were 
gathered from the homes of the children, and 
put into a common stock, and quite a showing 
they made. These united contributions, with 
such juvenile periodicals as Harper's Young 
People, Youth's Companion, St. Nicholas, etc., 
subscribed for by the school, furnished all the 
material that was desired. 

But in the grammar grades, where children 
are twelve to fourteen years of age, a more sys- 
tematic and extended course of reading was en- 
tered upon. Children fourteen years of age may 
have library-cards in their own name. Younger 
children may use the library-cards of older 
members of the family. The library-cards of 
teachers and pupils, backed by the full power 
of the librarian in the matter of special permits, 
furnished the books in sufficient quantity and 
variety. The books were selected from the 



large lists which the publishers, with the co- 
operation of judicious authors and compilers, 
are able to furnish. With the study of geog- 
raphy were taken up such works as the 
"Zigzag" books, the Arctic books of Hayes 
and Schwatka, " Land of the Midnight Sun," 
"Young America in Japan," the "Bodley" 
books, "Boy Travellers" books, Bayard 
Taylor's books, the " Vassar Girl " books, 
"Wonderful City of Tokio," "Beyond the 
Himalayas," " Egypt to Japan." With the 
study of history were taken up such books as 
Coffin's " Building a Nation," "Old times in 
the Colonies," " Boys of '76," Lossing's " Field 
Book of the Revolution" and " War of 1812," 
Abbott's series, Hawthorne's " Stories from 
New England History," " Young Folks' 
Heroes of History" series, Dickens' "Child's 
History," " Story of the Nations " series 
" Magna Charta Stories," " Youth's Plu- 
tarch," " Children's Crusade." With the study 
of natural history were taken up such books 
as " Fairy Land of Science," "Little Folks in 
Feathers and Fur," "The Naturalist on the 
Amazon," " Old Ocean," " History of our 
Planet," "A Mouthful of Bread," Appleton's 
" Science Primers," " Young Folks' Pliny," 
"Rambles in Woodland," "Homes without 
Hands," "What Mr. Darwin Saw," "Ad- 
ventures of a Young Naturalist," " Life and 
her Children." For general and miscellaneous 
reading there were taken up such books as 
"Tom Brown," Bullfinch's "Age of Fable," 
" Water Babies," " Sandhills of Jutland," 
"Alice in Wonderland," Lamb's "Tales from 
Shakespeare," Yonge's " Book of Golden 
Deeds," and " Daisy Chain," McDonald's 
" Back of the North Wind," Church's " Tales 
from Homer," Miss Alcott's, Mrs. Whitney's, 
Susan Coolidge's books, Eggleston's " Big 
Brother" and " Capt. Sam," Cooper's "Prai- 
rie," " Pioneer," " Deerslayer," " Pathfinder," 
Scott's " Ivanhoe." Of course these mentioned 
do not include a tithe of the list. They are 
only intended to indicate the character of the 
books and the classification of subjects. 

The plan is to read the books in school. 
Books used in connection with studies are read 
aloud and discussed in the classes during the 
hour of recitation. It is found that in this way 



io6 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



a keener interest is excited in the subject than 
is awakened by the mere school text-books. 
Children who show an inclination to pursue 
further investigations in the same direction are 
encouraged to do so, and are helped in the 
selection of books. Children who are quick to 
learn, and who master their lessons before the 
hour of recitation, are permitted to have a 
library book to read in their seat. In this way 
bright scholars get through a surprisingly ex- 
tended course of reading in the school and un- 
der the personal observation of the teacher. 
These library books are kept at the school and 
are not taken by the children to their homes, 
except by special permission, over Sunday. 
Another thing in connection with this plan of 
work is that the children are not only taught 
in the school what to read, how to read to the 
best advantage, but they are also taught the 
useful lesson how to properly treat and care for 
books. It is a noteworthy fact that the books 
thus used in the schools are invariably kept 
clean and tidy. They are not marred with 
turned leaves, pencil-marks or dirty thumbing. 
This habit of properly handling books needs 
to be impressed upon many grown people as 
well as upon children. It is wise to lay the 
foundation of these good habits in early life. 

In the high-school department the same 
general plan is followed. The list of books is 
extended considerably. It is broadened to 
meet the advanced age and attainments of the 
pupils. Additional subjects are covered, since 
in this department are studied, among other 
things, philosophy, chemistry, and various 
branches of science, political economy, com- 
merce and business, and ancient and modern 
languages. In this list may be included a very 
large part of the books of a public library, 
excluding mere technical works and those too 
abstruse to interest young persons. In addi- 
tion to the work done in the school with library 
books there is also work done in the library. A 
suitable room is provided for the purpose, to 
which classes come in a body, with their in- 
structors. Books selected by list previously 
furnished to the librarian have been already 
placed on the instructor's desk. The instruc- 
tion is by means of lectures, of which the class 
must take notes, and upon which they are after- 



ward catechised. The books are used for ref- 
erence and in illustration of the subject. For 
classes in Greek and Latin, and in ancient his- 
tory, are illustrated works too expensive to be 
allowed to be taken from the building, but 
which may here be used freely. For classes in 
natural history are atlases of zoology : " Audu- 
bon's Works," " Voyage of the Challenger," 
Arnold's " Living World," Baird's " Birds." 
Appropriate for other classes are botanical 
atlases: Michaux's " North American Sylva," 
Eaton's " Ferns," Meehan's " Native Flowers," 
and the " National Geographical Explorations 
and Surveys," "American Ethnology," etc. 
For classes in history are Bradford's " Views 
of the Peninsula," " Historic Costumes," 
" Arms and Acoutrements of War," and 
"Domestic Implements," and the elaborately 
illustrated " Castles and Cathedrals of Great 
Britain and Europe." The art treasures of the 
library may properly be brought before such 
classes and discussed as they are examined. 
For classes in literature the various editions of 
works of great authors are brought out, their 
characteristics explained and investigated. 

For college classes 1 the work has been some- 
what similar, though thus far none of it has 
been done by instructors in the library. The 
work has been mainly in the assignment of 
topics for independent investigation by stu- 
dents. Sometimes the professors furnish a list 
of books, which may be consulted in looking 
up the subject, and sometimes they leave that 
as part of the task of investigation for the 
student himself. In the latter case he is sure 
to make free use of the librarian to help him 
out. Such assistance is always rendered by 
way of hints and suggestions to start him on 
the right track, if not in a more direct way. It 
is one of the most interesting compensations of 
library-work to observe with what earnestness 
and enthusiasm these students engage in their 
tasks. The resources of the library are freely 
placed at their disposal, and they are permitted 
to take to their rooms for night-study books 
which otherwise do not circulate. 

The practical results of the work carried on 

The Detroit College is not part of the Public School 
System, but is under the control of the Jesuit Fathers. 



HE WINS. 



107 



under the system thus outlined have been 
admirable. Much, of course, depends on the 
earnestness of the teachers, in whose hands it 
mainly is. But the hearty cooperation of the 
library authorities is an incentive to them to 
make their opportunities tell upon the children. 
It is missionary work of excellent quality 
among the growing generation, and in the 
families of the humblest as well as the most 
favored. The children, thus trained to correct 



taste and habits of reading, are sure to make 
constant and intelligent use of the library when 
they pass beyond their school days, and to help 
to train their children in turn to the same taste 
and habits. In what way can a public library, 
which is the people's library, owned by the 
people for their use and benefit, make its influ- 
ence more widely felt in the community, or 
build up for itself more surely a stable and 
enduring popularity ? 



HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL LIBRARY. 



BY MISS C. M. HEWINS, LIBRARIAN HARTFORD LIBRARY. 



THE question is not what to do with a library 
of five hundred thousand, or a hundred 
thousand, or fifty thousand volumes. It has 
nothing to do with libraries which can afford 
to buy manuscripts or incunabula, black-letter 
tracts, or early American sermons. It is not 
for libraries whose collections of original au- 
thorities took away, many years ago, the cause 
of John Adams' reproach that, in his time, the 
books from which Gibbon's statements might 
be proved true or false could not be found in 
the United States. A student may go to the 
libraries in the great cities and read at his 
will, order from abroad books relating to his 
specialty, or, if he can show just cause for his 
request, may even have books sent to his dis- 
tant home. The libraries which concern us 
are those of thirty, or ten, or five, or even of one 
thousand volumes, in towns and villages, oj>en, 
perhaps, all day six days in the week, or two 
or three hours on one day. I mean this for 
you, whose library spends a thousand dollars a 
year ; and you, who have but five hundred for 
books, periodicals, and binding ; and you, who 
struggle along with fifty dollars' worth of new 
books twice a year. It is for you, too, whose 
library has existed in a half-alive state with 
poor American reprints of English books, 
novels in wretched condition, antiquated 
volumes of science, biographies of the dreari- 
est, incomplete volumes of magazines. How 



can such libraries be made centres of sweetness 
and light in country towns? 

" Your house is not large enough to swing 
a cat in," said a man to his friend. " But I 
don't wish to swing a cat," answered the 
friend. And 

" The whole world was not half so wide 
To Alexander, when he cried 
Because he had no more worlds to subdue, 
As was a single paltry tub to 
Diogenes, who ne'er was said, 
In aught that ever I could read, 
To cry, put finger in th" eye, and sob, 
Because he'd ne'er another tub." 

These bits of homely wisdom, and another, 
" When you can't have what you like, you must 
like what you have," are as useful in libraries 
as anywhere else. 

But they do not mean that you are to be 
satisfied with the present use of many of the 
books which are now gathering dust upon your 
shelves. Some of them may easily be made 
to answer the questions of your readers. 
Spend the next money that you have in a few 
books of reference, a new edition of an ency- 
clopaedia, a good atlas, " Lippincott's Bio- 
graphical Dictionary," " Poole's Index " and its 
cooperative supplement, the Brooklyn cata- 
logue, and the Providence reference-lists. If 
you can get also, or if you have already, all 
the volumes of Harpers Magazine, Scribner's 



io8 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Monthly, and the Century, the Popular Science 
Monthly, and LitteWs Living Age, with the 
separate indexes, including articles and poems 
too short to be indexed in Poole, you are ready 
to meet the wants of most of your readers. If 
you have time, index St. Nicholas, Wide 
Awake, and Harpers Young People'. A libra- 
rian of a small library can often satisfy a reader 
by showing him an article written ostensibly 
for children, but told in the clear, simple style 
which appeals to many older persons. The 
thinking powers of many boys and girls never 
develop after they leave school at fifteen, and 
knowledge, in order to be attractive to them 
in their later years, must be set forth as attrac- 
tively as in their school-days. If you can over- 
come the repugnance of many persons to books 
which they think childish and beneath them, 
you can often give them just what they are 
able to enjoy. I sometimes say, " The best 
article that I know is in the Wide Awake (or 
St. Nicholas, or Harper's Yoring People), and 
if you have no objection to reading a boys' 
and girls' magazine, I think that you will find 
in it just what you need." 

A magazine which has. a department of 
" Answers to Correspondents " asked, in a late 
number, for no questions which might be 
answered by referring to an encyclopaedia or 
biographical dictionary. In the next number 
a correspondent begged the editor to remem- 
ber that many persons had no access to such 
books, and their only way of learning what 
they wished to know was through the magazine. 
The library in every town or village should 
supply this want, and should also contain 
Brewer's ' ' Reader's Hand-book " and ' ' Dic- 
tionary of Phrase and Fable" (which, though 
often inaccurate, are much better than nothing) , 
and Wheeler's "Dictionary of Noted Names of 
Fiction," and " Familiar Allusions." As soon 
as you can afford it buy all the volumes of 
" Notes and Queries ;" but until then you can 
answer many questions from the books of 
reference already named. 

The stock questions with which every libra- 
rian is familiar, such as who wrote " I am 
dying, Egypt, dying," whether Shakespeare 
was of noble birth, or Eleazar Williams was 
Louis XVII., are easily disposed of. If you 



can make your readers understand that they 
must formulate their requests in intelligible 
shape you have gone a long way towards 
making your library useful. They expect 
a librarian to find "a book about cheerfulness ; " 
or " a book about whether education is better 
than wealth;" or "a book in marbled covers 
that wasn't exactly a history, but had something 
about history in it, that mother read about nine 
years ago." 

This is no place for discussing the merits of 
rival encyclopaedias. I find the Britannica, 
Chambers', Appleton's, and Johnson's all use- 
ful. If I could have only one, and no atlas, 
I should take Appleton's, on account of its 
maps, its full lives of living persons, and its 
yearly supplement. A person often goes to a 
library with a question which he fancies can be 
answered only by reference to many learned 
books, but really is a very simple one. A 
stranger from out of town once said to me 
with a pompous air, " I am pursuing an exten- 
sive course of historical reading, and wish to 
know what works the library contains on the 
history of Constantinople." I meekly replied 
that we had only a very few of the original 
authorities, and that they were in English 
translations. "What have you, then?" I 
named the more familiar histories, and a few 
recent books of travel, like De Amicis' and 
Gautier's. " I wish to see a minute map of the 
city." "We have nothing minute. The best 
that I can give you is in the ' Encyclopaedia 
Britannica.'" "Ah, indeed! That is a work I 
have never heard of. May I see it ? " This con- 
fession betrayed at once the depth of the 
stranger's learning. He read the encyclo- 
paedia for about ten minutes, then returned it 
with thanks, and went away saying that he had 
now finished his course of reading on Constanti- 
nople ! An encyclopaedia often satisfies the 
vague desire for knowledge of a person who 
has not learned how to use books, and asks in 
an indefinite way for something on a certain 
subject. 

The Brooklyn catalogue is especially useful 
in its biographical references to lives in books 
which, without it, might stand unopened on 
the shelves. For example, a librarian, when 
asked for a life of Queen Christina of 



HE WINS. 



109 



Sweden, might not remember without con- 
sulting it that, although there was no life 
of her in the library, chapters upon her 
might be found in Wilkie Collins 1 "Miscel- 
lanies," Hays' "Female Biography," Mrs. 
Jameson's "Lives of Female Sovereigns," and 
Russell's " Extraordinary Women." " Poole's 
Index " unlocks LitteWs Living Age, which is 
full of biographical and historical articles. 
Every volume of essays in a library should 
be indexed, and every title placed in the 
catalogue. 

The question of what kind of catalogue you 
should have is one that depends largely on the 
number of your readers and the kind of 
books which they take. A printed one soon 
grows obsolete. A card-catalogue, well 
arranged under authors and subjects, with 
zinc indicators to show the places of subjects, 
and brass rods so that the cards cannot be 
displaced, is as good as anything that has yet 
been used. "I made my catalogue," said a 
librarian to me a year or two ago, "so that 
the greatest fool in town could not possibly 
make a mistake in finding an author or title." 
This catalogue is certainly a model of clearness 
and simplicity. Long experience with fixed 
shelf-numbers has convinced me that they 
should not be used, but should give place to 
the Dewey plan or one of its modifications. 

The books which you buy should depend, 
like your catalogue, on your class of readers. 
A library in a village where there are farms 
and gardens should have the latest and best 
books upon farming, gardening, the care of 
cattle and poultry, and several agricultural and 
horticultural papers and magazines, that may 
be allowed to circulate after they are bound. 
I saw not long ago in a newly endowed library 
in such a town, several books with finely 
colored illustrations of beautiful-leaved plants 
and flowering shrubs, that must certainly have 
an influence in time in making the gardens 
of the neighborhood very different from the 
traditional farm-house door-yard. A town 
with telephones, electric-lights, machine-shops, 
and manufactories, where many young men of 
intelligence are electrical engineers, machinists 
and draughtsmen, needs all the newest books 
that it can afford to buy on electricity, applied 



mechanics, and mechanical drawing. We find 
in Hartford a steadily increasing demand for 
books of these classes. Scientific works, 
unless of recent date, are worse than useless, 
except to a student of the history of science. 
A person who asks for a book on physics or 
chemistry from a printed catalogue does not 
always notice the imprint, and chooses a work 
quite out of date. A librarian can and should 
tell him where to find a newer and better one. 

The use of books on special subjects grows 
every year. The Society for Study at Home, 
the Chautauqua Society, many smaller clubs, 
Queries and other periodicals, with their 
lists of prize questions, have all done their part 
in encouraging readers to use libraries. The 
prize questions are often just such as anybody 
might write by opening any volume of history 
or biography at random and framing a question 
about the first name or subject on the page. 
Such questions are a severe tax on a librarian's 
time and patience ; but if a reader conies in 
search of answers he must be kindly received, 
and all the resources of the library placed at 
his disposal. A librarian needs a certain tact 
and skill in guessing at the wants of readers. 
This comes by practice, after one has learned 
to estimate the mind-power of the frequenters 
of a library. " Can you give me something on 
the French Revolution?" asks a young girl. 
Instead of offering Thiers, or Carlyle, or even 
the " Epoch of History " volume, the librarian 
asks, " How long an account do you wish, one 
in several volumes?" " Oh, not very long, 
and not very deep, please." "An histori- 
cal novel, perhaps?" "Yes," with a visible 
brightening of the face, and the reader goes 
home happy with " Citoyenne Jacqueline," 
perhaps to come back and ask for another 
novel of the same period, or even a history. 
It is, however, too much to expect that every 
reader who desires a little historical knowledge 
will go through a course of many-volumed books. 
The various lists of historical novels published 
by the Boston Public Library and other li- 
braries, Professor Allen's "Catalogue of Novels 
and Poems on English History," and Adams' 
"Manual of Historical Literature," are every- 
day helps in even the smallest library. It is 
not hard for a librarian to make a list of the 



I IO 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



novels in his or her own library which illus- 
trate different periods. 

A small library has this advantage over a 
large one, that it cannot afford to buy poor 
novels. The following list of about seven 
hundred dollars 1 worth of books was. made for 
the beginning of a free library in a manufactur- 
ing and farming town, whose inhabitants are 
of average intelligence. It is, of course, only 
a beginning, and is entirely deficient in many 
departments, which are to be filled later when 
the taste for reading and demand for books 
increase. The biographies are all new, and 
many of them are expected to supplement the 
scanty list of histories. The lives of English 
men of letters are expected to excite an interest 
in and demand for their works. The depart- 
ment of United States History for boys and 
girls is made as full as possible. 

BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS. 

Stories by Miss Alcott, Aldrich, William Black, 
Noah Brooks, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Mary 
Mapes Dodge, Edward Eggleston, Thomas Hughes, 
Helen Jackson, Elijah Kellogg, Harriet Martineau, 
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Horace Scudder, "P. 
Thome," Charles Dudley Warner, " Susan Cool- 
idge," Miss Yonge. 

Travel, by Dana, Darwin, Du Chaillu, Knox, 
Nordhoff, Butterworth, Hale, Scudder. 

Fairy Tales and Myths, by Hawthorne, Miss 
Mulock, Lewis Carroll. 

History and Biography, by Coffin, Towle, Eggles- 
ton, Abbott, Higginson, Richardson. 

Classics: " Robinson Crusoe," "Robin Hood," 
"The Boy's Froissart," and "King Arthur," "The 
Life of the Chevalier Bayard," Lamb's " Tales from 
Shakspeare." 

Miscellaneous : Miss Kirkland's " Speech and 
Manners," Lukin's " Amongst Machines," "Young 
Mechanic," and " Boy Engineers; " Blaikie's 
" How to get Strong and Sound Bodies for Boys and 



Girls." "The American Boy's Handy-book" and 
"American Girl's Home-book." Two or three 
cook-books. 

NOVELS AND STORIES 

by Aldrich, " Mrs. Alexander," Jane Austen, Black, 
Blackmore, Charlotte Bronte, Mrs. Burnett, Cable, 
Crawford, Rose Terry Cooke, Cooper, Dickens, 
Ebers, George Eliot, Jessie Fothergill, Mrs. Gas- 
kell, Gautier, Hale, Thomas Hardy, Nathaniel 
Hawthorne, O. W. Holmes, Blanche Howard, 
Howells, James, Sara Jewett, Charles and Henry 
Kingsley, George McDonald, Miss Mulock, Mrs. 
Oliphant, Miss Phelps, Mrs. Prentiss, Charles 
Reade, Clarke Russell, Scott, Stockton, Mrs. 
Stowe, Baroness Tautphceus, Bayard Taylor, Thack- 
eray, Sarah Tytler, Mrs. Walford, Lew Wallace, 
Mrs. Whitney, Theodore Winthrop. 



by Miss Bird, Miss Gumming, Lady Brassey, 
Stanley, Du Chaillu, Baker, Bishop, Edward King, 
Ober, De Long. 

BIOGRAPHY. 

"English Men of Letters," "American Men of 
Letters," " American Statesmen," " Famous 
Women," "New Plutarch." 

SCIENCE. 

International Scientific Series, Proctor's "Easy 
Star Lessons," John Burroughs' " Wake-Robin," 
and several other books on the birds of the region, 
Harris' " Insects Injurious to Vegetation," Saunders' 
" Insects Injurious to Fruit," Abbott's "Naturalist's 
Rambles." 

HISTORY AND REFERENCE. 

Bryant's " History of the United States," Green's 
" History of the English People," Masson's 
"Outlines of the History of France," Shakspeare, 
Bryant's "Library of Poetry and Song," Encyclo- 
paedia. 



CRUNDEN. 



in 



REPORT ON AIDS AND GUIDES, AUGUST, '83, TO JUNE, '85. 



BY F. M. CRUNDEN, LIBRARIAN OF ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY. 



THE data for this report were gathered partly 
in May, 1884, in anticipation of the pro- 
posed Toronto Conference, and chiefly in May, 
1885, for the meeting of that year. Illness 
prevented the preparation of the report for the 
Lake George Conference ; and, in reply to the 
request of the Program Committee, I could 
undertake nothing further than collating the 
material already on hand, which work I was 
unable to take up until within a few days of 
this meeting. The report, therefore, covers 
the period from the Buffalo Conference, Aug., 
1883, to June, 1885. 

In May, 1884, I sent a letter of inquiry to 
members of the Association, and on May n, 
1885, the following printed circular, which met 
with quite a general response. 

PUBLIC LIBRARY, 
ST. Louis, May n, 1885. 
Will you kindly send me, at your earliest 
convenience, any information which may be 
properly embodied in my report to the coming 
conference of the A.L.A. on "Aids and 
Guides ? " 

1. In what form does your catalogue exist? 
In your card-catalogue do you give con- 
tents? 

2. Do you publish a bulletin of additions? 
How often ? 

Does it give contents of books ? 
Descriptive notes. 

3. What catalogues, class-lists, or bibliogra- 
phies have you published since June, 1883? 

4. What other methods have you adopted 
to notify your readers of additions to your col- 
lection and to give them information regarding 
the character and value of the books ? 

5. What new appliances have you introduced 
during the last two years ? 

6. What methods have you found most ac- 
ceptable and most effective in assisting readers 
to the best books and sources of information? 



The many details covered by the term " Aids 
and Guides " may be found fully set forth in 
Mr. Foster's report, page 71 of Proceedings of 
Buffalo Conference. Any information on any 
of these topics will be thankfully received by 
Yours respectfully, 

FRED'K M. CRUNDEN. 

The returns from one hundred and eight 
libraries, being collated, show that twenty-five 
depend chiefly or entirely on printed catalogs ; 
thirty-six have card catalogs only ; and forty- 
seven have both printed and written. Every 
imaginable kind of catalog was returned from 
the MS. list in a book up to the most com- 
plete and elaborate combinations of author, 
title, and subject catalogs, printed and card, 
with contents, cross-references, annotated bul- 
letin of accessions, and so on, ad libitum, 

Among card catalogs about one in four gives 
contents ; some give contents in the author and 
not in classified part of the catalog ; some give 
them frequently ; some occasionally ; and many 
not at all, relying on the Brooklyn, Athenaeum 
and other printed catalogs. Thirty-seven 
libraries report as publishing a bulletin of addi- 
tion at various periods regular and irregular, 
ranging from a week to two years. Sixteen of 
these give contents and descriptive notes regu- 
larly ; a smaller number give them sometimes, 
frequently, or rarely. 

Thirty-two libraries report no publications of 
any description during the two years covered 
by this report (June, '83-'85) ; ten published 
catalogs, eight supplements, and the rest are 
represented by finding-lists, class-lists, refer- 
ence-lists, etc. 

The favorite method for notifying readers of 
new accessions is through the newspapers. This 
plan is pursued by twenty-three libraries. This, 
in my opinion, is the best possible method. It 
not only keeps users of the library informed as 
to recent additions, but also calls general atten- 
tion to the library, and increases the number of 



112 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



its patrons. The lists are made much more 
valuable in every way if accompanied by brief 
notes on the book, descriptive and critical. In 
this way good reading-matter can be furnished. 
If, however, a paper cannot be found liberal 
enough to publish such lists, or wise enough to 
see that a column of such matter is as interest- 
ing as a column record of common crimes in 
remote localities, then it is better to advertise 
brief lists at the reduced rates which can always 
be secured. 

The various other methods adopted are 
sufficiently specified in the returns from libraries, 
which make up the body of this report, as are 
also new methods and appliances in other 
directions. 

Among the most acceptable and effective 
methods for assisting readers to the best books 
and sources of information, fifty-three librarians 
report " personal help." Many of them believe 
this to be the most important of all " aids ; " and 
on this point again your reporter is glad to 
record his vote with the majority. His own 
opinion is entirely in accord with the sentiment 
expressed in a number of the reports, that 
nothing can take the place of "an intelligent 
and obliging assistant at the desk," " intelli- 
gent officers in charge of the delivery," etc. 

Some twenty libraries rely on " a good cata- 
log," preferably their own, where they have one ; 
in lieu of that, the Brooklyn and other standard 
catalogs. Nine libraries find in their own cata- 
logs the most valuable of all aids ; twenty-four 
mention subject-indexes, class-lists, etc., pre- 
pared by other librarians, Poole's Index and 
Foster's Reference-Lists taking the lead. The 
other methods are set forth in the abstracts 
which follow. 

For particulars regarding guides to best books 
for the young, see the valuable report of Miss 
James, at the Lake George Conference. 

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS. 

CALIFORNIA. SAN FRANCISCO. (Mer- 
cantile Library, A. E. Whitaker, Librarian.} 
Posts on bulletins lists of additions as soon 
as received, and prints abbreviated lists on 
postals monthly, and sends them to members. 

CONNECTICUT. BRIDGEPORT. (Miss 
Agnes Hills, Librarian .) Printed catalogue and 



four supplements. Card catalogue, not yet com- 
pleted, gives contents ; also a special written 
catalogue of the Historical Department, 
chiefly for the use of teachers. Postal cards 
containing lists are sent to students and to 
teachers, intelligent workingmen, etc., asking 
them to inform others. New books are placed 
in a show-case, where they can be examined 
under the care of an attendant. 

" Ours is a very young library (June, 1884), 
and many of our plans for aiding readers are 
still incomplete. We purchase many books, 
pamphlets, periodicals, etc., published as 
' aids and guides ' to library work, and try to 
teach our readers to use them. We publish 
yearly supplements to the catalogue, and, 
through the courtesy of the Bridgeport Stand- 
ard, we are enabled to print in its columns 
monthly lists of additions to the library, with 
brief criticisms appended. The bulletin-board 
is used continually, both for references on 
current topics and brief courses of reading on 
special subjects. Students are carefully in- 
formed of additions relating to their particular 
studies, and are encouraged to make their 
wants known to us. We watch all educational 
efforts in the city, and aid them, as far as our 
limited means will allow, by supplying such 
works as would be too costly for the majority 
of those who attend evening classes in art, 
science, etc. 

" Teachers frequently consult the librarian 
about the work of their classes ; pupils are 
encouraged to come with their difficulties, 
while debating societies and all other argu- 
mentative persons invoke our aid as a matter 
of course. On the whole, we are inclined to 
think that the best ' library aid ' in a manu- 
facturing city like ours would be the constant 
presence of some thoroughly trained student, 
full of energy and tact, whose sole occupation 
should be to help readers in their search after 
knowledge. If it was once understood that 
such a person's stated business was to answer 
questions there would be no hesitation in 
asking them. It would only be necessary that 
the questions should be answered in a per- 
fectly business-like manner, and with a careful 
avoidance of anything resembling a ' mission- 
ary ' attitude. 



CRUNDEN. 



" I find my greatest help in intelligent work- 
ingmen. Such men are educational centres, 
and their opinions are usually respected by 
their less-educated comrades. In every factory 
here there are a few such men, and we make 
it our business to know them. A work rec- 
ommended to one of these, and approved of by 
him, will always have a large circulation among 
his friends. The best reading done in our 
library is done by factory employes. 

" Our constant experience is that some of 
the best ' aids ' too often become hindrances 
in unskilful hands. 

" I may add that we have adopted the envel- 
ope system of preserving newspaper cuttings, 
and find it very useful." 

HARTFORD. (Miss C. M. Hewitts, Libra- 
rian.) Printed dictionary catalogue to 1874, 
card catalogue from that time ; also manuscript 
lists to December, 1878, and quarterly bulle- 
tins since then. Card catalogue gives contents 
under authors ; under subjects catalogue is to 
be made fuller hereafter. Publishes a bulletin 
containing notes, etc. [to the practical value 
of which the reporter takes pleasure in testify- 
ing] . Has published second edition of " Books 
for the young " [which should be in every 
public library]. 

Librarian furnishes occasionally newspaper 
notes on topics of general interest. Written 
titles of new books are posted. 

Best method cf assisting readers : " Never 
being too busy to leave whatever I am doing 
and giving personal aid in suggesting or find- 
ing books. We depend to a great extent upon 
Poole's Index, the Brooklyn Catalogue, and 
the Providence Reference Lists. Your list of 
the best novels has already been useful to us. 
Our own aids are the bulletin, question and 
answer blanks, and movable titles of new 
books." 

HARTFORD. (Trinity College, J. H. Barbour, 
Librarian.) Has a card catalogue, (a) classi- 
fied without cross-references as yet', (b) 
alphabet of authors, titles of anon., and sub- 
jects of all biographies which very seldom as 
yet gives contents. New books are kept for a 
while by themselves, and all members have 
free access to the shelves. Believes in per- 
sonal help. 



MIDDLETOWN. (Wesleyan Univ. Library, 
W. K. Stetson, Librarian.) Has published 
Russell Library and Wes. Univ. Library 
Class List for Literature. 

Keeps reference lists on specific topics 
posted in sight. 

ILLINOIS. BLOOMINGTON. Has a partly 
published catalogue, and also a card cata- 
logue of authors, titles, and subjects. Uses 
Poole's Index, Foster's Reference Lists, the 
Brooklyn Catalogue, and the Quincy, Mass., 
Catalogue ; checking books in the last named. 
Notifies readers of additions through the 
daily papers. Believes the best method for 
assisting readers to be " Personal help, find- 
ing something, if possible, on every subject 
called for." 

CHICAGO. (W. F. Poole, Librarian.) Re- 
lies on card catalogue and printed finding-list, 
published April, 1884. Thinks finding-lists 
are, perhaps, the most practical method of 
meeting the wants of rapidly growing libraries. 

Its card catalogue analyzes the contents of 
collections of essays, miscellanies, plays, as if 
they were separate publications. 

Issues supplements to finding-list about 
once a year, and posts new books on bulletin- 
boards. 

Has successfully established six delivery- 
stations in different parts of the city. About 
9,000 vols. are delivered, and the same number 
returned, through them monthly, with very lit- 
tle expense and trouble. The issues are in- 
creasing monthly, and they have become very 
popular. The issues through them do not 
diminish the issues at the main library, which 
go on increasing. 

IOWA. IOWA CITY. (Library of Iowa 
University, Mrs. Ada North, Librarian.) In 
its card catalogue does not give contents, but 
depends largely on Noyes' catalogue of the 
Brooklyn Library for contents. Publishes lists 
of additions in the college paper once a week. 
Has published for the use of students a pam- 
phlet of fifty pages, containing " Historical 
References for the igth Century." Has a 
special card catalogue on educational topics 
for the use of the chair of Didactics. An 
autograph collection, containing also many fine 
portraits, has been commenced, and is being 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



carried on. In a university the work is done 
more readily and effectively through the indi- 
vidual instructors. The librarian gives lect- 
ures to the freshmen, and frequent special aid 
in connection with debates, essay work, etc., 
with encouraging results. 

MAINE. BRUNSWICK. (Bowdoin Col- 
lege Library, Geo. T. Little, Librarian.) Has 
introduced card catalogue ; gives personal 
notification of the purchase of books in which 
each is supposed to be interested. Believes 
personal conversation to be the most effective 
method for assisting readers. 

" The Brooklyn and Boston Athenaeum cata- 
logues are placed among the reference books, 
and are frequently used to supplement our 
own partial." 

PORTLAND. (S. M. Watson, Librarian.) 
Uses black-board bulletins in delivery-room, 
and manuscript catalogues. Aids readers " by 
furnishing to the inquirer the books which best 
answer his questions. But, first, find out his 
question ; then get him the books which an- 
swer it best. Searchers for information are 
.generally diffident about asking for informa- 
tion directly, but call for books which they 
suppose will give information desired. If book 
No. I fails he asks for No. 2, etc., etc. By 
the books asked for his question can often be 
guessed ; if it cannot be, then ask him what 
he wants, and then help him with books which 
you know will give him the information he is in 
quest of. This I find to be at least a good 
way." 

WATERVILLE. (Library of Colby Univer- 
sity, Ediv. W. Hall, Librarian.) Has a card 
catalogue, not giving contents. As to assist- 
ing readers librarian says : " With us the 
professors usually direct the students to par- 
ticular volumes. New books are at once 
placed in their proper positions on the shelves, 
old books moved upstairs if necessary to 
make room. The alcoves, being open to all, 
afford the best means of acquainting the 
reader with what the library possesses on 
any given topic." 

MASSACHUSETTS. BOSTON. (Boston 
Athenanin, C. A. Cutter, Librarian.) Pub- 
lishes a bulletin every three weeks, giving 
contents of books and descriptive notes. 



Posts lists of new books in the intervals be- 
tween the bulletins, using the proof-slips to 
post; has introduced Crocker's book-supports, 
Borden's newspaper file, wooden pamphlet 
boxes, electric bells, electric heat-regulator, 
and electric light. All of the attendants are 
instructed to render all the assistance to readers 
that they can. In the art-room a large part, 
perhaps the larger part, of the attendant's 
time is taken up in aiding research. 

BOSTON. (Public Library, James L. Whit- 
ney, Assistant Librarian.) Posts bulletins of 
new books on the walls to notify readers of 
additions ; and, to give them information re- 
garding the books, clerks are detailed, who are 
consulted by many thousand readers yearly. 

Since the Buffalo meeting of the A.L.A., 
1883, this Library has published: 

1. Hand-book for readers. This contains 
the regulations of the library, an account of 
the catalogues, and of the interesting books 
and works of art in the library. An index is 
added to the notes about books and reading 
and other special book-lists found in the cata- 
logues of different libraries and periodicals. 
Also a list of indexes to periodicals, and other 
matter interesting to readers. 

2. The Bulletins of the library have con- 
tained much bibliographical matter, with lists 
of books on various topics. 

3. A new Fiction Catalogue was issued in 
August, 1884. In this historical fiction is 
especially noticed, and books which have 
appeared under two or more titles. The 
catalogue contains other new features. 

"Our card catalogue, after much experi- 
menting, has assumed the form that satisfies 
us. The titles are compact and legible. 
Being printed, the subject cards are as full 
as the author cards, a great desideratum in 
a large library." 

. (J. Francisco Car ret, Assistant 

Librarian.) The following is quoted entire, 
as giving a full roster of "aids and guides," 
with their several functions, in a well-officered 
library : 

"Your circular of the nth inst. [May, 
1884], commanding me 'to stand and deliver' 
any information I had upon ' aids and guides,' 
arrived in due course of mail. 



CRUNDEN. 



"My experience in either capacity has been 
exceedingly limited, having never been either 
an ornamental ' colonel ' or a ' trail-hunter.' 
But, supposing you will readily lay down your 
fan for a few moments, I will try to give you 
an idea how we endeavor to assist readers 
here in the Bates Hall or reference department 
of this library. 

"i. We have a card catalogue covering the 
Bates Hall collection of 260,838 volumes, and 
filling 196 drawers, each containing (estimated) 
about 2,200 cards ; i.e., the whole catalogue 
contains upwards of 420,000 cards. The 
author and subject cards are all in one alpha- 
bet. Cross-references are made from one to 
another of allied subjects. Each drawer is 
plainly marked on the outside, and guide- 
boards are plentifully scattered through the 
catalogue. 

"2. A Bulletin, or list of books recently 
added, is published thrice a year. Each 
Bulletin, covering from 60 to no pp., 1. 8, 
contains also lists on special topics. 

" 3. Between the appearance of the Bulle- 
tins copies of the printed titles that go into the 
card catalogue are posted as fast as printed. 

" 4. A Hand-book for readers, containing 
152 pp., 24, giving the regulations of the 
library, with an account of the catalogues, in- 
dexes to notes about books, indexes to peri- 
odicals, a catalogue of books about patents, 
and other information. 

"5. For the convenience of readers who 
are ignorant of the above helps, and especially 
for that ever-present class of readers who 
can't or won't read, there are five of us upon 
the Bates Hall floor ready to act at call as a 
' steering committee.' 

"6. For the diffident inquirer Mr. Knapp 
has had for years a book, accessible to the 
public, where queries of all sorts are entered, 
and replies to them made. It has at the same 
time given the captious an opportunity to at- 
tain that state of complacency usually reached 
through the process of ' freeing one's mind.' 

" Hoping that at Toronto you will not be 
dazzled by the resplendent uniforms of the 
' aids,' or appalled by the business-like 
readiness of the bowies and pistols of the 
' guides.' 



BROOKLINE. (Miss M. A. Bean, Librarian) 
Has a full printed catalogue (1873), Supple- 
ment (1881), and card catalogue of all books 
added since December, 1871. Catalogue gives 
contents invariably and fully, and with the 
monthly bulletins furnishes majority of patrons 
all the information wanted. Has published 
monthly since January, 1877, a bulletin of addi- 
tions, frequently giving contents of books, but 
rarely giving descriptive notes, and as part of 
the town report, which goes into every house- 
hold in town, annual lists of additions. 

Also provides interleaved catalogues posted 
to date. Finds best aids " personal effort, 
advice, and assistance on the part of librarian 
and staff." 

Librarian thinks there is such a thing as 
wasting effort and money by being too far 
ahead of the wants of a community. 

I should like to give Miss Bean's letters 
entire; but space is limited, and perhaps the 
writer did not intend them for publication. 

CAMBRIDGE. {Harvard College Library, 
Justin Winsor, Librarian.) Continues to pub- 
lish bulletins and bibliographical contributions, 
and sends postal lists of new books. Methods 
in general same as heretofore. Believes the 
most effective aid to be answering questions. 

CAMBRIDGE. (Dana Library, Miss A. L. 
Hayward, Librarian.} Printed catalogue, 
1875, and five supplements since; official 
catalogue without notes. Publishes a bulle- 
tin of additions, without notes, in a local news- 
paper and on slips for tables, and mounts 
them on cards about once in three months. 
Additions are written and posted in rooms till 
they mount up to 150-200 books ; then a bul- 
letin is printed. 

"We have two lists of books for children, 
mounted on a large card framed and under 
glass, and hung in the public room. They are 
very useful. Should do more if not over- 
worked. What we need is a librarian at 
leisure to advise and assist readers." 

CLINTON. (Bigelow Free Public Library, 
F. M. Green, Librarian.) Publishes a bulle- 
tin every month without notes. Found them 
too expensive. Has been at work for two 
years on new catalogue ; has published in the 
local papers, for several years, class-lists, bib- 



u6 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



liographies, etc., for the benefit of pupils and 
young people, on topics of the day. Published 
lists on every subject in course of ten lectures 
on the " England of to-day." These lists 
have been classified and indexed in a scrap- 
book, which is placed on library reading-table 
and constantly used. 

Has a separate author card catalogue of ad- 
ditions, with contents and notes ; also pub- 
lishes every month list of new books in local 
papers. 

Has introduced a new slip, thin card-board 
(Si x I J) : " As none of the numbers on your 
card are in, this book is selected for you." 

Finds medium of local papers the best 
method of guiding and assisting readers. 

CONCORD. {Miss E. F. Whitney, Libra- 
rian.*) Publishes bulletin of additions every 
January. List of additions posted ; also sepa- 
rate drawers of cards for new books. 

"The larger number of the readers seem to 
prefer having the librarian do the work of the 
catalogue ; others use the card catalogue very 
successfully." 

FALL RIVER. (W. R. Ballard, Librarian.} 
Has published two bulletins, and has distrib- 
uted among readers two useful lists : one con- 
taining the titles of the books which were 
selected by vote of the readers of the " Literary 
News," of N.Y., as the best published during 
1884; and the other, one hundred of the best 
novels in English. 

LYNN. (J. C. Houghton, Librarian.') 
" About once in two years we have issued 
our bulletins. They are useful when first 
published, but a series of bulletins is not 
popular with readers. They complain of the 
large number of alphabetical lists, etc. 

" Have not published a bulletin since 1882 ; 
but have prepared a catalogue of the entire 
library, which is now [June, 1885] passing 
the press, and will comprise about 600 pages. 

" New accessions are posted on our bulletin- 
board in the library-room as soon as they are 
ready for circulation. 

" The best catalogues of other libraries have 
been placed among our reference books for the 
benefit of our readers ; also, the Q.P. Indexes, 
and the excellent " Index to Periodical Litera- 
ture," by W. F. Poole and his assistants. 



" We find personal assistance rendered to 
students and readers the most effective aid. 

" I know not precisely what limits the 
' Association' has placed with regard to 
essayists ; but it seems to me that some useful 
suggestions may be made upon the hindrances 
as well as upon the aids to library work. 
Our modern librarians have certainly done 
good service by careful planning, and by thor- 
oughly testing their plans in the practical 
operations of the library. Have they fully 
measured the annoyances and losses resulting 
from the lack of active cooperation on the part 
of the cities and towns? A collection of books 
is not necessarily a library. Catalogues, in- 
dexes, Library journals, intelligent and 
accommodating librarians, and the wisdom of 
the A.L.A., are not at their best in rooms 
which were planned for dwellings, druggists' 
shops, benevolent societies, committee-rooms, 
armories ; in short, for all uses under the sun 
except those of a successful public library. 
The best aid to efficient work in any library is 
a building or rooms prepared with a wise 
reference to the special wants of that institu- 
tion." 

NEWTON. (Miss H. P. James, Librarian?) 
Publishes a weekly list of new books in two 
local papers. One of them is paid for, and 
contains notices of the books. Copies of this 
list are struck off and sent weekly to the dif- 
ferent agencies. 

" The most efficient method of aiding read- 
ers is ' personal contact.' I find the more I 
become acquainted with borrowers the more 
ready they are to apply to me for help. 

" At last, after many years' waiting, the 
teachers in the public schools are beginning 
to take books out for the use of the pupils in 
school. There has been such an amount of 
routine work demanded of them heretofore 
they have had neither the time nor the strength 
to do anything beyond. Now a beginning has 
been made, and when the experiment has 
become an established fact in this village I 
shall be able to work with the teachers of the 
other parts of the city. I can come into per- 
sonal contact with but few of our teachers, we 
are so situated in regard to the other schools 
geographically. Fully half our books circulate 



CRUNDEN. 



117 



by means of an express, which we employ all 
the time to carry baskets of books to the 
depositories or agencies in eight different vil- 
lages. The books are exchanged daily, and 
we do a great amount of helping through 
written requests. Often the subject alone of 
some desired information is given, and we 
send to the anxious inquirer the most desirable 
book on the question in point that we possess. 
The card catalogue is so very full that we 
seldom fail to find something ; but if that 
gives out we go to ' Poole,' and usually are 
helped. I have procured a dozen copies of 
an excellent juvenile catalogue, published by 
the School Committee of Cambridge, Mass., 
and inserted our numbers therein. I wish 
Miss Hewins's ' List ' was in a larger form, so 
that it could be handled more easily and num- 
bers could be inserted. If a blank space were 
left in place of the price of the book, and the 
list itself were larger, it would be far more 
useful." 

TAUNTON. (E. C. Arnold, Librarian.) 
Has published " a supplementary catalogue 
and four bulletins since June, 1883 ; has 
also monthly MS. lists of additions, classed 
under thirteen generic heads. 

" The printed bulletins were started in 1884. 

" In addition to the above we have a notice 
conspicuously posted, inviting persons desir- 
ing information on any subject to apply at the 
desk ; and in response to such applications 
we place at the disposal of readers whatever 
books the library contains relative thereto, in 
an alcove suitable for such investigations." 

WOBURN. (W. R. Cutter, Librarian.) 
Has a printed catalogue and a partially com- 
pleted card catalogue, which " shows contents 
generally given where naturally expected." 
Has a yearly bulletin. Notifies readers of 
accessions by newspaper lists, and MS. lists 
posted on bulletin-boards in the library. 

Consolidated MS. lists of additions have 
been placed on reading-room tables. Believes 
the best aids for readers to be " good finding- 
lists" printed and MS. 

WORCESTER. (Samuel S. Green, A.M., 
Librarian.) Publishes a bulletin of additions 
about once a month, giving contents of books 
and descriptive notes. 



Publications of 1883-85 : 

Catalogue of the circulating department and 
of a portion of the books belonging to the 
intermediate department ; and " Public libra- 
ries and schools ; results of recent efforts to 
make the former useful to the latter," a pa- 
per prepared, at the request of the Mass. Bd. 
of Education, for its 48th annual report, by the 
librarian. 

MISSOURI. ST. Louis. (Frederick M. 
Crunden, Librarian.) " Has a printed cata- 
log, 1870; supplement, 1872; a volume ot 
annotated bulletins with alphabetical index, 
including additions from 1879 to 1883 inclu- 
sive ; and two complete card catalogs up to date, 
one official, the other public, each containing a 
classified and an alphabetical arrangement of 
the entire collection. The official classified 
catalog is used for taking the inventory. 

"The bulletin above-mentioned was full and 
minute, giving cross-references, contents, and 
numerous descriptive and critical notes. The 
expense of its publication was lessened by 
advertisements ; but the library funds would 
not admit of its continuance. It seemed to 
be, as Miss Bean says, too much in advance 
of the wants of the great majority of our 
members. A spasmodic attempt was made 
last December to revive it in a simpler and 
cheaper form ; but that, too, after two issues, 
was discontinued for want of money, and also 
the lack of any active demand. 

"During nearly the whole period covered by 
this report a column of notes on recent ad- 
ditions to the library appeared in the Republi- 
can, which, with no cost to the library beyond 
the librarian's time, did more to keep members 
informed about new books added than any of 
the costly methods previously tried. 

"The number which closed our five-year 
experiment in publishing a bulletin was an 
exception to the rest of the series. It con- 
tained a list of ' Best novels,' and a list of 
' Books for the young, 1 which created a 
genuine interest. All the copies were dis- 
posed of, as well as an extra edition of the 
novel and juvenile list ; and more could have 
been sold if we had had them, as there is still 
a demand for them. This experience leads 
me to think that special lists on subjects of 



n8 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



popular interest are more desired, and are 
especially of more permanent value than gen- 
eral lists of new books. Acting on this idea 
our library published this spring six reference 
lists on ' Buddhism,' 'Children, their training 
and management,' ' French history,' ' The 
Renaissance,' ' Travel,' ' Music.' Each was 
prepared by a person who had given special 
attention to the subject, and consisted of a 
few prefatory remarks as to methods of study, 
followed by a list of the best books on the 
topic treated. To these the librarian, as 
editor, added other good books suggested by 
the resources of the library ; in one case, 
music, publishing a complete class-list on 
that subject. These came out too late to 
make a present test ; but we anticipate a fair 
appreciation of them in the fall. 

" We have a rack with four shelves on one 
end of the issue-desk for the display of new 
novels, and a double case for other new 
books, which are arranged therein according 
to classes. Postal cards are occasionally sent 
to readers calling attention to new books in 
which they are supposed to be specially in- 
terested." 

NEBRASKA. LINCOLN. (State Library, 
Guy A. Brown, Librarian.} Has published one 
entire catalogue of law and miscellaneous de- 
partments, notifies readers of additions through 
local newspapers, and believes in personal 
answers to questions. 

NEW YORK. NEW YORK. (Apprentices' 1 
Library, Jacob Schwartz, Librarian.) Gives 
contents in card catalogue, publishes annually 
a bulletin of additions with contents ; has also 
published " Classified lists of the most popular 
works," ten in number, commencing May, 
1884, and finds these the most useful aid to 
readers. 

NEW YORK. (Columbia College Library, 
M civil Dewey, Chief Librarian.) Has a card 
catalogue: I. Author. 2. Subject. 3. Lead- 
ing titles. 

Gives contents only in special cases. Is 
about to begin the publication of a quarterly 
bulletin. Has published full classification and 
index, 250 pp. 

Notifies readers of additions by means of 
notes in college papers and bulletin boards. 



Refers to annual report for notes on some of 
the many new appliances introduced. 

Keeps two reference librarians specially to 
aid inquirers. 

NEW YORK. (Mercantile Library, IV. T. 
Peoples, Librarian.) Publishes a bulletin of 
additions semi-annually, and has also pub- 
lished a list of books contained in the library 
on political economy, and weekly lists in news- 
papers, which latter are distributed free among 
members. Has introduced the cyclostyle. Re- 
lies upon bulletins for assisting members. 

NEW YORK. (Y. M. C. A. Library, R. B. 
Poole, Librarian.) Is not a circulating library. 
New books are placed in a case by themselves 
and placards posted on them notifying readers. 
Classes of books are designated by slips at- 
tached to the shelves. This works well. 

Occasionally posts lists of books on special 
topics. 

Finds most effective aids in " Good cata- 
loging, assisting the uninitiated in its use, 
free access to Poole's index and Foster's, and 
personal attention to the wants of readers." 

ALBANY. (N. Y. State Library, H. A. 
Homes, Librarian.} Publishes additions in an- 
nual report. Gives personal aid to students ; 
but, being strictly a State library, has no need 
for many of the devices and methods which 
are necessary to librarians having a popular 
clientage. 

AUBURN. (Seymour Library, Miss M. A. 
Bullard, Librarian.) Gives contents in card 
catalogue, and publishes a bulletin of addi- 
tions bi-monthly, with contents and notes. 

Most acceptable means of assisting readers : 
" My own sweet gift of speech and the hand- 
books on different subjects, Foster's Refer- 
ence lists, Quincy and Boston Public Library 
catalogues, and anything and everything I can 
find." 

BROOKLYN. (W. A. Bar dwell, Acting 
Librarian.) Has published since June, 1883, 
four bulletins of additions and a class-list of 
English prose fiction, the latter being a reprint 
of the Fiction Catalogue of 1877, with a sup- 
plement of forty pages, giving the additions 
since 1877 and through 1884. 

"A weekly list of additions is made, and 
seven copies are taken by the hectograph. 



CRUNDEN. 



119 



One copy is put upon the bulletin-board, while 
others are upon the tables in the delivery- 
room. One copy is sent to the branch in the 
Eastern District. The new books are placed 
on the delivery-counter, and can be readily 
examined by members. Occasionally notices 
of new books are inserted in local papers. 

" The reference department of this library is 
very much enlarged. About 1,000 books have 
been placed upon new shelves, free of access 
to members. Old files of newspapers are 
placed in a room by themselves, arranged 
alphabetically on the shelves. A collection of 
newspaper cuttings is being made, from out-of- 
town papers, on subjects not generally or 
fully covered by books. These cuttings are 
mounted on brown paper sheets and kept in 
pamphlet boxes. 

"Reference to the Brooklyn Library Cata- 
logue, compiled by Mr. S. B. Noyes, seems, 
on the whole, to give the greatest satisfaction 
to readers. The free use of 1,000 reference 
volumes, embracing cyclopaedias, dictionaries, 
gazetteers, atlases, catalogues, directories, 
laws, etc., gives much information and guid- 
ance. 

" A special consulting reference librarian, in 
addition to our present force, would be very 
useful." 

BUFFALO. (Young Men's Library, J. IV, 
Lamed, Librarian.) Has a card subject-cata- 
logue (systematic) and card finding-list, or al- 
phabetical catalogue of authors and titles, in 
which contents are given to a great extent, but 
not of all works yet. (Working all the time 
at that feature of the catalogue.) Publishes a 
bulletin of additions about once a month (as 
often as we fill four pages), which, in most 
cases, gives contents of books and descriptive 
notes. 

About to print a finding-list of history, biog- 
raphy, travel, and politics. 

New books are kept in open cases near the 
delivery-desk for several months, for free in- 
spection. 

For aiding readers relies on personal as- 
sistance by the librarian, which is given as 
freely as practicable. 

GLOVERSVILLE. (Lem Parsons Library, A. 
L. Peck, Librarian.} Librarian compiles 



monthly a list of such new publications as, in 
the opinion of reliable critics, will have a 
more permanent value. In this list descrip- 
tive notices are given, and titles of books 
added to the library are underscored in colored 
ink. A copy of the list is sent to every 
literary society in the town, and one is posted 
in the delivery-room of the library. 

On his monthly visits to the various schools 
of the town and vicinity he informs teachers 
and scholars of additions likely to interest 
them. 

Considers the most effective " aid " to be : 

"i. Direct intercourse with the reader, 
manifestation of interest in each individual, 
readiness to help in cases where aid is de- 
manded, and proper care of not being too 
officious. 

" 2. Lectures. The pastors of our six 
Protestant churches deliver each, annually, 
one discourse on books and reading. In this 
manner we have six lectures annually ; of late 
I have ventured to do likewise." 

ITHACA. (Cornell University Library, G. 
Wm. Harris, Librarian.} Has a dictionary card 
catalogue, giving contents ; publishes a bulletin 
of additions three or four times a year, giving 
contents of books and descriptive notes, the 
latter very sparingly, and has published 
during 1883-85 classified lists of works on 
mathematics in the library, 1883. 

In the Library Bulletin the following : Anti- 
slavery periodicals in the C. U. Library ; 
record of ancient publications by officers of 
C. U. ; lists of current periodicals. 

Professors are in the habit of calling the 
attention of their students to books in the 
library for collateral reading. Lists of refer- 
ences for subjects allotted for essays and 
orations are prepared for the convenience 
of students. 

NEWBURGH. (C. Estabrook, Librarian.*) 
Publishes additions in daily local papers with 
catalogue number. These lists are cut out by 
readers and pasted in their catalogues. 

Finds most effective method of assisting 
readers in " encouraging them to tell me what 
subject they are seeking information on, and 
giving them to understand that rendering them 
assistance is a source of pleasure to me." 



I2O 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



POUGHKEEPSIE. (J: C. Sickley, Librarian.) 
Has a dictionary catalogue, which gives con- 
tents briefly ; publishes a bulletin of additions 
in daily newspapers when books are added. 
For other methods refers to article in Library 
journal, vol. 9, page 100. 

" A reference-room was opened, giving op- 
portunities for those who wished to have a 
place for quiet study. Copies of our catalogue, 
which is arranged on the plan of the Brooklyn 
Library Catalogue, were placed in every school 
in the city, public and private. Special privi- 
leges were given to teachers. They were al- 
lowed to draw three books at a time if desired. 
Books upon a subject which a class were study- 
ing or investigating were kept in the library 
for the time required for such study, upon a 
teacher's leaving a request and furnishing a 
list of books. A circular letter was sent to all 
teachers, requesting them to instruct pupils in 
the use of the catalogue, and to advise with 
them as to the best reading. 

" Lists of new books were published in the 
newspapers as received, and posted on the bul- 
letin in the library. Nearly every week a list 
of books in the library, and also articles in 
periodicals having reference to some local or 
general event or person of importance. An 
instance, Matthew Arnold's arrival in America. 
A list of his works in the library, and articles 
about him and his works in the periodicals, was 
published in the daily papers. The 4Ooth an- 
niversary of Luther a list of books and maga- 
zine articles on Luther and the Reformation 
were published. Lists of books relating to the 
subject of a lecture at the Lyceum or Literary 
Institute were also published in the daily pa- 
pers. 

ROCHESTER. (Library of the University, 
H. K. Phinney, Assistant Librarian.} Pro- 
vides readers with a MS. list of magazines, in 
order to save trouble to attendants and disap- 
pointment to applicants by calls for magazines 
to which Poole's Index refers, but which are not 
in the library's magazine collection. 

OHIO. CINCINNATI. (C. W. Merrill, 
Librarian.) Has published finding-list, 
1882-4, bulletins of 1883-4, and furnished 
manuscript lists of new books, and sometimes 
special lists. 



" When my eyes get well, and I have a 
month's spare time, will try to answer this. 
(1884.) This library employs over fifty living 
aids and guides. (How many are blind guides 
I don't care to confess.) Then we have a new 
finding-list classified by subjects, which is in use 
within the library, although it awaits indexes 
before being finally issued. Then we have 
the important library catalogues and bibliogra- 
phies, etc., etc. As to young readers we have 
given them Mr. Larned's and Miss Hewins's 
catalogues, with our numbers added. I have 
given the Normal and High school pupils talks 
and explanations, and shown the books, etc., 
about as Mr. Poole described his efforts in 
Chicago. One of the city papers publishes 
every week an article for young people upon 
some author or some subject, in which all the 
appropriate books are given, with the public 
library numbers. The teachers in the public 
schools have helped somewhat, but not a great 
deal." 

CLEVELAND. (/. L. Beardsley, Librarian.) 
Under date of July 5, 1884, he writes : " We 
have a bulletin-board where all new books are 
posted as placed upon the shelves for the use 
of the public. All titles of books added are 
entered in the ' Burr index,' which has been 
found the most convenient aid we have ever 
had, for it can be referred to instantaneously, 
and thus save, in nine cases out of ten, refer- 
ring to the cards. Instead of multiplying cards 
to give references to fractions of books on vari- 
ous subjects I use a ' Burr index,' which I find of 
great service. . . I have in progress an exhaust- 
ive catalogue of all the books in the library up 
to 1882, about 39,000 volumes." Hasaclassi- 
fied catalogue, 1876-77, with 5 supplements, to 
1882 ; a title and author card catalogue of one- 
sixth of circulating department, and is begin- 
ning one to include subject-references. Pub- 
lishes lists in daily papers (as news) , monthly 
lists of accessions, and posts them on a bulletin- 
board. 

PENNSYLVANIA. GERMANTOWN. 
(Friends'* Free Library, Wm. Kite, Libra- 
rian.) Has manuscript catalogue ; authors in 
one volume, subjects in another. Latter di- 
vided into 70 distinct heads. 

Publishes an annual bulletin of additions, 



CRUNDEN. 



121 



also lists in local papers occasionally. Believes 
in personal intercourse. "With children, 
teachers and librarian mutually advise." 

PHILADELPHIA. (Library Co. of Philadel- 
phia, Lloyd P. Smith, Librarian . ) Has printed 
catalogues, 1731 to 1855; card catalogue, 1855 
to 1885. The latter very seldom gives con- 
tents. Publishes a bulletin of additions every 
six months, sometimes giving contents of 
books, and frequently descriptive notes. 

Has published, June, 1883-85 : 

List of regimental histories of the Rebellion. 

List of issues of the Pennsylvania press, 
from 1770 to 1776. 

Keeps accounts with members on cards in- 
stead of a ledger as formerly. 

Believes the most effective aids to be : 

1. A good catalogue. 

2. An intelligent and obliging assistant at 
the desk. 

PHILADELPHIA. (Mercantile Library, John 
Edmands, Librarian.} Has published in its 
bulletin for July, '83, " Bibliographia Websteri- 
ana " (4 pages) ; for October, '83, "Reading 
Notes on Luther" (5 pages); January, '85, 
"Reading Notes on Catacombs" (2 pages) ; 
April, '85, "Reading Notes on Wyckliffe" 
(3 pages) ; July, '85, " List of Indexes " 
(6 pages) ; October, '84, and January, '85, 
" Bibliography of Dies Irce" (12 pages) ; and 
April, '85, "Reading Notes on Education" 
(7 pages). 

RHODE ISLAND. PAWTUCKET. (Mrs. 
Minerva A. Sanders, Librarian.} As books 
are put into the library, lists are sent to the 
local papers, with favorable criticism when 
necessary. 

[For method of dealing with dime-novel 
readers, see Library journal, May, 1885.] 

" I have a table on which I place from one 
hundred to a hundred and fifty of the best 
books of all classes, except fiction. These 
may be examined at pleasure, and are renewed 
as often as two or three times a week. I fre- 
quently call attention of patrons to these books, 
and that which I commenced as an experiment 
eighteen months ago has become one of the 
best methods of improving the taste of our 
readers, and has reduced our circulation of fic- 
tion three per cent. 



" For assisting readers to the best sources 
of information I have no special method. I 
give it my personal attention whenever it is 
possible, especially among the children. 

" I find Poole's Index the most valuable aid, 
not even excepting the various encyclopaedias, 
though I could not, of course, do without 
them. 

" Teachers and pupils are encouraged to use 
the library with perfect freedom, and to seek 
the aid of the librarian and her assistants, with 
the assurance of a prompt and cheerful re- 
sponse. We not unfrequently have twenty or 
thirty girls and boys at the tables together, 
taking notes in connection with their studies. 

" A few weeks since a paper was read before 
our Business Men's Association on ' The 
Yellowstone Park.' During the next three days 
sixty children came to the library, ' armed and 
equipped as the law directs,' with pencil and 
paper, asking for information concerning ' The 
National Park,' a prize being offered for the 
most facts regarding it by one of our teachers. 
Though wholly ignorant of the use of reference 
books at first, with a little help they readily 
learn, and are quite ready to assist each other. 

"We have also adopted the plan of sending 
no fiction out by messengers, unless specially 
called for; the message, 'Send me a good 
book,' is literally construed. In making up my 
reports for July I shall ascertain the result of 
these experiments. I regret that I cannot give 
you the benefit of it. 

" Our reading-room is one of our best edu- 
cators. It is supplied with twelve tables, from 
twelve to fifteen feet long. On them are lying 
about two hundred papers, current magazines, 
and illustrated books, ranging from the Nursery 
to Houghton & Mifflin's illustrated edition of 
' Longfellow's Poems.' 

" Three of these tables are reserved for the 
use of children, and their rights are in every 
way respected ; our only requirements for this 
room are order and cleanliness ; the patronage 
averages one hundred and fifty daily. During 
the eight years the losses have been scarcely 
worth reporting ; yet this is a free reading- 
room, in its broadest sense." 

PROVIDENCE. (Library Brown University, 
Reuben A. Guild, Librarian.) Has printed 



122 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



and card catalogues, which give contents to a 
limited extent. The books are in twenty-four 
classifications or divisions. Each division has 
a card catalogue. The whole to be supple- 
mented by an alphabetical index of authors. 

Allows the professors and students free ac- 
cess to all the alcoves. They can thus see for 
themselves the additions to the collection. 
The professors leave lists of themes at the li- 
brary, and the librarian and assistants indicate 
on these lists the books and articles available. 

PROVIDENCE. ( Wm. E. Foster, Librarian.) 
Has (i) Card catalogue, in drawers. (2) 
Accession-book, and class-lists (MS. record- 
books). (3) Printed finding-list, 1880, and 
supplement, 1882, 1885. (4) Other bulletins, 
lists, etc. 

Does not give contents on white cards ; on 
brown cards the contents are analyzed, and 
subject entries given. 

Publications for period covered by this re- 
port: (i) Monthly reference-lists, vols. 3 and 
4. (2) Library united with two others in affix- 
ing its initials to the references to political and 
economic topics, prepared by the librarian. 
Notifies readers of additions, etc., by means of 
weekly notes, and references in two of the 
daily papers. 

Makes use of the following methods for 
assisting readers: (i) Daily MS. notes on 
current events and topics. (2) Printed refer- 
ences or bibliographies. (3) Personal consul- 
tation, by readers. (4) Cooperation of teachers 
in the schools. 

Has cooperated with other institutions in 
publishing a list of periodicals currently taken 
in the libraries and reading-rooms of Provi- 
dence. Continues its efforts to unite the library 
and the schools by methods set forth in annual 
reports. 

WOONSOCKET. (Harris Institute Library, 
Anna Metcalf, Librarian.) Has a printed 
catalogue, subject, author, and title, and card 
catalogue for the use of the librarian. 

Ms. lists are posted on a bulletin-board, which 
is provided with a shelf for the convenience of 
those who wish to write the numbers. 

Personal interest and advice timidly adminis- 
tered have been found most effective in assist- 
ing readers. 



VERMONT. BRATTLEBORO'. Has a card 
catalogue ; authors and subjects in separate 
alphabets. Contents are largely indexed in 
subject catalogue. List of additions is printed 
monthly in the Amherst Student. 

Additions are also posted on bulletin-board 
frequently ; and numerous literary and biblio- 
graphical periodicals are accessible in the 
reading-room. 

Most effective aids in assisting readers : 

(i.) Personal direction by the librarian. 

(2.) Catalogues such as the Brooklyn, Fos- 
ter's Reference-lists, etc., placed within reach 
of all readers and their use explained. 

Keeps also a special card catalogue (in a 
separate drawer) of lists on special subjects, 
indexing Foster's R. L., Boston Bulletins, lists in 
Literary World, etc., etc. ; so that a reader can 
learn by a glance whether a list of works on the 
subject -he has in mind is available in any of 
these sources. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. WASHING- 
TON. (Department of Agrictilture, B: Pickman 
Mann.) Systematic index to "Psyche," giving 
9,282 classified references to various branches 
of entomology. 

CANADA. TORONTO. (James Bain, Li- 
brarian.) He writes, under date of June, 1884, 
" I am more and more convinced that the great 
want in all our libraries is that of a good in- 
dicator, whether its use be confined to fiction 
alone, to the popular books of the day, or made 
comprehensive enough to include the whole 
circulating library. 

" I hope to bear my share in the solution of 
the problem." 

In reply to the sixth question, one librarian 
says he " should be glad to hear of some." If 
the extracts given above do not satisfy him I 
would suggest that he be appointed to prepare 
the next report, so that he may have the bene- 
fit of reading the full returns. 

Another librarian finds the most acceptable 
and effective method for assisting readers is to 
" let them go by their own judgment." He adds, 
in confidence (which I assume is not betrayed 
by anonymous quotation), this amusing and 
pathetic postscript : 

"The trustees of this library were born the 



CRUNDEN. 



123 



day the ark rested on Mt. Ararat ; and they 
think that that which was good enough for 
Shem, Ham, and Japhet will do well enough for 
[Slowtown]. Every suggestion the librarian 
has made has been ' sat upon ' by the whole 
board. They even jostle one another in 
their eagerness to assist at the ceremony ; 
and, consequently, the librarian has long since 
become disgusted and turned his attention to 
outside business which pays, which is more 
than can be said of his position." 

The following note from Mr. Green suggests 
an admirable field of usefulness for cultivated 
ladies of leisure : 

"FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 
"WORCESTER, MASS., May 25th, 1885. 

" I send you herewith a copy of the catalogue 
of the Sunday-School Library of the Second Par- 
ish, Worcester, issued recently. 

"It is an excellent model for a Sunday- 
School catalogue, and contains a very choice 
selection of books for children, having in it no 
poor books, I believe. 

" Notice that every book has a note attached 
showing the contents, etc., of the book. 

" This catalogue was made by a highly culti- 
vated young lady in our society, after consulta- 
tion with me. 

" This lady reads all children's books pub- 
lished that are likely to be good, and makes 
notes of their contents. She acts also as con- 
sulting librarian, to whom teachers and schol- 
ars can resort freely." 

Though in some cases a repetition, and in 
others an anticipation, of the next report, I ap- 
pend a brief list of library aids, which have 
come into my hands : 

A.L.A. Proceedings of Lake George Con- 
ference. Numerous juvenile lists mentioned in 
Miss James 1 report. 

CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Ann. Report of School 
Com., 1882. 

COLUMBIA COLLEGE Library. School of 
Library Economy. Circular of information, 
1886-7. 

KING, Chas. F., Prin. Lewis School, Boston 
Highlands. Schedule of topics in geography 
for the study of the grand divisions . 



LIBRARY notes. Boston. Library Bureau. 

MALDEN, MASS. Pupil's library catalog. 

ST. Louis Public Library. Reference-lists : 
Buddhism ; Children, their faculties and man- 
agement ; History of France ; Music ; Renais- 
sance ; Travel. 

SAWIN, James M. Prin. Point-st. Grammar 
School, Providence. Fifth annual report of 
valuable and reliable books for young people. 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. Central Library. List of 
books for use of pupils in the public schools. 

THOMAS CRANE Public Library. Children's 
book-lists. 

List of books prepared for the use of pupi Is 
in the public schools : Art, Biography, Fiction, 
History, Physics, Travels. 

The last-named are large charts, having noth- 
ing on them to indicate by whom they were 
prepared; and I have forgotten when and 
whence I obtained them. Probably some read- 
er can identify them, and inform others through 
the Library journal. 

On one or two points I have interjected an 
opinion in the course of this report. I should 
have said more but for the fact that my own 
views are so fully and ably set forth by others 
whom I have quoted. Though the work was 
necessarily put off to the last, and therefore done 
in a hurry, I found great interest in reading the 
returns, some of them stamped so plainly with 
the individuality of the writer, and some of 
them embodying bits of humor, more of which 
I should have liked to repeat. I also sympa- 
thized heartily with those of our brotherhood 
(and sisterhood) who are called upon to make 
bricks without straw. We would all adopt the 
most improved method if we could. I hope 
that few of us are hampered by an antediluvian 
board like that alluded to above ; but all, or nearly 
all, of us have limitations in the way of funds. 
All these "aids and guides" cost money; and 
none more than that most acceptable and effec- 
tive of all, intelligent and obliging librarians and 
assistants, who have time to answer questions. 
It is doubtless of very great benefit to com- 
pare notes on this as on all other topics ; but, 
after all, the greatest desideratum is not so 
much to know what to do as to find time and 
money to do it. I can easier teach twenty good 



1 2 4 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



things to be done than find time and money to 
do one of them. 

And success depends, I think, less on choice 
of methods than on vigor and thoroughness of 
execution. 



' For forms of government let fools contest; 
What's best administered is best." 



As containing many useful aids and guides, 
I append the following list of 

PUBLICATIONS, JUNE, 1883-85 : 

ALSACE. Catalogue des Alsatica de la 
bibliotheque d'Oscar BERGER-LEVRAULT. 
ic ptie : [176 et i8e siec., Consulat et Em- 
pire.] 2e ptie : [196 siec.] Nancy, imp. 
Berger-Levrault, 1883, 2v., 7-}- 208; 203 p., 
8. 

Noticed by C. Boyet in Revue critique, 1883, p. 398-9. 

Verzeichniss der 1870-82 ersch. Literatur 
liber den Elsass. Von E. Martin u. W. Wi- 
gard. (In Strassburger Studien, v. 2, p. 385- 

4730 

AMERICA and her commentators, with a 
critical sketch of travel in the U.S.; by H: 
T. Tuckerman. C: Scribner, 1864. 

Noticed in L. /., Apr., 1885, p. 92, referring- to W : J : 
Potts' notice in Critic. 

AMERICAN catalogue. Supplement, 1876- 
84. 

ANDREA Maj. J:, Bibliography of; by C: A. 
Campbell. (In Mag. of Am. hist., Jan., 1882, 
p. 61-72.) 

ANGLO-SAXON. Grundriss zur Geschichte 
der angelsachsischen Literatur ; von R. Wiilc- 
ker. i. Halfte. Lpz., Veit & Co., 1885. S. 

ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION. Annuario 
bibliografico de la republica argentina, anno 4 
(1882), por Alberto Navarro Viola. Buenos 
Aires, 1883. 598 p. 8<>. 

ARMENIA. Bibliographic armenienne, 1565- 
1883. Venezia, tip. armena, 1883. 32 -{-737 P- 



ATHENS. ' 

yloyof. TyU^ua a', Geo/ioy/a. 'Ev 'Atfr/vaif, 1883. 
( 4 ) + 177 P. F. 

" Classed [6 cl. 51 divisions]. Index of authors and 
subjects in one alphabet of over ao pages." 



AUSTRIA. Franz Krones' Grundriss der 
b'sterreichischen Geschichte. 1882. 4 1. -j- 
926 p. O. 

AUTOGRAPHS IN BOOKS. (W. Carew Haz- 
litt in Bibliographer, p. 135-40, 153-8, Oct., 
Nov., 84.) 

BEAUMARCHAIS, Bibliog. de. Par H: Cor- 
dier. 

See L.j.,8: 150. Reviewed with a long list of addi- 
tions, by Em. Picot, in Rev. critique, Dec. 3, '83, p. 448-57. 

BIBLE. C. A. Briggs's Biblical study, 
Edin., Clark, 1884, 490 p., 8, contains a 
" Catalogue of books of reference." 

Old Testament. G. Duplessis. Essai 
bibliog. sur les differentes editions des Icones 
Veteris Testaments d'Holbein. (Extr. des 
Mem. de la Soc. des Antiq. de France, t. 44.) 
Nogent-le-Rotrou. 20 p. 8. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. Giuseppe Ottino. Manuale 
di bibliografia, illustrate con 1 1 incis. Milano, 
Hoepli, 1885. 6 -f 158 p. 16. 

BIRMINGHAM FREE LIBRARIES. Ref. dept. 
Catalogue, letter A only. Birm., 1883. 98 p. 
1. O. 

BOMBAY. Office of the Registrar of Native 
Publications. Catalogue of books printed in 
the Bombay Presidency during the quarter 
ending 30 June, 1884. Bombay, 1884. 65 p. 
F. 

271 books and 96 periodicals. 

BOOK-LORE. Gustave Brunet. La biblio- 
manie en 1882 ; bibliog. des adjudications les 
plus remarquables et de la valeur primitive de 
ces ouvrages. Brux., J. J. Gay, 1883. 108 p. 

12. 

J. Le Petit. L'art d'aimer les livres et 
de les connaitre ; lettres a un jeune bibliophile. 
Paris, J. Le Petit, 1884. 8. 

Jas. L. Whitney. A modern Proteus. 

Jas. Chapman Woods. Old and rare 
books : an elementary lecture. Lond., Stock, 
1885. 35 P- 8- 

BOOKS, CENSORSHIP OF. Dr. F : H : 
Reusch. Der Index verbotener Biicher: ein 
Beitrag zur Kirchen- u. Literaturgeschichte. 
Bd. i. Bonn, Cohen & Sohn, 1883. 12 + 624 
p. 8. 

" Eine Frucht musterhaft fleissiger u. umsichtiger 
Studien." Neuer Ameiger. 



C RUN DEN. 



BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY Bulletin has 
contained bibliographies of B: Franklin and 
Mathew Arnold, also indexes of articles on 
Am. local history in historical collections, to 
notes about books and reading, and to special 
book-lists found in the catalogues of the B. P. L., 
and various other libraries, and in periodicals, 
and to the British sessional papers of 1881. 

BOTANY. General index to the Latin names 
and synonymes of the plants depicted in the 
first 107 vols. of Curtis's Botanical mag., to 
which is added a short list of popular names ; 
ed. by Edmund Touks, B.C.L., London. B. 
Quaritch, 1883. Roy. 8. 7 + 263 p. 

BOURGOGNE. Ph. Milsand. Bibliographic 
bourguignonne ou catalogue methodique d'ou- 
vrages relatifs a la Bourgogne : Sciences, Arts, 
Histoire. Dijon, E. Lechevalier, 1885. 8. 

BRIGGS, C : A : Cat. of books of reference 
(Pages 429-488 of his Biblical study. N.Y., 

1883. 315-1-566?. o.) 

BRITISH MUSEUM. Cat. Eng. books printed 
before 1640. 3 vols. 

Catalogue of a selection from the Stowe 
MSS., Lond., 1883. 83 p. -f-45 P^ m autotype 
fac-sim. 

BRITTANY. Kerviler. Essai d'une biblio- 
graphic des publications de la Bretagne. I. 
Dept. de Morbihan. Paris, Lechevalier, 1884. 
56 p. 8. (40 copies.) 

BUDDHISM. Cambridge Univ. L. Catalogue 
of the Buddhist Sanskrit MSS. in the Univ. L. 
by Cecil Bendall. Camb. Univ. Press, 1883. 



CAEN, UNIVERSITY DE. La bibliotheque. 
2. Inventaire [1515]. (Pages 263-71 of Poly- 
biblion, mars, 1885.) 

CANTU, Cesare. Antonio Manno. Bozza di 
una bibliografia degli scritti stampati da Cesare 
Cantu. Torino, 1884. 94p. 16. (100 copies.) 

CATALOGUES, General. Narducci. [A report 
in Italian on the utility of a general catalogue 
of printed books in all Italian libraries.] (Poly- 
biblion, Oct., '83, p. 380 -(- I.) 

CATHOLICISM. Alphabetical catalogue of 
Catholic books pub. in U.S. rev. to date by 
L. K. [Lawrence Kehoe], Jan. 20. 1884. N.Y., 
D. Cath. Pub. Soc. Co. n. d. 48 p. 

The Co. also issues a catalogue of London & Dublin 
Catholic books. 



Dr. Franz Hiitskamp. 1000 gute Biicher 
den Katholiken deutscher Zunge empfohlen, 
3. Aufl. Munster, Theissing, 1883. 2 1. -|- 108 
p. 8. 

H. Hurter, S.J. Nomenclator literarius 
recentioris theologiae catholicae : Tomus ill : 
seculum ill post celebr. Concilium Triden- 
tinum, fasc. I et n, 1764-1800. Oeniponte 
1883. 2 1. + 49 2 p. + 15 p. 8. 

Carlos Sommervogel.^.y. Dictionnaire 
des ouvrages anonymes et pseudonymes pub- 
lies par desreligieuxdela Compagnie de Jesus. 
Paris, Soc. Bibliog., 1884. 3 p. + 1398 col. 
+ [3] P. 

Reviewed by Tamizey de Larroque in Polybiblion, 
Dec. 1884, p. 350-2. 

CHAUCER, BIBLIOGRAPHY OF. Lit. W. 
(Bost.), Sept. 8, 1883. 

CLASSIC Books, Guide to the choice of; by 
Jos: Bickersteth Mayor. 2d ed. Lond., Bell, 
1885. 8. 

CLEVELAND (O.) P.L. Bulletin No. 3. 
Books added, 1882-3. 1884. 60 p. 1. O. 

CUMATE. Alexander Ramsay. The sci- 
entific roll climate : a bibliography, guide and 
index to climate. London, Swan, Sonnen- 
schein & Co., 1884. 

"Reviewed in Sat. R., Ap.4 (1885), p. 452. Thebibliog. 
commences in 1682 and closes in 1883. The indices are 
very complete, and refer to subjects both in the bibliogra- 
phies and the notes, but not to the names of the writers." 
L.j., May, '85, p. 114. 

CORNELL UNIVERSITY, Publications of 
officers of. (In several nos. of Cornell Li- 
brary.) 

DANTE. Alberto Bacchi della Lega. Indice 
generale della bibliografia dantesca comp. 
dal vise. Colomb de Batines. Bologna, Ro- 
magnoli, 1883. 2!. -{-174 p. 8. 

G. A. Scartazzini. Dante in Germania. 
Pt. 2, bibliog dantesca alemanna, alfabetica 
e sistematica. Milano, Hoepli, 1883. 360 p. 
8. 

DESAIVRE, Dr. Leo. Bibliographic. (In 
his Le mythe de la mere Lusine [Melusine].) 
St. Maixent, 1883. 221 p. 

DICKENS'S Speeches (1841-70), ed. by R: H. 
Shepherd, contains a new bibliography, rev. 
and enlarged. 



126 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



DIES iRjE. Merc. Lib. Co. of Phila.'s bull, 
for Jan., 1885, concludes Mr. Edmands's bibli- 
ography of the Dies irae, begun in the Oct. no. 
There are recorded 534 titles in all. 

DORE, Gustave. Catalogue des dessins, 
aquarelles, et estampes de G. D. exposes dans 
les salons du Cercle de la Librairie (mars 
1885), avec une notice biog. par G. Duplessis. 
Paris, Cercle de la Librairie, 1885. 225 p. -J- 
portrait grave p. Lalauze. 16. 

Pages 123-193 contain the list of all works illustrated 
by Dor<. 

DRESDEN, K. <DFF. BIBL. zu. Paul Emil 
Richter. Verzeichniss d. neuen Werke d. K. 
off. Bibl. zu Dresden, 1883. Dresden, Bur- 
dach [1884]. 57 p. 8. 

DUTCH HISTORY. Dr. W. N. De Rieu, 
Tweede supplement op het Repertorium der 
verhandelingen en bijdragen betreffende de 
Geschiedenis des Vaterlands, in mengelwerken 
en tijdschriften tot op 1808 verschenen, door 
de leden vande Commissie voor Geschied en 
Oudheidkunde van de Maatschappij der Neder- 
landsche Letterkunde te Leiden. Leiden, 
Brill, 1884. 14+ 172 p. 8. 

First Suppl. pub. in 1882. Original in 1872. 

EDDAS, A list of the text editions of; by 
Thorvald Solberg. (In Boston P.L. bulletin, 
winter no. 1884-5.) 

ELECTRICITY. Gustav May. Die Weltli- 
teratur der Elektricitat u. des Magnetismus, 
1860-83 mit besond. Beriicksichtigung d. 
Electro-Technik. Wien, Pest, Lpz., Hart- 
leben, 1884. 13 p. -}- i 1. +203 p. 8. 

G. May. A bibliography of electricity 
and magnetism, 1860-83, with special refer- 
ence to electro-technics ; with an index by O. 
Salle, Ph.D. London, Triibner & Co., 1883. 
1 2 -|- 203 p. 8. 

" Compiled for the Gr. Internat. Elec. Exhibition at 
Vienna, 1883; is the first and complete book of reference 
for the literature of the electric sciences, 1860-83." 

ENGLISH catalogue of books, 1884, 5. 

FAN AND PARASOL. Bibliographic de 1'e- 
ventail et de 1'ombrelle. Paris, Librairie du 
Bibliophile, 1883. 8. (477 copies.) 

FENCING. E. Castle's " Schools and masters 
of fence, London, Bell, 1884," 304 p., 4, 
contains a bibliography. 



FOLK-LORE. Vinson. Bibliographic du 
folk-lore basque (fin). (In Revue de linguis- 
tique, v. 17, 1884.) 

FRANCE. BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE. Cata- 
logue des dissertations et ecrits academiques 
provenant des ^changes avec les universites 
etrangeres et re9u par la Bibliothdque Natio- 
naleeni882. Paris, Klinksieck, 1884. loop. 8. 

MINISTERS DE LA MARINE ET DES COLO- 
NIES. Catalogue par ordre geographique des 
cartes, plans, vues de c6tes, memoires, instruc- 
tions nautiques, etc., qui composent 1' Hydro- 
graphic fran9aise. Paris, Challamel alne, 1884. 
56 p. 8. (40 copies.) 

Ulysse, Robert. tat des catalogues 
des bibliotheques publiques de France. Lille, 
Imp. Danel, 1885. 27 p. 8. 

FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. Julius Petzholdt. 
Uebersicht der neueren Literatur iiber den 
deutsch-franzosischen Krieg, 1870-1. (In N. 
Anzeiger, Mar.-Apr., 1885, p. 82-111.) 

" Continued from N. Anz. iSSo, p. 94. We welcome 
this long bibliography as a sign that the new manage- 
ment of the Anzeiger will abandon its practice of dealing 
out bibliographies in little, unsatisfactory, provoking 
fragments." L-J-, May, '85, p. 114. 

FREIBERG. Heydenreich. Bibliographisches 
Repertorium liber die Geschichte der Stadt 
Freiberg und ihres Berg- u. Hiittenwesens. 
Freiberg i. Sachs., Craz u. Gerlach in Comm. 
1 1 -\- 128 p. 8. 

GENEVE, UNIVERSITY DE. Docs, pour 
servir a 1'hist. de PUniversite, 3: Catal. des 
ouvrages, articles et mem. pub. par les profes- 
seurs. Geneve, Georg, 1883. 112 p. 8. 

GEOGRAPHY. Vivien de Saint Martin's 
Nouveau dictionnaire de geographic univer- 
selle, tome 2 (D-J), Paris, Hachette et 
Cie., 1884, 1016 p., 4, contains bibliograph- 
ical information. 

GEOLOGY. G. Dewalque. Catalogue des 
ouvrages de geologic, de mineralogie, et de 
paleontologie. Liege, Vaillant-Carmanne, 1885. 
8. 

GERMAN HISTORY. F. C. Dahlmann. Ouel- 
lenkunde zur deutschen Geschichte. 5. Aufl. 
neu zusammengestellt v. G. Waitz. 3. Aufl., 
Got., Dietrich, 1883. 20 + 341 p. 8. 

GERMAN LITERATURE. E. Weller. Rep- 
ertorium typographicum ; die deutsche Liter- 



C RUN DEN. 



127 



atur im ersten Viertel des 16. Jahrh. 2. Suppl. 
Nordlingen, Beck, 1884. 

GROTIUS. H. Com. Rogge. Bibliotheca 
Grotiana ; Hug. Grotii operum descr. bibliog. 
[Pars i.] Hag. Com., Nijhof, 1883. 10 + 76 
p. 8. 

"With a Dutch title also. 

GROTON (MASS.) P.L. Catalogue. Groton, 
1885. 192 p. O. 

Author and title. L. cont. 4,000 vols. and circulates 
10,000 vols. per year. 

HAMBURG. Hans Schroder. Lexikon der 
hamburgischen Schriftsteller bis zur Gegen- 
wart, begrlindet von Schroder, fortgesetzt von 
A. H. Kellinghusen. Bd. 8: Westphalen- 
Zylius. Hamburg, 1883. 2 1. + 258 p. 8. 

The work, which contains 4,573 nos., was begun 34 yrs. 
ago. A suppl. is in preparation. 

HENRY V. Le comte de Chambord. Bib- 
liographie des ecrits dont Henri a ete 1'objet. 
(In Polybiblion, p. 260-76.) 

From 1820 to 1839. To be continued. 

INCUNABULA. A. Germain. Notice sur un 
recueil d'incunables de la Bibliotheque de 
Montpellier. Montp., 1884. 28 p. 4. 

Paul Parfouru, archiviste du Gers. Cat- 
alogue des incunables de la Bibliotheque 
d'Auch. Auch. imp. Cocharaux freres, 1885. 
20 p. 8. 

INDEX Soc. Index of obituary notices for 
1881 [not complete], London, 1883. 7+103 
p. Sq. O. 

IRELAND. National L. Suppl. catalogues 
of books, by author, title, subject, and class, 
added during 1880. Dublin, n. d. II +455 
p. O. [Has 9 pages of explanation.] 

ITALY. MINISTERO DE AGRIC., INDUST., E 
COMMERCIO. Saggio di bibliografia statistica 
italiana. Roma, 1883. 14 + 150 p. 8. 

JEWS. Joseph Jacobs. The Jewish ques- 
tion, 1875-83; bibliog. hand-list. (In Trub- 
ner's lit. record, 4: 69-72.) 

JOURNALISTS. W: M. Griswold. Direc- 
tory of writers for the literary press in the 
U.S. Bangor, Me., 1884. 24 p. O. 

JUVENILE LITERATURE. Ratgeberf. Eltern, 
Lehrer, u. Bibliothekvorstancle bei der Aus- 



wahl von Jugendschriften. Frankfurt a. M., 
1883. 4 + 67 p. 8. 

Dietrich Theden. Fiihrer durch d. 
Jugendliteratur ; Grundsatze z. Beurtheilung 
d. deutschen Jugendliteratur, Winke fur 
Griindung, Einrichtung,u. Fortflihrung einsch- 
lagiger Bibliotheken, u Verzeichniss empfeh- 
lenswerther Schriften, fur Eltern, Erzieher u. 
Bibliothekare ; mit einem Vorwort v. Dr. J. 
Chr. Gottlob Schuman. Hamburg, B. S. Be- 
rendsohn, 1883. 8 + 78 p. O. 

KANT. Bibliographic des Jahres 1883 mit 
Nachtragen zu friiheren Jahren. Konigsberg, 
F. Beyer, 1885. 7 p. 8. 

KING, G: Gordon, Library of. Jos. Allen 
Nolan. Newport, R.I. , 1885. 2 v. [7]+432; 
8-+[i] + 327p. Q. 200 copies. 

LANDAU, Horace de. Catalogue des livres 
ms. et imprimes comp. la bibliotheque de 
Franz Roediger. Florence, 1885. 590 p. 8. 
100 copies. 

LAW. Bibliographie des livres de droit et de 
jurisprudence publics jusqu'a 14 nov. 1884, 
classe dans 1'ordre des codes avec table alph. 
des matieres, et des noms des auteurs. Paris, 
Marchall, Billard, & Co., 1884. 116 p. 8. 

Bibliotheca juridical systematisches 
Verzeichniss der neueren u. gebrauchlicheren 
auf dem Gebiete der Staats- u. Rechtswissen- 
schaft erschienenen Lehrbiicher, Compendien, 
Gesetzbiicher, Commentare, etc. Lpz., Ross- 
berg, 1885. 12 + 67 p. 8. 

Birkmeyer. Zusammenstellung der ge- 
sammten bis jetzt zu Reichs-Civilprocessord- 
nung erschienenen Literatur, geordnet nach 
der Reihenfolge der Gesetzes-Paragraphen. 
(In Beitr. z. Erldut. d. deutsch. Rechts, 1884, 
p. 179-241-) 

Systematisches Verzeichniss der neueren 
u. gebrauchlicheren auf dem Gebiete u. Rechts- 
wissenschaft erschienenen Lehrbiicher, Com- 
pendien, Gesetzbiicher, Commentare, etc. 
Lpz., 1884. 8. il+i2 + 67p. 

LAWRENCE (MASS.) P.L. Catalogue; sup- 
plement, 1873-83. L., 1883. 985 p. O. 

Diet.; short titles; imprints carefully made. 

LEESER L. Catalogue of the L.L. : comp. 
by Cyrus Adler, A B. Phil., 1883. [4] + 
65 p. 8. 

LEYDEN UNIVERSITY. Catalogue des livres 



128 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



chinois qui trouvent dans la bibliotheque ; 
[par le Prof. G. Schlegel]. Leide, E. J. 
Brill, 1883. 27 p. 1. O. 

E. Peacock. Index to English speaking 
students who have graduated at L. U. Lond., 
Index Soc., 1883. 6 + 107 P- sq. 0. 

LIBRARIES. Gust. Becker. Catalogi bibliothe- 
carum antiqui. I. Catalogi saeculo xm vetus- 
tiores. n. Catalogus catalogorum posterioris 
aetatis. Bonnae, Cohen & Sohn, 1885. 4 + 

329 P- 8 . 

Catalogue a consulter pour 1'organisation 
et la direction d'une bibliotheque populaire des- 
tinee a des lectures adultes, precede d'une no- 
tice explicative sur le catalogue et de renseigne- 
ments sur Torganisation d'une bibliotheque. 
Paris, Chaix, 1883. 160 p. 8. 

Apparently a French A.L.A. catalogue. 

Melvil Dewey. Library abbreviations. 
Bost., Library Bureau [1885]. 8 p. T. 

Contains abbreviations; 100 forenames, for headings; 
for imprints and notes; for book titles; for places of 
publications; titles, states, etc.; size notation, months, 
days. 

W : E. Foster, Libn. Providence P.L. 
Libraries and readers. 

Libraries and schools : select addresses 
and papers; by Charles Francis Adams, Jr., 
S. S. Green, R. C. Metcalf, and W. E. Foster. 

J. Brander Matthews. The home library. 
Appleton's Home Books, No. n. 

Elliot Stock. Book lover's library. Some 
of the titles are : How to form a library, How 
to manage a library, How to arrange a library, 
How to catalogue a library. H. B. Wheatley, 
editor. In preparation. 

LIEGE. X. de. Theux de Montjardin. Bib- 
liographic liegeoise. Cont. : i. les livres im- 
primes a Liege depuis le i6 e siecle jusqu'a nos 
jours ; 2. les ouvrages pub. en Belgique et a 
Tetranger, cone. 1'histoire de Tancienne prin- 
cipaut6 de Liege et de la province actuelle du 
memenom. 2 e ed.aug. Brux., 1885. 571 p. 8. 

LITERATURE, History of. Ant. Lap^orte. Bib- 
liographie contemporaine ; histoire litteraire du 
xix e . siecle ; manual critique et raisonne; supple- 
ment de Brunet, de Querard, de Barbier, etc. 
Tome i (A-Boy). Paris, Laporte, 1885. 8. 

LITURGY. M. Rellechet. Notes sur les livres 
liturgiques des dioceses d'Autun, Chalon, et 



Macon. Paris, H. Champion ; Autun, Dejus- 
sien, 1883. 12 + 537 p. + i 1. 8. 

LONDON Catalogue of periodicals, news- 
papers, and transactions for 1885. 

STATISTICAL SOCIETY. Catalogue, 1884. 
LOVE, German. Hugo Hayn. Bibliotheca 

Germanorum erotica ; Verzeichniss dergesamm- 
ten deutschen erot. Literatur m. Einschluss der 
Uebersetzgn., nebst Angabe der fremden Orig- 
inale. 2 e durchaus umgearb., sehr stark verm., 
durch Beifiig. der Berliner u. Munchener deut- 
schen erot. Biicherschatze bereich. u. m. Anti- 
quar-Preisen vers. Aufl. Leipzig, Unflad, 
1885. 4 + 483 p. 9,000 titles. 

LUTHER. C. H.Beck. Bibliotheca Lutherana. 
Nbrdlingen, 1885. 5 + 185 p. 8. 1236 nos. 

A bookseller's catalog, but of a very large collection, 
.and so carefully made as to remind one of the regretted 
Paul Tromel's Bibliotheca Americana. 

Reading notes on, by J. Edmands. 
(From Merc. UVy Bull. Phila. ,1883. 1 8 p. S .) 

LYONS. L. Niepol. Archeologie lyonnaise. 
Basle, H. Georg, 1884. 2 v. 132, 133 p. 8. 

MADAGASCAR. P. Cremazy. Notice bibliog. 
sur M. St. Denis (tie de Reunion), imp. 
Drouhet fils, 1884. 63 p. 8. 

Essai de bibliog. malgache ou catal. des 
ouvrages ecrits sur Madagascar ou en langue 
madecasse. (In Polybiblion, v. 18, p. 159-163.) 

MAIDMENT, Jas., Bibliog. of, 1817-78. By 
T: G: Stevenson. Edinb., 1883. 55 p. 8. 
(100 cop. for private circul.) 

MANUSCRIPTS. Otto von Heinemann. Die 
Handschriften der Herzoglichen Bibliothek zu 
Wolfenbiittel ; beschreiben von Dr. Otto von 
Heinemann, herzogl. Oberbibliothekar. i. 
Abth. : Die Helmstedter Handschriften. I. 
Wolfenbiittel, Julius Zwtssler, 1884. 12 + 380 
+ [i] front, u. 10 facsimiles. Lex. 8. N.Y., 
Stechert. 

MAPS. Harvard Univ. Bull. No. 30, con- 
tinues the list of the Kohl collection of maps, 
and contains a " Classified index to maps in 
the Royal Geographical Society's publications," 
by R. Bliss. 

MATHEMATICS. Gustaf Enestrb'm. Biblio- 
theca mathematica. Stockh., 1884. 123 p. Q. 

Pub. in mo. pts. An alphabetical list of new math, 
books and pphs., and articles in periodicals, and another 
list of reviews of math, books. 



CRUNDEN. 



129 



Cornell Univ. lists., No. I : Mathematics. 

University of St. Andrews Library. Cata- 
logue of mathematical works. [Compiled by J. 
M. Anderson.] St. Andrews, 1883. 22 p. 8. 

Hardy, A. S. Courses of reading on 
special subjects : mathematics. (In the Critic, 
July 28, Aug. II, 1883.) 

MEDICINE. Allg. deutsche Ausstellung auf 
dem Gebiete der Hygiene und des Rettungs- 
wesens. Verzeichniss der Biicher, u.s.iv. 
Berlin, 1882-3. I44-I44P- 8. 

Baltimore. J: R. Quinan. Medical an- 
nals of Baltimore, 1608-1880, including litera- 
ture. Bait., 1884. 2144- [i] p. 4- Portrait. 
O. 

J. S. Billings's Medical bibliography. 
Bait., 1883, " contains advice to the compilers 
of medical bibliografies which might profitably 
be pondered by any bibliografer." L. j. 8 : 
322. 

Dr. Robert Fletcher adds a bibliog. to his 
" Human proportion in art and anthropometry." 
Cambridge, Mass., Moses King, 1883. 37 p. 
O. L. 7.8:323. 

A. Germain. Notice sur un recueil d'in- 
cunables de la bibliotheque de la Faculte' de 
Medecine de Montpellier. Montpellier, impr. 
J. Martel, 1884. 12 p. 4. 

METEOROLOGY. G. Hellman. Repertorium 
der deutschen Meteorologie. Lpz., Engelmann, 
1883. 34 p. 4- 999 col. 4- 2 pi. 8. 

METZ, Toul et Verdun. Arthur Benoit. Les 
bibliophiles, les collectionneurs, et les biblio- 
theques des monasteres des trois eveches. 
Nancy, Wiener, 1884. 300 p. 8. 

MEXICO. Alex. D. Anderson's " Mexico 
from the internal stand-point, N.Y., Brentano, 
1884," contains a list of 185 works in English 
on Mexico's resources, characteristics, and his- 
tory. 

MIDDLE AGES. Ulysse Chevalier. Reper- 
toire des sources historiques du moyen age. 
Bio-bibliographie. Tome I. Paris, Soc. Bib- 
liog., 1883. 20 4- 1 185 p. 8. 

MONEY. Prof. W. Stanley Jevons's posthu- 
mous " Investigations in currency and finance, 
Lond., Macm., 1884," 444-414 p., 8, has a 
bibliography of the subject, p. 362-414. 

MONKERY. WillibaldP. Hauthaler. Litera- 
tur- Verzeichniss ; Literatur fremder Autoren, 



die den [Benedictiner und Cistercienser] Orden 
betrifft. (In Stitdien aus d. Benedict u. dem 
Cist. Orden, Jahrg. 6, Heft I, p. 205-11.) 

MONTAUBAN. A. Forestie neveu. Recit des 
troubles de M. (10 mai 1790) : bibliog. des Merits 
rel. a cet evenement. Montauban, imp. For- 
esti, 1883. 100 p. 8. (100 copies.) 

Music. F. Aschersohn. Musikalische Bib- 
liographic. (In Vierteljahresschr.f.Musikwis., 
I. Jahrg. i. Viertelj.) 

Bibliog. of Eng. writings on music will 
form an appendix to the " Biographical die. 
of musicians," announced by Jas. D. Brown, 
of Mitchell L., Glasgow. 

Hartford L. As. Bulletin for Apr. [1884] 
contains a two-page classified list of the works 
on music in that library. 

MUSICAL PERIODICALS. W. Freystatter. Die 
musikalischen Zeitschriften seit ihrer Entsteh- 
ung bis zur Gegenwart ; chronologisches Ver- 
zeichniss der periodischen Schriften liber 
Musik. 

MUSSET, Alfred de, Bibliographic des 
ceuvres de, et des ouvrages, gravures, et vi- 
gnettes qui s'y rapportent. Par Maurice Cou- 
lard. Paris, Rouquette, 1883. 244-100 p. 
8. Portrait. (320 cop., of which 20 on large 
pap.) 

MYTHOLOGY. Hartford L. Assn's Bulletin 
for April [1885] has a two-page note on my- 
thology and folk-lore. 

NAMES. Ed. Le Hericher's " Glossaire ger- 
manique, scandinave, et hebraique des noms 
d'hommes. Paris, Maison neuve & Co., 1884," 
will probably be found useful by cataloguers. 

NAMUR. F. D. Doyen. Bibliographic na- 
muroise indiquant les livres impr. a Namur, 
les ouvrages pub. en Belgique ou a Tetranger 
par des auteurs namurois ou cone. Thistoire du 
comta* ou de la province actuelle de Namur, 
suivie d'une liste chronol. et anal, des placards 
et ordonnances rel. a Tancien pays de Namur. 
I partie. Namur, 1884. 144 p. 8. 

NETHERLANDS. Brinkman's catalogus der 
boeken enz. die 1850-82 in Nederland zijn 
uitgegeven of herdrukt. I. aufl. Amst., 1883. 
p. 1-86. 8. 

L: D. Petit. Bibliotheek van nederland- 
sche pafnfletten. 's Gravenhaag, Nijhoff, 1882- 
3. 2V. 114-28, 330 p. 4. 



130 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



NEW CALEDONIA. Leon Vallee. Essai (Tun 
bibliographic de la Nouvelle Cal. et ses de- 
pendances. Paris, C. Klincksieck, 1883. 

NEW JERSEY, A list of books for the school 
libraries of. Newark, 1884. 30 p. D. 

NEW YORK. Cornell University " Library" 
for July ('83) contains references on the hist. 
of Western N.Y. 

NEWSPAPERS. N. W. Ayer & Son's Amer- 
ican Newspaper Annual ; containing a cata- 
logue of American newspapers. Phil. [1884]. 
994 p. 8. 

Die Deutsche Presse, Verzeichniss, u.s.w. 
I. Bd. : Politische Zeitungen, Amts-, Local., 
und Anzeige-blatter. Forbach, Hupfer, 1885. 
8 -f- 280 p. 8. 

Sell's dictionary of the world's press. 
Lond., Sell, 1885. 8. With maps. i-s. 

NORTH EASTON (MASS.) Ames Free Li- 
brary, Bulletin No. I : books added, Mar. i, 
i883-Jan. i, 1884. Boston, 1884. 40 p. O. 

NOTARY, Business of. Adam Niemerowski. 
Bibliografia powszeckna notarjatu. Warsaw, 
1884. 300 p. 

So minute as to include even K. About's " Nez d'un 
notaire." 

NOTTINGHAM FREE P. LIBS. Class-list (No. 
3) and suppl. of books in the ref. lib'y, with 
lists of mags, and newspapers. F. Science. J. 
Potter Briscoe, Pr. Libn ; J : J. Ogle, As. Lib'n 
Nott., Jan., 1884. 43 p. O. 

NUMISMATICS. G. Cumont. Bibliog. g6n. 
et raisonnee de la numismatique beige. Brux., 
C. Marquardt, 1885. 12 -\- 474 p. 8. 

Same. Paris, Le Soudier, 1884. 8. 
OBELISKS. Enrico Narducci. Saggio di 

bibliografia degli obelischi. (In // Buonarroti, 
ser. 3, v. i, p. 75~9-) 

PEABODY INSTITUTE. Catalogue of the 
library. Part i : A-C. Bait., 1883. 6+ [2] 
+ 868 p. 1. O. {L.j. 8: 167.] 

PERIODICALS. Birmingham. Mason Science 
College has printed a catalog of 6,000 v. of 
its periodicals and journals and transactions of 
scientific societies. 

PETERMANN'S Geographische Mittheilungen, 
Classified index to the maps of. R : Bliss. Jr. 
Cambr., Mass., 1884. 1. O. (In Harv. Univ. 
Lib., Bibliog. contrib. no. 16.) 1,340 titles. 

Mr. B. intends in this way to index the maps in the 
publications of all the principal geog. societies. 



PHILA., LIB. Co. OF. Bulletin, Jan., '85. 

Smaller type and longer lines than before and a more 
liberal insertion of notes. 30 more pages of C : R. Hilde- 
burn's Issues of the press in Penn., 1770-76. 

PHILOSOPHY, Classification of. C. Renou- 
vier. Esquisse d'une classification systematique 
des doctrines philosophiques, vol. I. Paris, 
G. Fischhaber, 1884. 8. 

PHYSIOLOGY. The Hartford L. Assoc.'s 
bulletin for Jan., 1885, has a note on anatomy, 
physiology, and hygiene. 

PONTOISE. Leon Thomas. Bibliog. de la 
ville et du canton dePontoise. Pontoise, imp. 
Paris, 1884. 8 + 211 p. fac-sim. 8. 

POOLE'S INDEX. D. Chilovi. Una curiosita 
bibliografica. (Pages 532-42 oiNuova Otologia, 
i agosto, 1883.) 

A notice of P.'s Index by the Lib'n of the Marucelliana 
at Florence. See Nation, Feb. ai, '84, p. 169. 

P.'s Index has been continued as a supplement to the 
Library journal, and later as a separate quarterly. 

PORTUGAL. Innocencio Francisco de Silva. 
Diccionario bibliographico portuguez, estudios 
contin. por Brito Aranha. Tome 10 (3 do, 
supplemento), H. J. Lisboa imp. nac., 1883. 
24 + 411 p. 8. 

POULET-MALASSIS, Aug., Bibliog. descrip- 
tive et anecdotique des ouvrages ecrits et pub- 
lies par. Paris, P. Rouquette, 1883. 8. (100 
copies.) 

PRINTING, Bibliog. of, with notes and illus- 
trations. E. C. Bigmore and C. W. H. Wy- 
man. Vol. 2 : M-S. Lond., B. Quaritch, 1884. 
8. 412 p. 4. 

H. Klemm. Beschreibender Katalog 
des bibliographischen Museums. Dresden, 
Klemm, 1884. 2. Abth. 8 -J- 509 p. + 4 
engravings. 8. 

PRISON LITERATURE. By Walter B. Slater. 
(In Bibliographer, Nov., '84, p. 183-4.) 

Additions to W. C. Hazlitt's article in the Aug. no. 

PSYCHICAL RESEARCH, Society for. Library 
catalogue, 1884. (In their Proceedings, Dec., 
1884, v. 2, p. 293-315.) 

PTOLEMY. Harvard Univ. Bull., Oct., '83, 
continues the maps in " Petermann's Mitthei- 
lungen" and the bibliography of "Ptolemy's 
Geography," and begins a description of the 
Kohl collection of early maps belonging to the 
Dept. of State, by Justin Winsor. 






C RUN DEN. 






PUBLISHERS' Trade-list annual, 1883. nth 
year. N.Y., F. Leypoldt. roy. 8. 

Q.P. INDEXES, by W: M. Griswold. 4th 

ann. issue, 1884. Bangor, 1885. 57 p. O. 

Brief, but useful in cases not covered by Poole. 

Annual for 1883 [W. M. G.], Index to the 
leading British reviews and magazines for 1882. 
Bangor, 1884. 40 p. O. No. 16. 

Same. Bangor, Me., Q.P.I., 1885. 36 p. O. 

Griswold, W : M. Table alphabetique gen- 
erale des matieres et des noms des auteurs cont. 
dans les t. 193-268 de la Revue des Deux Mondes 
et i-2i de la Nouvelle revue. Bangor, Q.P. 
index, 1883. 25 p. O. 

QUARITCH, Bernard. Gen. cat. pt. 2 : nat. 
hist. & science. Pt. 3 : Periodicals, journals, 
and trans. Lond., 1881-3. - 

QUEENSLAND. Lib'y of Parliament. Anal, 
and class, cat. : by D. O'Donovan. Brisbane, 
1883. 8+ [I] +425 +[4] p. Q. 

RAPHAEL. Eug. Miintz. Les historiens et 
les critiques de Raphael, 1483-1883 ; essai 
bibliog. pour servir d'appendice a 1'ouvrage de 
Passavant. Paris, J. Ronan, 1883. I74p. 8-f- 
por traits. 

READING and the mind, with something to 
read. N.Y., Beuziger Bros., 1884. 49+ [i] p. 
O. 

The last 14 p. contain classed lists of books or authors, 
recommended, divided into " Literature of Time," " Lit- 
erature of Eternity." 

REGNIER, Mathurin, Bibliographic de. Par 
H : Cherrier. Paris, P. Rouquette, 1884. 4+ 
56 p. (200 copies.) 

REIMS. Tableau des travaux de l'Acad6mie 
de Reims, 1841-2; repertoire alphabetique des 
documents inedits, seances et travaux, par H : 
Javart. Reims, imp. de 1' Academic et chez 
Renart, 1883. 8 + 184 p. 8. 

RICORDI bibliografici. C. R. Biscia. Vol.i. 
(Abati-Guinicelli) . Livorno, coi tipi di Fr. 
Vigo, 1885. 8 + 356 p. 8. 

ROME. Vincenzo Forcella. Catalogo dei 
manoscritti rel. alia storia di Roma che si con- 
servano nella biblioteca Vaticana. Vol. rv. 
Torino, Roma, Firenze, frat. Bocca, 1885. 
296 p. 8. 

ROTHSCHILD, Jas. de. E. Picot. Catalogue 
des livres composant la bibliotheque de feu le 



baron James de Rothschild. Tome i. Paris, 
1884. 19 + 671 + [1] p. O. With portrait, 
3 fac-similes of binding, and 3 of printing, and 
many- wood-cuts in the text. 

SACHEVERELL, Dr. H :, A bibliog. of. By 
F. Madan, Oxford, 1884. 73 p. Sm. 8. 

Bibliography of. By E. Solly. (In Bibli- 
ographer, Feb., 1884, p. 66-72.) 

SAVOY. Antonio Manno. Prefazione alia 
bibliografia storica degli stati della monarchia 
di Savoia compilata da A. Manno e V. Promis, 
e publicata per cure della R. Deputazione di 
storia patria. Torino, 1884. 35 p. 4. 

SCANDINAVIA. Thorvald Solberg. Bibliog. 
of the important books in the Eng. lang. relat- 
ing to the S. countries, w. Eng. trs. of the most 
important mag. arts, and a few titles rel. to the 
S. languages and mythology. (Pages 413-500 
of Horn, F : Winkel, Hist, of the lit. of the 
Scand. north, tr. by R. B. Anderson. Chic., 
Griggs, 1884 [1883]. O.) 

SHAKSPEARE. College of New Jersey. In- 
dex or subject-catalogue : W : Shakespeare, 
n. p., [1884]. 10 p. 

" Strictly a subject-catalogue, i.e., includes only the 
works about S. Thoroughly and carefully made. Would 
have been easier to consult if a prospectus of the classi- 
fication had been prefixed." L.j. 

SICILY. Giuseppe M. Mira. Bibliografia 
siciliana. Vol. 3, fasc. 26. Palermo, 1884. 
441 -L-84 p. 4. From Urbanus to the end. 

SLAVERY. Cornell Univ. "Library," Jan., 
1884, contains a list of anti-slavery periodicals 
in the collection of anti-slavery books given 
by S : J. May in 1870, and a list of the tracts, 
mostly anonymous, of the Amer. Anti-Slavery 
Soc., with the authors' names. 

SOAVE, Francesco, Saggio di una biblio- 
grafia di. (In Bolletino stor. della Svizzera 
ital., Dec., 1884.) 

SOUTHBRIDGE (MASS.) P. L. Supplement- 
ary catalogue. No. 2. Bost., 1884. 128 p. O. 

SPAIN. M. Torres-Campos. Bibliografia 
espanola contemporanea del derecho y de la 
politica 1800-1880, con tres apendices rel. a la 
bibliog. extranjera sobre el derecho espanol, a 
la hisp.-americana, y a la portug.-brasilena. 
Madrid, 1883. 288 p. 4. 

STOCKHOLM. Koneligt Biblioteket. Cata- 
logue de la bibliotheque japonaise de Norden- 



132 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



skiold, coord., rev., arm., et pub. par Leon de 
Rosny, et prec. d'une introd. par le marq. 
d'Herveyde Saint-Denys. Paris, 1883. 24-)- 

359 P- 1- O. 

SUDAN LITERATURE. Philippe Paulitschke. 
Die Sudanlander nach dem gegenwartigen 
Stande der Kentniss. Freiburg i. Br., Herder, 
1885. 12 + 311 p. 8. 

Pages 280-311 contain a complete bibliography of the 
later Sudan literature. 

SUGAR-CANE, A bibliography of the; by 
H. Ling Roth. (In preparation, June, 
1885.) 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARY, The; by A. E. 
Dunning. 16. 

Treats of the hist., object, authorship, selection, use, 
distribution and power of the library." The Congrega- 
ttonalfst. 

SWIFT, Jona., Notes for a bibliog. of; by 
Stanley Lane Poole. (Pages 160-171 Q{ Bibli- 
ographer, Nov. '84.) 

SWINBURNE, The bibliography of: a bibliog. 
list in chronol. order of the published verse 
and prose of A. C. Swinburne (1857-83) ; by 
R. H. Shepherd. London, G: Redway, 1883. 
40 p. 8. Privately printed. 

THEOLOGY. Max Heimbucher. Die Bibli- 
othek des Priesters ; praktische Winke fiir 
deren Anlage und Ervveiterung, mit besond. 
Beriicksichtigung der neueren theol. Litera- 
tur. Regensburg, Manz, 1885. 8 -{- J 4 P- 
8. 

TORRINGTON (CONN.) L. ASSOC. Suppl. 

No. 4 to the Catalogue [G: W. Cole]. March, 
Torr., 1885. 18 p. O. 

TURGENIEF. Bibliography. (In Lit. W. 
(Bost.), Sept. 22, 1883, p. 304, 5.) 

UNITED STATES gov. publications, List of, 
pub. monthly by Messrs. Jas. Anglim & Co., 
of Washington, D.C., and quarterly by Pub- 
lishers' Weekly. 

John H. Hickcox publishes a monthly 
catalogue of U.S gov. publications. Vol. I. 
Wash., 1885. 

VALLARDI. Catalogo delle opere araldiche, 
genealog., biogr., e storiche ms. e stampate 
componente 1'archivio Vallardi. 2a ed. Milano, 
1884. 27 p. 8. 

VERONESE, Guarino, e il suo epistolario 



edito e inedito. Indice alfabetico delle lettere 
e biografia tratta da essa. Di Remigio Sabba- 
dini. Salerno, 1885. 82 p. 8. 

VIOLIN, Bibliography of the ; by E: Heron 
Allen. (Pages 329-343 of his Violin-makers, 
Lond., 1884. O.) 

Catalogue of violin schools and instruction books. 

VOLTAIRE: Bibliographic de ses oeuvres. 
Par G. Bengesco. Tom. 2. Paris, Didier, 
1885. 8. 

VOSGES. Haillant. Bibliographic vosgienne 
de 1'annee 1883, ou catalogue methodique et 
raisonne des pub. sur les Vosges. Paris, 
Lechevalier, 1884. 88 p. 8. 

463 nos., of which 22 are on Jeanne d'Arc. 

WAR, Art of. E. Baldamus. Die Erschein- 
ungen der deutschen Literaturauf dem Gebiete 
der KriegsAvissenschaft und Pferdekunde, 1880- 
4. Lpz., 1885. 8. 

WEBSTER, D. C: H: Hale. Bibliog. Web- 
steriana : publications occasioned by the death 
of D. Webster, n. p., n. d. 4 p. 1. O. 

Extr. frojn the Bull, of the Merc. Lib., Phila., July, 
1883. 

WIESBADEN, Der konigl. Landesbibliothk zu. 
A. v. d. Linde. Die Nassauer Brunnen-Liter- 
atur der k. L. zu W. beschrieben. Wiesbaden, 
Bergmann, 1883. 8. 

WINDSOR (VT.) L. Assoc. Short catalog, 
with an account of the organization and the 
rules, Dec., 1883. Windsor, 1883. 57 -f- [i] p. 
O. Dewey system. 

WORCESTER (MASS.) FREE P.L. Catalogue 
of the circulating dept. and of a portion of the 
intermediate dept. Wore., 1884. 1,392 p. 
O. 

WORCESIER (MASS.) SECOND PARISH S.S. 
L. Catalogue [prepared by Miss E. W. Sar- 
gent]. Worcester, 1884. 62 p. D. 

A first-rate piece of work. The selection of books is a 
very choice one also. Miss Sargent has read all the books 
and keeps herself well informed regarding the children's 
books. S: S.G. 

YELLOWSTONE NAT. PARK. Dr. A. B. Peale. 
Bibliog. (/ his Report on park.) [1883?] 

ZSCHOKKE, R. Sauerlander. H : Zschokke 
Ausstellung. Catalog. Aarau, Sauerlander, 
1884. 36 -p. 8. 



MAGNUSSON. 



133 



SPIRAL LIBRARY BUILDINGS. 



BY EIRfKR MAGNUSSON. 



SO far as I know, no special attention has as 
yet been drawn to what I consider the 
most important subject connected with library 
management, namely, library economics, estab- 
lished on a thoroughly sound basis. When we 
glance over the history of the old large libra- 
ries of Europe we find that the lesson it teaches 
us comes pretty much to this : they have gone 
through the successive stages of, in the first 
instance, accommodation in a complex of cham- 
bers provided without plan, according to a rising 
exigency, until want of premises precluded all 
further external expanse ; in the second, of in- 
ternal accumulation and crowding-in of aux- 
iliary furniture for storage of books ; thirdly, 
concurrently with this, of constantly impaired 
lights within the buildings, ever-increasing con- 
fusion, arrears, and, finally, a deadlock, out of 
which the authorities found one escape only 
possible, namely, by way of building a new 
library regardless of cost. All the treasure ex- 
pended on such a library during the period of 
its plethora is simply thrown away; since 
rarely, if ever, the furniture of an old library 
will serve any purpose in the new. Yet the 
new library has invariably been built in such 
a manner as to render inevitable the repetition 
of the history of the old. The real reason of 
this lies partly in the tradition handed down 
from the times when libraries were small and 
their growth was slow ; when it was considered 
above all things essential that the librarian 
should be a learned man, and do nothing as 
librarian ; partly in want of attention on the part 
of librarians and governing bodies to the pro- 
spective wants of libraries under the changed 
conditions which the modern state of literary 
productivity has brought about. What with 
the aid of the copyright, and a variety of other 
causes, libraries increase now at a rate incom- 
parably more rapid than ever heretofore. Con- 
sequently, with a view to being prepared for 
future emergencies, the modern library must 



keep a statistical account of the space it yearly 
loses to its accessions, and of the space still 
left at its disposal for the coming ones during a 
practically unlimited future. Everything tends 
to show that, as years roll on, all large public 
libraries must increase at a rapidly progressive 
rate. This being so it becomes incumbent on 
librarians and governing bodies to take meas- 
ures which will enable the institution to meet 
the consequences of its constitution in the 
most economical manner in fact, to be once 
for all established on a plan by which it may 
with uninterrupted order receive its accessions 
through a period amounting to an endless 
future. This involves, of course, in the first 
instance, that the library should be so erected 
from the beginning that its structure may readily 
expand with its internal increase ; secondly, that 
a space of ground should be secured for it from 
the first large enough to allow this expanse to 
go on for a practically unlimited time. On 
these considerations I conceived the design for 
the library of the future, which I published in 
the London " Athenasum " on the 27th of last 
February. The architectural expression given 
to my idea is due to my friend, Mr. Wm. 
Fawcett, M.A., of Cambridge. The further, 
more detailed, specifications to my friend Mr. 
A. Waterhouse, the great London architect. 

The nucleus of the building is a circular 
reading-room, intended for a reference library, 
terminating upwards in a dome. It may be 
lighted either from the dome itself, or from 
tall vertical windows immediately under the 
dome. The height of the wall would neces- 
sarily be determined by the diameter of this 
room, but, of course, would always rise con- 
siderably above the walls of the library proper. 
By eight diametrical passages communication is 
secured with the rest of the library ; and should 
the distance between these passages be found 
to increase to an inconvenient extent as the 
library expands, the sections between them 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



could easily be subdivided by intermediate pas- 
sages. This necessity, however, would only 
.arise when the library was very far advanced 
in growth. By these passages all parts of the 
library would be brought within an equal dis- 
tance from the centre, a distance which, as will 
be shown hereafter, would never exceed, say, 
210 feet. 

Round this room I propose to build the rest 
of the library in a spiral fashion, as shown in 
the design, the first spiral beginning, say, at a 
distance of 10 feet from the reading-room wall, 
and completing its turn at a distance of 24 
feet outside its starting-point. From the 
point where this excentric spiral completes 
itself the continuation of the spiral is meant to 
be parallel, so that all the circles, after the com- 
pletion of the first, shall have a uniform width 
of 24 feet, each exterior wall thus running 
parallel to the interior. The height of the 
spiral walls is a matter of option, of course, but 
the higher they are, the less rapidly the library 
will occupy its ground. I think 30 feet will 
be found, on the whole, most convenient. The 
spiral passages I propose to light from the top, 
by means of vertical skylights introduced im- 
mediately under the roof. The roof itself I 
consider most important should be made ab- 
solutely fire-proof. To both sides of the walls 
of the spirals with the exception of the first 
spiral 1 I propose to fix at right angles strong 
bookcases, say \\ feet thick, 10 feet deep, and 
of the same height as the wall itself, 2 at a dis- 
tance of 6 feet from each other, so as to allow 
a perfectly free working space in the alcoves 
formed between each pair of them. The width 
of the spiral corridors being 24 feet, a pas- 
sage 4 feet wide would thus be left along the 
centre of the floor, which, presumably, would 
answer every purpose. Along the spiral walls, 
at a distance of 10 feet, and round every book- 
case, I propose to run two light horizontal gal- 

1 In the original design bookcases are indicated in the 
first spiral ; but Mr. Waterhouse has shown that the first 
spiral might be used with advantage for purposes which 
would not allow of bookcases being employed there. 

4 In Mr. VVaterhouse's design the form of the bookcases 
does not tally with this description; but I am now con- 
vinced that the most economic way is to carry the book- 
cases with an even depth of 10 feet up to the full height 
of the wall. 



leries, whereby, and through the means of 
easily portable hand-ladders, or other contriv- 
ances, access would be obtained to all parts of 
the walls and the bookcases. The reason why 
I propose to carry the bookcases to this height 
is, that they afford such an immensely increased 
accommodation for book-storage, as the sub- 
joined calculation of the surface measure of the 
library clearly shows. 

Although I have given to the proposed library 
the form of an Archimedean spiral, there are 
several other forms which might be adopted, 
though, hardly, I think, to the same advantage. 
Instead of an Archimedean spiral the concen- 
tric circle might be used. But, as the frame of 
the building is meant to be an expression of 
the system adopted for the storage of the books, 
what system, matters not, an unbroken con- 
tinuation of a once begun circle would be 
found to answer the purpose better than any 
other contrivance. A square or a polygonic 
building could also be made to answer the 
main purpose, namely, that of perpetual expan- 
sion, but all corners constitute a drawback to 
the full utilization of the internal space, and 
would cause additional expense in disturbing 
the uniformity of the standard of bookcases 
and shelves. All things considered I think 
the spiral arrangement will be found the most 
advantageous. 

From the foregoing remarks it will be gath- 
ered that before a library of this description 
is started a ground sufficient for all time 
should be secured. I calculate that a square 
plot of ground measuring about four acres 
rather over than under would suffice, practi- 
cally, for all time. To make this clear, I add 
here some calculations for the guidance of those 
who might entertain the idea of carrying out 
this scheme. 

Four acres of ground forming a perfect 
square would measure each way 417 feet. 
Now, supposing we want to know how many 
spiral walls 2 feet in thickness distanced by 24 
feet such a space of ground would accommo- 
date, we should want to know first of what di- 
ameter the reading-room is to be. For the 
convenience of those who want to study my 
plan, I will suppose a library with a reading- 
room of 50, another with one of 60, a third 



MAGNUSSON. 



'35 



with one of 70, a fourth with one of 80, a fifth 
with one of 90, feet diameter. Then, if D= 
diameter of reading : room in feet, and n = 
the number of right angles through which the 
spiral turns from B, the extreme diameter is 



Assuming, therefore, that the extreme diam- 
eter of the spiral must equal the side of the 
ground, we have 

13 (n -f i) + D = 417, 



or 



D 



13 



which general formula can be applied to any 
value of D. Applying it to this scheme we 
obtain the following results : 

1 . If D = 50, then n = 27 J right angles ; 
giving seven complete spirals from B 1 , less 
674. 

2. If D = 60, n = 26^ right angles ; giving 
6i full spirals -J- 45. 

3. If D = 70, n = 25! right angles ; giving 
6i spirals, less 22^. 

4. If D = 80, n = 25 right angles ; giving 
6 full spirals. 

5. If D =90, n = 24^ right angles ; giving 
six full spirals -|- 22^. 



Having now ascertained the number of spirals 
which the ground will accommodate, it is im- 
portant to know the length of the various 
walls. This will be seen at a glance from the 
subjoined table : 

1 i.e., ij of spiral passage + J of thickness of wall. 



-r^O 5t~O <*5 



"3 Jt 



3 - -<KX> 
)O3 ON"-" 



b 



.-. a 






cS K 
u 



E- 



5 



S c a 

w^- JC W 

el . 

- 



V B 



{, 

3 o 5: 

asssss = Ss isl- 



e's -sSxS 



bco 

J , 



In order now to form an approximate esti- 
mate of the capacity of this library for book ac- 
commodation, the subjoined calculation, which 
I have not thought necessary to carry further 
than to the sixth spiral, will furnish an accurate 
guide, when it is borne in mind to deduct from 
each separate total a certain small percentage 
for the waste caused by doors and the thick- 
ness of the shelves. From that table, by the 
aid of which the capacity of any library may be 
calculated, it will be seen that the proposed 
library will eventually hold, on an average, about 
10,000,000 books, which, I presume, though we 
can never be certain what the future has in store, 
will practically suffice for all time. 

1 For these foregoing calculations I am indebted to my 
friend, Mr. W. J. Ibbetson, of Clare College, Cambridge. 



136 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



O co O O 

ON oo NO 


10 O Q 

ON O O 


$ 28 


O ON O O 
vo 10 r- Q 


o 8 


28 vS 28 


2 8 




Cvi CO N 


N 00 10 


? Tj- -I 


CO t** O 


t*** t"* 


vO N - ON ro N 


IO *" 




nT CO 


00 00 


CO Tf 


1 Q" vo" 


\O t^ 


Hi" 1 ON t^ 


O "~i 




HI HI 


00 








1 d ON 


~ 2- 




OH, O 

oo 10 -3- o 

N O Tf 


vO N O 
N ON N 


U il 


10 Ti- o Q 
10 co N Q 
. co O O 


O Q 

S 8 


ON oo TJ- r^ o O 

t-^ IO IO tN HI O 

10 HI ON OO TJ- 







2 8 


*>. ON 


2 ct 


1 * O ^ 


co O 


i r^ N 


8 S 











"^\ii 




^*<4! 


-I N 

HI 




o o o o 

M OO O 

oo" oo' 


vO~ ON 


"i- o o 
oo o o 

CO IO N 


H! 00 O O 

10 O T}- O 
. CO N VO 
1 ON o" 


Q 
^ O 

oo g- 

ON 06" 


t^ ^- 10 10 O O 

^ ON tj- t^ 10 o 
IO O HI OO N 5 
H? 1 vo~ ti 


O Q 

to 5 

CJ 10 

co cT 




oo 




HI HI 




CO ON 


1 M 00 


HI CO 








* 


^\F 




^S>l 


~ 




ON Q Q 
VO OO vO Q 

HI IO VO 

t^ 10 


1 -i O 

O co 5 
N q co 

vO O 
vO 


co O O 
CO 10 ON 
O 10 


r>. co O O 

CNI Tf M 


as 

VO_ ON 

VO" VO 
CO vo 


vO M pj vO O O 
HI co ff) N OO O 
10 O HI OO t^ N 

1 cf R 


O O 
ao 5 
ON OO 

CO ON 
O <O 











' _^<jj 


CO 




HI q 




O r~ O O 
to to oo O 

Hi tN 00 
vo" cf 


O Q Q 
** 

to "-T 


N Q O 
ci vO O 
co vo vO 

ON vb" 


co oo O Q 


O O 

* o 

10 Tf 
CO 10 


& $ 2 8 

Tj- ON HI l^ CO Tf 

1 CO !>. 


1! 

8 I 1 -* 




VO 




ON 




CO CO 
CO 


1 N t^ 


~ 8 




















"w 





TJ 
V 


g I! 


V 

< 
u 


2 1 






o 




U 


*r X : * 


o 




in 













o 




V 




^ 


2 




s. 


J3 








. . a . . 




. Gl . 


a .0 . co 


. . 


..ctf.^.. 


Q 






B 





% II 





u vj; 


1 




13 




a 


v o 
* Ja 




"S ^! 


O 




& 


u 






O 


V 


T3 




a - 




o 


3 u 2 




^ to ^ 


8 




Internal diameter of reading-room, in feet .... 
Length of reading-room wall, internal measurement, in feet 
Square measurement, in feet, of internal surface of reading-roo 
high 
Extent of reading-room library, allowing 10 vols. to a square foe 


Length of reading-room wall, external measurement, in feet . 
Height of the same for book storage 30 feet, square measure in 
Book accommodation on this surface, at 10 vols. per square foot 


PIRAL. Length of entire turn (central line; wall 2 feet thick) 
Square measurement of internal surface (30 feet high ; no bo 
this side) 
Number of books accommodated at 10 vols. per square foot . 


Number of bookcases attached to external side of this wall, 
case \% feet thick 
Leaving wall-space for book -storage after deducting i% feet for 
Square measure of external surface of this wall (30 feet high) 
Square surface measure of bookcases, 10 feet deep and 30 feet 
600 square feet (both sides) 


A gg re g ate surface measure of external side of wall -\- that 
attached to it . . . . . . . . . 
Number of books accommodated, at 10 vols. per square foot . 


SPIRAL. I. Length of entire turn 
2. Length of both sides of wall 
3. Number of bookcases attached to both sides, six feet apart 
thick) 
4. Leaving wall space for book accommodation, after deductir 

5. Square measure of surface of both sides of wall (30 feet hig 
6. Square measure of bookcases (as before) .... 


7. Aggregate square surface-measure of H d spiral wall -}- attacl 
8. Number of books accommodated, at 10 vols. per square foot 








<x> 
















M 






a 







MAGNtJSSON. 



137 




2 8 




rrt O 
O\ vO f<) 
N r^ oo 



VO vo N o 
N CO N vS 
u-> ro O vo 





&. 



itt 



OO vO "> O 

*> ro OO i- 

O - M r^ 







rj- OO 
t~- rj- 
OO t-. 



80 o o 
o N N 






<J- OO N "I 



O O 

w O 





8 8 s 








(1 

a 


I-H 
( 1 

. . .a 


H ' 

% 






rt 











-\ ^^ /^N y-\ / N * ^-~v ^^ ^^ x^s r-\ /^s 


^ / ^ / ^'T 


^ '^~ N ^^^ '^^ ^ 



. 


" " "-._? 


>>>. ~ 


^ 





- 


* T 


1-4""" 





- 





H 


H I-H HH I-H I-H HH I-H 


I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H I-H 


>H I-H I-H I-H 


B 


1 1 HH 1 ' 












( 


ij rt rt cj rt rt rt 


;rtcsrtrtcj rtrt 


rt rt rt 


d 


rt rt rt 


: rt 


oj cj rt 


ci 


ri 


rt 


^ ' 


<;;; ; 


^tnuStnuim <n 


^ tn 5 


M 


www 


34 




S 


in 


g 


E 




B 


M 

















MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



c-4 N 



f5 ON 
M IO 
M w> 



M H IH M M 



"1 "I: Q. "^ 

M" wT cT rT cf 



vO ON N ir> 1-1 ro 



t^ Tj- 

N VO 



>i N CM 



3 

& 

a 



n bo r^ 

^ .S 2 

r ~~ -T-! 'Z 1 



hn *" H " ' vt. v>"cS i 

l-s sjte-fff 

^'5^J2-3^S^3 

(So^osS^f-^ 

-" c5 rO'i' l o v O t^.3Q C?\ 



I 



It is evident that a library built on this plan 
must be the most economic of all conceivable 
libraries. Internal order is secured from the 
beginning; the enormous waste of time and 
treasure now involved in perpetual alterations 
and changes will all be saved. And when an 
addition is wanted only a certain prolongation 
of one wall roofed to its parallel and fitted with 
its bookcases is needed. Calculating the length 
of the whole wall at, say, 7,000 feet, and allowing 
the library a period of 1,000 years to cover 
its space, it would have to pay, a year, the 
building cost of 7 feet of wall. One very great 
item of saving, as compared with existing 
libraries, is effected in both sides of each wall, 
except the bounding wall, being utilized for 
book storage, with no waste caused by window- 
space. Of course the expense of the ground 
will always be heavy to begin with, but, spread 
over the long lease of existence thereby secured 
to the library, it will always really form but an 
evanescent item in its expenditure. I cannot 
but think that any library built on this plan must, 
under sensible management, inaugurate a new 
era of order, system, and sound economy in 
the constitution of libraries throughout the 
world. 

I subjoin Mr. Waterhouse's specifications, 
observing only that at the time they were made 
I had not decided on the close position to each 
other, of the bookcases, which I now think is 
essential. At that time they were merely in- 
dicated as shown in the original design en- 
closed. 

Want of leisure has unfortunately prevented 
my treating the subject as exhaustively as it 
deserves. 

APPENDIX. 

LONDON, 14 January, 1886. 
DEAR SIR : The accompanying drawings 
have been made with a view of working out 
your scheme for a spiral library, though Draw- 
ing No. 2 is a modification of your plan, and 
consists of a number of concentric circles or 
parts of circles round the central dome. Prac- 
tically, it seems very much to answer the same 
purposes as the spiral plan, and to be some- 
what less expensive. 



MAGN&SSON. 



139 




Fis.2 




FIG. i. GROUND FLOOR. 

A, Porch. B, Vestibule. C, Lobby. D, Corridors. 
E, Water-closets. F, Ladies' cloak and retiring rooms. 
I, Gentlemen's retiring-rooms. J, Room for special re- 
search. L, Librarian's room. M, Spare room. N, Por- 
ter, and hats and coats. In the centre is an air-shaft. 



Fid.3. 



FIG. 2. CIRCULAR SCHEME. 

Showing how extension is provided for. The central 
dome sixty feet in diameter. A, Porch. B, Vestibule. 
C, Lobby. D, Corridors. E, Water-closets and lavatory. 
F, Porter, and hats and coats. G, Areas. H, Cloak and 
retiring rooms for ladies. I, Smoke and ventilation. 
L, Retiring-rooms for gentlemen. M, Rooms for special 
research. N, Librarian's room. 





FIG. 3. BOOK-ZONE. 

Twenty-four feet wide and thirty feet high, with a 
double gallery. V, Shaft for ventilation. 



FIG. 4. SECTION ON LINE KK. 
A, Warm air. 



140 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



In the spiral plan, illustrated by Drawings |, 
3, 4, 5, I have shown a dome 70 feet in di- 
ameter (whereas in the concentric plan there 
is a dome 60 feet in diameter). It will be seen 
that the commencement of the spiral is de- 
voted to three large areas for the supply of 
fresh air to the building, and then to retiring- 
rooms for ladies and gentlemen, which it is 
essential should be as near the reading-room 
as possible. If it were determined to have 
the heating apparatus below the building, the 
chimney or chimneys of the apparatus might 
pass up in the corners of these retiring-rooms, 
and so secure, by means of an outer casing 
around the smoke-flue, their perfect ventilation. 
Beyond the retiring-rooms, as the spiral widens, 
we get two rooms which might either be used 
as parts of the library proper, or as rooms for 
special research. On the plan I have shown 
them devoted to the latter purpose, and have 
not calculated that they hold any books. Again, 
beyond these rooms, between them and the 
main entrance, comes a room for the librarian, 
a spare room for his use or for the porter, 
whose room adjoins, where he can command 
the entrance and exit of every visitor. 

On the left-hand side of the entrance, oppo- 
site the porter's room, the library proper be- 
gins where the spiral commences its uniform 
width of 20 feet between the walls. 

Where each of the eight radial corridors starts 
from the central dome is situated a staircase 
leading to the gallery-floor, so that there should 
be no waste of time or energy in reaching any 
particular point in the gallery system. 

The basement plan [omitted] shows the sub- 
structure which would be desirable, in my 
opinion, to keep the library thoroughly dry 
and well aired, and to supply its ever increasing 
coil with the necessary amount of fresh air, 
which must be brought from the internal areas 
into the substructure, and there warmed and 
distributed. 1 In the very centre of the dome I 
should propose a large fresh-air inlet, sur- 
rounded by a table, as at the Radcliffe in Ox- 
ford, only in this case it could be much more 
efficiently done. 

With regard to the accommodation, it will 
be observed that Plan No. 2 has a dome 60 feet 



1 The heating apparatus is put under the section out- 
side of F (in Fig. i), and the coal-cellar under the sec- 
tion outside of I. 



in diameter, which would contain 25,739 v l~ 
umes, in bookcases of two heights, against the 
walls, whereas the library proper, in the one 
ring shown upon the plan, and the portion of 
the ring on the side opposite the entrance, in- 
cluding the radial passages on the first floor, 
would contain 252,223 volumes, giving a total 
of 277,962 volumes, exclusive of any books in 
the rooms for special research. I suppose this 
building could be erected for 25,500, not in- 
cluding fittings. 

The spiral No. i, in its 7<>feet dome, would 
contain 31,199 volumes against the walls. The 
spiral library (and the radial passages on the 
first floor) surrounding it would contain 198,727 
volumes, giving a total of 229,926 volumes ; 
the whole costing about 28,300. 

It may be worthy of remark that if we were 
to occupy the two rooms for special research, 
with books round the four sides and a gallery, 
we should add accommodation for 33,280 
volumes, making a total of 263,206; while, if 
the spiral were continued two twists more, it 
would give room for 538,824 additional vol- 
umes, at an extra cost of about 28,000. 

This would give a library containing upwards 
of 800,000 volumes at a cost of about 56,000, 
on a plot of land measuring about 250 feet in 
one direction, and about 260 feet in another; 
that is, an acre and a half. 

In conclusion, I have thought your scheme 
over very carefully, and I believe it to be 
thoroughly practical as well as very ingenious ; 
and, for the accommodation it offers, very in- 
expensive. 

Believe me, 

Yours faithfully, 

ALFRED WATERHOUSE. 

LONDON, i5th Feb., 1886. 

MY DEAR SIR: With reference to your 
letter of the nth instant, I send you two 
diagrams, one showing a section through the 
book-spiral or zone of the present width (20 
feet) raised the height of an additional gallery 
to 30 feet; and the other shown as widened 
4 feet, of the same height. You will see 
that the latter gives us a much better propor- 
tion. 1 

If the zones or spirals were raised the extra 

> This is the only one here given. 



MAGNUSSON. 



141 



height, and the additional gallery interposed, 
the cost of the spirals would be 25% less, in pro- 
portion to the number of books they contain, 
than in the first sketch, though it might involve 
the raising of the central dome to a certain ex- 



tent. The walls would be sufficiently stable if 
raised to 30 feet. 

Believe me, 

Yours very truly, 

ALFRED WATERHOUSE. 




Plnty 



1 This design does not pretend to be more than a general indication of the general principle on which in future I 
maintain all large and rapidly increasing libraries must be built, the principle of easy self-expansion. Thus the 
arrangement of the bookcases in the design does only vaguely represent what is calculated in the paper. 

It will be observed that in the elevation of the design there is a radial cutting of the roof represented. By 
inadvertence I omitted in the paper to explain that Igmeant the roof to be cut through down to the wall at any 
convenient radial points, in order to allow accumulating snow to be easily carted over the wall. 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



THE PROCEEDINGS. 



GERMANIA HALL, PUBLIC LIBRARY BLOCK, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, JULY 7~IO. 



FIRST SESSION. 

(JULY 7, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.) 

WILLIAM F. POOLE, LL.D., President, called 
the meeting to order at 2.50 P.M., and intro- 
duced Hon. EMIL WALLBER, Mayor of Mil- 
waukee, who, in a few words, bade the libra- 
rians a cordial welcome to Milwaukee, assuring 
them of the hospitality and good-will of its citi- 
zens. The meeting, he said, could not com- 
pare in numbers with the coming musical festi- 
val, but its mission was fully as important. 

Gen. H. C. HOBART, President of the Board 
of Trustees of the Public Library, being intro- 
duced in behalf of the Board, extended a wel- 
come. He said that Milwaukeeans considered 
their city one of the most beautiful in the coun- 
try. The nature of the population is very com- 
plex, but is rapidly becoming American in its 
character. Yielding the palm of commercial 
enterprise to Chicago, Milwaukee is princi- 
pally a manufacturing town. Objecting to the 
name "Cream City," which it derives from 
its cream-colored brick, he suggested that 
" Crescent City," would be a more appro- 
priate name for this Constantinople of the 
West. "The charter of the Milwaukee 
Public Library," he said, " is one of the best 
in the country, as it removes the control of 
the institution beyond any political party. 
[Applause.] The common council cannot 
meddle with it. If there were no other libra- 
rians here I would say, too, that Mr. Linder- 
felt here is the best librarian in the country; 
and, if Mr. Linderfelt was not here, I would 
say that his assistant is superior to himself." 

President POOLE, responding to the addresses 
of welcome, said : 

In behalf of the members of the Association 
I beg to thank Your Honor the Mayor, and 
General Hobart, for your very cordial addresses 
of welcome. On your invitation we come to 
this city to hold our annual conference in be- 
half of the library interests of the country. 
We have among our number representatives of 
this important interest from every Northern 



State from Maine to Kansas, and also from 
the District of Columbia; but it is a strange 
fact, and one to be regretted, that no delegate 
appears from a State south of Mason and 
Dixon's line. Although, with most of us, this 
is our first visit to Milwaukee, we feel already 
assured that we are among friends who fully 
sympathize with us in the objects of our meet- 
ing. You will not find it necessary, Mr. Mayor, 
to increase your police force on account of our 
presence in your city. We are peaceable and 
inoffensive folk. We are neither communists 
nor anarchists ; although we are all knights of 
labor in the sense that we find it healthful to 
labor nights. Most of us regard sixteen hours 
as an honest day's work; but we never boycott 
a man, or quarrel with him, if he wants to work 
eighteen hours. In the matter of hospitalities, 
which you so kindly tender us, you will find 
the librarians very receptive. Their capacities 
are large in that direction. In behalf of a 
goodly number of our Eastern members, who 
come from prohibition States, and have never 
fallen under temptations they are likely to meet 
with in Milwaukee, I beg that you will dispense 
this class of hospitalities to them with caution. 
With the Western delegates such a caution is 
not necessary. We are glad to hear the com- 
pliments you bestow upon your accomplished 
librarian, Mr. Linderfelt, whose worth we 
fully appreciate. There is a risk, however, on 
your part, in making this fact too widely 
known, as the services of such men are needed 
in other parts of the country on a larger salary 
than you are paying him. We shall keep in 
memory your words of welcome as a pleasant 
reminiscence of our Milwaukee meeting. 

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
President POOLE then delivered the opening 

address. 

(Seep, i.) 

At the mention of Mr. Lloyd P. Smith's 
death, Dr. Poole, overcome with emotion, 
handed his ms. to Mr. Whitney, who read to 
the end. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. WINSOR. I move that so much of the 
President's address as relates to the late Lloyd 
P. Smith be referred to a committee, appointed 
by the chair, to draw up such resolutions as are 
therein recommended. 

The motion was carried, and the President 
announced the committee later as Messrs. 
Winsor, Dewey, and Nolan. 

SECRETARY'S REPORT. 

Mr. DEWEY, Secretary, reported : 

As I profesied at our last meeting, the past 
year has been markt by a great increase in 
library interest; new libraries, new buildings, 
new endowments, and chiefly new and wider 
recognition of the importance of the library as 
the essential complement of the school and the 
church in promoting the welfare of the state. 
I hav received more letters and personal in- 
quiries than in any previous year, and on all 
sides ar the signs of the times. Our second 
decade has started most auspiciously. I wil 
note a few items of special interest among the 
many. 

Cooperativ Cataloging. In my last report 
I again urged that this matter was pressing for 
immediate attention. The Cooperation Com- 
mittee had a meeting at Columbia a few weeks 
ago. All the members were present, some 
coming as far as from Amherst, Mass., and 
Washington, D.C., for this expres purpose. 
An informal invitation to others to meet with 
the Committee on the first day gave an attend- 
ance of 20, all of whom recognized that the 
time had com for action. The second day's 
session resulted in a plan to be presented later 
at this meeting. At last, after ten years of 
preliminary talking, we ar on the eve of the 
greatest work the A.L.A. has yet undertaken. 
I bespeak for every member earnest cooperation 
in making the new Publishing Section the suc- 
ces it deserves to be, and that our selfish as 
wel as unselfish interests demand that we 
make it. 

New York Library Club. Another grati- 
fying record comes from the first effort in this 
country to hav a local organization. We ex- 
pected to get 12 or 15 to attend these meetings, 
but hav had 40 to 60, and the interest has been 
so great as to demand extra sessions. This 
practical succes ought to lead similar clubs to 
meet three or four times a year in other centers. 

New York Public Library. Closely con- 



nected with this has been the agitation for a 
suitable free library system in the metropolis. 
Much popular interest has been roused. The 
press has given a great deal of space to the dis- 
cussion. Two public meetings hav been held, 
and several welthy gentlemen hav becom deeply 
interested. At last a wise bill authorizing aid 
from the public funds to som of the privately- 
supported libraries that ar doing such excellent 
work has been past. 

National Sunday-School Library Associa- 
tion. Another significant step has been this 
recent organization, with hedquarters in New 
York. Mr. S: S. Green came down from 
Worcester and gave the opening addres in 
Dr. Howard Crosby's church. From force of 
habit I had a share in the meeting. This is 
now fairly started, officers and committees ar 
elected, and meetings for activ work hav been 
held. It is in its infancy, but profiting by our 
experience of ten years, it can go forward more 
rapidly than could the A.L.A. Sunday School 
Libraries ar so numerous that the field is sim- 
ply enormous; few hav as yet any adequate 
conception of their powers and duties. This 
new Association should be the means of a new 
awakening. In a recent addres before the 
Brooklyn Sunday School Union, the oldest 
and largest in the country, I exprest the 
belief that the Sunday School, or perhaps I 
should say Church, Library of the future was 
to take its place as a main agency for church 
work. Examination shows that there is no 
protection against bad habits and vicious com- 
panions like a taste for reading. It is cer- 
tainly, then, fitting work for the church to 
carefully develop that taste as part of its moral 
culture. The influence of reading, good or 
bad, on the lives of the readers is being more 
and more understood and recognized as a vital 
concern of those who would help their fellows 
to better lives. The church ought to, and by 
and by wil, act on this knowledge. The library 
wil be open, not for an hour each Sunday, but 
daily. There wil be a church reading room, 
with a carefully selected list of the best reli- 
gious magazines and papers, and perhaps with 
the best of those not classified as religious, but 
stil of high moral tone. The church librarian 
wil be the pastor's most valued and powerful 
aid, and appointed not because he is " goody 
goody" but cannot teach a class, but chosen as 
the ablest and most ernest worker in the parish. 



144 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE, 



I should like to talk for an hour on this theme, 
but must content myself with the profesy. It 
is no day-dream, but there is a glorious field 
here alredy white for the harvest. Since com- 
ing to this beautiful city, I hav lerned that the 
new Congregational church which my old 
friend, Rev. A. J. Titsworth, is about building, 
wil be a " modern church," and that in this 
matter of the library it wil set an example. 
Its Church Library wil hav as its motto, 
"And the gates thereof shall in no wise 'be 
shut by day." 

Library Notes. Som of you hav alredy 
received the first hurridly prepared number of 
what I hope wil be one of the most powerful 
agencies in modern library work, the new 
quarterly LIBRARY NOTES. We of the A.L.A. 
ar very proud of what we hav done in ten 
years, and with good reason. But we must face 
the facts. Of the 5,000 public libraries in the 
U.S., how many ar under our influence? How 
many hav practical knowledge of the existence 
of the A.L.A. or its official organ, the LIBRARY 
JOURNAL? It is rather startling to realize that 
we hav never succeeded in reaching directly 
over one-tenth of our home field. For several 
years this has been to me the most serious 
question before us. Except indirectly, as our 
work affects the general public, we can do 
nothing for the remaining nine-tenths til we 
can get them under our influence. We cannot 
afford to send out a traveling agent. The most 
skilful, loyal, and unselfish of publishers hav 
exhausted their skil in inducing these libraries 
to take our JOURNAL at $5.00 a year. They 
hav tried reducing the price to $3.00, and found 
it impossible to pay the bills for what we de- 
mand in the JOURNAL at less than $5.00 per 
year; while even $3,00 proved a prohibitiv 
price to these little institutions that so much 
need its help. Without going further into de- 
tails, I may ad that som of us hav studied this 
question closely for som years, and find but 
one solution. That we hav undertaken. 
These 4,000 and more libraries must be reacht 
at least once each quarter by printed matter, 
chosen wisely, as most helpful to them. With 
such an entering wedge, we may be able to de- 
velop members of the A.L.A., and subscribers 
to the JOURNAL. If we fail in reaching them 
at $1.00 a year, we wil do it at 50 cts. ; if that 
is too much, we wil make it 25 cts. ; but we 
ar bound to reach and influence every library 



official who is enuf interested to read on the 
subject. I am thoroly convinced that this is at 
present the most important thing to be done, 
and we want the help of every member. The 
NOTES should go not only to the librarian, 
but to trustees and committees, and to ladies 
and gentlemen specially interested in the 
library. We want it to build up our publishing 
section, to open a wider field for the A.L.A. 
Catalog, and for our printed cards. In fact, 
almost everything we undertake is handicap!, 
because we hav no practical means of educat- 
ing the very people who most need such help 
up to the point of sharing in the enterprise. 

No one who has red the first number wil 
make the blunder of thinking the NOTES a 
cheaper substitute for the JOURNAL. It is 
rather a necessity of the present time to carry 
forward our work, and wil deserve the harty 
support, sympathy, and cooperation of every 
believer in the modern library idea. 

Libraries and Politics. I wish to repeat my 
suggestion of last year, that the A.L.A. should 
make a distinct campaign to divorce library 
management wholly from politics. A little 
wel-directed effort wil, in many cases, shape 
the new or modify the existing laws, so that 
we shal not be disgraced by appointments de- 
pendent on skil as a saloon-keeper, or on 
questionable political zeal, or mere favoritism. 
After the question arises over any individual 
it is too late for it to be wise for the A.L.A. to 
exert its influence. We ought to gard against 
such possibilities. 

Annual Meetings. Last year we voted to 
hold regular annual meetings insted of as 
heretofore, when we hav had seven meetings 
in ten years. It has been again suggested that 
the meetings be biennial. To this I am op- 
posed, tho no one could be more glad than the 
secretary to escape the onerous ante and post 
conference duties of an annual meeting. We 
voted last year to alternate between a city and 
a summer resort. We hav also to consider the 
claims of various parts of the country. Once 
in three or five years we may make a special 
effort for a great meeting, but regular meet- 
ings enable those in the vicinity who cannot 
go longer distances to attend. They wake a 
local interest in libraries. They provide for 
many a vacation much needed, but not taken 
without the occasion which our meeting affords. 
And I wish again to emfasize the fact that a 



PROCEEDINGS. 



conference means vastly more than the printed 
proceedings show. I hav been gratified in 
noting in the cars and hotels and excursions 
how often the conversation is on som library 
topic of practical value, but which would never 
take place without just such opportunities. If 
there were only 20 who cared to attend, we 
ought stil to hav the annual meeting. If we 
held no formal session, but simply stayed at 
the same hotel for a week, it would pay. And 
we must not lose sight of the influence on the 
public. Hundreds of papers print more or les 
about our meetings. Every item helps to edu- 
cate the public to a wider recognition and 
higher respect for our calling. We hav abun- 
dant evidence of this in the recognition alredy 
won. A few years ago the bare suggestion of 
a special train of four cars of librarians on a 
thousand miles' excursion thru the North-west 
would hav been thot a huge joke. What 
was more unlikely? But next week it wil be 
our privilege to share in just this improbable 
dream. I suppose we shal in som places ad to 
our previous amusing experiences. At Lake 
George the natives called us first Siberians, 
and then settled down on Liberians. But yet 
it all counts in our favor. 

At Niagara, the other day, I arranged with 
Mr. Gluck, the proprietor of both the Interna- 
tional Hotel and the Spencer House, for per- 
manent special rates to the A.L.A. members, 
so that in our annual going and coming we 
may make either house a stopping-place, at the 
lowest special rate, by showing our member- 
ship card for the year. At the International 
the rate is reduced from $4.00 to $3.00 per day, 
or $17.50 per week. At the Spencer House, 
open all the year, to $2.50 and $15. oo. We ar 
also invited to hold our meetings at Niagara, 
where the new Opera House, connected with 
the International, offers excellent rooms. A 
welcom waits us again at the beautiful Saga- 
more, which so delighted us all last September. 
Others suggest the Isle of Shoals, Mt. Desert, 
the Thousand Islands, White Mountains, and 
various sea-shore resorts. 

Railroads. We hav at last won our proper 
place with the railroads. Cornelius Vander- 
bilt, of the New York Central system, this 
year has personally interested himself in the 
A.L.A., and askt that we " be put on an equal- 
ity with the most favored nations." Henry 
Monett, the courteous and popular G.P.A. of 



the West Shore R.R., personally attended to 
this request, and showed unusual courtesies in 
many ways. Besides giving us very large 
reductions in fare, a private sleeping-car was 
supplied from New York to Niagara, where, at 
Mr. Monett's request, the agent of the Grand 
Trunk met us, and provided two private coaches 
thru to Chicago. Mr. Monett assures me that, 
now that they understand the claims of the 
A.L.A., we can depend on their roads giving 
us the best terms each year for our east and 
west travel. When recently I saw Mr. Van- 
derbilt's admirable plans for a library and read- 
ing-room for his railroad employees, only a 
stone's throw from my own library, and remem- 
bered the many other evidences of which I had 
herd, that proved that here, at least, was 
one railroad millionaire with a very large soul, 
I thot that now a ruler had arisen that did know 
Joseph, and that the librarians might hav a fair 
chance. I am sure that the other members wil 
share my feelings in giving the preference in 
our personal patronage to the roads that hav 
treated us so handsomely, specially as they 
ar, happily, the roads that hav the greatest 
attractions in themselves. 

As was stated on our circular, the Baltimore 
& Ohio R.R. also offered us the same liberal 
rates, and the option was given members of' 
going that way; but, being less direct, and 
lacking the attractions of Niagara, the entire 
party chose the West Shore. The Fitchburg 
road, the Hoosac Tunnel line from Boston to 
Albany, shares the credit given the West 
Shore for rates and courtesies. And what can 
we say of the splendid hospitality of the Wis- 
consin roads, which hav tendered us, entirely 
free, over a thousand miles of most delightful 
travel? I am sure that we shal not be so un- 
grateful as to neglect any fair opportunity of 
showing our appreciation of this unusual liber- 
ality, and of proving that we ar not unmindful 
of what we hav received. 

Proceedings. We propose at once to save 
the large expense of stenografers, and to secure 
such a report as only an experienced librarian 
can make. The assistant secretary, Mr. Rich- 
ardson, undertakes this record, and to him 
papers should be promptly handed; and all 
remarks too long to be taken down on delivery 
should be written out while fresh in mind. He 
wil notify each of you of what he needs. The 
credit of the much that wil be good in our 



146 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



printed proceedings this year wil be his; the 
fault for any omissions wil be yours. The 
burden is not a light one. Let us each do his 
part. 

TREASURER'S REPORT. 
Mr. JAS. L.WHITNEY, Treasurer, reported : 

JAMES L. WHITNEY, Treasurer, in account 
with the AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIA- 
TION : 



1885. 
Sept. 2. 

1885-86. 



DR. 

To balance on hand, at last 

report $679 22 

Membership fees . . . 353 50 
Extra Proceedings of 1885 

Convention sold ... 9 67 

Interest to June i, 1886 . 18 40 

R.R. Bowker, unexpended 

balance from Lake 

George Excursion . . 80 



$1,061 59 

1885-86. CR. 

By Postage on Proceed- 
ings and correspondence, $2875 

Expressage i oo 

Telegraph 2 57 

Envelopes i 05 

Sept. n. Expenses of stenographer 
at Lake George Con- 
vention 57 55 

" Excursion on Lake George, 
by direction of the Com- 
mittee of Arrangements, 3000 
Nov. 7. Heliotype Printing Co., 

bill ii 85 

Oct. i. Burr Printing House, 

printing circulars . . 27 75 

Dec. 22. Publishers' Weekly, bill 
for paper for Proceed- 
ings, etc., 1885 . . . *44 52 
Dec. 12. Rockwell and Churchill, 
bill printing list of 
members 3 oo 



Carried forward, 



$100 oo 



Brought forward, $100 oo 

Dec. 12. Rockwell and Churchill, 
bill printing Proceed- 
ings of Convention at 
Lake George .... 431 47 
Balance 422 08 



$1,061 59 



July i, 1886. DR. 

To balance on hand to 
new account 



422 08 



* Should read $40.52. The difference will be credited 
jn next year's account. J. L. W, 



This sum is on deposit in the Middlesex 
Institution for Savings, Concord, Massachu- 
setts. 

JAMES L. WHITNEY, 

Treasurer. 
CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS, July i, 1886. 

[The auditing committee subsequently re- 
ported on this account as follows: 

We have examined the statement of the 
Treasurer, and compared the same with his 
accounts and vouchers, and find it to be correct. 

J. N. LARNED, 
Of the Finance Committee. 
SAMUEL S. GREEN, 
WILLIAM E. FOSTER, 
Special Committee appointed by Chair. 
JULY 7, 1886.] 

Mr. GREEN. I move that the report be re- 
ferred to the Finance Committee, for auditing. 

Carried. 

Mr. GREEN. I understand that it is impos- 
sible for the Executive Committee to get to- 
gether to act on questions. This committee 
is now more scattered than ever, and this is my 
excuse for moving that the following be re- 
ferred to the Finance Committee, instead of 
the Executive Committee. I move that this 
committee consider the question of what shall 
be done with money paid into the treasury for 
life-memberships, and also that it consider 
whether it is possible for them, from such 
sums as may be in the Treasury, to lay aside 
certain sums to represent life-memberships 
already paid. 

Mr. LARNED. It would not be any easier 
for the committee, as now constituted, to meet 
than for the Executive Committee. I suppose 
the coining committee is meant. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



147 



Mr. CRUNDEN seconded Mr. Green's motion. 

Mr. GREEN. I move that a committee of 
three be appointed by the Chair to consider the 
question. The motion was accepted by Mr. 
Crunden, and carried. 

The Chair appointed Messrs,. Green, Merrill, 
and Crunden. The name of Mr. Whitney was 
substituted for that of Mr. Merrill at the request 
of the latter. 

Mr. LARNED requested that the report of 
the Finance Committee be postponed until 
later in the meeting, since, on account of the 
unexpected absence of chairman Soule, the 
committee was not ready to report. 

Mr. GREEN moved that a committee of two 
be appointed by the Chair to assist Mr. Larned 
on the Finance Committee, since Mr. Larned 
was the only member of the committee present. 

Carried. 

The CHAIR appointed Messrs. Green and 
Foster to assist Mr. Larned. 

Mr. DEWEY moved that, on account of the 
general fatigue of members from travelling, 
the evening (Wednesday) session be post- 
poned until the next (Thursday) evening. 
The motion was seconded by Mr. Van Name, 
and carried. 

Mr. FLETCHER asked to have the report of 
the Cooperation Committee postponed in order 
to give time to have a meeting of the commit- 
tee. Granted. 

A. L. A. CATALOG. 

Mr. DEWEY. I am sorry not to report 
greater progress, but glad that something has 
been done. I hoped that the past year 
might afford me a little time to devote to this 
work, but those of you who hav re-organ- 
ized a large library, made up the arrears 
of a century in catalogs, etc., wil under- 
stand how impossible I hav found it to make 
the time. Mrs. Dewey has come to our relief 
by working mornings a part of the year in get- 
ting material redy. She has transferred it to 
the standard postal size cards and made som 
real progress in the work. We hav excused 
ourselves somewhat because the resignation of 
Commissioner Eaton, without the appointment 
of his successor, left it an open question 
whether our plan of publication could be 
carried thru. Then the action of the Coopera- 
tion Committee gave great hope that at this 
meeting a Publishing Section would be organ- 



ized that would help on this work very materi- 
ally. Another year's study confirms the wisdom 
of the plans alredy made and submitted, and 
the only change adopted is simply going farther 
on the line of doing a part without waiting for 
the whole. We decided to prepare and print 
as fast as practicable certain divisions and sec- 
tions, thus getting the good of them without 
waiting for a complete catalog. This year's 
advance work has been on Geografy, Descrip- 
tion, and Travels. 

We now purpose to print individual notes 
on cards of the standard size, which can be 
heded or numbered in ms., according to the 
scheme used in any given library, and then 
dropt into place in the card catalog, thus get- 
ting directly so much of good without waiting 
for more. My plan for the ms. of these bib- 
liografical cards is to hav the cooperating 
libraries supplied with a blue tinted card with 
a printed line (after the space left for subject 
numbers or headings, or both) reading "The 
best popular work on this subject is," leaving 
space for one or two brief titles. Then "The 
best exhaustiv treatise is . ..." On these 
cards, as fast as we can get the titles and notes 
from specialists in various subjects, wil be 
copied the most useful guidance carefully 
worded. These written cards we propose to 
hav put in the regular catalogs for criticism 
and additions, and later to select the best for 
printing and distribution. The notes selected 
for individual books would be printed, with 
the title of the books, on regular white cards ; 
but the blue cards ar equally adapted to 
the most general and most specific topics. 
Such guidance may be wanted for the main 
class Sociology, or for the division Political 
Economy, or for the section Capital and 
Labor, or for the sub-section Laboring Classes, 
or for the topic Strikes. The principle applies 
equally wel at any point and in any system. 
The best note obtainable wil be printed clearly, 
and as such topics belong somewhere in every 
form of dictionary or clast catalog, the library 
can write the words or numbers that locate it, 
and drop it in place. 

Such notes on cards hav the double advan- 
tage of being prepared promptly during special 
interest in any topic, and of being subject al- 
ways to easy correction and addition. Each 
prominent library has certain subjects in 
which it is strong, or certain specialists whose 



148 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



opinions would be highly valued by the rest 
of us. Our university libraries specially hav 
great advantages in their professors. By a 
cooperativ effort we shal each of us get, in 
print, redy to be dropt into our catalogs in five 
minutes after taking from the mail, notes more 
carefully made, by better authorities, printed 
in clear type insted of written, more carefully 
worded and revised, and all at much less cost 
than we could make alone for ourselves. I an- 
ticipate a great field of usefulness for these 
blue bibliografical cards, the printing of which 
I hope may go into operation before the end of 
the year. Cooperation is earnestly askt for 
this simple but most practical plan, and libra- 
ries and individuals willing to assist in prepar- 
ing and revising such notes ar urged to send to 
me for sample cards. 

Mr. GREEN. Are there two things pro- 
posed? Are you working on the old mate- 
rial? 

Mr. DEWEY. We are working on old mate- 
rial and on the old plans. The only changes 
are in minor matters, such as the distribution 
in card-catalog form of which I spoke. 

Mr. GREEN. This, then, covers only a small 
part of the proposed work. 

Mr. LINDERFELT, in behalf of the Committee 
on the Milwaukee Meeting, announced that, on 
the afternoon of the following day (Thursday), 
the members of the Association would be driven 
about the city, visiting places of interest, such 
as the Soldiers' Home, the Empire Brewery, 
and the Whitefish Bay Drive, and that on Fri- 
day evening a reception and summer-night 
festival would be held at Schlitz Park, both of 
these courtesies being extended by the citizens 
of Milwaukee. He sketched also the proposed 
post-Conference excursion to be given by the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, the Chicago, 
St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha, the Wis- 
consin Central, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore 
& Western Railways, and promised printed 
details later. 

The detailed plan was as follows : 

ITINERARY OF THE PROPOSED POST-CONFER- 
ENCE EXCURSION. 

Monday , July 12. 7 : 45 A.M., leave Milwau- 
kee. Those who have spent Sunday at the 
summer resorts will leave there as follows : 
Waukesha,7 : 20 ; Lakeside, 8 : 37 ; Oconomowoc, 
9:07; ii : 05 A.M., arrive Madison; dinner and 



supper at Park Hotel ; 6 : 55 P.M., leave Madi- 
son ; 9 : 30 P.M., arrive Kilbourn City. 

Tuesday, July 13. 9:00 A.M., the "Dell 
O^ueen " starts for trip through Upper Dells. 
Dinner at Witches' Gulch, trout fresh from the 
brook. Those who wish can take boats after 
dinner to Stand Rock and other places of inter- 
est across the river. By all means the pleas- 
antest way of returning to Kilbourn City is by 
row-boat from the head of the Dells. The 
cost of a boat, capable of holding five persons, 
with guide to row, is $3.00, but small parties 
of three or four persons, under the guidance of 
a gentleman who is skilled in rowing or knows 
how to float with the current, may hire a boat 
from the captain of the steamer for 50 cents. 
Those who are afraid to trust themselves to a 
small boat may choose, at 4:00 P.M., return 
trip by steamer; 8:00 P.M., steamboat excur- 
sion through the Lower Dells. Two nights, 
two breakfasts and supper at the Finch House. 

Wednesday, July 14. 8 :oo A.M., leave Kil- 
bourn City; 11:30 A.M., arrive La Crosse; 
dinner at the Cameron House; i : oo P.M., 
leave La Crosse; 5 : 30 P.M., arrive St. Paul. 

Thursday, July 15. 12:00 M., leave St. 
Paul for Minneapolis by way of Fort Snelling 
and Minnehaha Falls; stop will be made at the 
latter place for lunch; 2 :3O P.M., arrive Min- 
neapolis; supper at the West Hotel ; 8:00 P.M., 
leave Minneapolis for St. Paul by " Short 
Line ; " 8 : 50 P.M., arrive St. Paul ; 9 : 45 P.M., 
leave St. Paul by Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- 
apolis, and Omaha Railway; one night, supper 
and breakfast at the Windsor Hotel. 

Friday, July 16 6 : 15 A.M., arrive Ashland ; 
io:ooA.M., steamer "James Barker " leaves 
for Apostle Islands, and returns in the evening; 
dinner at the Island View, Bayfield ; 6 : 50 P.M., 
return to Ashland. 

Saturday, July 17. 10 : oo A.M., Excursion 
to Gogebic iron mines by Milwaukee, Lake 
Shore & Western Railway; dinner at Besse- 
mer; 4:00 P.M., return to Ashland; three 
nights, four breakfasts, one dinner, and three 
suppers at Chequamegon Hotel. 

Monday, July 19. 10:30 A.M., return to 
Milwaukee by Wisconsin Central Railway; 
dinner at Fifield, supper at Stevens Point. 

Tuesday, July 20. 2 : 30 A.M., arrive Mil- 
waukee ; 7 : oo A.M., arrive Chicago. 

The Secretary read the letters of the Librarian 






PROCEEDINGS. 



149 



and President of the Board of Trade of Denver, 
inviting the Association to meet at Denver next 
year : 

"DENVER, COLORADO, June 12, 1886. 
u Tothe President and Members of the American 

Library Association : 

" GENTLEMEN, The Mercantile Library 
Committee hereby extends to you an invitation 
to hold your next annual meeting in Denver. 
If you come, everything that can be done will 
be done to make your stay in the city pleasant. 
" Yours very truly, 

" CHAS. R. DUDLEY, 

"Librarian." 

"DENVER, COLORADO, June n, 1886. 
" To the President and Members of the American 

Library Association : 

"The Denver Chamber of Commerce and 
Board of Trade, composed of four hundred and 
fifty of the leading business and professional 
men of Denver, very cordially indorses the 
invitation of the Mercantile Library Committee 
for your organization to hold its next annual 
meeting in the city of Denver, and will be glad 
to employ its time and influence in making 
your visit pleasant and profitable, should the 
invitation be accepted. 

" Yours truly, 

"R. W. WOODBURY, 

"President." 

It was voted that the customary committees 
be appointed by the Chair. 

The CHAIR appointed Messrs. Van Name, 
Lane, and Davis, Committee on Nominations, 
and Messrs. Cutter, Merrill, and Foster, Com- 
mittee on Resolutions. 

POSTAGE ON LIBRARY BOOKS. 

R. B. POOLE read an extract from the IV. Y. 
Evening Post : 

"To the Editor of the Evening Post: 

" SIR, Ought not incorporated circulating 
libraries, such, for example, as the Mercantile 
of New York, to be allowed to send out their 
books and to receive them again through the 
mails as second-class matter for one cent a 
pound, the rate on newspapers sent directly 
from the office of publication? The argument 
for carrying periodicals at this low figure 
would be that it is for the interest of the nation 
to encourage the circulation of newspapers and 



magazines as increasing popular intelligence. 
The same argument could be used regarding 
the wider circulation of books from libra- 
ries. 

" Most of the books one wishes to read in- 
cluding even the standard works he does not 
care to read more than once. This being so, 
few feel able to buy many books out and out. 
But thousands upon thousands in villages and 
rural districts would become subscribers to the 
large city libraries if they could obtain books 
through the mail at a cost of but 2, 5 or 7 
cents a volume, coming and going, instead of 
15 or 20 cents, as at present postal rates. And 
a great increase in the number of readers 
would lead to a great increase in the number of 
books published. 

"Again, when, as at present in our country, 
one must buy out and out each book he reads, 
the book must be issued at a low price, which 
again means an inferior style. If there could 
be a greater number of readers for each vol- 
ume it could be issued on better paper and in 
better type. In Great Britain, where the popu- 
lation is so compact that the great circulating 
libraries can have depots in every hamlet, 
even ephemeral books, like works of fiction, 
can be issued in the best typography. The 
same would be the case in this country if the 
circulating libraries could reach all the people. 

" The directors of a single library could ap- 
point a committee to bring this matter before 
the postal committees of the two houses of 
Congress. Better still, perhaps, the American 
Library Association, which meets in Mil- 
waukee, July yth, could take up the subject. 
If the libraries, being less influential in " prac- 
tical " politics than the newspapers, cannot 
secure as low rates of postage as are granted 
the latter, let them get what they can. Possi- 
bly the express companies might be induced to 
carry library books to and from country sub- 
scribers at special rates which the latter could 
afford to pay. 

"If a library had a large number of out-of- 
town subscribers it might have to organize a 
special mail department, with perhaps some 
special style of wrappers. Experience might 
suggest several new methods. But all difficul- 
ties regarding details could be obviated by a 
little study. 

"N. F. 

" CORNING, N.Y., June 29." 



MIL WA UKEE CONFERENCE. 



Mr. R- B. POOLK offered resolutions suggest- 
ing that library books should be carried as 
second-class matter, and that a committee of 
five be appointed to secure such legislation. 

(See amendment, p. 158, and resolutions as 
passed, p. 158). 

Mr. DEWEY seconded the resolutions, and 
they were hastily carried. On motion of Mr. 
Green the vote was reconsidered, and he moved 
that the whole matter be referred to the Com- 
mittee on Resolutions. 

Mr. DEWEY. The Committee on Resolu- 
tions is appointed to draft complimentary reso- 
lutions. They have enough to do, and we 
ought to relieve them as much as possible by 
appointing special committees. 

Mr. GREEN. I move, as a substitute for my 
motion, that a special committee of three be ap- 
pointed to consider the resolutions. 

After several points of order were decided 
Mr. Green's motion was passed. 

The CHAIR appointed Mr. R. B. Poole, Dr. 
Pierce, and Mr. Crunden. 

Motion to adjourn was carried. 



SECOXD SESSION. 

(JULY 8, THURSDAY MORNING.) 

President POOLE in the chair. 

The meeting was called to order at 10: loA.M. 

The SECRETARY informed the Association 
that, on account of the various privileges to 
which members, as members, were admitted, a 
badge of identification was necessary, and 
moved that a committee of three ladies be ap- 
pointed to select such badge. The motion was 
carried, and the Misses Coe, Burnell, and 
Stevens were appointed. 

Mr. MERRILL. I move that a committee 
of five be appointed to consider the time and 
place of the next meeting. This was seconded 
by Mr. Dewey, and carried. 

The Chair appointed Messrs. Merrill, Utley, 
Peoples. Green, Durrie. 

Mr. GREEN. The Committee on Nomina- 
tions reports Saturdav morning. Thev should 
have the report of this committee in making 
their nominations. It would be better to have 
this committee report on Friday morning. I 
move that it report at the close of to-morrow 
morning's session. Carried. 



Mr. LARNED gave the 

REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 

saving that the accounts of the treasurer had 
been audited and found to be correct. (See 
p. 146 ) The report was adopted. 
Mr. GREEN read the 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LIFE-MEMBERSHIP. 

The committee appointed to consider what 
disposition should be made of the fees which 
have been and which shall be paid into the 
treasury of this Association by life-members, 
whether individuals or institutions, reports as 
follows, through its chairman : 

In regard to fees already paid into the 
treasury, that it is impracticable to fund them, 
as the annual income of the Association is only 
sufficient to pay the annual necessary expendi- 
tures. 

All the members of the committee hope that 
the time will come when it shall prove practi- 
cable to fund those fees. 

In respect to fees which shall be paid into 
the treasury in future, the committee proposes 
the following vote for action by the Conven- 
tion : 

Voted, That the Finance Committee, in con- 
sultation with the treasurer, invest safely the 
money received hereafter from the life-member- 
ship fees of individuals and institutions, and 
that the income only of that investment shall 
be used to pay the current expenses of the 
Association. 

Dr. PIERCE moved the adoption of the re- 
port. 

Mr. BARTON, seconding the motion, called at- 
tention to the importance of the life-member- 
ship fund. 

Mr. CRUNDEX. While we are on the topic, 
let me say that I notice mention made of a 
library which has taken a life-membership for 
its librarian. This, I find, is a perpetual 
membership. Shouldn't we distinguish be- 
tween life and perpetual memberships ? 

Mr. DEWEY. Life-membership lasts during 
the life of an individual or an institution. 

Mr. MERRILL. Mr. Crunden's suggestion 
is very practical. We can't afford perpetual 
memberships at this rate. Libraries don't 
often die. 

Mr. DEWEY. I am in favor of making it 






PROCEEDINGS. 



fifty or a hundred dollars for a perpetual mem- 
bership. I move that it be fifty dollars. 

Mr. R. B. POOLK. I suppose the chief li- 
brarian will have the membership. 

Mr. DEWEY. The delegate who represents 
it at the convention. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I second the motion, be- 
cause the verj ones who take life or perpetual 
memberships are the very ones on whom we 
can depend for annual fees. 

M. DEWEY. The matter might be settled by 
adopting resolutions to the following effect : 

That the by-law establishing life-memberships 
at $25.00 each be suspended for one year. 

That the following be adopted as a by-law of 
the A. L. A. : 

By the payment of $25.00 at one time into the 
permanent invested fund, any member may 
become a life member entitled to all the rights 
and privileges of membership without further 
assessments. 

By the similar payment of $50.00, any person 
or institution elected to membership in this As- 
sociation may receive a certificate of perpetual 
membership which shall forever entitle the 
holder, or one accredited delegate of the institu- 
tion, to all the rights of membership without 
further assessment. 

The matter was dropped to giye Mr. Dewey 
time to write out the proposed resolutions on 
the subject. 

Mr. LINDERFELT gave various details of ar- 
rangement, and suggested pleasant ways of 
spending the next Sundaj. 

Mr. RICHARDSON read his paper, 

WHY LIBRARIANS KNOW. 

(S~ p. 6.) 
Mr. CUTTER read a portion of his article on 

CLOSE CLASSIFICATION, 

published in the Library journal for*July, 
/. 180. 

Mr. W. C. LANE gave a paper on 

THE HARVARD COLLEGE CATALOG. 
(SCC /. 10.) 

Mr. WHITNEY. We are all glad to hear that 
this work is going on. and that it is likely to 
bring nearer to perfection the catalogue begun 



by Dr. Ezra Abbot. Few can realize the ex- 
tent of our indebtedness to him. Those of us 
who were so fortunate as to come in contact 
with him, and receive his impulse and direc- 
tion, regret that, in the addresses and editorial 
notices at the time of his death, so little men- 
tion was made of his work as a librarian. 
This we regard as the crowning work of his 
life, and that when, in the critical, formative 
period of American libraries, he turned aside 
to the field of textual criticism of the New 
Testament, the loss to librarians and to those 
who use libraries was irreparable. 

Mr. DEWEY. I wish to call special attention 
to the fullness and value to other libraries of 
this great index. I believe that it repre- 
sents what e% r ery great dictionary catalog must 
sooner or later come to. It was a tradition 
about Cambridge that the big catalog was the 
cause of much of the local profanity. No one 
questioned its value or the great skil and pro- 
found scholarship which it represented, but 
they could not lern to use it redily. 1 hav 
more than once vainly tried to find my own 
way among its wheels within wheels. The 
other day, with a few advance pages of this 
index in my hand, I tried again, and it was a 
delight to be able to take a simple Arabic 
number, and, without thot of system or plan, 
turn directly to the right place. Americans 
certainly are too busy a people to be taught 
systems and methods. They never criticise 
because any plan is too easy or too quick, but 
ar almost sure to complain if thev must stop 
to reason out under what word or topic some 
one else has been likely to place the book they 
seek. I hav long urged that the dictionary 
catalog alone was not simple enuf, and that a 
brief, compact, numbered index similar to this, 
with the simplest numerical reference to the 
exact place among the cards, was the essential 
complement of every extensiv subject card 
catalog, whether clast or alfabetical. It is sig- 
nificant that leading advocates of various kinds 
of alfabetical catalogs now agree that som 
such index is a necessity for satisfactory work. 
The best and most costly catalogs we hav, 
made by our most famous and scholarly cata- 
logers, as they grow, ar found to require ex- 
tensiv revisions. No man ever lived who could 
carry the universe in his mind in such a way 
that without a guide his work thru a series of 
years would always be consistent with itself. I 



152 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



therefore feel that this index, from the library 
that we may fairly look to as having the best 
opportunities to judge this question under the 
most favorable circumstances, means that this 
is the true solution. I need hardly add that as 
reference is just as quick and easy from the 
index to the clast catalog as to the dictionary, 
that the obvious great advantages of a clast 
catalog may as well be secured, leaving the 
obvious dictionary advantages to the simple 
index. In other words, while the dictionary 
plan is incomparably the best for author and 
title catalogs, and for subject indexes, I am 
convinced that it is not the proper form for a 
subject catalog, which experience proves must 
hav a subject index. As the dictionary system 
reason for abandoning the great advantages 
of logical arrangement is that it thus avoids 
the need of an index, it is clear that when not 
only the makers but the users require an index 
the chief support of that system is gone, and 
reason and experience again agree in favor of 
the rational or logical system for subject cata- 
logs, I hav noticed of recent years a growing 
reaction from the idea that the dictionary plan 
was as matter of course the proper form for a 
subject catalog. 

Mr. FLETCHER, after a brief criticism of the 
minuteness of the Harvard College list, read 
his paper on 

CLOSE CLASSIFICATION VS. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

(See p. n.) 

Mr. DEWEY. With much of Mr. Fletcher's 
admirable paper I am in the fullest sympathy, 
and hope to do my full part in carrying out the 
schemes for codperativ bibliografy. But does 
he forget that this very scheme is only another 
modern labor-saver that is tearing down his 
old idols? 

With other parts of his paper I take direct 
issue, and as cordially and sincerely take my 
stand with the other side, which we must re- 
member is the new and rapidly growing side, 
as against the old; but there ar some good 
things that ar new, and it is not sufficient cause 
for rejecting any plan that our grandmothers 
did not use it. 

I noted, as he read, a few points on which I 
beg briefly to comment. 

Dummies. With all my familiarity with this 
special topic I never herd til now of any such 



application of the dummy system. 1 The only 
thing resembling this idea is our own plan of 
a reference card in our pamflet-case at the end 
of each subject. This may hold zoo references 
on the one letter-size card, insted of requiring 
100 separate wood dummies as implied. The 
space is one thickness of card for 100 refer- 
ences; the labor of writing, less than to write 
the same on smaller catalog-cards ; the labor 
of preparation has been entirely done in the 
cataloging. You must reduce his estimate of 
the labor and expense involved here about one 
hundred fold to fit our facts. The " absurdity 
that needs only to be hinted at" is the suppo- 
position of the paper that any one would 
"dummy" topics. The thin wood dummy is 
used to represent an entire set, or a single 
book too large for the regular shelves, or, be- 
cause of cost or rarity, kept in a special room. 
This reference-card on the shelves I hav never 
herd of elsewhere, and we do not undertake to 
make it complete, but merely as a means of 
giving any help that seems to us worth giving 
in that way. Clearly we can as easily write 
any words of guidance or reference here as any- 
where, and if we can hav this guidance in 
satisfactory form, in catalog or bibliografy, we 
should not waste time in repeating. The fal- 
lacy of the paper is the assumption that, 
because we find the close classing very useful 
for certain important purposes that we must 
use it always and alone for that purpose, and 
shut ourselves out from as full use of catalogs 
and bibliografies as other libraries enjoy. 
The premise of the paper, so far as my knowl- 
edge goes, is wrong. 

Labor-saving. We confess to the grave 
charge against close classing that it is a device 
to save time and labor to serchers after knowl- 
edge. Exactly these same arguments were 
prest against cyclopedias and all reference- 
books. " Poole's Index " is a flagrant type of 
such a labor-saving device that denies to the 
present generation the time-honored culture that 
came from handling musty tomes for a week in 
a mechanical way, in hopes of stumbling on 
something bearing on the topic. It is by sav- 

1 [At the Buffalo Conference I said (in answer to the 
question, how in my notation for the states, cities, etc., of 
the U.S., I should treat places that have changed their 
names), " If experience should show that it is necessary, 
I shall put on the shelf dummies referring from the aban- 
doned name to the one chosen." Somewhere else, though 
I cannot now recall where, I have suggested the use of 
dummies in other parts of a classification, but I have not 
yet used them. C: A. CUTTER.] 



PROCEEDINGS. 



'53 



ing time and labor that there wil be left in our 
busy lives enuf time for " culture," insted of 
being forced to the use of ponies for lack of 
time to dig out the originals, and even here 
as wise a man as Emerson, and most of the 
world ar with him to-day, says he would as 
soon think of swimming the Charles river, 
insted of crossing the neighboring bridge, as 
to read the classics in the original when there 
ar available good translations. There ar two 
schools on this question, one for progress, the 
other for stagnation. The young librarian 
must choose whether he wil adopt the time- 
saving, labor-saving methods, or stick to the 
time-honored ways in which our grandparents 
made their reputations. 

We ar told that it is necessary to caution 
readers against the misleading tendencies of 
the only 1,000 beds used at Amherst. Is there 
any experienced librarian here who has not 
often to giv this caution against the same mis- 
leading tendency of the catalog? Must we not 
tell young readers that there are books in this 
world beside those in our catalogs or on our 
shelves ? 

I remember that ten years ago, when Mr. 
Cutter told me my Amherst skeme was not 
close enuf for his use, I felt that he was all 
wrong, and argued the matter without being 
convinced. I hav found that I was the one 
that was wrong. Long study of this question, 
with the desire to lern what was best, rather 
than simply to substantiate my own position, 
convinced me that the best library-work of the 
future must be bast on close classing; and I 
publicly acknowledge to Mr. Cutter to-day 
that in that discussion he was entirely right 
and I wrong. If I read the signs of the times 
there ar many others going thru just this ex- 
perience. A few years ago we had our annual 
squabble over fixt vs. relativ location. That 
ghost seems to be laid, and now it is the un- 
wisdom of this newest absurdity, close classing, 
that must be thwackt into robust strength. 

Cost. It is charged that close classing is 
extravagant, but no facts or figures ar given in 
support. Now I am prepared to show any 
fair-minded man facts and figures in my own 
library to prove that our close classing is in 
the end a great economy. This is one of the 
strong claims of our system, and we ar ready 
to meet definite comparisons and figures. 
Bear in mind that it is no comparison to say 



" this library of 50,000 volumes is run for $5,000 
per year, total expenses; the other of 100,000 
volumes costs $30,000 per year; one classes 
closely, the other not; hence close classing is 
three times as costly ! " Comparisons must 
take into account all circumstances, the work 
done, privileges offered, hours open, reference 
librarians to assist readers, etc., etc. Close 
classing must be judged by what it costs, which 
would be saved if it were not followed ; and, 
on the other hand, by what it does and saves 
that would be lost without it. 

On such a fair test we wil show that close 
classing is much more economical. Til some- 
thing more than a mere statement from those 
who hav not tried it is given, this statement 
from those who hav ought to be a full re- 
joinder. 

Changes. We ar told that doing this work 
once for all is a delusion, and that great 
changes ar sure to come. Is it not clear that 
these changes ar as necessary in the catalog 
system as in the close-classing system? An 
eraser works as quickly, and penmanship is as 
cheap on a blue shelf card as on a white catalog 
card. In our experience these changes ar by 
no means as necessary or frequent as is as- 
sumed, and it is easy to refer to a literature 
arranged on the old ideas. 

No one makes for close or any other classing 
the claim that it does everything. We find in 
use that it is what our critic labels it, a modern 
time and labor saving device. We accept the 
title, and the benefits. It does more than we 
ar able to do otherwise with the same money 
to make our library useful to our readers. 

Incompleteness. To add to the complete an- 
swer of others to the charge that " the absolute- 
ly fatal defect " of close classing is that it is not 
perfectly complete. Is that splendid aid, 
" Poole's Index," to the excellence of which 
Mr. Fletcher so largely contributed, complete ? 
Is it a quite fatal defect that it attempts so 
small a part of the field? that in that field it 
often indexes articles that no one dare claim to 
be as valuable as small fractions of other 
articles which ar entered only once? If the 
argument is good, then we may as well all go 
home and lock the doors of our libraries ; for 
which one of them is complete, in the very 
sense that we ar attacked, because our scheme 
is not complete? Or which of them is, in that 
sense, absolutely complete on any one topic of 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



importance? Ar all our libraries therefore 
worthless being under' the ban of this " abso- 
lutely fatal defect " ? 

Mr. SCHWARTZ was excused, on account of 
illness, from reading his paper, and the hope 
expressed that it might be given later in the 
meeting. 

Pres. POOLK. There are now just twenty 
minutes for the discussion of classification. 

Mr. LARNED. I can imagine Mr. Fletcher 
going into a well-stocked grocery-shop and 
looking about him at the display of tea, coffee, 
sugar, soap, candles, etc. Instead of being 
thankful, as most of us are, for what we can 
get in such a shop from the four quarters of 
the globe, he turns to the proprietor and says : 
"Now this illustrates to my mind the fatal 
defect of all attempts to organize a trade in 
such miscellaneous and varied commodities. 
There are more than forty thousand articles 
which minister to human wants in this depart- 
ment, and you cannot possibly get together a 
quarter of them. All attempts of the kind are 
foolish failures." 

Mr. BISCOE. I desire to point out a few 
places where the position of the advocates of 
classification is misrepresented. Mr. Fletcher 
appears to me to lay greater stress upon " all 
the resources " than is quite fair. I do not 
think any advocate of close classification has 
ever intended to claim that everything the li- 
brary contains on a subject is brought to- 
gether on the shelves by any system of 
arrangement. The absurdity of it is patent on 
the face, and would show at once that such a 
statement was not to be taken in its bald literal- 
ness, but with a common-sense interpretation, 
like almost all similar expressions. Every li- 
brarian knows that the encyclopaedias, maga- 
zines, and transactions of societies contain 
articles on nearly every subject, and that books 
frequently treat of more than one topic, and 
knows also that these can be in only one place. 
This is recognized in all articles on classifica- 
tion, and it is only by taking an isolated ex- 
pression and harping on this, to the exclusion 
of other equally strong statements upon the 
other side, that so erroneous a criticism can be 
maintained. The claim is made that classifica- 
tion brings together all the books (not parts of 
books) which the library possesses on the 
given topic, and facilitates their use by the 
reader, and often guides him to use them when 



he would not do so if he had to hunt them 
out from a catalog and traverse the library 
from one end to the other in order to obtain 
them. 

The second point in which the position of 
the classifier is misrepresented is in the antago- 
nism which it is assumed that he has for cata- 
logs. I do not know of a single person who 
advocates classification to the exclusion of 
catalogs. Every library which has adopted a 
classified system has taken with this, and as a 
part of it, a system of cataloging. But our 
critic goes on to say : " You cannot have both. 
It is impossible to have classification and bibli- 
ography supplement each other. The seeker 
cannot go first both to the shelves and the 
catalog," Very true ! He cannot go first to 
both, but that will not prevent his using both. 
No library now thinks of incorporating "Poole's 
Index" into its catalog; but that does not pre- 
vent the reader from using " Poole's Index " and 
the catalogs. He cannot go first to both ; but 
I fail to see that this is a "fatal defect" in 
"Poole's Index." Every investigator who is 
making a complete survey of his field goes not 
to one or two or half a dozen sources only, but 
frequently to many times that number, and 
gets profit from them all. But many of those 
who frequent our libraries are not making an 
exhaustive study of their subject, and the 
books which treat of it as their chief topic are 
all they want, and their convenience is greatly 
promoted by finding them grouped together on 
the shelves ; but if they desire all the matter 
which treats of this topic in other books they 
must go to the catalogs, to " Poole's Index" and 
its supplements, to the new " Essay Index," to 
the Q^ P. indexes, etc. ; and every librarian 
expects that this will be done. If I go to the 
Athenaeum or Peabody catalogs to find all the 
resources on a given topic, I must search not in 
one place alone but several, and then not be 
sure that I have all there is, but this does not 
prevent my using these dictionary catalogs and 
getting great help from them. And so classi- 
fication and catalogs are not antagonistic or 
mutually exclusive, but capable of harmonious 
and profitable combination. 

Mr. LANE. My list does not pretend to be 
complete ; no list can be ; it is expected to 
grow ; at present it represents all that has been 
needed so far in a library that carries close 
classification farther than any library I know 



PROCEEDINGS. 



155 



of, almost to its extremest limit. I may 
add that I believe in close classification thor- 
oughly. 

Mr. WHITNEY. At the Boston Public Li- 
brary, in the preparation of a Scheme of sub- 
jects, to which I have given my attention for 
several years, I have confined myself to subjects 
actually represented in books contained in the 
library. It is intended to be an index to our 
own card catalogue, and not a universal key to 
knowledge. This is as far as the librarian can 
safely go. 

Mr. BISCOE. Mr. Fletcher has made con- 
fusion by not distinguishing in his paper be- 
tween close classification on the shelves and 
the catalogue. 

Mr. RICHARDSON. I should like to bear a 
little testimony to the value of close classifi- 
cation as illustrated in the Athenaeum Library. 
I have occasion to pass through Boston fre- 
quently, with very little time at my disposal, 
and a great many facts to look up. Again and 
again Mr. Cutter has directed me to the class I 
wanted to use, and I have gathered more in 
half an hour than I could have gotten in half 
a day by searching catalogues. 

Miss COE. Mr. Fletcher says that to com- 
bine the two methods "is a simple impossi- 
bility; " that it is attempting to ride two horses 
at once. Has he not furnisht us the exact 
illustration we need, if we change a single 
word ? We drive two horses at once with the 
gain that all the world finds over the one-horse 
method. (Laughter.) 

Mr. DEWEY. It is significant that the people 
who advocate close classing ar the ones who 
have tried it, and its opponents ar those who 
have not had actual experience. Has any one 
heard of a case where an intelligent librarian 
has found his classing too close, and adopted a 
coarser skeme ? We can tell you of hundreds 
who hav found it wise after experience to 
make it much closer. We can hardly believe 
that Harvard, the Boston Public and Athenaeum, 
and the Buffalo libraries have not gone into all 
these objections thuroly, or hav blindly fallen 
into the same errors, and become victims to- 
gether of this " absolutely fatal defect." At 
Columbia we save cataloging our pam- 
flets thus, by keeping them classified on the 
shelves. 

Dr. POOLE. But if pamphlets are worth 
saving they are worth cataloguing. We put 



them on the shelves, and catalogue them 
too. 

Mr. DEWEY. You show precisely what I 
have said, that we close classifiers ar work- 
ing in the interests of economy. We can't 
afford to catalog our pamflets ; so with hardly 
appreciable cost we preserve them in our close 
classification. If we find any pamflet so im- 
portant that it is often called for, we catalog it 
like a book. I go so far in the interests of 
economy as to propose the same treatment of 
books worth keeping, but hardly worth cata- 
loging. I made this point at Lake George in 
discussing cost of cataloging. \_See pp. 129, 
130 of 1885 Proceedings.] 

Mr. FLETCHER. I do not raise a question 
so much of close classifying on the shelves vs. 
cataloging, as of close classifying, or any other 
elaborate process applied either to the shelves, 
or the catalogs of a single library, as opposed 
to bibliographical work, which, once done, 
serves for all libraries. When a good bibli- 
ography comes out all libraries stop close 
classification of that subject as unnecessary. 
The cost of close classification is enormous. 
I am pleading in the interests of coopera- 
tion. 

Mr. DEWET. I am an enthusiast in reduc- 
ing the cost of cataloging; but close classifi- 
cation tends to this by doing away with 
elaborate catalogs. We maintain, i, that 
close classing will be almost equally important 
when we hav our ideal bibliografies. 2, that 
those, to be most useful, must be made on 
some skeme of close classing. 3, that when 
a good bibliografy comes out it leads to closer 
classing in that subject, insted of the reverse 
as stated. 4, that the good bibliografy does take 
the place of the similar cataloging, and that, 
therefore, it is economy to do the close class- 
ing which is of permanent value rather than 
the cataloging which is temporary. 

I am pleading, and hav been for years, 
in the interests of cooperation, which is 
our leading modern time-saving and labor- 
saving method, and in those interests I insist 
that close classing is the wisest, and, in the 
end, cheapest plan. And remember that close 
classing for a small library is very coarse class- 
ing for a large one. We ar talking of a prin- 
ciple, not of any given degree of closeness. 
Common-sense in choosing can never be elimi- 
nated from the problem. 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Mr. SOLBERG gave a very brief abstract of, 
and received permission to print, his paper on 

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT IN CONGRESS. 

(Seep. 52.) 
The meeting was adjourned. 

THIRD SESSION. 

(JULY 8, THURSDAY EVENING.) 

President POOLE in the chair. 

The meeting was called to order at 8 : 05 P.M. 
The Assistant Secretary read letters from A. R. 
Spofford, Librarian of Congress, Hon. E. W. 
Blatchford, Trustee of the Newberry Library 
Fundj 

" WASHINGTON, July i, 1886. 

"MY DEAR SIR: At length I am able to 
send to your public library the new general cata- 
logue of the library of Congress, volumes 12, 
which is all that I .have been able to print. The 
vast increasing copyright business of the coun- 
try absorbs continually more and more of my 
working library force, so that printing cata- 
logues is, perforce, suspended. 

" I have to regret that the prolonged session 
of Congress deprives me of the pleasure of 
joining in the labors and pleasant intercourse 
of the Milwaukee session of the American 
Library Association. 

"Yours very respectfully, 

"A. R. SPOFFORD. 

" W. F. POOLE, Esq., 

Librarian" 

" CHICAGO, July 7, 1886. 

" MY DEAR MR. POOLE : I had hoped to 
leave for Milwaukee this evening or by the 
morning train ; but find that an order of Court 
will keep me here during to-morrow, and I fear 
on Friday morning. I am quite disappointed 
at this fact; but the week has been filled with 
engagements beyond my own control. 

" Gen. McClurg informs me of his heroic ef- 
fort to save the day yesterday ; but when Froude, 
with historic eye, only takes in ' pig-killing,' 
what impression of our city may be conveyed 
to book-readers and book-beepers ! I know you 
will have a good meeting. I shall endeavor to 



get copies of the Milwaukee papers, giving full 
proceedings. 

" Truly and respectfully yours, 

"E. W. BLATCHFORD." 

Mr. CUTTER read his paper on 

GREEK AND LATIN NOTATION. 

(Seej>. 82.) 
Mr. LARNED gave his paper on 

SOME NEW DEVICES, ETC. 

(Seep. 96.) 

Mr. CRUNDEN. Does the borrower have a 
card ? 

Mr. LARNED. Only a card of identifica- 
tion. We don't pretend to help the borrow- 
er's memory. 

Mr. GREEN. How many borrowers have 
you? 

Mr. LARNED. We have 2,500 members. 
These represent about 10,000 people who bor- 
row. 

Miss COE. Is there any need of dating 
borrower's card if you have your pigeon-hole 
card dated? 

Mr. LARNED. But this card represents 
twenty borrowers. 

I want to ask one or two questions : 

i. As to use of papers in the reading-room. 
I have thought of introducing a sewing-machine, 
and, after running a stitch through, giving 
the paper out to the reader as you would a book. 

Mr. PECK. I find that the trouble with this 
is that the stitches pull out. 

Mr. MERRILL. You will find that the trou- 
ble about passing out papers is that the readers 
don't return them. They keep them out too 
long. Besides that, the public don't want them 
passed out, as we found when the Court-House 
was burned and we had to do it in that way. 

Mr. HOOPER. What is the objection to 
hand-files? Sewing would injure papers for 
binding. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I have been trying an ex- 
periment. I have found, as Mr. Merrill, that 
the public object to the handing out of news- 
papers, and it requires besides the whole time 
of an attendant and the consequent expense. 
Recently, requiring space, I have had a double 
file with low benches so made that an attend- 
ant can overlook the whole room. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



157 



Mr. LARNED. The other suggestion was 
as to newspaper clippings. I have, during the 
last year, made a good many pamphlets. I have 
the scraps cut out and pasted on manilla sheets, 
and these gathered into pamphlets. 

Mr. DEWEY. This skeme for clippings we 
think admirable, and destined to wide use. 
We prefer to use manilla sheets of full shelf 
size 20 X 25 cm. These go on the shelf even 
better, leaving less space for dust, and hold 
twice as much for a book of any thickness. 
By making class numbers on the corner each 
sheet goes in its pamflet case, thus keeping up 
minutest classing. 

Mr. LITTLE read a paper on 

CHARGING SYSTEMS FOR SMALL LIBRARIES. 

(Seep. 14.) 

The Assistant Secretary read extracts from a 
letter from Dr. Homes, of the N.Y. State Li- 
brary, and from Mrs. Tenney, of the Michigan 
State Library, regretting their necessary ab- 
sence. 

Mrs. HARRIET A. TENNEY, State Librarian 
of Michigan, said that she had never been able 
to attend any of the meetings, although she had 
joined the Association the first year of its 
organization. 

Mr. RICHARDSON read Dr. Homes' paper on 

UNBOUND VOLUMES ON LIBRARY SHELVES. 

(Seep. 16.) 
Mr. DEWEY gave a paper on 

ECLECTIC SHELF-NUMBERS. 

(Seep. 98.) 

Mr. MERRILL. How do you mark dupli- 
cates ? 

Mr. DEWEY. We always mark " Cop. i," 
" Cop. 2." etc. 

Mr. R. B. POOLE. You might use the 
superior (e.g., 328 2 ). 

SHELVES FOR HEAVY BOOKS. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I should like to ask libra- 
rians how thay manage with their large folios. 
I have been trying to put large books, not on 
shelves, but on rollers. I use gas-pipe rods 
covered with velveteen. I saw it first in Liver- 
pool, and thought it a good thing. Have any 
of the librarians tried it? 



Mr. LINDERFELT. I advise Mr. Crunden 
not to speak of this plan too loudly here in 
Milwaukee, if he has been trying it, as there 
is a man here who has a patent on it. 

Mr. HOOPER. We have a device for heavy 
folios. We have a lattice-work frame which 
slips backward and forward, and by care is 
kept so easily running that it can be moved by 
a finger-touch. 

Mr. R. B. POOLE. My device is to cover the 
shelf with carpeting. 

Mr. DEWEY. The favorite device has been 
the Taylor sliding-drawer. The patent is now 
off, but the device is yet expensive. The ad- 
vantage of it is that it affords also a rest. I 
hav seen the rollers of which Mr. Crunden 
speaks, but not in gas-pipe form, in pivot 
form. But they will wear the books still, I 
should think. 

Mr. WINSOR. Wasn't the Taylor patent 
renewed ? 

Mr. DEWEY. I think not. 

Mr. RICHARDSON read the paper of Mr. 
Vinton on . 

THE ASTOR LIBRARY CATALOGUE. 
(Seep. 17.) 

LLOYD P. SMITH. 

Mr. WINSOR read and moved the passage of 
resolutions on the death of Lloyd P. Smith : 
Whereas, in the death of Lloyd P. Smith, of 
the Philadelphia library, the American Library 
Association has lost one of its oldest members, 
who was endeared to us by many sympathies, 
and held in remembrance by traits singularly 
uniting repose of mind and response to per- 
sonal contact, with an eagerness for knowledge 
and a love for the venerable : 

Therefore Resolved, That we closely join 
with the family of our late associate in a sense 
of that bereavement which has deprived them 
of a husband and father, and left us only the 
remembrance of a kind and cordial spirit, and 
the associations of a friend constant in attach- 
ments and helpful in his beneficent prompt- 
ings. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions 
be sent to his family. 

JUSTIN WINSOR, 
MELVIL DEWEY, 
EDW. J. NOLAN, 

Committee. 



i 5 8 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Mr. BARTON, seconding the motion, sug- 
gested that they be passed by rising vote. 

The resolutions were so passed. 

Mr. DEWEY. I move that the action of the 
Association be telegraphed to the family of Mr. 
Smith to-night. Carried. 

POSTAGE AND LIBRARY BOOKS. 

R. B. POOLE read the report of the commit- 
tee on the resolutions introduced by him. 
(See p. 149.) 

They suggested as members of the commit- 
tee of "five: W. F. Poole, A. R. Spofford, Hon. 
Mellen Chamberlain. 

Mr. DEWEY took exception to the word " in- 
corporated " in the resolutions. 

Pres. POOLE. This is the term used in all 
public acts and laws. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I think that the greatest use 
would be by small subscription libraries, and 
that it is very desirable for them. 

The Secretary read, in this connection, a 
question from the box, bearing directly on this 
point: "Would not the system of reduced 
postage on library-books work the destruction 
of the smaller libraries? Would it not destroy 
the local pride which is so great a stimulus in 
the maintenance of these?" 

Mr. LARNED. It would be of help to those 
in small towns who desire to use books which 
their libraries could by no possibility furnish. 

Mr. DEWEY. This matter of the limitation 
to incorporated libraries can be left to the 
committee to get what they can. 

Mr. PEOPLES. I would say that we send 
books to all parts of the United States. I 
heartily approve the movement. 

Mr. DEWEY moved, as an amendment, that 
the passage "all incorporated libraries to dis- 
tribute books within the prescribed limit of 
weight as second-class matter, to non-residents 
of the city or town in which the library is 
located," read simply, "libraries to distribute 
books as second-class matter." 

The amendment was adopted. 

The report and resolutions were accepted 
and adopted, as follows : 

RESOLUTIONS ON POSTAGE ON LIBRARY 
BOOKS. 

Whereas, the Congress of the United States 
provides by law for the carrying of newspapers 
and periodicals, from the office of publication, 



as second-class matter, at one cent per pound, 
for the purpose of more widely diffusing 
knowledge and increasing intelligence; and 

Whereas, the distribution of books through 
the mails at the same rate of postage would 
tend, in a still greater degree, to the cultivation 
of the people ; therefore 

Resolved, That this Association, represent- 
ing the libraries of the country, would 
earnestly recommend such legislation by Con- 
gress as shall enable libraries to distribute 
books as second-class matter. 

Resolved, That a committee of five be ap- 
pointed to secure such legislation. 

The Chair appointed Messrs. Wm. F. Poole, 
A. R. Spofford, M. Chamberlain, W. T. Peo- 
ples, F. M. Crunden, as such committee. 

Mr. LINDERFELT announced that copies of 
a new guide to Milwaukee had been sent by 
the publishers for the use of the Association. 

The meeting was adjourned at 10.05 P.M. 

FOURTH SESSION. 

(JULY 9, FRIDAY MORNING.) 

President POOLE in the chair. 

The meeting was called to order at 10 : 10. 

Voted, That, owing to the amount of un- 
finished business, an afternoon session be held 
from 2 : 30 to 5 o'clock. 

The SECRETARY introduced 

RESOLUTIONS ON LIFE -MEMBERSHIP. 

Resolved, That the by-law authorizing the 
issue of life-membership be repealed, and that, 
pending the ratification of this vote, its action 
be suspended till the next annual meeting. 

Resolved, That the following by-laws be 
adopted : 

By the payment of $25 at one time into 
the permanent invested fund of the A.L.A., 
any person duly elected a member may receive 
a certificate of life-membership, which shall 
entitle him for life to all the rights and privi- 
leges of membership without further assess- 
ment. 

By the similar payment of $56 any person 
or institution duly elected may receive a cer- 
tificate of perpetual membership, which shall 
forever entitle the holder or one accredited 
delegate of the institution to all the rights of 
membership without further assessment. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



'59 



Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized 
to issue certificates of life and perpetual mem- 
bership during the coming year pending final 
action. 

Mr. LARNED. Will Mr. Dewey guarantee 
that money will always yield 4%? 

Mr. WHITNEY. The Association money 
now draws 5%. 

Mr. FLETCHER read the 

REPORT OF THE COOPERATION COMMITTEE. 

The report of this committee for the past 
year must be mainly the history of the effort 
we have been making for cooperative library 
bibliography. Early in the year, and repeat- 
edly since, we have asked, more or less publicly, 
for suggestions as to matters which we might 
properly consider and refer to in this report; 
but we have received no such suggestions. 
The previous committee have reported that no 
unfinished business remained on their hands. 
The Library Bureau, which came into exist- 
ence in connection with the Cooperation 
Committee of the A.L.A., has gone forward 
with success, with a fine measure of suc- 
cess, judged by what it has accomplished 
for the general good; but, we are sorry to 
believe, with only a limited measure of suc- 
cess as to its financial returns. Still, there is 
every reason to hope that, with each succes- 
sive year, the libraries of the country will 
appreciate more and more highly the use- 
fulness of the Bureau, and the excellence and 
public spirit of its present management, and 
will more generally lend it their patronage and 
support. During the year the Bureau has 
added a large number of articles to its list, 
and has issued an excellent illustrated catalog. 
It has just commenced the issue of a quarterly 
publication, Library Notes, of which a suffi- 
cient account was given in the report of our 
Secretary. 

Recurring to the subject mentioned at first 
as constituting the main feature of this report, 
convenience will largely be served, while the 
proprieties of the case will perhaps not be se- 
riously violated, if I drop for a time the plural 
pronoun, and speak for myself alone, with re- 
gard to the inception of this project for coop- 
erative cataloging. Just as I was beginning to 
wonder, last fall, whether I was going to find 
any special work for the Cooperation Commit- 
tee to do during the year, the cataloging of our 



library reached a point where it became desir- 
able to make some new plans for further work. 
I had an interview with President Seelye, and 
it was as a result of my talk with him, and of 
the readiness, the heartiness, even, with which 
he approved of the suggestions I made, and 
made even more advanced suggestions of his 
own, that I came to feel that something had 
been offered me which the Cooperation Com- 
mittee might suitably and hopefully undertake 
to do. 

Our catalog had reached this point: We 
had practically completed our alphabetical 
catalog under authors, and also under sub- 
jects, to the extent of treating books as indi- 
viduals, but almost wholly without analytical 
subject-entries. The question raised was, 
should we proceed to run in analytical refer- 
ences, especially to essays and to scientific 
transactions and periodicals not included in 
" Poole's Index," or should we stop where we 
were without professing to have our catalog 
complete in any such sense? This question 
at once involved the other question of the 
probability of the publication, before very long, 
of works which should do for these fields what 
" Poole's Index" had done for that of general 
periodicals. We agreed with perfect readiness 
that the best policy to be pursued by any and by 
all libraries now coming to that point was to stop 
this sort of ms. work, and to combine in some 
practical effort to get the necessary work done, 
once for all, in print. As I have said, our new 
and special interest in this matter seemed to me 
to be a call on the Cooperation Committee to 
see what could be done. Addressing a letter to 
each of the other members of the committee, 
I found them heartily responsive to the sug- 
gestion, and the result was the meeting of the 
committee in New York in the spring, a report 
of which appeared in the Library journal. 

At that meeting a circular was drawn up, 
which you have all seen, and later this circular 
was sent to about 400 leading libraries. Postal 
cards were enclosed for replies, and of these 
seventy-eight have been returned. Sixty-seven 
of these are favorable without reservation, six 
are favorable with reservation, and five are, 
on the whole, unfavorable. Four specially 
favor the printing of cards, six express special 
interest in the essay index, and three in the 
scientific index. 

I should like to read a few of the more inter- 



i6o 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



esting of these replies, which are not merely 
the blank sent out signed and returned. 

[Here several letters were read.] 

The committee feel that the number and 
character of these replies to their circular justify 
the assured belief that an organized effort for 
cooperative cataloging or bibliographical or 
indexingwork, or all three combined, is entirely 
feasible, and that the interest in it is such that it 
will certainly be undertaken. The first question 
is this : Shall the A.L.A., as such, take steps 
for such an organization within itself, or shall 
it be left to those who are interested to organ- 
ize an entirely separate association or company ? 
The feeling of the committee is very strongly 
in favor of the first of these methods ; and this 
after quite a free discussion of the matter at 
our New York meeting, at which some ten or 
twelve librarians were present, and expressed 
by vote their concurrence with this view. 

The committee feel, however, that the im- 
portance ot the movement, and its novelty (as 
far as the proposed financial basis of coopera- 
tion is concerned), demand its deliberate and 
careful consideration. They would deprecate 
a random discussion of the matter in open con- 
ference at its present stage. It has already 
been discussed by correspondence much more 
effectively. 

The committee would, therefore, submit the 
following vote for action at this time : 

[For text of vote, amendment, and vote as 
passed, see p. 166.] 

For the Cooperative Committee, 
WM. I. FLETCHER, 

Chairman. 

Mr. DEWEY. Why is the action of the com- 
mittee not sufficient? It always has been con- 
sidered sufficient. I would like to hav a 
committee of five appointed to organize and 
carry out the plan. I am anxious that what 
we hav been waiting ten years for should not 
be put off for another year. 

Mr. FLETCHER. It is just here. I am 
afraid that my judgment may be influenced by 
my own interest in the matter. I don't want 
to take the responsibility of saying that I have 
rightly interpreted the spirit of the letters 
which I have received. 

Mr. LARNED. I understand that about 
eighty librarians are ready for work. I would 
like to have a committee inquire how much of 



a subscription will be required from each in 
order to carry it out. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. Also to inquire what parts 
or kinds of indexing the various libraries may 
prefer. 

Mr. FLETCHER. I submit that these sug- 
gestions show that the discussion will be long, 
and that the shortest way to the end is that 
proposed by the committee. 

Pres. POOLE. I suggest that a committee of 
five be appointed to consider the matter. 

Mr. GREEN. Isn't this matter the most im- 
portant of the meeting? We had better put off 
something else, if necessary, and give time to 
the discussion. I should like a committee of 
five to report definitely on cost, etc. 

Mr. DEWEY moved the acceptance of the 
report. Carried. 

The vote proposed by the committee was 
taken up later. 

Mr. CRUNDEN read his 

REPORT ON AIDS AND GUIDES. 

(See p. in.) 

Mr. Whitney read Mr. MAGNfJssoN's paper 
on 

LIBRARY BUILDINGS. 

(See p. 133.) 

Before the paper Mr. Whitney read some 
extracts from three letters of Mr. Magmisson : 

" MARCH 18, 1886. 

" My library plan is having a good reception 
in England, and is likely, I think, to work its 
way; its originality strikes, and its cheapness 
and the perpetual economy it insures speak 
persuasively in its favor. It provides for 
everything appertaining to the business of a 
library on the premises, such as readers' 
retiring-rooms, offices, bindery, etc. My archi- 
tects assure me that the plan provides amply 
for the supply of light. " 

" MAY 27, 1886. 

" I should like very much to come over to the 
land of the world's modern wonders, and have 
a peep at its wonderful men and beautiful and 
clever women ; but I fear the fates will be so 
effectively against it as to leave no room for 
hope at present. There are strong indications, 
in this country as well as on the continent, of 
my plan being viewed with increasing favor. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



161 



It only requires to be seriously examined in 
order to demonstrate by itself its own superi- 
ority to anything that has been in fashion 
hitherto. Of course, for old academicians 
whose life is of the past, and who imagine that 
the future must always be more or less a repro- 
duction of what they have known of the past, 
for such men my plan is something in the way 
of an historical blasphemy. But younger men 
see in it nothing but an effective guarantee of 
perpetual order and constant economy. I am 
quite willing to admit that the plan, when 
adopted, will revolutionize, to some extent, ex- 
isting library habits. It will do away with 
local classification by subjects of the contents 
of a library, and enforce the adoption of a 
double set of catalogues, alphabetical by 
authors, chronological by subjects. But how 
perfect would not the administration of such a 
library be? And when once brought into sys- 
tem, how easy would not this double system of 
cataloguing be?" 

"JUNE 19, 1886. 

"My paper is very imperfect, having been 
written in the midst of ill-health, consequent 
upon an overwhelming famil*' bereavement. 
However, I think it will represent the totality 
of my idea in a pretty complete form, which is 
the principal point. The calculations are of 
great value for any one who wants seriously to 
examine the question of relative economy. The 
table showing the capacity of the library can be 
used for any library by doubling or multiplying, 
ad libitum, the diameter and respective totals 
of each description of a library. 

" My plan meets here, in Cambridge, with 
much admiration; but men are old in the old 
world, and slow. I fancy America will be the 
country in the end to have a pattern library." 

After the paper was read Mr. MERRILL moved 
a vote of thanks to Mr. Magmisson. 

It was seconded by Mr. HOOPER, and passed. 

President POOLE. We are under obligation 
to our English friend for his contribution of the 
paper. which has just been read. The subject 
of library construction is, as he remarks, one 
of the highest importance, and I am always 
interested in its discussion, whether the views 
presented are in harmony with my own or not. 
Mr. Magnusson, in February last, contributed 
to the London Athcnccitm a brief outline of 



what he has now more fully developed in this 
paper. The scheme has attracted some at- 
tention in England, and the inventor seems to 
be confident that he has " established on a 
thoroughly sound basis " this important branch 
of library economics. It is natural that the 
inventor of a new and valuable scheme or de- 
vice should seek the views of his professional 
brethren on the merits or demerits of his in- 
vention ; and this was probably the motive of 
the writer in contributing his paper to this 
conference. He has doubtless observed, in the 
printed proceedings of our Association, the 
freedom and fairness with which papers on 
every class of topics are discussed by the 
American librarians. He seeks, and is entitled 
to, the judgment of our members on the merits 
of his invention. 

I will therefore remark, in opening the discus- 
sion, that the scheme, in its essential features, 
has not the merit of novelty. It is an old and 
discarded American device. In the spring of 
1873 the Congress of the United States ap- 
pointed a commission for making plans and 
constructing a building for the Library of Con- 
gress, with an appropriation of $5,000 to be 
expended in premiums to architects. A circu- 
lar issued to the competing architects pre- 
scribed the conditions on which the plans were 
to be based, which were in substance as follows : 
Around a circular building surmounted by a 
dome were to be constructed a series of con- 
centric walls. The central building was to be 
used as a general reading-room, and its inner 
and outer walls, as well as the passages between 
the concentric walls, were to be furnished with 
alcoves and galleries for the storing of books. 
The central room was to be lighted from its 
dome ; and the passages between the concentric 
walls, from their roofs. Passage-ways radiat- 
ing from the centre were to be cut through the 
walls of the reading-room and the concentric 
walls, except the outer one, in order to give 
convenient access to every part of the library. 
An outline of this scheme was given in the 
annual report of the Librarian of Congress 
made in December, 1872. l In the autumn of 
1873 twenty-eight sets of competitive plans 
embodying the above conditions had been sent 
in, and one of these was furnished by a London 
architect. A premium of $1,500 was awarded 



1 Senate Misc. Doc. No. 13, 



ong., 3d Sess., p. 7. 



1 62 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



to a plan thought to be the best, $1,000 to the 
next best, and smaller sums to others. 1 I was 
consulted at the time by several of the com- 
peting architects, and saw their drawings, as 
well as the circular issued by the commis- 
sion. 

It will be seen that every essential feature of 
Mr. Magmisson's invention was contained in 
the Congress plans of 1873, the plan of con- 
centric walls taking the place of his spiral 
arrangement. For the merit of his spiral, if it 
can be classed as an invention, he will doubt- 
less never have a contestant. No one, I think, 
except himself, will claim that the spiral ar- 
rangement has any advantage over the con- 
centric. His own architect, Mr. Waterhouse, 
prefers the latter. Besides claiming as his the 
spiral device, he enters a caveat on concentric 
and polygonic walls, and includes them both 
in his invention. The Congress plans of 1873, 
whatever might be their merits or demerits, 
were never used at Washington or elsewhere, 
and in the later designs which have been 
adopted for that building were wholly dis- 
carded. 

My second comment on the plans before us 
is that the spiral passages as here described 
are not adapted for library uses, on account 
of the insufficiency of light which they will 
afford. They are 24 feet wide and 30 feet 
high. The bookcases, 6 feet apart, extend 
at right angles 10 feet from the walls on both 
sides, leaving a central opening, or slit, 4 
feet wide for the admission of light from 
the roof. Ten and 20 feet from the ground- 
floor are " light, horizontal galleries," which, 
as the alcoves are only 6 feet wide, must be a 
continuous flooring, without an opening for 
light, which is usual in wider alcoves. There 
should, by the way, have been three galleries 
instead of two, which would have given to 
each of the four tiers of alcoves a height of 
7^ feet, and made the use of ladders un- 
necessary. His method of taking in light 
is by " vertical skylights introduced under 
[into?] the roof." With such an arrange- 
ment it needs no prophet's ken to foretell 
that the books shelved in the spiral passages 
will be in Egyptian darkness. If light had 
been taken in by horizontal skylights in the 
roof above the 4-feet slit, some light would 

1 Senate Misc. Doc. No. 30, 436 Cong,, ist Sess., p. 3. 



have reached the floor; but the alcoves and 
books would have been in shadow made by the 
floors of the galleries. Taking light, however, 
from a clear-story above the roof, no light of 
any account would even reach the ground-floor. 
It is not possible to conceive a more ill-devised 
scheme for lighting than this. If there be a 
deficiency of light in the spiral passages, there 
will be a superfluity of heat during the sum- 
mer months. The temperature under the roof, 
either with a clear-story or horizontal sky- 
lights, will be fearful. 

A comparison of the drawings before us, with 
the description in the text, leaves us in doubt as 
to what specific form of construction was in- 
tended. It also indicates that the inventor is in 
conflict with his architect who has evidently 
better judgment in these matters than his client. 
The drawing showing the dome has only one 
gallery in the spiral passages, and walls 20 feet 
high. Another drawing, showing a section of 
a spiral passage, has two galleries, and walls 30 
feet high. The latter drawing agrees, in these 
particulars, with the description ; but in the 
arrangement of the bookcases and the mode of 
lighting it varies essentially from the descrip- 
tion. The clear-story has disappeared, sky- 
lights at an angle of 45 are introduced, the 
4-feet passage widened, and the upper gallery 
has lost its alcoves. These changes, which are 
improvements, have been made by the architect 
without the inventor's concurrence. 

The spiral form of construction has, up to 
this time, been monopolized by one of the 
lower orders of the animal kingdom, by 
the mollusk, the nautilus, the snail, and other 
invertebrates. Now that it is brought into 
architecture, it needs a name, and, for the 
want of a better, may be termed the " cephal- 
opodic" style. It is to be regretted that the in- 
ventor omitted from his series of drawings one 
showing us a perspective view of his library 
building after the spiral had taken several turns. 
It would have depicted a circular, blank wall 30 
feet high and a corrugated roof surmounted by 
a dome. The walls would have no windows nor 
ornamented elevations ; for whatever was spent 
in decoration would be covered and lost when 
the spiral next came round. The nautilus, and 
even the common snail, manage this style more 
artistically. Every convolution of their spirals 
is symmetrical, striated, and streaked with deli- 
cate colors. A library building constructed in 



PROCEEDINGS. 



163 



the " cephalopodic" style would have the ap- 
pearance of a mammoth gas-holder. 

This scheme of construction is open to ob- 
jections more radical than any which I have 
mentioned. It leaves wholly out of considera- 
tion the new and higher wants which the 
library will necessarily develop in the progress 
of its growth. The single expansive feature 
in it is an ample capacity for storing its ac- 
cession of books by the extension of its spiral 
passages. Nothing else has been considered. 
The theory of the writer is that a library should 
" be once for all established on a plan by which 
it may with uninterrupted order receive its ac- 
cessions through a period amounting to an 
endless future." We have before us the scheme 
by which, " with uninterrupted order," a library 
may grow, as he says, for a thousand years, 
cover four acres of ground, and store ten million 
volumes. Receiving and storing accessions are 
not the only functions of a library. It must 
have facilities for using its accessions. Let us 
briefly trace the experience of a library housed 
in this manner. It starts out with its domed 
reading-room large enough for present use, and 
for some years to come, and with enough spiral 
passages to shelve its books. Time goes on, 
and the library is prosperous. Its size has 
doubled, tripled, quadrupled ; perhaps it has 
increased tenfold, and its readers have increased 
in the same proportion. The reading-room, 
however, has been left out of view in this proc- 
ess of expansion ; it is of the same dimensions 
as when the library started, and is hedged about 
with spiral passages. If the writer of this paper 
were present, I would like to ask him how he 
proposes, in the emergency I have stated, to 
enlarge his reading-room, or otherwise provide 
accommodations for his readers? He may, if 
the library can afford the expense, pull down 
the old reading-room, demolish several convo- 
lutions of the spiral passages, and erect a new 
and larger structure ; but how will this heroic 
treatment comport with his claim that he has 
for the first time " established library economics 
on a thoroughly sound basis," and that his 
scheme maintains " uninterrupted order through 
a period amounting to an endless future? " 

A small library has few wants, and very sim- 
ple arrangements will provide for them. A 
large library has many wants, and as it grows 
larger, they become more numerous, more ex- 
acting in their demands, and more difficult to 



fill. A large library attracts to itself special 
collections of books which must have separate 
rooms for their storage and consultation. This 
is often the condition on which such collections 
come to the library. The treasures of a large 
library, also, under judicious management, 
segregate in special collections, and require 
separate rooms where they may be placed in 
charge of persons who have special knowledge 
in these departments. Did a large library ever 
have enough of such rooms ? The fine-art books, 
collections of engravings, galleries, elegantly 
illustrated books, and all the works which re- 
late to the study of art, will make a library in 
themselves, and will eventually be brought to- 
gether in a separate room, shelved and fitted up 
for their especial accommodation, and furnished 
with all the conveniences by which students of 
art can there consult them. These fine books 
suffer more injury by the rough handling of 
runners, and by transportation on trucks through 
the narrow passages of a large library, to and from 
the general reading-room, than in their legiti- 
mate use by students. The patent publications 
of many nations become, in the aggregate, very 
numerous and bulky, and they must have a 
separate room in which they can be shelved and 
consulted. Many other specialties I might 
mention which will require similar accommoda- 
tions. The space needed for the administra- 
tive work of a growing library is constantly 
increasing. The older and larger the library 
becomes, the more will these unforeseen require- 
ments appear. Has Mr. Magmisson, in this 
scheme, made any provision for, or given any 
consideration to, these requirements? How and 
where does he propose to meet these new wants 
when they arise ? The only space in his control 
is the spiral passages, which may be increased 
ad libitum. We have seen how ill-adapted they 
are for the storing of books. Will he use these 
pits for the higher purposes I have indicated, 
where there is no ventilation, and no ray of 
sunlight enters except through a skylight in the 
roof? 

I have had occasion, at former meetings of 
our Association, to express my objections to the 
conventional style of library architecture which 
has came down to us from the middle ages : * a 
gothic church, the open nave of which is 

1 Library journal, vol. vi, p. 69; vol. vii, p. 130; vol. 
viii, p. 270; vol. x, p. 250, 328. 



164 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



used as a reading-room, and the aisles, with 
several tiers of galleries, for the storing of 
books. Every objectionable feature in that 
style, which I have previously commented on, 
is repeated in the scheme before us ; and it has 
other objectionable features of which the con- 
ventional style is free. Its galleries are not 
easier to climb than those of the old structures. 
The inequalities of temperature and the de- 
struction of bindings by heat in the upper gal- 
leries are here in all their hideous proportions. 
There is the same insecurity from fire, which, 
if once started, would range without a barrier 
through the whole building. The difficulty, if 
not the impossibility, of expansion and enlarge- 
ment where they are the most needed, we have 
already considered. It is a style of construc- 
tion which has no aesthetic qualities. There is 
a stately grandeur in the mediaeval style which 
is wholly wanting in this reproduction of an 
Esquimaux hut. Such a structure is not, in 
my opinion, the library building of the future. 

It is evident that Mr. Magmisson's reading 
on this class of topics has been very limited. 
In his opening sentence he says : " So far as I 
know, no special attention has as yet been 
drawn to what I consider the most important 
subject connected with library management, 
namely library economics, established on a 
thoroughly sound basis." The general subject, 
and even this special topic of library con- 
struction, are discussed in Mr. Tedder's able 
article on "Libraries" in the Encyclopedia 
Britannica. Not to speak further of English 
authorities, is it possible that the writer has 
not seen the United States " Report on Public 
Libraries," 1876, and the ten completed volumes 
of the Library journal, which are filled with 
papers and discussions on library economics? 
As I am constantly in receipt of letters from 
England and continental Europe on the subject 
of library construction, growing out of my 
several contributions on the matter, it is a little 
remarkable that the writer of this paper has 
never heard that the attention of Americans 
" had been drawn to library economics." Mr. 
Tedder's article would have given him this 
information. 

It would have given me pleasure to speak of 
this scheme in complimentary terms, if it had 
been possible ; and to speak of it as I have has 
been an unpleasant duty. I thought, however, 
as the paper was read, that it was a duty we 



owed to ourselves and to the profession that it 
should not go forth in our proceedings without 
a frank and fearless discussion of its merits. 
Perhaps I misinterpreted the spirit of the paper; 
but I thought I detected in it a claim that with- 
out the need of further discussion, the author had 
devised the library building of the future; that 
an important question was now settled once for 
all ; and that, if we did not accept his view of the 
matter, we were challenged to state the grounds 
of our dissent. 

I feel obliged, as I have already stated, to our 
English friend for the contribution of his paper ; 
and if these remarks should ever reach him 
through the columns of the Library journal, I 
indulge the hope that he will discuss my views 
with as much freedom as I have discussed 
his. 

Mr. WHITNEY. As Mr. Magmisson is not 
here to reply to any criticism made on his 
paper I will say that I questioned him especially 
in regard to the matter of the supply of light 
for his proposed building, thinking that this 
might be an objection to his plan. He replied, 
that this being a matter of detail, and capable 
of various methods of solution, it could never 
form any difficulty approaching to anything 
like a fatal obstacle to the whole scheme, and 
that from the sections of the design it may be 
seen that this objection is, presumably, satis- 
factorily disposed of. A portion of the roof is 
run up, on either side of each passage, before 
the skylights are introduced, which is done 
with a view to distancing the skylights of any 
two parallel passages so far from each other as 
never to impair each other's lights. In a design 
only one mode of arrangement can be adopted, 
but details have, of course, the privilege of a 
variety of application and arrangement. 

In general I may say that Mr. Magmisson 
has devoted much time and thought to the 
development of his plans, and has submitted 
them to English librarians, and to architects of 
established reputation, whose favorable views 
are worthy of due consideration. 

I do not understand that Mr. Magnusson in 
the opening of his paper intends to disparage 
what has been accomplished in the direction 
of library architecture, but mainly to question 
whether those who plan libraries have suffi- 
ciently in mind the needs of the far future. In 
the examination of the plans of many libraries 
recently it has seemed to me that but few have 



PROCEEDINGS. 



165 



been built with reference to the enlargements 
which will be needed after many years. Books 
accumulate with great rapidity, and fifty years 
from now our successors may wonder why 
libraries have been built with so little thought 
of future growth. 

Considered from this point of view, the plan 
here presented, when cleared of any imperfec- 
tions it may have, may offer valuable ideas to 
those who wish to build libraries adapted to 
successive future enlargements. 

I don't see but wings will carry books just as 
far from the centre as the spirals. 

Dr. POOLE. But I don't believe in a central 
reading-room anyway. I believe in a great 
many special libraries. He can get light enough, 
but it is all skylight. We believe in side- 
light. 

Mr. CUTTER. I should like to know how, 
under this scheme, they are to get any light 
after a three-foot snow-storm. 

Mr. WHITNEY. Mr. Magnusson thinks that 
snow would not encumber the building or ob- 
scure the light. He states that the vertical sky- 
lights would be at least one-half yard, probably 
a yard, in diameter, raised to some extent above 
the walls. The snow would therefore have to fall 
very heavily if it was to materially interfere with 
the light. As to the weight upon the roof it 
would, he says, be well to have it noted that, in 
the original plan, as shown in the elevation, 
radial divisions are made in the roof for the pur- 
pose of carting the snow over the outer wall. 

Mr. CUTTER. The snow will fall upon the 
skylights as well as in the valleys between 
them, and the cost of clearing skylights and 
valleys would be considerable. 

Mr. HOOPER. I suppose it is acknowledged 
that the circle is the most convenient form. 
The objections in respect of light and heat are 
serious ; but I think this is not true in respect 
to classification. You know that if the snail 
does live in the mud the nautilus builds cham- 
bers in his shell. The real objection to the 
scheme is the hundreds of feet of wall with 
continual breaks. It will be very hard to make 
such a wall strong enough. 

COMMITTEE ON REPORT OF COOPERATIVE COM- 
MITTEE. 

Mr. DEWEY read his amendment to the vote 
as proposed by the Cooperation Committee, 
striking out after the word conference, in the 



second resolution, the words" but that the 
whole matter remain in their hands until they 
can make a final report at some future time," and 
adding " as definite a plan, etc.," ad fin. 

The amendment was accepted by the com- 
mittee, and the vote, as amended, passed as 
follows : 

Voted, That a special committee of five be 
appointed by the Chair, to consider so much of 
the report of the Cooperation Committee as 
refers to a proposed organization for cooper- 
ation in cataloging, and that to this committee 
be referred the correspondence on this subject 
submitted by the Cooperation Committee. 

Voted, That this committee report before the 
close of the present conference as definite a plan 
as practicable for the organization of an A.L.A. 
publishing section, not involving the A.L.A. 
in any financial responsibility. 

The Chair announced as committee on the 
the report of the Cooperation Committee : Mr. 
W. I. Fletcher, Miss Coe, and Messrs. W. S. 
Biscoe, W. C. Lane, and J. N. Larned. 

Mr. DEWEY. It is understood that this com- 
mittee is to report to-morrow, at latest. 

Dr. POOLE. I like to go into Mr. Dewey's 
library and see the devices, and there is nothing 
that I admire more than his electric light ar- 
rangements. And now he will tell us about 
them. 

ELECTRIC LIGHT IN LIBRARIES. 

Mr. DEWEY. At Lake George I gave some 
account of our electric lights, which is printed 
on pages 139-141 of last year's proceedings, 
and so need not be repeated here. We like 
very much our student lamps, one on each 
table. The wire is taken to the table by bur- 
rowing, i.e., cutting a channel large enuf for 
the wire lengthwise of the floor-board, lay- 
ing the wire in the bottom of this and stopping 
it with a strip of wood to match the floor. As 
soon as soiled by wear it is hard to detect 
where the wire was laid. The place of the 
table is fixt, and an elbow of iron or brass 
screwed on the bottom of two diagonally oppo- 
site legs. This leaves a bit of metal with a 
screw-hole, projecting from the leg, and two 
screws anchor the table in this position. Of 
course it can be moved at any time by simply 
turning out these two screws and breaking the 
electric connection. One of the two unscrewed 
legs is bored with a long bit and the wire 



1 66 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



carried from the floor, thru the leg to the under 
side of the table, where, with wire staples, it is 
carried to the receptacle. The main wire ends 
in a metal fixture, flush with the floor. In this 
the end of the wire coming down from the 
table-leg is inserted and the connection is 
made. 

Insted of boring the legs a narrow channel 
can be cut on the inside and the wire carried 
in this, covered with staples, without per- 
ceptibly injuring the appearance of the table. 
Our original plan was to bore a small hole, with 
rounded edges, that would not wear the silk- 
covered electric cord which runs from the re- 
ceptacle to the lamp. The lamp in the center 
of the table is as movable as any table lamp, 
the length of the cord allowing it to be placed 
anywhere on the top. We intended to put a 
small pulley and weight under the table to take 
up the slack when the lamp was standing near 
the center, but the loop of cord is so seldom in 
the way that it has not yet been done. In the 
same way, disliking to bore the center hole in 
our new oak tables, we carried the wire over 
the edge, and this has workt very well, tho not 
as neat a form as the center hole, for the 
reader now has a loose cord running over the 
edge of the table before him. 

Here, as everywhere, we found the paper 
shade, white inside and green outside, much 
better than the more costly and fragil porcelain, 
which, however, is much handsomer. This is 
not because of the economy, but to protect the 
eyes. I think Dr. Poole will, after trial, change 
his handsome glass shades for this light, cheap 
paper form which gives the eye absolute pro- 
tection. 

The best student lamp is adjustable in hight 
by a slide and thumb screw, like a German stu- 
dent lamp, but is patented and costly. If the 
simple lamp without this slide is used, care 
should be taken not to hav it too high from the 
table so that a short reader's eyes will not be 
protected. We prefer the large-size paper shade 
3ocm. in diameter at the bottom, and 2ocm. oti 
the sloping side, and a lamp high enuf so the 
bottom of this shade shall be only 25011. from 
the table top. 

Insted of this form of student lamp on the 
table, it is easy, where the ceiling can be reacht 
without expensiv scaffolding in case repairs are 
needed, to hang a wire over the place wanted, 
and attach the lamp to the end. This we saw 



in Mr. Poole's elevated reading-room on Tues- 
day. This really requires the tables to be kept 
in one place as much as the other, and does not 
allow the light to be moved to different parts 
of the table. It also vibrates in a very slight 
current of air, to the annoyance of readers, but 
it is cheaper, and the tables can be removed 
without unscrewing, &c., in case the room has 
to be cleared for an audience. We were afraid 
to risk this swinging in our reading-room, tho 
we use just this form on our fourth floor, where 
the reading-room is only 3m. [10 ft.] in hight, 
and where we use these flexible lamps also to 
light the shelves, by turning them so that the 
shade with its white lining acts as a reflector, 
and throws the light where it is pointed. 

Our most ingenious device is the ball and 
pulley for these hanging lamps. To adjust the 
hight, a sliding chandelier was used, which was 
costly and dangerous to the lamp and the 
reader's head if when the light was drawn 
down he rose suddenly, leaning over his table. 
As those interested may see in several of the 
pictures in the volume of Columbia College 
views on the table with the other Literary 
Bureau publications, we met this difficulty by 
loading, with shot, a hollow brass ball with a 
pulley on top, so as to balance exactly the 
weight of lamp and shade. The cord runs thru 
this pulley and over another, screwed in the 
ceiling wherever wanted. From this pulley 
(which can be moved redily to any point under 
which the lamp is wanted without making any 
other changes), the lamp hangs on one cord 
and the ball on the other, thus getting the 
action of a balanced window-shade. The lamp 
hangs at any point where it is put. When in 
use for the table it is pulled down near the 
book. To light the room, or get it out of the 
way, it is pusht up to the highest point. The 
device is very effectiv and cheap, and as it is my 
own and not a patent, you are more than 
welcom to it. 

We light our shelves in the reading-room gal- 
lery by fixt lights on standards at the outer 
edge of the gallery and below by brass pend- 
ants under these. The quarter-egg-shape tin 
shade throws the light on the backs of the 
books and wholly shields the reader's eyes. 
Had we not wisht these to giv the general 
light to our main reading-room we should hav 
used the long cord like Mr. Poole's attacht near 
the center of the face of shelves which it is to 



PROCEEDINGS. 



167 



light. Maximum convenience will be served by 
putting the hook on which the lamp hangs 
about four feet from the floor, where the hand 
reaches it most redily, and it is most central to 
the books above and below. Here, as in so 
many other cases, attention to som old-maidish 
details will make a great difference in practical 
working. By using a small, round tin shade 
and reflector at the bottom of the lamp, like the 
gard to a sword, the eyes are protected, the 
shelves better lighted, and chiefly the lamp is 
protected from breaking. It may be caught on 
the hook hastily and allowed to fall from the 
hand, the edge of the tin shade keeping the 
lamp from striking. Then by hanging all 
the hooks, opening the same way, the left hand 
in grasping the lamp has the thumb and finger 
just on the key in such a way that the light can 
be turned on or off by simple pressure. Thus 
the right hand is entirely free to carry or replace 
books, and the left hand will mechanically take 
the lamp from the hook, turn on the light, and 
hold it before any shelf within reach of the long 
cord, all so quickly that it seems to do itself. 
Hang the same fixtures awkwardly, and watch 
the man who " does not believe in fussing with 
little wrinkles," and see him lay down his 
books, take down the lamp with one hand, 
turn on the light with the other, pick up his 
books and replace them, and then lay down 
again those he is carrying farther, to get his 
hand free to turn the key again. 

We spent some months examining this ques- 
tion by experts, and our longer experience 
simply confirms our belief that we hav the most 
perfect artificial light yet known to science. We 
prize its great convenience, but much more its 
eye-saving qualities ; and that it neither heats 
nor renders unfit to breathe the air of our 
crowded rooms. We hav readers who work 
freely in our library who cannot read at home, 
and if it cost us much more than it does we 
should still esteem it the wisest investment we 
have yet made. For these reasons I recommend 
it strongly to libraries even of limited means. 

A MEMBER. Do you take in the expense of 
the ruin of books by gas? 

Dr. POOLE. I don't believe it is gas that 
ruins books. It is heat. 

Mr. GREEN. Doesn't gas heat? 

Mr. CRUNDEN. We have introduced in- 
candescent light as a matter of economy. 
Whether gas damages books or not, it cer- 



tainly damages ceilings, and I think there is a 
good deal of damage from gas. 

Mr. DEWEY. There is a great advantage in 
our cut-off, in that we need burn only the lights 
we are actually using at any moment. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. Before we introduced the 
electric light we had to light an alcohol torch 
in going between the shelves. 

President POOLE introduced Mr. J. W. 
SPONABLE, of Paola, Kansas, who said : 

I didn't come here to talk, but to listen. I 
have learned many things for my people. In 
respect of heat or light we are better off than 
most. We use natural gas for both, and all 
we have to do is to dig a hole in the ground 
and get plenty of good light and heat without 
smoke, odor, or expense, except for the plant, 
i.e., the expense of digging a well of say 300 
feet. 

Mr. DEWEY. Can you always find it as 
you can water, if you dig deep enough ? 

Mr. SPONABLE. Almost as certainly as 
water. 

Mr. FLETCHER. Over how large a section 
does this gas region extend? 

Mr. SPONABLE. About ten miles. 

Dr. POOLE. Is there much interest in public 
libraries in Kansas ? 

Mr. SPONABLE. I think more than any- 
where else. 

Dr. POOLE. Are they mostly public or 
proprietary libraries ? 

Mr. SPONABLE. Public. We have a very 
good law. First, we vote to have a free library ; 
then twelve trustees are appointed. 

Dr. POOLE. Is there ever any opposition ? 

Mr. SPONABLE. It is always unanimous 
when there is a chance for a library. There 
is no opposition. We would like to have you 
meet with us. We will entertain you as cor- 
dially as anywhere. 

Mr. LARNED. I would like to know if any 
one has tried the Weston system. 

Mr. CUTTER. We have been using it for a 
couple of months. We find it costs about 
twenty per cent, more than gas. 

Mr. BERRY. We have been scared out of it 
in our citv, on account of the danger from fire. 

HEAT REGULATION. 

Mr. CUTTER. We have had for some months 
the Johnson heat regulator, and like it. The 
action is this : A tongue made of two sub- 



1 68 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



stances that have a different sensibility to heat 
is suspended so that as the room becomes 
warm it curves to one side, and, making a con- 
nection with the end of an electric wire, sends 
off a message; when the room cools it makes 
connection with the opposite point and sends 
off its message on the other wire. These wires 
run to a metal globe in which a magnet plays 
in a groove. When one message comes the 
magnet is attracted round till it covers a vent 
into the outer air, and at the same time un- 
covers the end of a pipe filled with compressed 
air; the air fills the globe, and, inflating an 
India-rubber ball attached to one side, moves a 
piston, which closes the window or ventilator, 
or hot-air register, or steam-pipe to which it is 
attached. The opposite contact attracts the 
magnet to shut the compressed air-pipe, and 
open the vent so that the air escapes, the ball 
collapses and lets the piston down, when a 
spring opens the window or register. The 
apparatus is so arranged that when the venti- 
lators in a room are opened the registers are 
closed, or vice versa. By this device we have 
kept our rooms within a degree of 70 all this 
spring. The cost was $523.60 for nine large 
rooms. 

Dr. LINDERFELT. We used the Johnson 
regulator all winter with most complete satis- 
faction. We have four of the regulators in the 
two rooms. One room we kept at a tempera- 
ture of 68, and the other at 70. We are very 
much exposed on the west, and before we in- 
troduced this system we had constant trouble ; 
but now it is perfectly satisfactory. The saving 
of coal is very remarkable. We never used 
less than eighty to eighty-four tons before. 
Last year we had a considerable additional 
space to heat, but used less than seventy tons, 
and were very much better heated than we had 
ever been before. The cost of the whole ap- 
paratus was about $300. I don't believe the 
cost can be more than $50 or $60 for each 
thermostat. It can be used in the same way 
for a ventilator. The larger part of the cost is 
for the automatic pump. 

Some one having said that the economy of 
fuel seemed inconsiderable, as last winter was 
mild, Mr. CUTTER said, I did not put the ap- 
paratus in to save fuel but to save or at least to 
lengthen life. Our reading-room was often 
very uncomfortable, and in the evening was 
unfit to stay in more than half an hour at a 



time. Since we have had the regulator the air 
there has been as good as it ever is in a city. 
The windows are not let down as ordinarily, 
but are allowed to fall in from the top, so that 
the cold air striking against an inclined plane 
is given a direction upward and then along 
the ceiling, and diffuses itself gradually through 
the room instead of falling in a cataract on 
somebody's head. Our readers, many of them 
old men, and sensitive to draughts, are much 
pleased with the change. 

Dr. POOLE. I have had this put into my 
house. It works perfectly. And a good point 
about it is, if you want to change the temper- 
ature all you have to do is to move a little 
switch. 

Prof. DAVIS read his paper on 

TEACHING BIBLIOGRAPHY IN COLLEGES. 

{.Seep. 91.) 
Mr. BARTON said, before reading his paper on 

THE FIRST LIBRARIANS' ASSOCIATION, 1853 
(see p. 19), 

we have in our library specimens of the Mud 
catalog which Mr. Poole mentioned, with 
plates from which they were printed, and the 
correspondence between Messrs. Jewett and 
Haven upon the subject. 

I would heartily second the suggestion al- 
ready made, that biographical sketches of such 
early leaders in our profession as Jewett, Haven, 
and Cogswell may find a place in the published 
proceedings. 

Our President, in his admirable opening 
address, so fittingly, and, it is proper that I 
-should add, so unexpectedly trenched upon 
my preserves the subject-matter of the Con- 
vention of 1853 and its members that little 
remains but to thank him for his reminiscences, 
and to add for our printed record some of the 
resolutions there so wisely adopted. 

After the reading Mr. FLETCHER said, "It 
seems to fall to my lot to point out ' fatal 
defects.' I suggest that the fatal defect of the 
Association of 1853 was too much unanimity." 

Mr. VAN NAME read the 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS. 

Mr. DEWEY moved the election of the nomi- 
nees. Carried. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



169 



MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 

Mr. CUTTER. I had extra copies struck off 
of the Report of the Transliteration Commit- 
tee made at the Lake George Conference, and 
shall do the same with Notation of Greek and 
Latin authors. I will gladly send them to any 
one who will send me his address. 

Mr. MERRILL. And stamps for the postage. 

Mr. DEWEY read an invitation from Carl 
Doerflinger, Custodian and Secretary of the 
Milwaukee Museum, to visit the museum. 

"In case the regular hours should not be 
found convenient, any other time of day can 
be chosen upon previous notification. I shall 
deem it an honor and a pleasure to receive 
your colleagues at this younger sister-institu- 
tion of the Public Library." 

Mr. DEWEY read the letter accompanying the 
exhibit of the Leipzig binders, and called atten- 
tion to their work, which had provoked favor- 
able comment from the librarians present l : 

" LEIPZIG, June, 1886. 

"DEAR SIR, The unfavorable opinion 
about Leipzig bindings pronounced at the Lake 
George Conference by several members of the 
A.L.A., has induced the undersigned book- 
binders and booksellers of Leipzig to ask the 
permission for exhibiting at the next meeting, 
to be held July 7, at Milwaukee, a few spe- 
cimens of bindings ; this permission being 
gracefully granted by the President of the 
A.L.A., they have the honor to solicit your 
inspection and examination of the bindings 
exhibited. They beg to remark that it is their 
intention to exhibit nothing else but plain li- 
brary bindings, employing for them the best 
materials but avoiding all superfluous luxury, 
and that, of course, binding can be executed 
in every other style or color wanted. 

" Trusting that the present small exhibition 
which, of course, could not contain but a very 
limited number of volumes, will suffice to 
change advantageously the opinions regarding 
Leipzig bindings, the undersigned have the 
honor to be, dear sir, 

"Yours very respectfully, 
GUSTAV FRITZSCHE, 
JULIUS HAGER, 



C Bookbinders. 



OTTO HARRASSOWITZ, 1 
K. F. KOEHLER, / 



Mr. DEWEY read various minor notices. 

Mr. FLETCHER called attention to the sheets 
of a catalog of the Nevins Library, of Me- 
thuen, Mass., and also to the admirable new 
catalog of the Milwaukee Library. 

Mr. DEWEY called attention to the catalogue 
of the Fitchburg Public Library, and to various 
book-rests and other devices exhibited. 

Mr. LINDERFELT. The type we have used 
in our catalogue was prepared with a good 
deal of care. If any one would like to use 
type from our matrices, I should be glad to 
furnish it for the mere cost of founding. 

The new catalog 
of the Milwaukee public library 
is printed in brevier and nonpareil type, 
manufactured by Barnhart Bros. & Spindler 
of Chicago. For the body type their " Koman, 
Series No. 7" is used, and for authors' names 
their ' ' Caledonian " . 

For both kinds of type in each size special 
matrices for producing the so-called accented 
letters were made, owned by the library, 
none of which can be procured from the 
type-founders of the country. These letters 
are as follows : 

Brevier. 



Nonpareil. 



Booksellers" 



1 See Library journal, n : 75, 76. 



For the convenience of other libraries intending 
to print catalog's, the Milwaukee public library will 
give the use of its matrices free of charge and 
furnish on application the required accented letters 
in any quantity for the cost of the type merely. 
As the faces have purposely been selected among 
those in current use, there should be no difficulty 
in procuring type to match these special letters in 
any part of the country. 

Other matrices of accented letters to complete 
the series, including italics, will be made in the 
near future. 

(This paragrnf contains samples of all the type 
tmployed -except italics, and headings.) 



Mr. LARNED. If any one has not examined 
the Catalog of the Milwaukee Library, it 
will be to his advantage to do so. I don't 
know any catalog so complete and admirable. 
It is such fine work that it deserves a vote 
of thanks. 

Mr. CUTTER. I say ditto to Mr. Lamed, 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



and also to Mr. Linderfelt. I shall be glad to 
extend to librarians the same offer that he has 
made in respect of the use of matrices. Those 
made for the catalog of the Boston Athe- 
naeum are at their service. 

The catalog of the Boston Athenseum was printed 
in brevier and nonpareil type made by the Boston 
Type Foundry. The special letters cast for the 
Athenaeum were : 

Brevier. 

it a !l A ii 5 EEeEEeeee'g i i i' 6 o o 6 6 o u 

iiuiju n N n 1 6 s z 

catalog (heavy-faced} type : aaaeeei 66 ii 5 5 

Nonpareil. 

a a U a a a ii a 6 fi 6 f <: ^, e fi e ii <j e i i 'i i i 660606 & 

uiiiluu CCQ i nN s z 

catalog (heavy-faced) type : a a a e e e i O o o fi <j 

Mr. DEWEY read a telegram from Gen. Eaton, 
Commissioner of Education : " Library data 
now collecting; likely to occupy one hundred 
and ten pages of annual report, and cannot 
probably be completed before last of August. 
Impossible to be with you." 

Mr. FLETCHER. I move that we request 
that, if possible, the statistics on libraries be 
printed in a separate edition. Carried. 

Mr. WHITNEY. This will form a conven- 
ient supplement to the Report of The Bureau 
of Education, for 1876. 

The motion was carried. Meeting adjourned. 



FIFTH SESSION. 

(JULY 9, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.) 

President POOLE in the chair. 

The meeting was called to order at 2 : 45, 
P.M. 

Mr. DEWEY read a letter from Mr. Yates, of 
the Leeds (Eng.) Public Library: 

"JUNE II, 1886. 

"I very much regret that, through family 
sickness, I am unable to attend the American 
meeting of Librarians, to be held at Milwaukee 
on the 7th of next month. 

"I think it may interest you, however, if I 
give a brief epitome of the work done here 
during the last decade. 

" In the first place, I would draw your atten- 
tion to the meeting of the Library Association 
of the United Kingdom in 1877, when I 



broached the question of distributing to the 
provincial libraries the duplicate, and, in some 
cases, the triplicate copies of the books con- 
tained in the British Museum. The answer 
made on laying the matter before the meeting 
was to the effect that they found it useful to 
have duplicate copies in case of one being in 
use or at the binder's. I was afterwards in- 
formed by a member of the staff of the Museum 
that the duplicate copies were not classified or 
catalogued, but were stored away in a lumber- 
room, monopolizing the space required for the 
current stock. 

" I am glad to see, after all these years, that 
the trustees are about to make some conces- 
sions in the above matter. 

" In 1879 a deputation from this committee 
waited upon the late Lord Frederick Cavendish 
at the Treasury offices, with the object of peti- 
tioning government to grant to the libraries of 
provincial towns copies of government publi- 
cations which were being sold as waste, such 
as historical records, ordnance and geological 
surveys, Challenger Expedition Reports, etc. 
His Lordship remarked, at the close of the in- 
terview, that he would submit the proposition 
to the Lords of the Treasury; but he feared 
that the petition would not be acceded to, and 
he himself was of the opinion that Mechanics' 
Institutes, and other public institutions, had 
equal claims upon them. I ventured to call 
his Lordship's attention, in the first place, to 
the fact that Leeds had spent 40,000 on its 
town library during the last ten years, which 
sum was more than all the Mechanics' Insti- 
tutes in the Kingdom had spent upon their 
book-shelves during the same period, and that if 
their Lordships would grant our request I could 
guarantee that the visitors to the Mechanics' 
Institutes, etc., would be the first to appreciate 
and utilize the public documents entrusted to us. 
Again, the space at the disposal of the Me- 
chanics' Institutes was very limited, they being 
only able to find accommodation for the most 
popular books. The outcome of this interview 
was the appointment of a commission of in- 
quiry. The ultimate result was that we re- 
ceived a set of the record publications, consist- 
ing of 450 volumes. 

"I understand that the publications named 
above have been distributed indiscriminately. 
Sets have been presented to small libraries 
where accommodation is deficient, and in other 



PROCEEDINGS. 



171 



cases have been presented to libraries not sup- 
ported by rates, and to which the public have no 
access. If the Treasury authorities had taken 
the advice of the Library Association, and 
presented the records to such libraries as the 
Association should have named, the above 
mistake would have been avoided. 

" In August, 1885, a deputation consisting 
of members of our committee, and also of the 
Library Association, waited upon Lord Iddles- 
leigh, with the same object in view as the pre- 
vious one. The result of this interview was, 
that, on and after the 1st of January, 1887, all 
government publications should be supplied to 
the accredited agents of public libraries, less 
25 per cent, discount of the published price. 
At present 10 per cent, is allowed to the trade 
only. This will enable us to procure them at 
15 per cent, cheaper than the booksellers sup- 
ply them at. The above percentage (10 per 
cent.) explains the difficulty of the student in 
having orders executed through booksellers, 
who, not receiving what they deem a sufficient 
percentage, often describe them as o. p. (out 
of print). 

" I now come to what I may call the ' back- 
wash ' of our progress. At the American 
meeting of librarians, in 1876, at Philadelphia, 
the first question discussed was on the subject of 
the name given to our town libraries. I regret 
to find that I omitted to make mention of the 
discussion in the Library journal. Unfortu- 
nately for us, our committee have thought fit to 
attach to our title the word ' free,' after having 
for twelve years worked the library successfully 
under the old one. Though obliged to have 
the word 'free' attached to our title, I have 
pointed out to newly-appointed librarians the 
evil consequences arising from the use of the 
word, and am pleased to say that at Newcastle, 
Halifax, Cheltenham, and Oldham, the word 
has not been adopted. 

" Formerly it was the custom to allow any 
Leeds rate-payer to be guarantor for a person 
not residing in the borough. This boon was 
well appreciated, many intelligent farmers, 
etc., availing" themselves of the privilege thus 
afforded on their visits to the Leeds markets. 
Our committee have, however, passed a reso- 
lution to the effect that no person not residing 
within the borough shall be entitled to borrow 
books. I find my idea has been properly ex- 
pressed in the conclusion, and must say that 



many indirect rate-payers have gone to Brad- 
ford, etc., to exchange their books and make 
purchases. 

"I hope you will have a pleasant and useful 
meeting, and regret inability to be with you. 
"With very kind regards for all, 

"I remain yours fraternally, 

"JAMES YATES, 
"P. M. 304 and 3d princip. chapter 304." 

Mr. DEWEY read a letter from Mr. Horace P. 
Smith, and a slip giving a sketch of the life of 
the late Lloyd P. Smith : 

" GERMANTOWN, July 3, 1886. 
" MR. MELVILLE DEWEY : 

" MY DEAR SIR, I have the sad duty of in- 
forming you of the death of my brother Lloyd 
P. Smith, which occurred yesterday. A cold, as 
he thought, settled some months ago on the 
bladder, and the difficulty and pain steadily in- 
creased till at last the suffering was intense, 
with acute paroxysms at decreasing intervals. 
This agony reduced his strength and emaciated 
him, so that at last he passed away most un- 
expectedly and suddenly in what his physicians 
said was comparable to a spell of fainting. 

"My dear sir, you are about to meet other 
gentlemen of his and your guild, and I cannot, 
after witnessing so recently his sufferings, 
but give a word of warning to you and through 
you to the other Librarians of the dangers of a 
too sedentary life. In doing so I also express 
the feelings of his wife, now widowed, as the 
physician assures her, from a cause perhaps 
preventable. I call to mind one literary gen- 
tleman who pursued his avocation by writing 
at a desk breast high, so as to avoid the con- 
gestion incident to the pressure upon and 
heating of these delicate parts from prolonged 
sitting. During my brother's sickness a friend 
counselled him that if he must sit he should 
have an open-work or ventilating seat to his 
chair rather than a stuffed one. 

" I am sure the wives and friends of the Li- 
brarians would say I am justified in giving my 
warning in such plain terms if they knew the 
desolation of my brother's house, which comes 
all too soon by one or two decades. 

" Neither need I excuse myself for enclosing 
a little newspaper slip telling some of the in- 
cidents of his life, nor even for copying an 
extract from a letter (received as I write this) 



172 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



which gives most felicitous expression to his 
worth and work. 

"Without other excuse than that you appre- 
ciated my brother, 

" I am your friend, 

" HORACE J. SMITH." 

The extract from the letter was : 

" He was a hereditary librarian, but he justi- 
fied his birthright. 

" He found himself, by the fact of his birth, 
the custodian of the city's treasure-house ; he 
left it richer and richer every year of his ex- 
istence, so his life-work was nobly done. 

" Within its walls his memory will live on 
from generation to generation." 

The obituary from a newspaper was : 

" Lloyd P. Smith, Librarian and Treasurer of 
the Library Company of Philadelphia, died at 
his home, No. 4703 Germantown avenue, yes- 
terday morning, aged 64 years. His health 
had been unusually good until a few months 
ago. He was born February 6, 1822. His 
father, John Jay Smith, his immediate prede- 
cessor as Librarian of the Philadelphia Com- 
pany, placed him in Haverford College, from 
which he graduated at the age of 14 years. He 
received a business training in the dry-goods 
house of Learning & Co., and, while yet a very 
young man, began the publication of law- 
books. This he followed up by publishing 
' Smith's Weekly Volume,' a magazine which 
was credited with being ' a select circulating 
library for town and country, containing the 
best popular literature.' The publication be- 
gan in 1845, and took the place of ' Waldie's 
Select Circulating Library,' which started, 
with John Jay Smith as editor, in 1832. In 
1849 Lloyd P. Smith became assistant to his 
father as Librarian of the Philadelphia Com- 
pany, and upon the resignation of the latter, in 
1851, after twenty-two years of service in the 
position, he succeeded to the office of Librarian. 
The library was then, and since 1799 had been, 
located at Fifth and Library streets. By the 
conditions of the will of James Logan, which 
were validated by an act of the Legislature, ap- 
proved March 31, 1792, Mr. Smith, who was a 
direct descendant, in the fourth generation, of 
that distinguished Quaker and Deputy Gov- 



ernor of the Province, became the eighth he- 
reditary librarian of the Loganian Library, 
then and now held by the Philadelphia Com- 
pany in trust. He also had supervision of the 
Ridgway Library, of which the Philadelphia 
Company is trustee. During his long steward- 
ship he translated many works. As a compiler 
and classifier he also rendered valuable and ef- 
ficient service. For several years he was the 
editor of ' Lippincott's Magazine.' He fre- 
quently contributed to periodicals, and many 
of his literary productions are now registered 
at the library. Among others of these are 
' Remarks on the Existing Materials for Form- 
ing a Just Estimate of the Character of Napo- 
leon the First,' and ' Remarks on the Apology 
for Imperial Usurpation Contained in Napo- 
leon's Life of Caesar.' He prepared a paper 
on ' The Classification of Books ' in 1882, 
and compiled an elaborate ' Bibliography of 
that Ancient and Honorable Order, the Society 
of the Cincinnati,' in 1885. A speech at the 
inauguration of the new hall of the Pennsyl- 
vania Historical Society, of which he was a 
member, and a paper on ' Symbolism and 
Science,' are also among his works. 

"During the war Mr. Smith took an active 
part with James M. Thomas, Frederic Collins, 
and others, in collecting money for the relief 
of the loyal people of Eastern Tennessee, and 
went in person to distribute the funds. He 
also enlisted as a three months' volunteer, and 
assisted in the defence of the nation during the 
Gettysburg campaign. 

" He married Hannah E., daughter of Isaac 
C.Jones, an East India merchant, and lived for 
many years on the estate of the latter at Rock- 
land, now in Fairmount Park. He was a lead- 
ing member of the National Association of 
Librarians, a trustee of old Laurel Hill Ceme- 
tery, and one of the originators and formerly 
treasurer of the West Laurel Hill Company. 
He was also a member of St. Luke's Protestant 
Episcopal Church, in Germantown." 

Dr. PEIRCE. I move that the Secretary be 
requested to reply to this letter of Mr. Smith, 
and express to him our sympathy in his loss. 

Mr. MERRILL, for the Committee on 

TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING, 

reported in favor of the Thousand Islands, and 
the second week in September, and moved that 



PROCEEDINGS. 



the Secretary be instructed to thank the people 
of Denver for their invitation. 

Mr. CRUNDEN moved acceptance of the re- 
port. It was adopted. 

Mr. WINSOR, for the Executive Committee, 
reported the following 

OFFICERS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. 

President. 

William F. Poole, Librarian Chicago Public 
Library. 

Vice-Presidents. 

A. R. Spofford, Ln. of Congress, Washington. 
M. Chamberlain, Ln. Boston Public Library. 
Charles A. Cutter, Ln. Boston Athenaeum. 
William E. Foster, Ln. Providence Public 
Library. 

Secretary. 

Melvil Dewey, Chief Librarian Columbia 
College, New York. 

Asst. Secretary. 

E. C. Richardson, Librarian Hartford Theol. 
Seminary. 

Treasurer. 

H. T. Carr, Ln. Grand Rapids (Mich.) 
Public Library. 

Finance Committee. 

James L. Whitney, Asst. Ln. Public Library, 
Boston. 

C. W. Merrill, Librarian Cincinnati Li- 
brary. 

George W. Harris, Acting Librarian Cor- 
nell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 

Cooperation Committee. 

William I. Fletcher, Librarian Amherst Col- 
lege, Amherst, Mass. 

W. S. Biscoe, Catalog Librarian, Columbia 
College, N.Y. 

Miss E. M. Coe, Librarian New York Free 
Circulating Library. 

Standing Committee. 

R: R. Bowker, of the Library journal, 31 
Park Row, New York. 

William T. Peoples, Librarian Mercantile 
Library, New York. 

R. B. Poole, Librarian Y.M.C.A., New 
York. 



Councillors. 

Justin Winsor, Librarian Harvard University, 
Cambridge, Mass., President A.L.A., 1876-85. 

H. A. Homes, Librarian N. Y. State Library, 
Albany. 

E. M. Barton, Librarian American Antiqua- 
rian Society, Worcester, Mass. 

Miss T. H. West, Deputy Librarian Public 
Library, Milwaukee. 

John S. Billings, Librarian National Medical 
Library, Washington. 

John Eaton, U.S. Commissioner of Educa- 
tion, Washington. 

John Edmands, Librarian Mercantile Library, 
Philadelphia. 

Daniel C. Gilman, President Johns Hopkins 
University, Baltimore. 

Samuel S. Green, Librarian Worcester Free 
Public Library. 

R. A. Guild, Librarian Brown University, 
Providence, R.I. 

Miss C. M. Hewins, Librarian Hartford Li- 
brary, Hartford, Conn. 

Miss Hannah P. James, Librarian Free Pub- 
lic Library, Newton, Mass. 

K. August Linderfelt, Milwaukee Public Li- 
brary. 

Addison Van Name, Yale College, New 
Haven, Conn. 

R. C. Davis, Librarian of the University of 
Michigan, Ann Arbor. 

J. N. Lamed, Superintendent Buffalo Library. 

W. H. Brett, Librarian Public Library, 
Cleveland. 

F. M. Crunden, Librarian Public Library, 
St. Louis. 

The point was raised that Messrs. Winsor 
and Larned were not on the Executive Com- 
mittee. The article of the constitution was 
read, and showed that the Executive Committee 
included, as a matter of course, the five original 
appointees. After some discussion the matter 
was laid on the table. 

Mr. MERRILL. I move that it is the sense 
of the meeting that the President shall not be 
reflected twice in succession. 

It was so expressed. 

Mr. WOODRUFF read his paper on 

RELATION OF UNIVERSITY SEMINARIES TO 
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES. 

{See p. 21.) 



174 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Mr. FLETCHER called for Mr. Winsor to tell 
what he had been doing in this line. (Ap- 
plause.) 

Mr. WINSOR. We have been carrying on 
this method at Harvard for some time with 
excellent results. In history especially, the 
papers of three of the members read before 
the American Historical Association show 
what has been done. 

Mr. FOSTER. I do not know whether any 
one is present to speak for the Boston Public 
Library ; but I was struck by the reference of 
Mr. Woodruff, in his very interesting paper, 
to the manner in which the principles he has 
discussed may be carried into effect in a public 
library, as well as in connection with a univer- 
sity library. If not, I should be glad to call 
attention to the way in which these principles 
actually have been, for some time past, carried 
into effect in that library. As you enter the 
Lower Hall of the Boston Public Library you 
observe on the extreme left a desk at which is 
an officer who, it is true, has other work to 
occupy his hands in case he should for a 
moment be disengaged, but the real purpose 
of whose presence there is to assist readers. 
Not in any perfunctory manner, nor in any 
unwilling or grudging spirit, is this assistance 
rendered ; but it is rather the studied attempt 
of a sympathetic, cultivated mind to find out 
just what assistance is needed, and then to 
render it in the most perfect manner. It is 
exceedingly interesting to stand, as I have 
done, for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time, 
by the side of this officer, and to observe the 
wide variety of questions, the great difference 
in the classes of readers applying, the extraor- 
dinary scope which this assistance takes. This 
is only one instance in which the ideas so ad- 
mirably advocated in this paper have been put 
in practice. I wish to express, also, Mr. Presi- 
dent, the very great interest with which I 
have listened to the paper which has been 
read. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I have quoted, in my report 
on aids and guides, largely from Mr. Whitney 
and Miss James. Mr. Whitney says they have 
five " steerers " in Bates Hall. 

Mr. WHITNEY. We have done a great deal, 
to be sure ; but, for a wealthy library, I feel that 
it is our weakness not to be able to do more. 
I have felt the advantage which university 
libraries have over all public libraries, e.g., 



in working up special bibliographies. Such 
works as Prof. Adams's " Manual of histori- 
cal literature," it would almost be impossi- 
ble to compile amid the drive of a public 
library. 

Mr. GREEN. In my library there are six 
whom every one is at liberty to call on at all 
times. 

Mr. GREEN. I have often thought it would 
be a great advantage for you to have a man to 
meet any one coming into Bates Hall, and 
direct him. 

Dr. PEIRCE. I don't see how this relates to 
the subject of the paper. The library with 
which I am connected stands in just this 
relation suggested in the paper. The work 
is under the direction of an officer in the 
institution. I have never seen so intelligent 
an interest in reading as there is at Wellesley 
College. Each teacher goes with her classes, 
and aids them to find what they want. 
The result is that the young ladies not only 
become familiar with the curriculum, but famil- 
iar with bibliography and the carrying out of 
a broader culture. 

Mr. DEWEY. We have also at Wellesley a 
system of topic-books which might be used 
elsewhere to advantage. They are like shelf- 
sheets in binders, and the professor in each 
department notes the advice to be given on 
reading books, articles, references, and notes. 
This topic-book remains in the library except 
when removed for revision or additions, and 
gives to all interested full and valuable notes on 
each topic treated. At Columbia we have on each 
side of the main entrance a reference librarian, 
whose duty is to aid readers. In their absence 
others occupy their desks, and as far as possible 
perform their duties. We esteem this refer- 
ence work second to none in importance, and 
it is growing in extent and appreciation con 
stantly. 

Mr. FLETCHER reported in behalf of the 

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE REPORT OF THE 
COOPERATION COMMITTEE. 

The special committee to whom was referred 
so much of the report of the Cooperation Com- 
mittee as refers to a proposed organization for 
cooperation in cataloging respectfully report 
the following resolution : 

Voted, That a section of the American Li- 
brary Association be organized for the purpose 



PROCEEDINGS. 



175 



of securing the preparation and printing of 
cooperative indexes, catalogs, and bibliograph- 
ical guides. 

If this vote be passed, the committee are pre- 
pared with a further recommendation, that all 
those here present, who have signed the postal- 
card blank issued by the Cooperation Commit- 
tee, or who are prepared to signify their accept- 
ance of its general tenor, meet in this hall at 
9 o'clock, promptly, to-morrow morning, at 
which time the committee hope to offer a plan 
of organization with as definite indication as 
can be given of what it is hoped may be at- 
tempted by the organization at once. 

The report was accepted and the resolutions 
adopted. 

Mr. FLETCHER announced a special meeting 
of those interested at 9 A.M. on Saturday. 1 

To give time for this meeting, it was moved 
by Mr. Fletcher, and carried, that the Saturday 
morning session begin at 10 o'clock. 

Mr. UTLEY read his paper on 

RELATION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO THE 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 

{Seep. 103.) 

Dr. PEIRCE, rising to read Miss James' paper, 
said : 

The criticism has been made on the Boston 
schools that scholars go forth into life without 
breadth of cultivation. In our schools, at New- 
ton, we propose, by a method which is em- 
bodied in the paper of Miss James, which I am 
about to read, to bridge over the gulf between 
the schools and life. Miss James visited every 
school and met the teachers, and it is wonder- 
ful to see how much enthusiasm has been 
aroused. 

Dr. Peirce then read Miss JAMES' paper on 

COOPERATION OF THE NEWTON FREE LIBRARY 
WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1885-6. 

(See p. 26.) 

Mr. HOOPER, with a brief apology for the 
nature of the paper, read his paper on 

HOBBIES IN LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION. 

(See p. 27.) 
1 For proceedings of this meeting see Appendix I. 



BINDING. 

Mr. WHITNEY. Will Mr. Hooper tell us 
something about the sample of binding from 
his library, which I see on the table, and give 
us an account of how that bindery is con- 
ducted ? 

Mr. HOOPER. The circumstances under 
which we inaugurated our bindery were so 
exceptional that some preliminary explanation 
is necessary. All our binding was done by 
contract until Jan. i, 1885. The contract 
prices were, I think, as low as any, and the 
work fully as good. 

A young binder, who had been employed for 
four or five years by our contractor, and who 
had been trained especially on the library work, 
bought out a small bindery, and started in busi- 
ness for himself. Times were dull, and we 
arranged with him to move his machinery and 
tools into the library, and take care of all our 
work, we supplying him with all necessary 
material and help, and paying him a regular 
monthly salary; he having the privilege of 
doing what extra work he could after six 
o'clock. This agreement was for six months, 
as an experiment, from Jan. i, 1885, and 
has proved so satisfactory to both parties that 
no change has been made or desired, on either 
side. We have been able to make a fair test, 
for eighteen months, of what a library can do 
by running its own bindery, .and were able to 
try the experiment without any outlay at first 
for plant. The bindery was established in the 
repair-room at the back of the book-room, 
easily accessible to the shelves, and was no ad- 
ditional expense for rent or fuel, and but very 
little for light. By this arrangement, having 
the work done under our own eyes, we were 
able to dispense with one attendant whose 
whole time was occupied in preparing work for 
the bindery, collating, making schedules of in- 
structions, checking off work, etc. Here was 
a direct saving of a $500 salary to begin 
with. 

With the assistance of a sewing-girl ($5 a 
week) and a small boy ($1-50 to $2) to tear 
books apart, cut paper and corners, shove and 
twist strings, and other odd time-saving little 
jobs for the binder, we have had no trouble 
in keeping up with the work; occasionally, 
about twice a year, when there is a rush 
of magazines for binding, calling in extra 
sewing help for a week or two. 



176 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Next, as to material. We find it better to 
use "bock" for ordinary books, for several 
reasons. It is cheap, costing from $9 to $11 
per dozen skins, and we have found by experi- 
ence that it generally wears out the book; i.e., 
we can keep on tearing apart and resewing a 
book, putting it back into the same cover, 
until the paper will hold together no longer, 
and still the leather will be firm and good. 
Any leather as tough as this is good enough 
for ordinary books, and to use a more dura- 
ble and expensive material would be sheer 
waste. 

A MEMBER. What is bock, and what is 
morocco ? 

Mr. HOOPER. Bock is an imitation morocco 
made of sheep-skin. Genuine moroccos are 
goat-skins. But few of the so-called genuine 
moroccos are anything but sheep-skins, pre- 
pared in different ways; the care and time 
taken in their preparation, and the materials 
(especially the various manures) used in their 
tanning, making the difference in quality. I 
think that all the "French moroccos" are 
sheep-skins. 

A MEMBER. What is the relative cost? 

Mr. HOOPER. Bock averages from $9 to 
$11 per dozen skins. The leather on this 
sample in my hand a Russia red bock 
I bought in a job lot of several dozens at $7.50 
per dozen, an exceptional bargain, perhaps. 
Imitation and French moroccos cost from $13 
to $17 per dozen, and genuine moroccos from 
$20 to $35 per dozen. The bock skins are a 
little smaller, on an average, than the mo- 
roccos. We have discarded leather corners for 
general bindings, and use parchment. When 
it is thoroughly dry it is hard as iron, and 
will, as you see, easily dent the wood in this 
table without hurting itself. These corners are 
much more durable than the leather. We buy 
the parchment at the tannery, where they save 
the thin scraps for us, for about 75 cts. per 
pound, and four or five pounds will last us a 
year. Five cents' worth will supply corners for 
a large number of books. 

You will be surprised, perhaps, to see how 
little it has cost to bind the sample in my hand. 
It is a i6mo, bound in Russia red bock, parch- 
ment corners, and paper sides, title, author, 
shelf-mark, and imprint on back in gilt, back 
blind-tooled, sewed on three strings, and laced. 
Let us estimate : 



Boy tears apart 30 to 50 per day, $2 

per week i cent. 

Girl sews 25 to 30 per day, $5 per 
week 3 cents. 

Stock, leather, 25 backs per skin, at 
$7.50 per doz., parchment, thread, 
boards, and paper . . . 3i " 

Binder, $60 per month ($2.30 per 
day), and boy (33 cts.), will finish 
from 20 to 25 per day, say . . n " 



This is what this book has actually cost us to 
bind ; but it must be remembered that this in- 
cludes no estimate for rent, fuel, taxes, light, 
interest on investment (we have none), nor 
the master's profit on workman's wages and 
labor, and all other incidental items which 
every man carrying on a business has to meet, 
and must make his living out of. 

Mr. POOLE. It seems to me that there must 
be some mistake. We pay 36 cents for binding 
such a book as this, and the work is not nearly 
as well done as this sample. 

Mr. HOOPER. This is not a "show" 
sample, gotten up expressly for exhibition, 
like some Leipzig bindings I see on the table. 
I picked it out from quite a large number 
finished just the evening I left home, as an 
average sample, not noticing that it had a gilt 
top, probably to match a set. We always 
sprinkle edges and top, except for special work. 

A MEMBER. Are not your wages very low? 

Mr. HOOPER. I think they are, as com- 
pared with other places. $15 a week is the 
regular pay of a binder or finisher in Indian- 
apolis, and almost any sewing-girl is glad to 
get steady work at $5. Our wages are quite up 
to the mark as compared with other establish- 
ments in the city. 

A MEMBER. Do you use other leathers 
besides bock and morocco? 

Mr. HOOPER. Yes. Sheep, calf, russia 
(or rather American cowhide), without the 
" smell," which can be easily supplied by rub- 
bing the flesh-side of the leather with a mixture 
of fish-oil and birch-bark oil (about ten parts to 
one). We seldom use roan, a poor skin 
generally, at least we have not found it as 
durable as the " bock." 

Mr. DEWEY. I agree with Dr. Poole that 
there must be some mistake in Mr. Hooper's 



PROCEEDINGS. 



177 



estimates. Binders in New York cannot be 
hired for less than $75 to $So a month. This 
is a matter that nearly all of us have experi- 
mented upon, with about the same conclusion, 

that it does not pay most libraries to run 
their own binderies. 

Mr. WHITNEY. I don't see why it should 
not. We had our catalogue cards printed by 
outside contract at an average cost of about 30 
cents per title. We employed a printer within 
the building with the result that they cost us 
about half that sum. I think that a large library 
may be able to save money by a bindery within 
the building. We have such a bindery. 

Mr. HOOPER. I wish to repeat and empha- 
size the fact that this book, in the first place, 
is a small one, the actual material was cheap, 

cheaper than it can be bought usually, 
and my figures do not include heat, rent, light, 
interest on investment, profit on the materials 
and work, and many other things. If these 
were included, with an allowance for such of 
my own time spent in personal supervision 
and direction, the result would, of course, be 
much higher. We have an exceptionally good 
and faithful man, as much interested in the 
success of the work as I myself am. Besides, 
we have been working under exceptionally 
favorable circumstances. 

Under our old contract our work last year 

would have cost us about . . $i,Soo oo 

Add salary of one attendant saved . 500 oo 

$2,300 oo 
The actual cost to us for wages and 

material was about . . . 1,30000 



And we saved about 



. $1,000 oo 



besides the important fact that we were able 
to get our books back upon the shelves in from 
one to three weeks instead of the same number 
of months. It is right to say, however, that 
under the old contract a higher-priced leather 
would have been used for some of the work. 1 

1 1 give a balance-sheet of the library work for year 
ending June 30, 1886: 

Wages $,,065 38 

Stock, On hand July i, 1885 . . . . $5000 
Invoices for year 317 06 

$367 06 
Stock on hand July i, i SS6 no oo 

257 06 

Total cost for year $1,322 44 



We are abundantly satisfied with our experi- 
ment, and the extra care and trouble devolving 
upon the librarian have been amply repaid. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. The secret lies in the young 
man at $2 a day. I don't believe you will keep 
him at that 

Mr. DEWEY. I advise you to keep the Pro- 
ceedings of this meeting away from your young 
man. We pay our finisher $4 a day, and occa- 
sionally he runs away because he can -get $5 
a day at a bindery. 

Mr. FLETCHER. Mr. Stetson suggests a 
cooperation of libraries in binding. I advise 
that we employ Mr. Hooper's man. 

A good deal of surprise was expressed at the 
cheapness of Mr. Hooper's binding, and it was 
said there must be some mistake ; but in ques- 
tion and answer Mr. Hooper maintained his 
statement, and furnished figures. 

Mr. BERRY. I would like to hear what 
others pay by contract. 

Dr. POOLE. We pay 36 cts. for the same 
thing, and have a contract of $4,000. 

Mr. DEWEY. There is some fallacy here; 
for if it were possible to do this work at these 
prices there is a great fortune awaiting him 
who will take the contracts from our leading 
publishers. Leather and labor hav well-known 
market values, and beyond certain variations 
we cannot go without new factors. We shall 
find later some explanation of these figures, for 
a score of us here know from experience that it 
is impossible to do good work so low with 
ordinary workmen. If one buys a job lot of 



WORK DONE. 

Bound. Re P ai >- ed > 

Rese-wed t etc. 

Folios (Newspaper size) .... 119 49 

Quartos (Sat. Reviews, etc.) . . 128 63 

Svos (magazine.fize) ..... 306 167 

i2inos and less ......... 'o"S M^o 

2.058 i,7S9 

Numbered and lettered (gilt) .......... 3i3?6 

Besides many odds and ends of work and repairs not 
specified. 

During same period attendants made minor repairs, 
3,244, and covered (with paper) 2,722. 

Under old contract prices the binding- work would have 
cost ..................... $1,832 08 

Attendant (i salary saved) .......... 500 oo 

$2,332 08 
Cost of bindery ............... 1,322 44 

Saving for the year ........... ... $1,00964 



178 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



leather and materials at auction, finds a genius 
who does two days' work in one, and accepts a 
half day's pay for that, does part of the work 
by library assistants charged to another fund, 
makes no account of rent, heat, gas, etc , then 
I can understand how a large saving can be 
made on our lowest figures. But, under ordi- 
nary circumstances, I must maintain that with- 
out the invention of labor-saving machinery 
as yet unreported, binding cannot be done at 
these prices and pay its own bills. We shall 
all be under great obligations to Mr. Hooper 
if this bombshell thrown into our estimates re- 
sults in our finding a way to save even one- 
third as much as he reports. 

Mr. BARTON. My hobby is distribution. I 
wish to submit 

RESOLUTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF 
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 

Resolved, That the effort to collect and re- 
distribute United States public documents, so 
successfully inaugurated by the Secretary of 
the Department of the Interior, through Mr. 
John G. Ames, superintendent of the document- 
room, meets our hearty approval, and that we 
recommend a trial of the same plan to State 
municipalities and institutions. 

Mr. CUTTER reported on behalf of the 
Committee on the 

. SCHOOL OF LIBRARY ECONOMY. 

Last spring, at the request of Mr. Dewey, a 
meeting of this committee was called at the 
Boston Athenaeum, to confer with him on the 
time when Jhe school should be opened, the 
character of the instruction that should be 
given, the fee to be charged, etc. The results of 
an afternoon's discussion are embodied in the 
"Circular of information" issued a few days 
ago. The committee has nothing to add to 
them. I will only say for myself that, on 
looking over the circular and seeing what op- 
portunities are offered to the student, and all 
the courses of study laid out, the lectures, the 
course of reading, the problems, the object- 
teaching, the visits to book-houses, the library- 
work, the seminar, I was reminded of a story 
that was told this year at our class-supper. I 
have no doubt it is an old, old story, most 
stories are ; but to me it was new, and it may 
be to some of you. At any rate, as my almost 
namesake says, "The bearing of this observa- 



tion lays in the application on it." A boy 
applied to one of the great dry-goods houses 
in Boston for employment. " What are your 
qualifications?" said the head of the house. 
" I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't chew 
tobacco." " What else ? " " I'm strictly 
honest, you could trust me with untold gold." 
" Well ? " " I never tell a lie. " " Well ? " 
"I go to church twice a Sunday; I never 
missed Sunday school." And soon with other 
virtues. " I should be very glad if you could 
give me something to do." "Mr. Blank," 
said the merchant, calling his chief clerk, 
" take this boy upstairs, and see if there isn't 
a vacancy for him among the angels. He's 
too good for us down here." So I feared for a 
moment that the young men who are exposed 
to all the influences of the School of Library 
Economy will be thought fitted for another 
world, and allowed to find employment there. 
But the young women who feel attracted 
by library-work, judging by those who are 
already in the profession, will not need the 
training of such a school, they are angels 
already. 

Mr. DEWEY. The committee is very 
anxious to shape the school so as to further 
the library interests of the country. I ask 
you to read the circular, and send me any sug- 
gestions. The plan there set forth is the result 
of much conference and correspondence with 
librarians, library officers, and those wishing to 
become librarians. It represents what seems 
the best plan for next year. Criticisms will be 
gratefully received and fairly considered. We 
wish the A.L.A. to feel that this school is its 
school, and that it is its right, privilege, and 
duty to help form it so as to promote the high- 
est good of American libraries. 

The meeting was adjourned. 

SIXTH SESSION. 

(JULY IO, SATURDAY MORNING.) 

President POOLE in the chair. 

The meeting was called to order at 10 : 20. 

Mr. R. B. POOLE read his paper on 

THE LIBRARIAN AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. 

(Seep. 31.) 

Mr. MERRILL called attention to photographs 
and description of the Billings library. 

Mr. MERRILL. I move that the Standing 



PROCEEDINGS. 



179 



Committee and the Secretary be the Committee 
of Arrangements for next year. Carried. 
Mr. GREEN reported for the Committee on 

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 

At one of the meetings of this Association, 
held at Lake George last autumn, the following 
votes were passed : 

Voted, That it is the opinion of the Ameri- 
can Library Association that a copy of every 
government publication, including all docu- 
ments printed by the departments and bureaus 
of the United States government, should be 
sent to every depository designated by law, 
and that, in the case of government publica- 
tions printed by departments and bureaus 
without order from Congress, a sufficient num- 
ber to supply one copy to every depository 
should be printed in addition, at the expense 
of Congress, and distributed to the deposi- 
tories. 

Voted, That a selection of government pub- 
lications of the greatest general interest should 
be sent to a large number of such of the 
smaller libraries of the country as in the opin- 
ion of the distributing officer would preserve 
them carefully and make them accessible to 
the public. 

A committee, consisting of Samuel S. Green, 
of Worcester, Mass., Chester W. Merrill, of 
Cincinnati, and R. R. Bowker, of New York, 
was appointed to carry out the wishes of the 
Association. The committee met at Lake 
George, and empowered its chairman to try to 
get Congress to pass a resolution covering the 
desires of the Association as expressed in the 
first vote, the committee being unanimous in 
the opinion that it was best to try to seek to 
obtain only one concession at a time. 

In accordance with the determination of the 
committee, the following bill was prepared 
after consultation with Mr. Ames, the Super- 
intendent of Public Documents : 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives of the United States of America 
in Congress assembled : 
That the Public Printer shall deliver to the 
Interior Department a sufficient number of 
copies of every government publication printed 
at the Government Printing Office (including 
the publications of all bureaus and offices of 
the government), to enable said department 



to supply a copy to every depository of public 
documents designated according to law. 

This bill was introduced into the United 
States Senate at the opening of the present 
session of Congress by Mr. Hoar, of Massa- 
chusetts, and was referred to the Committee on- 
Printing. 

The Library Assocfation has learned to ex- 
pect very little aid from that committee, and 
your representatives were, therefore, pleased 
to soon learn that another committee was about 
to give consideration to the wishes of the As- 
sociation. 

Some legislation having been requested by a 
member of the Senate in respect to the distri- 
bution of certain documents, the bill or resolu- 
tion introduced by him was referred to the 
Committee on the Library. 

This committee referred the]matter to Senator 
Hoar, as a sub-committee, and adopted a recom- 
mendation made by him, that our bill be 
reported to the Senate as a substitute for the 
legislation asked for. 

Mr. Hoar then introduced -our bill into the 
Senate. After he had reported it he called it 
up when an opportunity offered, fully convinced 
that it would pass the Senate at once. A brisk 
discussion sprang up, however, and, although 
it was bravely and strenuously defended and 
advocated by Mr. Hoar, the bill was not passed, 
but referred to the Committee on Printing for 
further consideration. There it now lies, ap- 
parently buried. 

The chairman of your committee read care- 
fully the discussion on our bill in the Senate, 
and then wrote to a friend of one of its princi- 
pal opponents to inquire of him the grounds of 
his opposition. A reply was received from the 
senator, and sent to the chairman of this com- 
mittee. 

A new resolution was prepared, in which 
scrupulous care was taken to meet all the ex- 
pressed objections of the opposing senator. It 
was worded as follows : 

Resolved by the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives of the United States of America in 
Congress assembled, That the Public Printer 
shall deliver to the Interior Department a suf- 
ficient number of copies of the Congressional 
Record (bound) " Statutes-at-^arge," and of 
every other government publication, not al- 
ready supplied for this purpose, printed at the 



i8o 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Government Printing Office (including the 
publications of all bureaus and offices of the 
government), excepting bills, resolutions, 
documents printed for the special use of com- 
mittees of Congress, and circulars designed 
not for communicating information to the pub- 
lic, but for use within the several executive 
departments and offices jof the government, to 
enable said department to supply a copy to 
every depository of public documents desig- 
nated according to law. 

This joint resolution was at once sent to Mr. 
Hoar, who called the attention of the gentle- 
man whose views were embodied in it to the 
matter. This gentleman is an influential 
member of the Committee on Printing, and 
Mr. Hoar hoped that committee would give 
early attention to the resolution. It has not 
yet presented it to the Senate, however, and 
the bill slumbers in the committee as have 
other bills and resolutions introduced to fur- 
ther the interests of libraries in respect to the 
distribution of documents. 

The thanks of the Association are due to 
Senator Hoar for his earnest efforts to secure 
for us the concessions asked of Congress. Ex- 
Governor Long of Massachusetts had agreed 
to look after our bill if it reached the House, 
and is deserving of remembrance for his readi- 
ness to help us. 

The recommendations of the committee are 
that the thanks of this Association be pre- 
sented to Senator Hoar, and that we renew our 
efforts to secure the passage of the resolution 
now presumably under consideration by the 
Committee on Printing, or another resolution 
similar in purport. 

For the committee, 

SAMUEL S. GREEN, 

Chairman. 

Mr. MERRILL seconded the motion to adopt 
the resolutions, saying that he had received a 
cordial, even enthusiastic, letter from Senator 
Sherman, approving the idea. 

The report was accepted. 

Mr. GREEN moved a vote of thanks to Sen- 
ator Hoar: 

"Resolved, That the Secretary present the 
thanks of the Association to the Hon. Geo. F, 
Hoar, United States Senator from Massachu- 
setts, for his earnest efforts to secure from 
Congress legislation regarding the distribution 



of Public Documents, considered necessary by 
the members for supplying information to the 
committee regarding the doing of the legisla- 
tive and executive departments of the govern- 
ment." 

The motion was seconded by Dr. PEIRCE 
and carried. 

Dr. PEIRCE. I move that the committee be 
continued for the year to come. 

Mr- GREEN. I move that Mr. Fletcher be 
added to the Committee on Public Documents. 

Carried. 

Mr. SOLBERG. I went to the bottom of the 
laws on public documents. Many are abso- 
lutely contradictory. I believe that the resolu- 
tion calls for a law which cannot be passed ; 
e.g., the statutes are published under the 
State Department. They, as is the case with 
other documents in other departments, are paid 
for out of the department appropriations. You 
make no provision for expense. 

R. B. POOLE. There is great need of 
promptness in distribution. 

Mr. GREEN. We tried to remedy this. We 
put the matter in Dr. Billings' hands ; but Dr. 
Billings is a very busy man, and nothing really 
came of it. I have no doubt the whole matter 
needs revision ; but you cannot hope for that. 
You must find what von, as librarians, need 
most, and get it through a little at a time. 

Mr. SOLBERG. The question is, whether, 
by the " Smith" resolution, you don't get all 
Congress can give. 

Mr. GREEN. As to legality, if it has passed 
the lawyers in Congress it must be constitu- 
tional. 

Dr. POOLE. Mr. Sponable suggests that a 
printed statement be sent to various librarians, 
who will urge the matter with their various 
representatives. 

Mr. SPONABLE. Nearly every one has a 
friend in Congress, and if each will press the 
matter it will undoubtedly be passed. 

Mr. RICHARDSON read Mr. Schwartz's paper 
on 

KING AQJJILA'S LIBRARY. 

(Scef. 34.) 

Mr. DAVIS. I perceive that my paper was 
defective in one respect. It contained no allu- 
sion to any project of our Secretary's. I wish 
to remedy the defect now, if it can be done by 
a brief remark. What I have to say, however, 



PROCEEDINGS. 



181 



will be of a personal nature, and will be ad- 
dressed directly to the gentleman. Mr. Dewey, 
I admire greatly your equanimity; or, for it is 
more than that, your philosophical, your Chris- 
tian good-temper. 

LIBRARY OF THE U.S. AGRICULTURAL 
DEPARTMENT. 

Mr. RICHARDSON read part of a letter from 
Mr. B. P. Mann, dated July 5, and expressing 
regret at his inability to attend : 

" I wish the Association might be drawn to 
Washington at its next meeting. There is sad 
need of some library reform here, although the 
prospects of the erection of the building for the 
Library of Congress are now so bright. The 
whole appropriation for the purchase of peri- 
odicals, and for entomological, botanical, veter- 
inary, chemical, forestry, statistical, and other 
works for the library of the agricultural depart- 
ment this year is $1,500. The card catalog of 
that library is of very little use, and there is no 
other, old or new. The principal dependence 
for the finding of any works in that library is 
upon the memory of the librarian and such 
other persons as have been obliged to make a 
personal acquaintance with the shelves. The 
space allotted to books is so restricted that the 
ground- floor and gallery are encumbered with 
piles of them, and the shelves are packed." 

Mr. RICHARDSON read Mr. Mann's paper on 

SOME THOUGHTS OF BIBLIOGRAPHY IN GEN- 
ERAL, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE BIBLIOG- 
RAPHY OF THE LITERATURE OF SCIENCE, 
AS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL 
RECORD OF "PSYCHE." 



Mr. FLETCHER read Miss Hewins' paper on 

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL 

LIBRARY. 
{Seep. 107.) 

Mr. WHITNEY. I didn't say yesterday, in the 
discussion on aids and guides, that in giving aid 
to readers a sharp distinction should be made 
between those who come for some worthy pur- 
pose and those who do not. 

I regard it as the duty and the highest privi- 
lege of a librarian to help readers; and no work 
brings such satisfactory returns. But the 
reader must come with a serious purpose, and 



not, as sometimes happens, ask silly questions, 
or such as he should look up for himself. 

I remember being called to meet a person 
who asked if I could tell him the Greek words 
for health and beauty. After giving them to 
him, with a special care as to the accents, he 
asked if there was any objection to "hitching 
them together." I said, " Certainly not; why?" 
He replied that he had just got up a hair-wash, 
and would like to use these words for its name. 

Another person asked me to tell him the 
meaning of the word chalphoratam. After 
running over several dictionaries of the lesser 
known languages, I asked him where he had 
seen the word. He replied, that he had never 
seen it, but that he woke up the night before 
and this word " popped into his head," and 
he thought it would be a good name for a tooth- 
powder he was about to put upon the market. 
He wished to make sure that the word didn't 
mean something disagreeable or destructive. 

I have grave doubts whether it pays the 
librarian to turn aside from his work to lookup jf 
quotations, as he is often asked to do. The 
quotation is not always correctly given, and, 
especially if poetry, is not always of the best. 
Sometimes, indeed, it is quite unworthy of any 
parentage. Happily the visitor can generally 
be quieted with the index volumes of " Notes 
and queries," and similar publications, or by 
an armful of books on quotations. 

Mr. GREEN. I was asked once if "Miss 
Sappho was a poet." 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

The Secretary called attention to various 
matters, asking the librarians to " spare Lin- 
derfelt," who, in his overflowing good-nature 
and kindness, was working day and night for 
our comfort. One more question each from the 
130 in attendance might cost him his last chance 
for a meal or nap during our stay. It is folly 
to kill him off before the eight-day excursion. 

Mr. DEWEY read a letter of regret from Mrs. 
Maxwell, of the Iowa State Library; a letter 
from Mr. J. C. Stockbridge, of Providence, 
calling attention to an annotated catalogue of 
the Harris collection of American poetry; and 
the following from Mr. Wm. Cushing : 

" CAMBRIDGE, June 28, 1886. 
" At the last meeting of the Library Asso- 
ciation a letter was read from me in relation to 



l82 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



a book of ' Anonyms ' that I had been for 
some time preparing. It will be ready for 
publication in September. It will not be a 
work, of any general interest, but will be of 
great value to bibliographers, saving cata- 
loguers in libraries a vast amount of time. If 
it is. published it must be by myself, with the 
aid of the librarians. I think it will rise to 
nearly, if not quite, 12,000 titles, and make 
about 500 pages like my ' Initials and pseu- 
donyms.' I would make this proposition to 
those who are interested in such a work: to 
issue it in two parts, with paper cover, like 
' Sabin,' at $5 a part. This, I know, is a high 
price; but the sale will be very small, and I think 
no publisher would undertake the work, even 
at that price. I should like, of course, to get 
something for my labor, but will bring it out 
if I can sell enough copies to pay the cost of 
publication. I wish your Association would 
take the subject into consideration, and make 
any other proposition that may be more ac- 
ceptable to them. I should be glad to have 
them commence a subscription. If they will 
insure me a sale of 100 copies, that number, 
with what I can obtain by sending out circu- 
lars will enable me to commence the publica- 
tion. Please be kind enough to bring this 
before your Association, and oblige 
"Yours truly, 

- "WM. GUSHING." 

Mr. MERRILL. I wonder if every one here 
couldn't take a volume of Mr. Cushing's 
" Anonyms." 

Mr. DEWEY. I suggest that Mr. Cushing's 
letter be referred to the publishing section of 
the A.L.A. 

Voted. 

Mr. WHITNEY. Our list of historical novels 
is out of print. I am now preparing another 
enlarged edition. 

Mr. Cushing's letter was referred to the 
publishing section. 

Mr. DEWEY read a letter from Mr. Barber, 
dated National Home, Wis., July 5 : 

"I have received your notice of the meeting 
of the American Library Association in Mil- 
waukee, on yth inst. I have always desired to 
attend these meetings, but lack of means has 
always kept me at home. But I have always 
said, if it ever came to the North-west, I would 
surely attend ; but now it is to meet in our 



own city, and I am unable to do so by reason 
of illness. 

"I cordially invite the Association to visit, 
during their session here, the Soldiers' Home, 
and the Soldiers' Home library, and inspect 
the catalogue of the books." 

Mr. DEWEY offered the following resolution, 
which was passed: 

That the Association has accepted with 
pleasure the invitation of Mr. Barber to visit 
the library of the National Soldiers' Home, and 
wishes to express its sympathy and regrets 
that his illness has denied us the pleasure of 
his company at our Milwaukee meetings. 

Mr. CUTTER, as Chairman, introduced the 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON 
RESOLUTIONS. 

Resolved, That the thanks of the American 
Library Association are hereby tendered to the 
Hoosac Tunnel line, the West Shore line, and 
the Grand Trunk, for their care to make our 
journey to Milwaukee and home comfortable ; 
to the Baltimore & Ohio R.R. for proffered, 
though unused, favors ; to Mr. Bernard Calla- 
han, President of the Board of Trustees of the 
Chicago Public Library ; to Mayor Harrison, and 
to Mr. George F. Stone, Secretary of the Board 
of Trade, for our kind reception in that city; 
to our President, Dr. Poole, and to Mr. Z. S. 
Holbrook, for the most delightful entertain- 
ment at Evanston; to Mr. William Plankinton 
and his associates on the Milwaukee reception 
committee for their kind and successful efforts 
to render our visit pleasant; to Mr. Linderfelt 
for his constant and unwearied labor in our be- 
half; to the Germania Society for the use of its 
hall ; to the Public Museum of Milwaukee for 
the invitation to visit it; to the citizens of Mil- 
waukee for the variety of courtesies shown the 
Association, in the enjoyable drive about the 
city, in an agreeable reception and concert, 
and in many other ways ; to the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee, and St Paul ; the Chicago, St. Paul, 
Minneapolis, and Omaha R.R. ; the Wisconsin 
Central, and the Milwaukee, Lake Shore, and 
Western R.R. , for their exceedingly generous 
gift of free transportation with special cars on 
an eight days' excursion; and to these four 
railways and the Chicago & North-western 
R.R. for reducing their rates on the return of 
members to their homes; to the press of Mil- 
waukee for its very complete reports of the 



PROCEEDINGS. 



183 



proceedings of the Association, and to our 
friends at Madison and St. Paul for the kind 
invitations to their cities, by which we are 
about to profit. 

The report was adopted and the resolutions 
passed by a rising vote. 

SPELLING. 

Mr. MERRILL. I move that the Secretary 
be permitted to print the reports in the Eng- 
lish language. 

Dr. POOLE. Do you make this seriously? 

Mr. DEWEY. The rule used to be that a man 
might spell in his paper as he pleased ; but, for 
the sake of uniformity, we adopted in the re- 
ports the usual Library journal spelling. 

Dr. POOLE. The trouble is that I have 
never been able to get my papers printed as I 
wanted. I wanted the old-fashioned way, e.g., 
one / in traveler, and one p in worshiper, er 
in theater and center, s in defense, offense, and 
the like. 

Mr. DEWEY. Every one of the words quoted 
by President Poole are the forms that we spell- 
ing reformers advocate. It is the compositor 
who puts in the objectionable letters, following 
the style of his office. I will endeavor to keep 
them out hereafter. 

Some years ago there was a discussion of 
this matter of spelling, and we agreed that 
neither side had any right to dictate how the 
other should spell. An act of toleration was 
therefore tacitly passed. If any one wishes to 
spell program as program-my we let him ; but 
he must not try to make others adopt forms 
that all our leading scholars now agree are as 
repugnant to scholarship as to hard common- 
sense. 

Mr. SOLBERG. Mr. Poore's Catalogue of 
Government Publications can be obtained by 
sending $1.92 by money order payable to Mr. 
Codet Taylor, chief clerk Government Printing 
Office, Washington, D.C. 



Dr. POOLE. All of you ought to have it. 
Mr. DEWEY mentioned various devices, and 
moved as a 

BY-LAW : 

The name of any member who has not paid 
the annual fee for three years shall be dropt 
from the list of members. 

Carried. 

Mr. DEWEY. It has been suggested that no 
officer be reflected more than once. I propose, 
also, the following 

AMENDMENT TO CONST., ART. 4, SECT. I. 

SECT. i. The Association shall annually 
elect, by written ballot, a President and an Ex- 
ecutive Board, four members beside the Presi- 
dent, who shall choose from the Association 
Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Fi- 
nance and Cooperation Committees of three 
each, and any other needed officers or standing 
committees. 

BINDING MAGAZINES. 

Mr. CRUNDEN. I put a question into the 
question-box which I should like answered. 

Mr. DEWEY read the questions : 

How many copies of magazines are bound 
by libraries? 

(a) Popular magazines, Harper, Century, 
etc. 

(V) Other magazines. 

Where there is only one copy of magazine 
bound, is it allowed to circulate? 

Dr. POOLE. We bind all the copies we 
have. We put one of them into our regular 
set, and circulate the rest. Where we have 
only one copy it is not allowed to circulate. 

Mr. MERRILL. We allow the single copy 
to circulate on permission of the librarian. 

Mr. PEOPLES. I let every copy go out. 

Mr. CUTTER moved adjournment. 

The meeting was adjourned. 



1 84 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



APPENDIX i. 



THE PUBLISHING SECTION. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



MILWAUKEE, July 10, 1886. 

A meeting of members of the American Li- 
brary Association was held this day to listen to 
a report, from the Committee on Cooperation in 
Cataloguing, on a plan for the organization of a 
section of the Association for the purpose of 
securing the preparation and printing of co- 
operative indices, catalogues, and bibliograph- 
ical guides. 

Justin Winsor was appointed Chairman, and 
James L. Whitney, Secretary. 

Mr. William I. Fletcher presented the draft 
prepared by the committee of a constitution for 
the proposed organization. After discussion 
this constitution was adopted. 

CONSTITUTION OF THE A.L.A. 
PUBLISHING SECTION. 

ARTICLE I. NAME. 

This organization shall be called the Ameri- 
can Library Association Publishing Section. 

ARTICLE 2. OBJECT. 

Its object shall be to secure the preparation 
and publication of such catalogs, indexes, and 
other bibliographical helps as may best be pro- 
duced by cooperation. 

ARTICLE 3. MEMBERS. 

Any library, institution, or individual elected 
by the Executive Board may become a member 
on payment of a fee of $10 for each calendar 
year. Membership shall continue till resigned 
by the holder, or withdrawn by the Board. 

ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS. 

SECTION i. The officers of this section shall 
consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, 
and an Executive Board of five members, of 
whom the Secretary shall be one. The Chair- 
man of the Executive Board shall be regarded 
as the manager of the section, subject to the ap- 
proval of the entire Board. 



SECT. 2. These officers shall be chosen at 
the regular meetings of the section in connec- 
tion with the annual meetings of the American 
Library Association, and shall hold office until 
their successors are appointed. 

SECT. 3. The Secretary shall keep a faithful 
record of all meetings of the section and of the 
Executive Board ; shall give due notice of such 
meetings, and of any election or other business 
requiring the personal attention of any member- 
and shall have charge of the books, papers, and 
correspondence. 

SECT. 4. The Treasurer shall keep a full 
and accurate record of all receipts and disburse- 
ments, and of the membership of the section ; 
and shall pay no money without the written 
order of a majority of the Executive Board, and 
shall make an annual report. 

SECT. 5. The Executive Board shall be charged 
with the direction and control of the work of 
the section, and shall endeavor, in every way 
in their power, to further its objects. They 
shall make a full report in writing at each 
regular meeting of the section, and this report, 
with the other proceedings of the section, shall 
be submitted to the American Library Associa- 
tion for publication with its proceedings. 

ARTICLE 5. AMENDMENTS. 

This constitution may be amended by a 
three-fourths vote of those present at any regu- 
lar meeting of the section, provided that the 
proposed amendments shall have been specifi- 
cally set forth in the call for such meeting. 

It was voted that the name of the section be 
The A.L.A. Publishing Section. 

It was voted that a provisional membership 
for the remainder of the current year be consti- 
tuted by the payment of one dollar. 

A nominating committee was appointed to 
present a list of officers. On their nomination 
the following were chosen : 

President : James L. Whitney. 



APPENDIX. 



185 



Treasurer: W. C. Lane. 

Executive Board : W. I. Fletcher, Melvil 
Dewey, R. R. Bowker, C. A. Cutter, S. S. 
Green, Secretary. 



The meeting then adjourned. 
Attest : 

JAMES L. WHITNEY, 

Secretary. 



APPENDIX 2. 



THE A.L.A. EXCURSION, JULY 12-20, 1886. 



BY THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 



The features of an A.L.A. meeting which do 
not find a place in the official proceedings are 
not, therefore, the least valuable. The exchange 
of experiences and views in private conversa- 
tion, for which the social excursions afford op- 
portunity, forms a sort of free dispensary for 
bibliothecal advice, of which the enterprising 
librarian is not slow to avail himself. 

'A register of private conversations and ob- 
servations held and made during the A.L.A. 
excursion of 1886 would form as large, and in- 
teresting a volume as the Proceedings of the 
formal meetings. 

But, even excluding this unrecorded, and, of 
course, untold wealth of utilitarian comfort, the 
excursion of 1886 was as profitable as it was 
extended and varied. 

The gathering of librarians was at Chicago, 
Tuesday, July the 6th, the head-quarters being 
at the Clifton House. 

The Eastern librarians, who, coming in two 
parties, from Boston and New York, met at Rot- 
terdam Junction, and passed a pleasant Sunday 
together at Niagara Falls, after a hot and dusty 
day's journey, arrived at Chicago late Monday 
evening, to spend a warm night and awake to a 
hot day. 

There was an evident inflection of enjoyment 
as the Bostonian read aloud from the morning 
papers, "Temperature, Boston, 64; Chicago, 
85 ; " and the Chicagoan, after futile hints of 
lake breezes and cool nights, must fain fall back 
on the statement that Chicago was a " big city, 
and everything she furnished was a big thing 
even heat." 

After breakfast President Poole took the party 
in hand, and proceeded to show that our six- 
foot President was not the only big thing in 
Chicago. Big buildings, big banks, the big 



Board of Trade, the big City Hall, and the big, 
but still too little, new quarters of the Public 
Library, were passed in review ; and all these, 
together with the politeness of Secretary Stone 
of the Board of Trade, and Mayor Harrison, 
contributed to raise Chicago in the estimation 
of all, especially of inexperienced Easterners 
unused to "big things." 

At noon the librarians were received at the 
rooms of the Board of Education. An address 
of welcome by the President of the Library 
Board was followed by a brief address from the 
Mayor, whose remarks, and especialjy his as- 
surance of interest in the Public Library, were 
thoroughly appreciated by the visitors, even if 
Bostonians did look a little incredulous over the 
prophecy that Chicago was to be the Athens of 
America, rivalling even Athens of old. After 
this a number of brief speeches were made by 
members of the Association and others. 

The afternoon was spent as cheerfully as the 
weather permitted and individual ingenuity was 
able to devise, and in the evening the party was 
taken by special car to Evanston, where its 
members were very delightfully entertained at 
the houses of President Poole and his son-in-law, 
Mr. Holbrooke, returning to Chicago at some 
unrecorded time before midnight. 

At 8 o'clock, Wednesday morning, the party 
left Chicago for Milwaukee, with confused no- 
tions of heat, bigness, and social entertain- 
ment, to be classified and labelled during the 
three hours' leisure of railroad riding. 

There was a change in weather at the same 
time with the change in place, and Milwaukee 
was found to be very comfortable. 

The head-quarters here were at the Plankinton 
House, which proved itself as good a hotel as 
it has been our good fortune to select. 



1 86 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



The regular meetings of the Association were 
held at the Public Library building, and began 
at 3 o'clock, on Wednesday afternoon, with brief 
and felicitous addresses of welcome by Mayor 
Wallber and Gen. Hobart, and an appropriate 
response by President Poole. The hard work 
done during six sessions, from Wednesday to 
Saturday noon, is recorded in the "Proceedings." 
More than one hundred and thirty members 
were in attendance, first and last. 

Between the working sessions time was found 
for seeing the city, and a very home-like city it 
was seen to be. 

The hospitality shown was, in respect of 
quality and quantity, generous in the extreme. 
On Thursday afternoon the members of the As- 
sociation were taken in carriages about the city, 
out to the beautifully situated Soldiers' Home, 
and back to the city by the five-mile drive. At 
the end of the hot and dusty drive a visit was 
made to the Empire brewery, where, after seeing 
the establishment from bottom to top and top to 
bottom, viewing the city from the roof, seeing 
its fire-brigade put a stream of water on to the 
top of the building within a minute and a half 
after the alarm was sounded, and admiring with 
genuine enthusiasm the $250,000 ice-making 
apparatus the members sampled the product 
and entered the carriages again. 

The visit gave occasion to one of the members 
to remark that at Lake George we had been 
called " liberians," and here we might be called 
" zweibierians." 

During the drive the Mayor made three ex- 
ceedingly interesting and satisfactory exhibitions 
of the fire and police departments, bringing to 
his side by telephone signal the police patrol- 
wagons and the engines and hook-and-ladder 
companies in time which seemed almost in- 
credibly brief. At the general alarm, when en- 
gines came from all directions with a crowd 
sure of a big fire, a young man, seeing it was a 
" show" alarm, remarked to Prof. Davis, " Yer 
having lots of fun, aint yer? Be ye all alder- 
mans ? " 

The ride concluded with a glimpse of the east 
side of the city, along the Whitefish Bay drive, 
and back to the Plahkinton House. 

Friday evening the party attended a " Recep- 
tion and Summer-night Festival," held at 
Schlitz Park, and the admirable Bach-Luening 
concert. 

At the close of the Saturday-morning session 



the party broke up, some going to Waukesha 
and Oconomowoc, and other resorts, to spend 
the Sunday ; others remaining at Milwaukee for 
the rest, and a few returning to their homes, 
but all having a lively sense of satisfaction in 
the successful meeting, with its accessories, and 
in the city itself. 

Monday morning the party, to the number of 
nearly ninety, reunited for an eight-day trip 
over the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul ; the 
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha; the 
Wisconsin Central, and the Milwaukee, West 
Shore, and Western railways, most generously 
given by these railroads. Some familiar faces 
were missing and much missed, but it was a 
good company. 

The first place visited was Madison. 

The program of the reception by the State 
Historical Society of Wisconsin and by the 
public libraries was: II A.M., carriages to 
capitol grounds, Washburn Observatory, and 
the University Drive; 2 P.M., the guests will 
be received by the governor in the Executive 
chamber; 2 to 2.45, visit to the Historical Li- 
brary, State Library, City Library, and Capi- 
tol ; 3 to 5, excursion on steamer around Lake 
Mendota. Committee of Arrangements : Prof. 
J. C. Freeman, W. A. P. Morris, Esq., J. R. 
Berryman, Esq., Major W. F. Oakley, F. K. 
Conover, Esq. Special Committee of Recep- 
tion : His Excellency Governor Rusk, His 
Honor Mayor Keyes, Gen. Lucius Fairchild, 
Gen. David Atwood, Adjt. Gen. C. P. Chap- 
man, Judge J. B. Cassoday, Judge H. S. Orton, 
Dr. Jos. Hobbins, Prof. W. F. Allen, Prof. J. 
B. Parkinson. Prof. W. H. Rosenstengel, Prof. 
A. D. Conover, Hon. B. J. Stevens, Hon. Geo. 
Raymer, Mr. Geo. L. Storer, Mr. R. G. 
Thwaites. 

Here a committee of the citizens met the 
librarians with carriages, and the party was 
driven about the beautiful city, with its delight- 
ful lake views at every street and turn, to the 
University grounds, library, and observatory, 
and back to the hotel. After dinner the capi- 
tol, with its historical library and portrait gal- 
lery, was visited. The visitors were received 
by Governor Rusk, and by Mayor Keyes 
of Madison, and at three o'clock were enter- 
tained with a steamboat excursion on the 
lake. This was followed by a visit to the pub- 
lic library.. Some of the party will not forget 
that, in the thoroughness of hospitality, even 
the drug-stores would not accept payment for 
soda-water; as to the beer saloons deponent 



APPENDIX. 



187 



saith not. After supper the party took train 
for Kilbourn City, where the members spent 
the night at the Finch House, the " Institute," 
and the various " cottages." 

Eight o'clock next morning saw all on board 
the "Dell Queen "for the trip up the Dells, 
and all available row-boats let, some of them 
twice over by the too sharp western gamins, 
for the return trip. " A most enjoyable day " 
was the universal verdict. The high, rough 
walls of water-worn sandstone on either side, 
and gulches and dells, caves and rocks, fur- 
nished an unending delight of continually 
fresh and varying scenery. 

An admirable brook-trout dinner at Witches' 
Gulch, for which the party had to thank the 
prevision of its indefatigable leader, Dr. Lind- 
erfelt, afforded a good occasion for giving a 
hearty vote of appreciation and thanks to Dr. 
L. for "unremitting attention to our comfort 
during the excursion." After dinner an excel- 
lent group-picture of the party was taken by 
H. H. Bennett, the photographer of the Dells. 1 

After dinner many visited Stand Rock. The 
party was about equally divided between those 
who wouldn't have missed it for anything, and 
those who were " so glad" they didn't go. 

One after another the row-boats floated down 
the river, visiting the various caves and gulches, 
and arriving at about the same time with the 
steamer. 

In the evening the lower Dells were visited by 
moonlight in the steamboat, or by those who 
wished to see the caves in row-boats. 

Even the most unimpressionable felt the at- 
mosphere of romance as, sailing by moonlight, 
through the beautiful scenery, past the "deserted 
village," and weird rocks and caves, the singers 
grouped themselves and added music to the 
charm. 

The next morning the party was off on its 
special train for St. Paul, stopping at La Crosse 
for dinner, which proved excellent, and a slight 
glimpse of the city. The mayor, the well- 
known "White Beaver," expressed regret that 
he had not known of the coming of the party, 
that he might have made arrangements to show 
the beauties of this growing city. La Crosse 
will be remembered by the librarians as the 
only city which offered as one of its chief attrac- 
tions its fine graveyard. 

1 Copies may be obtained, at sixty cents each, by ad- 
dressing II. H. Heiiuutt, Kilbourn City, Wis. 



The afternoon ride up the bank of the Mis- 
sissippi was a constant panorama of beautiful 
scenes, such scenes as linger in the memory 
and recur. 

St. Paul was reached before supper. The 
party was too big a problem for the Windsor 
House, and a portion drifted over to the Ryan. 

The next morning (Thursday) a committee 
of citizens provided carriages for a drive about 
the city, and were rewarded by the admiration 
expressed for the surprising number of beauti- 
ful residences. 

At noon the party started for Minneapolis, 
stopping at Fort Snelling, where the garrison 
band (colored) entertained us with excellent 
music, and the librarian showed his well-kept 
library with genuine enthusiasm. Thence our 
train went on and stopped for an out-of-door 
dinner at Minnehaha Falls. 

At Minneapolis the party was again enter- 
tained with a drive, during which the numerous 
handsome residences were admired, and a visit 
was made to the Pillsbury Flour Mills, said to 
be the largest in the world. Ex-Governor Pills- 
bury, with a staff of assistants, escorted the party 
in small groups, explaining the various ma- 
chines and processes. The day closed with an 
A.L.A. supper at the famous West Hotel, of 
which the city is justly proud. 

Returning to St. Paul the party, classified 
according to a new natural method into three 
divisions, took its three private Pullman sleep- 
ers for Ashland, arriving early next morning at 
the Chequamegon Hotel. 

At St. Paul the party was reduced by the re- 
turn home of Dr. Peirce, Mr. and Mrs. Foster, 
Hagar, and Andrus, Messrs. Merrill and Peck. 

The day was spent in an excursion to the 
Apostle Islands. At La Pointe, or Madeleine, 
so full of interest for the history of the North- 
west, the old church with the painting which 
may have been brought over by Marquette, was 
visited; the graves of the man who was "ac- 
cidentally shot as a mark of affection by his 
brother," and the man who was killed by a 
"stroke of thunder," sought out, a slight gift 
deposited in the offertory, and the return to the 
boat made. 

Stopping at Bayfield for dinner, some of the 
party were tempted to go to the observatory, 
said to be three-quarters of a mile distant. It 
proved to be a " pinery mile." 

Dinner was followed by a most delightful 



1 88 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



excursion in and out among the islands. The 
return passage was quite rough. Some enjoyed 
this more, some less. 

Ashland is a "booming" place. Two or 
three years ago it had only a couple of thousand 
people, now there are five times as many. 

At this point the impromptu and volunteer 
" palaeographic section" of the A.L.A. re- 
ported the following inscriptions : 

1. Bessemer store: "IN GOD WE TRUST 

ALL OTHERS CASH." 

2. Bessemer fruit store : " GOD HELPS THOSE 

WHO HELP THEMSELVES, BUT GOD HELP THE 
MAN FOUND HELPING HIMSELF HERE." 

3. Roadside : "SPALDING'S PREPAIRED GLUE." 

4. Ashland Theatre poster: "MISS TILLY 

RUSSELL, WHO HAS APPEARED IN ALL THE 
COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD, AND HAS BEEN 
PRONOUNCED THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL." 

5. Poster at.the other theatre : "INSPECTION 

INVITED AND COMPETION DEFIED." 

6. Ashland Theatre poster : " ADMISSION 15, 

25 CENTS, INCLUDING REFRESHMENTS AT THE 
BAR." 

7. Poster at the other theatre: "NO FREE 
DRINKS." 

On Saturday a visit was made to the Colby 
iron mine, on the Gogebic range, and libra- 
rians saw miners shovelling out dirt, 65% 
of which was iron, and contractors doing 
nothing at a thousand dollars a day, and 
wouldn't have exchanged places for long with 
either. 

Every one was glad to have Sunday come. 
The day was variously spent in church-going, 
rowing, and walking or sleeping, and all the 
possible variations and combinations of these. 
Church-goers had the choice of Presbyterian, 
Baptist, Methodist, Protestant Episcopal, the 
tent of the State Y.M.C.A., and the Chippewa 
Indian service twelve miles away. Ten or a 



dozen chose the Chippewa, presumably to 
show what linguists librarians are. 

Most of the party spent the evening as they 
had the evening previous, singing in the par- 
lors of the Chequamegon, where it was shown 
that we had an available A.L.A. choir of nearly 
forty voices. 

Monday morning the few who had not seen 
the buzz-saw which sliced up five hundred big 
logs a day, or the ore dock, or the $500,000 ( ?) 
dock, performed these various duties, and all 
gathered at the train. Varying the classifica- 
tion, the members were distributed into two 
classes, those who were to stop at Milwaukee 
and those who were not. 

All were in admirable spirits, and the young 
man who at the Dells pronounced it " the 
most solemn picnic " he had ever attended 
must have revised his judgment, or else he is a 
very gay young man. The members gathered in 
one of the cars and spent the evening in sing- 
ing and merriment. At a late hour the party 
broke up, ten stopping at Oshkosh, on their 
way to Green Lake for a Post-Conference rest, 
and the remainder retiring, to wake, some at 
Milwaukee and some at Chicago. 

To the railroads we were laid under great 
obligations. Our private baggage-car was sent 
everywhere with us, always open for use. Two 
hammocks, swung by local enterprise, gave an 
unusually comfortable air. Special coaches 
everywhere, and a special train wherever more 
convenient, enabled us to stop and sample min- 
eral springs, pick berries, etc., whenever we 
so elected. The railroad officials vied with 
each other in making us comfortable and 
happy. 

The western meeting of 1886 was a decided 
s success, socially as well as officially, and the 
thanks of the members were heartily accorded 
to Mr. Wm. Plankinton, for planning, and to 
Dr. Linderfelt for managing, the most delight- 
ful excursion. 



PERSONS PRESENT. 



189 






PERSONS PRESENT AT MILWAUKEE MEETINGS. 

A considerable number of those present failed to register, and the Secretary has supplied a part of the 
omissions. 

ABBREVIATIONS. F., Free; L., Library; Ln., Librarian; P., Public. 

The x before the name indicates participation in the Post-Conference Excursion, July 12-20, 1886. 



x Allan, Miss Jessie, P.Ln., Omaha, Neb. 

xAllan, Mrs. J. T., Omaha, Neb. 

xAndruss, A. A., care of Apprentices' L., 

New York. 
xAndruss, Mrs. A. A., care of Apprentices' 

L,., New York, 
x Baker, G: Hall, Reference Ln., Columbia 

College, New York. 
Balis, Miss E. M., P.L., Milwaukee, 
x Barton, E. M., Ln. Am. Antiq. Soc., Worces- 
ter, Mass. 

Berry, S. H., Ln. Y.M.C.A., Brooklyn, N.Y. 
xBerryman, J: R., State Ln., Madison, Wis. 
Best, Miss Louise L., P.Ln., Janesville, Wis. 
xBiscoe, Walter S., Catalog. Ln., Columbia 

College, New York. 
Brett, W. H., P.Ln., Cleveland, O. 
Brice, L. R., P.L., Milwaukee, 
x Brooks, Mrs. M. S., Ln. Madison (Ind.) L. 

Assoc. 

Buck, J. S., Milwaukee. 
Burnell, Miss Kittie, Curator Official Card 

Catalog., P.L., Boston. 

xCarr, H: J., P.Ln., Grand Rapids, Mich. 
xCarr, Mrs. Edith Wallbridge, Grand Rapids, 

Mich. 
Clement, Prof. Ernest W., Wayland Acad., 

Beaver Dam, Wis. 
Coe, Miss Ellen M., Ln. F. Circulating L., 

New York. 

Cooke, H. H., McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. 
Crafts, Miss Lettie M., ist Asst. Ln. Univ. of 

Minneapolis, Minn. 

xCrunden, F: M., P.Ln., St. Louis, Mo. 
x Cutler, Miss Mary S., Cataloger, Columbia 

College, New York. 

x Cutler, Miss Louisa S., Florence, Mass, 
x Cutter, C: A., Ln. Boston Athenaeum, 
x Daniels, Prof. Joseph L., Ln. Olivet College, 

Mich. 

x Daniels, Wm. B., Olivet, Mich. 
xDavidson, II. E., Library Bureau, 32 Hawley 

Street, Boston. 



Davis, Prof. R. C., Ln. Univ. of Mich., Ann 
Arbor. 

xDewey, Melvil, Chief Ln., Columbia College, 
New York. 

xDew-ey, Mrs. Annie 48 West 59th Street, New 
York, Ex-Ln. Wellesley College, Mass. 

xDonahoe, J. F., Trustee P. L., Paola, Kansas. 

Dullea, M. J., Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. 

Durrie, Daniel S., Ln. State Historical Soc., 
Madison, Wis. 

xEmig, G: C., Asst., P.L., Cincinnati, O. 

xFifield, Albert B., Principal P. School, New 
Haven, Conn. 

xFifield, Mrs. Annie C., New Haven, Conn. 

Fletcher, W: I., Ln. Amherst College, Mass. 

xFoster, W:E., P.Ln., Providence, R.I. 

x Foster, Mrs. W: E., Providence, R.I. 

Gale, Miss Ellen, P.Ln., Rock Island, 111. 

xGalliner, Mrs. H. R., Ln. Bloomington L. 
Assoc., 111. 

Gardner, J. Leslie, P.L., Milwaukee. 

Ginn, F:B., of Ginn & Co., Publishers, Chi- 
cago. 

x Green, S: S., Free P.Ln., Worcester, Mass. 

x Green, Mrs. James, Worcester, Mass. 

Greenbank, Miss Daisy, Asst. P.Ln., Madi- 
son, Wis. 

xHagar, Miss Sarah C., Ln. Fletcher F.L., 
Burlington, Vt. 

x Hagar, Miss Mary L., Burlington, Vt. 

x Hager, Albert D., Ln. Historical Soc., Chi- 
cago. 

x Hager, Mrs. Rose F., Asst. Ln., Historical 
Soc., Chicago. 

xHild, F: H., Asst. P.L., Chicago. 

x Hitchcock, Miss A. C., Springfield, Mass. 

Hobart, Gen. Harrison C., Pres. P.L. Trus- 
tees, Milwaukee. 

x Hooper, W. De M., P.Ln., Indianapolis, 
Ind. 

x Hooper, Mrs. W. De M., Indianapolis, Ind. 

Jackson, F:, St. Paul, Minn., Ex-Supt. New- 
ton (Mass.) F.L. 



190 



MILWAUKEE CONFERENCE. 



Jermain, Mrs. Fanny D., P.Ln., Toledo, O. 

Johnson, E. M., Sec. P.L., Minneapolis, Wis. 

xjudd, E: P., Bookseller, New Haven, Conn. 

xjudd, Miss Sarah H., New Haven, Conn. 

Judd, Reginald E. , New Haven, Conn. 

xKelso, Miss Tessa L., Cor. Illus. JVeivs, Cin- 
cinnati. 

Klephart, Horace, Asst. Yale College Lib. 

Lagrand, J :, Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. 

xLane, W: C., Asst. in charge of catalog, 
Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. 

Langland, James, The Sentinel, Milwaukee. 

Larned, J. N., Ln. Buffalo L., N.Y. 

xLinderfelt, K. A., P.Ln., Milwaukee. 

xLinderfelt, Mrs. M. E., Milwaukee. 

Linfield, G. F., Prin. Wayland Acad., Beaver 
Dam, Wis. 

x Little, G:T., Ln. Bowdoin College, Bruns- 
wick, Me. 

McRae, Hamilton S., Supt. Schools, Marion, 
Ind. 

Matson, Oliver, Asst. Ln., De Pauw Univ., 
Greencastle, Ind. 

xMerrill, Chester W., P.Ln., Cincinnati. 

Milbrath, C. W., Trustee P.L., Milwaukee. 

x Miller, Miss Dorcas C., P.Ln., Easthamp- 
ton, Mass. 

Miner, Mrs. A. B., P. School Ln., Muskegon, 
Mich. 

xMurchison, Miss A. M., Teacher, 451 Wash- 
ington Bd., Chicago. 

x Nolan, E:J., Ln. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Phil- 
adelphia. 

North, Mrs. Ada E., Ln. Iowa State Univ., 
Iowa City. 

x Oakley, Miss Minnie M. , P. Ln. , Madison, Wis. 

xPage, Miss Nellie F., Cataloger, Columbia 
College L., New York. 

Patten, F. C., Asst. Ln., Ripon College, 
Ripon, Wis. 

Patton, Normand S., Architect, Chicago. 

x Peck, A. L., Ln. Levi Parsons L., Glovers- 
ville, N.Y. 

xPeirce, Rev. Bradford K., D.D., Supt. 
Newton F.L., Mass. 

x Peoples, W: T., Ln. Mercantile L., New York. 

Poole, Reuben B., Ln. Y.M.C.A., New York. 

xPoole, W:F., LL.D., P.Ln., Chicago. 

x Poole, Miss Mary, Evanston, 111. 

Putnam, Herbert, Ln. Athenaeum, Minneapo- 
lis, Minn. 

x Richardson, Rv. Ernest C., Ln. Hartford 
Theol. Sem. 



Rodriguez, MissJ. A., P.L., Milwaukee. 

Ropes, Rev. W: L., Ln. Theol. Sem., Ando- 
ver, Mass. 

Ropes, James Hardy, Andover, Mass. 

Schmidt, Miss Willy, P.L., Milwaukee. 

Schwartz, Jacob, Ln. Apprentices' L., New 
York. 

Schwartz, Mrs. Jacob, New York. 

xSelby, Miss Emily H., Asst. State Ln., 
Springfield, 111. 

x Seward, Mrs. H. L., Omaha, Neb. 

xSeward, Horatio L., Jr., Omaha, Neb. 

x Sherwood, Miss K. W., Asst. P.L., Cincinnati. 

Smith, Mrs. Hubbard M., New Haven, Conn. 

Smith, Mrs. Sarah A., New Haven, Conn. 

Solberg, Thorvald, Asst., L. of Congress, 
Washington, D.C. 

xSponable, J. W., Paola, Kansas. 

Stechert, Gustav E., Foreign Bookseller, 766 
Broadway, New York. 

x Stevens, Miss Lucy, Asst. State Ln., Des 
Moines, la. 

x Sweetser, Miss Abbie L., Greek dept., Mt. 
Holyoke Sem., So. Hadley, Mass. 

Titsworth, Rev. A. J., Plymouth Church, Mil- 
waukee. 

xTodd, Prof. D: P., College Observatory, 
Amherst, Mass. 

xTodd, Mrs. Mabel Loomis, Amherst, Mass. 

Tuttle, Miss Elizabeth, Asst. Ln. Long Island 
Hist. Soc. L., Brooklyn. 

xUtley, H. M., P.Ln., Detroit, Mich. 

xVan Name, Addison, Ln. Yale College, New 
Haven, Conn. 

xVan Name, Willard Gibbs, New Haven, 
Conn. 

xVan Zandt, Miss Margaret, Accession dept., 
Columbia College L., New York. 

Wallber, Hon. Emil, Mayor of Milwaukee. 

x West, Miss Theresa H., Deputy P.Ln., Mil- 
waukee. 

West, H. H., Bookseller, Milwaukee. 

White, Miss H. B., P.L., Milwaukee. 

Whiting, Mrs. Chas. G., Springfield, Mass. 

x Whitney, Albert W., Beloit, Wis. 

x Whitney, Prof. Henry M., Beloit College, 
Wis. 

x Whitney, James L., Asst. P. Ln., Boston. 

Wing, J. N., of C: Scribner's Sons, Publishers, 
New York. 

Wing, Mrs. J. N., New York. 

xWinsor, Justin, Ln. Harvard Univ., Cam- 
bridge. 



PERSONS PRESENT. 



191 



Woodruff, E. H., Cornell Univ. L., Ithaca, 

N.Y. 
Woodward, Robert C., P.Ln., Springfield, O. 

Of the above 131 in attendance, 47 were chief 
librarians, 32 assistant librarians and catalog- 
ers, 8 trustees or other officers, 5 publishers or 
booksellers, and 39 ex-librarians and wives or 
friends of librarians. 

The attendance by States was as follows : 



Wisconsin, 
New York, 
Massachusetts, 
Illinois, 
Connecticut, 
Michigan, 
Ohio, 
Indiana, 
Nebraska, 
Minnesota, 
Total, 



28 Iowa, 

22 Kansas, 

20 Rhode Island, 

12 Vermont, 

10 Maine, 

7 Missouri, 

7 New Jersey, 

5 Pennsylvania, 

4 Dist. of Columbia, i 

3 



On A.L.A. Post-Conference Excursion, July 
12-20, '86, in addition to those marked x on 
preceding list. 



Bates, Walter G., Fellow of Columbia College, 
New York. 

Boutelle, L. H., Evanston, 111. 

Boutelle, Mrs. L. H., Evanston, 111. 

Frackelton, Mrs. S. S., Milwaukee. 

Henderson, Mrs. A. C., Pi 4 ttsburg, Pa. 

Hickey, Miss Julia, Pittsburg, Pa. 

Kendrick, C. M., St. Louis. 

Linderfelt, Anna Margaret, Milwaukee. 

McCullough, Miss Minnie, Supt. P. Kinder- 
gartens. 

Mason, E. G., Chicago. 

Mason, H. E., Chicago. 

Merrill, Bessie, Cincinnati. 

Merrill, Julia, Cincinnati. 

Peet, Rev. Stephen D., Ed. Am. Antiquarian, 
Clinton, Wis. 

Plankinton, W :, Trustee P.L., and Chairman 
Reception Com., Milwaukee, Wis. 

Plankinton, Mrs. W: , Milwaukee. 

Poole, Clarence C., Evanston, 111. 

Poole, Mrs. W: F :, Evanstonjll. 

Poole, W: F:, jr., Evanston, 111. 

Richardson, Rev. E. G., Rector St. James 
Church, Milwaukee. 

Stayner, Miss Cornelia T., Asst. Milwaukee 
School of Music. 



AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF MEMBERS 



Who have joined or have changed their address since the issue of the last list (Library journal, 10:351-354; and Pro- 
ceedings, 1885). 



LIFE MEMBERS. 

Pawtucket Free Pub. Library, Pawtucket, R.I. 
(Minerva A. Sanders, Librarian.) 

Arthur Brown, Ln. U.S. Naval Academy, An- 
napolis. 

ANNUAL MEMBERS. 
(The Yearly Membership Fee is $2.) 

Miss Jesse Allan, Ln. Pub. Library, Omaha, 

Neb. 

Mrs. J. T. Allan, Omaha, Neb. 
E. C. Arnold, Ln. P.L., Taunton, Mass. 
A. A. Andruss, New York City. 
Mrs. A. A. Andruss, New York City. 
S. H. Berry, Ln. Brooklyn Y.M.C.A., Brook- 
lyn, N.Y. 
John R. Berryman, Ln. Wis. State Library, 

Madison, Wis. 
L. H. Boutelle, Trustee Evanston Pub. Lib., 

Evanston, 111. 

M. S. Brooks, Ln. Madison, Ind., L. Assoc. 
Miss Kittie Burnell, Boston Pub. Lib. 
Mrs. Edith W. Carr, Grand Rapids, Mich. 
H. H. Cook, of McClurg & Co., Chicago, 111. 
Miss Lettie M. Crafts, Asst. Ln. Minn. State 

Univ. Lib., Minneapolis, Minn. 
Paul D. Cravath, Columbia Coll. Law School, 

N.Y. 

Miss Louisa S. Cutler, Florence, Mass. 
Prof. Joseph Leonard Daniels, Ln. Olivet 

College, Olivet, Mich. 
Wm. B. Daniels, Olivet, Mich. 
J. F. Donahoe, Trustee Pub. Lib., Paola, 

Kansas. 
Charles R. Dudley, Ln. Mercantile Lib., Den-. 

ver, Col. 
Daniel Steele Durrie, Ln. State Hist. Soc., 

Madison, Wis. 
George C. Emig, Asst. Cincinnati Pub. Lib., 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 



Therese S. Faville, Asst. Ln. Wis. State Lib., 

Madison, Wis. 
Albert B. Fifield, Principal P. School, New 

Haven, Conn. 

Mrs. Annie C. Fifield, New Haven, Conn. 
Mrs. William E. Foster, Providence, R.I. 
Miss Ellen Gale, Ln. Pub. Lib., Rock Island, 

111. 

Miss Mary Hagar, Burlington, Vt. 
Albert D. Hager, Ln. Chicago Hist. Soc., 

Chicago, 111. 

Mrs. Rose F. Hager, Chicago, Asst. Ln. Chi- 
cago Historical Soc. 
Frederick H. Hild, Asst. Chicago Pub. Lib., 

Chicago, 111. 
Miss A. C. Hitchcock, 149 Chestnut St., 

Springfield, Mass. 

L. S. Holbrook, 166 State St., Chicago, 111. 
Daniel Holman, Ln. Pub. Lib., Bangor, Me. 
W. DeM. Hooper, Ln. Indianapolis Pub. Lib., 

Indianapolis, Ind. 
E. M. Johnson, Sec. Pub. Lib., Minneapolis, 

Minn. 

Edward P. Judd, Bookseller, New Haven, Conn. 
Alice C. Judd, New Haven, Conn. 
Reginald E.Judd, New Haven, Conn. 
Sarah H. Judd, New Haven, Conn. 
Miss Tessa L. Kelso, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
C: M. Kendrick, St. Louis, Mo. 
Horace Klephart, Asst. Yale College Lib., New 

Haven, Conn. 

Leonard Scott Pub. Co., Philadelphia. 
Edward G. Mason, Chicago Hist. Soc., 40 

Dearborn St., Chicago. 
Oliver Matson, Asst. Ln. De Pauw Univ., 

Greencastle, Ind. 
Mrs. A. B. Miner, Ln. Pub. School Lib., Mus- 

kegon, Mich. 

J. S. Morse, Columbia Coll. Lib., N.Y. 
Miss A. C. Moses, Ln. Mobile, Ala., Library. 
Mutual Library, 1104 Walnut St., Phila. 



SUPPLEMENTARY LIST OF MEMBERS. 



Miss Minnie M. Oakley, Ln. Pub. Library, 

Madison, Wis. 
Hon. Wm. J. Onahan, Ex-Pres. Pub. Library, 

Chicago, 111. 
Paterson, N.J., Free Pub. Library, Frank P. 

Hill, Librarian. 

F. C. Patten, Asst. Lib. Ripon, Wis., College. 
Normand S. Patton, Architect, Chicago, 111. 
Rev. Dr. S. D. Peet, Clinton, Wis. 
C. Clarence Poole, 95 Fifth ave., Chicago, 

111. 

Charles A. Post, Columbia College, N.Y. 
Herbert Putnam, Ln. Athenaeum, Minneapo- 
lis, Minn. 

Miss A. M. Richardson, Chicago. 
James Hardy Ropes, Andover, Mass. 
Miss Emily H. Selby, Asst. Ln. Illinois State 

Lib., Springfield, 111. 
Mrs. H. L. Seward, Omaha, Neb. 
Horatio L. Seward, jr., Omaha, Neb. 
Mrs. Jacob Schwartz, New York City. 
Miss Kate W. Sherwood, Asst. Cincinnati 

Public Library. 
Daniel L. Shorey, Portland Block, Chicago, 

111. 



Mrs. Sarah A. Smith, New Haven, Conn. 
Thorvald Solberg, Asst. Ln. Library of Con- 
gress, Anacostia, D.C. 
J. W. Sponable, Prest. Miami Co. Nat. Bank, 

Paola, Kan. 

Miss Abbie L. Sweetser, Worcester, Mass. 
S. F. Taylor, Columbia College Library, N.Y. 
Prof. David P. Todd, Amherst College, Am- 

herst, Mass. 

Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd, Amherst, Mass. 
Miss Elizabeth Tuttle, Asst. Ln., L. I. Hist. 

Soc. 
John C. Van Dyke, Ln. Gardner A. Sage 

Library, Theol. Sem. Reformed Ch. in 

America, New Brunswick, N.J. 
Willard Gibbs Van Name, New Haven, Conn. 
Miss Hattie A. Walker, Ln. Olivet Library, 

129 E. loth St., N.Y. 

Mrs. Chas. G. Whiting, Springfield, Mass. 
Albert W. Whitney, Beloit, Wis. 
Prof. Henry Mitchell Whitney, Beloit, Wis. 
J. N. Wing, N.Y City. 
Mrs. J. N. Wing, N.Y. City. 
E. H. Woodruff, Cornell Univ. Library, Ithaca, 

N.Y. 



UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOI8-URBANA