250 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

IN the librarian's semi-annual account of his stewardship, areference to those matters of routine which are common toall libraries of our class may not be required, but your at-tention should perhaps be called to certain matters of unu-sual interest. It is, for instance, pleasant to note a closertie to Cornell and Harvard Universities through the pupilsof our associates, Ex-President Andrew D. White, Dr.Moses Coit Tyler and Prof. Edward Channing. The pres-ence of these students for the special purpose of examiningour files of revolutionary and pre-revolutionary newspapers,reminds us of the pressing need of what for a better namemight be called the Eighteenth Century Newspaper Fund.Every opportunity' should be taken to enrich the remarkablecollection above referred to. Even stray numbers, such aswere recently oflered at the Lewis sale should, if needed, besecured. Certain of oui* other departments, which are rich ingood works, should be made richer both for our own sakeand for the sake of all scholars. Such opportunities as havebeen aflbrded by the recent Barlow, Brevoort, Cole andQuaritch sales emphasize the importance of an enlargedbook fund for general use. While in such case I wouldnot advocate the indiscriminate purchase of rarities, itwould seem wise to honor our founder — the author of theHistory of Printing—by more fully illustrating, the prog-ress or decline of the art of which he wrote ; and again tomake as complete as possible the rare collection of Mathertracts which camé to us so largely through his munificence.Regarding the Mather rarities, I find in the library the fol-lowing manuscript entry by Mr. Christopher C. Baldwin :"January 10, 1834: Cotton Mather's works are 382, and

189Ó.] Report of the Librarian. 251

yet not more than eighty are in any of our public libraries."Fiftj'-six years later, we und on our shelves over two hun.-dred of the more than four hundred of their separate worksmentioned in Sabin. To aid in the strengthening of suchcollections, it is quite possible that tliere may be found inthe future some way of carrying out Col. Washburn's novelsuggestion made in his Council Eeport of October, 1888.He said, "Assume that we have a collection of authoritieson any particular subject which is almost perfect; thenearer perfection is approached the more vital and pressingthe necessity of reaching it even if the material necessary tocomplete it be among the more insignificant in inherent im-portance. Some other library has this, thinks little of itbecause it is so insignificant, would gladly give it to us inexchange for something which, valuable to it on the samegrounds, is comparatively unimportant to us." Alongsidethis statement of our Recording Secretary, I submit asguardedly seconding Jiis motion, two paragraphs from anarticle in the March number of the Library Journal by Mr.Reuben B. Poole, Librarian of the Young Men's ChristianAssociation of New York. The paper is upon " Speciali-zations in New York Libraries " and the quotation therefromfollows: "A system of exchange which would not confiictwith established rules or customs duties, or the requests ofdonors, might be eliected which would result in greatly en-riching all without impoverishing any. There is unques-tionably now much in all our libraries that is absolutelydead stock which, if put in the right library, would fulfilsome other mission than simply occupying shelf-room andaccumulating dust." In this connection the efforts of theNew England Historic Genealogical Society to centralizeand specialize their work as well as their collections maywell attract attention.

We have been able to assist very materially the venturewhich the New Jersey Historical Society contemplates inthe publication of several volumes of early newspaper .ex-

252 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

tracts relating to the State of New Jersey. Such a chrono-. logical arrangement of the editorials, letters, ship news,advertisements, etc., in the exact language of the period,will be an interesting if not always a trustworthy formof history. Our early pamphlet literature has yieldedmany titles for the Hon. Joseph Williamson's Bibliographyof Maine; while we are assisting—as we have done thepast twenty-four years.— Sabin's Dictionary of Books relat-ing to America, now happily nearing its completion. MissSusan H. Yerkes, Librarian of the Arthur Winter MemorialLibrary of Staten Island, has been aided in the preparationof a bibliographical account of Anierican theatrical literatureincluding works historical, bibliographical and critical relat-ing to the theatre and to actors. Our department of Re-bellion and Slavery, including the collection of War scrap-books, has also been .carefully examined for our associate.Col.,Thomas Wentworth Higginson, in the interest of hisgreat commission as military and naval historian of Massa-chusetts. At the suggestion of Minister Washburn, dupli-cates of the' insurance periodicals received for so manyyears past from him and from William A. Smith, Esq.,have been turned over to the Insurance Library Associationof Boston, by. whom the files will be completed, so far aspossible, and bound. The transfer of Boston documents tothat City has led to such a strong effort to complete its de-partment files, that a like step has been taken with the sameclass of Worcester reports. Following the publisher's giftof The Voice was an appeal for our imperfect file for re-distribution. The request of Gen. Adolphus W. Greely,chief signal ofiicer, for an exchange of meteorological dupli-cates, has resulted in our sending him not only suchauthorities as Espy on Storms, but a set of the WorcesterLunatic Hospital reports in which for more than thirtyyears careful and detailed observations were recorded ; anunusual and unexpected but very welcome source of desiredinfprmation. One of the minor advantages of our system

1890.] Report of the Librarian. . 253

of the re-distribution of duplicate herievolent society reports,is found in the fact that an appeal to the societies or insti-tutions for missing numbers, often suggests the proprietyof caring for their surplus reports. The call of the Ameri-can Historical Association for an account of our Society, itslibrary, its work and its membership, was promptly met byforwarding the recent brochure.? of Messrs. Green and Paineof our Council, our President's Partial Index to the Pro-ceedings, the new list of officers and members, etc. Weshould not forget the assistance of Vice-President Hoar inthe successful eifort to secure government recognition ofthis young and vigorous society. Though organized atSaratoga, N. Y., September 10, 1884, it was chartered, asyou are aware, at Washington as late as January 4, 1889,"for the promotion of historical studies, the collection andpreservation of historical manuscripts and for kindred pur-poses in the interest of American history and history inAmerica."

The transfer of the Library School from Columbia Collegeto the care of the Board of Eegents of the University ofNew York, places it at the capital under the fostering careof a great State and leads its friends to hope for its continuedsuccess under the leadership of its founder. The Societyhas twice been represented in the lecture course in NewYork by its librarian. On the 22d instant, by invitation ofMr. Samuel S. Green, librarian of the Free Public Library,who is also a member of our Council, the School visitedWorcester, and while under his hospitable' .o-uidance madea somewhat hasty examination both of our treasures andour methods of administration.

Since the publication of the interesting paper on CottonMather and his Slaves, read by Prof. Henry W. Haynes,at our last meeting, I have noticed the following brief entryin Cotton Mather's Diary, confirming the truth of his quota-tion from the Rev. Wm. B. O. Peabody's life of Dr. Mather.It bears date January 17, 1717, and reads : " I have now a

254 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

Charity-Schole erected for y" instruction of Negros andIndians, Whereof I am at y" sole Expence. God prosperit." His labors for the blacks and for the copper-colored'would seem to have been both very personal and long con-tinued.

The external improvements upon our library buildinghave been of an important and permanent character. They'-consist of snow-guards for the Highland Street roof of themain hall and a copper conduit leading from the same sideof the Salisbury Annex alongside the inner wall to the citysewer. A further draft upon the indispensable SalisburyBuilding Fund must soon provide more book-cases for thelower main hall and thus relieve the still overcrowded lob-bies above. On the first day of March Miss E. M. C. Ricewithdrew from service in the library, and from the first ofApril we have had the undivided labors of our janitor.

Following a precedent long since established, a set of ourpublications as complete as circumstances would allow, wasforwarded to our associate. Sir Daniel Wilson, President ofthe University of Toronto, whose buildings and librarywere destroyed by fire on the evening of the 14th of Febru-ary. President Wilson says in his note of acknowledg-ment, ' 'Accept of grateful thanks on behalf of my colleagues

. and myself fov the kind and valued gift of the publicationsof the American Antiquarian Society to the Library of theUniversity. We highly, appreciate this kind mark of symrpathy."

In the appendix to this report will be found the ñames oftwo,hundred and eighty-.six givers,, the largest number everrecorded in a semi-annual report of the librarian. The listincludes forty members, one hundred and thirty-four per-sons not members, and one hundred and twelve societiesand institutions. The average number for the five yearslast past, not including the present report, is two hundredand twenty-sev en, namely, forty-four members, one hun-dred and four persons not members, and ninety-three socie-

1890! ] Report of the Librarían. 255

ties and institutions. I need not call your attention to thelesson which this comparison is intended to convey. Theaccessions which far exceed the average in quantity, thoughperhaps not in quality, may be entered, for convenience ofreference, under the following heads : Gifts, fourteen hun-dred and eighty-seven books, fifty-three hundred and forty-six pamphlets, two hundred and eight volumes of unboundnewspapers, forty engravings, twenty-six specimens of pot-tery, sixteen maps, two framed and twelve unframed photo-graphs, five pieces of war currency, five broadsides and twobook-cases ; Exchanges, one hundred and thirty-eight booksand two hundred and twenty-six pamphlets ; and from theBindery one hundred volumes of newspapers ; making aTotal of sixteen hundred and twenty-five books, fifty-fivehundred and seventy-two pamphlets, one hundred volumesof bound and two hundred and eight of unbound newspa-pers, and the other articles above-named. There wouldseem to be at this time no call for extended notices of spec-ial gifts, but a few brief, suggestive references follow. Wehave received with peculiar pleasure three of the five vol-umes of B. F. Stevens's facsimiles of manuscripts in Euro-pean Archives relating to America with descriptions, edi-torial notes, collations, references and translations, whichwere subscribed for at the charge of Messrs. Salisbury,Hoar and Davis. The Athenaium after strongly commend-ing the work says, "These documents are full of facts outof which the intelligent student can frame a history of anepisode in the American Revolution which shall be trust-worthy" ; and the Nation remarks, " W e heartily recom-mend the Collection to all serious students of the historyof the Revolutionary War," adding that "For the thoroughunderstanding Of minor characters and secondary events,and for side lights upon persons and things of great impor-tance, few publications can prove more useful." OurPresident, who has again honored our call for his Yucatecanreprints, will be glad to know that his investment- has

256 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

already added some two hundred dollars to the PublishingFund ; a very suggestive fact. Large gifts of public docu-ments have as usual been received from Vice-PresidentHoar and the Hon. William W. Eice, and a set of Brooks'sOld Times Series, from the Hon. Edward Isaiah Thomas.Dr. George H. Moore has forwarded for the Mather Collec-tion a reprint—with a» introduction by himself—of CottonMather's Eules for the Society of Negroes, 1693, addingseveral of his historical brochures for the general library.Hon. Edward L. Davis has sent with his semi-annual giftsof books and pamphlets, a framed, photograph of Vice-President Bancroft's birth-place on Salisbury Street, andof the Stone Tower at Lake Park, Worcester, Mr. Davis'slatest benefaction to his native town. And here I wish tosupplement a previous acknowledgment to Mr.- Davis ofthe Sumner-Longfeliow portraits of the war period, withthe statement of the owner of the original, that but fiftycopies were printed ; and further to note the following par-agraphs as to the first named as found in Librarian Christo-pher C. Baldwin's Diary December 13, 1834.- He says," I ought to haye mentioned that last week I was visitedby Mr. Charles Sumner, son of C. P. Sumner, Esq., Sheriifof Boston. He is a young man of good promise. He cameto Worcester to be admitted to the Bar. He was admittedhere, I believe, the 3d. I have never seen him before. Icannot but believe that he is destined to make a conspicu-ous figure in his profession." Judge P. Emory Aldrichpresents a carefully prepared and certified copy of a reportto the Massachusetts Legislature by him and his associatesin the case of the Dudley Indians versus the Commonwealth,with the suggestion that " I t may be of interest to somefuture enquirer after Indian antiquities." Mr. Henry Adamshas forwarded the four volumes of his exhaustive account ofthe second term of Jeiferson's administration ; and Dr.Daniel G. Brinton his numerous recent contributions to thedepartments of Archœology and Ethnology. Bishop Wm.

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 257

Stevens Perry has completed our set of the Iowa Church-man, to which he has always been the largest contributor,and Mr. Henry H. Edes our set of the Civil Service Record.The Hon. Robert C. Winthrop has placed in the alcove ofBiography, Curry's Sketch of, the Diplomatic Service ofHon. George Wm. Ewing, who was a member of this Soci-ety. It contains an introduction by Mr. Winthrop and is

• of peculiar value as no notice of Mr. Ewing's death appearedin our proceedings. Rev. Dr. Daniel Merriman presentsan imperfect copy of Increase Mather's Meditations upon;beath, to perfect our own copy, with Curtis's Topograph-ical and Historical Sketch of Epsom, N. H., which is ararity in this complete form. The latest and perhaps themost valuable gift is from Mr. Edward H. Thompson, ofMerida, Yucatan. It consists of twenty-four of his excel-lent reproductions of the early utensils and implements ofthat country. Prof. Edward Hitchcock has added to thesame department two casts of small pots found in Revereand Marblehead, Massachusetts. We have secured withthe Chandler, Davis, Dewey, Haven and Thomas funds, ten,fifteen, eight, twelve, and thirty-three valuable worksrespectively.

The following references are to persons not members ofthis Society, who nevertheless appear to have a markedregard for its welfare. Mr. Clinton M. Dyer, who hasshown much interest in improving our Numismatic Collec-tion, has placed in our coin cabinet the rare liberty-capcent of 1796. Through Miss Fanny E. Sweetser we havereceived a large mass of pamphlet literature including manyof our early proceedings—which are always desirable ; andMr. Van Wyck Horton has deposited a valuable collectionof magazines relating to photography, with speciniens ofearly European photographs. We have received from theauthor, Mr. Curtiss C. Gardiner, his Genealogy of theGardiner family, and from Mrs. William T. Forbes herHundredth Town—Westborough, Mass., both on account

258 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

of special service rendered. These are but samples of suchwise deposits. The Eev. George F. Clark has made a sec-ond large gift of Unitarian and Temperance literature, whilethe Eev. Samuel D. Hosmer has added to our newspaperroom a much needed twenty-year file of the NantucTcetInquirer and Mirror. From Clarence Winthrop Bowen,Ph.D., we have a framed copy of Brady's excellent photo-graph of the officers of the American Historical Association. 'It was taken December 30, 1889, and of the eight personsrepresented, six are members of our Society. Followingis the untitled list, alphabetically arranged : Charles K.Adams, Herbert B. Adams, George Bancroft, Clarence W.Bowen, John Jay, Wm. Frederick Poole, Andrew D. Whiteand Justin Winsor. The following paragraphs from recentnotes of the Eev. Francis T. Eussoll, son-in-law of Mrs.Lydia Huntley Sigourney, refer to. the only unidentifiedbust in our collection. Mr. Eussell writes, " I enclose pho-tographs of the Greenough bust and Wilson crayon portrait.The former is not at all like Mrs. S., but the latter was, orrather is, a good likeness, slightly idealized. You will seethat the shape of the head, the droop of the shoulders andthe general outline of the form and particularly the down-ward line of the nose show that the bust in your roomscould not have been designed for Mrs. Sigourney." In anearlier communication, written after he had visited our hall,Mr. Eussell said, " I n the bust, the mouth is the inost ex-pressive and beautiful I have ever seen." As this latterimpression is shared to a certain extent by your librarian,he will be excused for reporting one more effort to identifythis marble presentment. The Eeverend Edward G. Por-ter, who has also been interested in the quest and to whoma photograph of the bust was sent for inspection, sends" thefollowing judgment of an old friend of Mrs. Sigourney." I t is not the bust of Mrs. Sigourney. I am quite sure ofit, as I had the plaster cast of her bust for some months inmy parlor in New York. It was a very striking likeness

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 259

of her." A careful comparison of our photograph withmany engraved portraits at the Boston Athenœum brings usthe statement that " A likeness has been found to both Mrs.Sigourney and Mrs. Hemans, but the preference has beengiven to Mrs. Hemans by two persons of artistic taste towhom the pictures have been submitted." By far the largestgift of the past six months is that of the Spy PublishingCompany, represented on our Council by J . Evarts Greene,Esq., and by Messrs. John S. and Charles C. Baldwin, sonsof the Hon. John D. Baldwin, a former member of theSociety. The public documents, found to be duplicate,were at once sent on their mission to supply libraries lessfortunate than our own. We acknowledge from the Worces-ter Society of Antiquity, Worcester Town Eecords 1784-1788, the publication of which has' been wisely encouragedby a city appropriation. This volume is in continuation ofsimilar work which they have brought out under the excel-lent supervision of Mr. Franklin P. Eice. And just hereit may not be improper to add that our President, in prac-tical recognition of their good work, has deeded to thatsociety a valuable lot on Salisbury Street, upon which tobuild a well-deserved society home for their rapidly increas-ing library and cabinet. May I further add that owing tothe fact of the marked similarity of the names of the twosocieties which are to be such near neighbors, your librarianhas frequently been asked, "What is to be done with yourold hall when the new one is ready?" together with otherqueries of like iniport ! 1 desire to record the fact thatspecial interest attaches to the recently received Oxford andSalem public library reports, inasmuch as they sketch thesuccessful and unsuccessful efforts to establish various libra-ries in these early Massachusetts towns. The city and towndocuments received from the new administration of the NewEngland Historic Genealogical Society, are in return for alike gift from our duplicate room, which has also added totheir stock a large collection of their duplicate publications.

260 American Antiquarian .Society. [April,

The societies will try to aid each other in what may becalled a broad exchange. In like manner we have beenable to assist the Historical Library of the Young Men'sChristian Associations of the United States and the BritishProvinces—Mr. Jacob T. Bowne, of Springfield, Mass.,Custodian—receiving a valuable return therefor. Thisunique library aims to secure not only all classes of Y. M.C. A. documents, but the publications of other religioussocieties of young men, both denominational and undenom-inational, and of young men's literary, library, benevolentand moral reform societies, etc., with books of all kindswritten for the welfare of young men. In fact they desireanything which will in any way tend to illustrate the historyor methods of work for the physical, social, moral, and re-ligious welfare of young men. All such special effortsshould meet with our hearty approval and cooperation. Anunusually high grade of material has been received by wayof exchange ; the departments of biography, genealogy,local history, psalmody and witchcraft having been espec-ially strengthened thereby.

Since our last meeting, the north wing of the Society's oldhall on the corner of Summer and Belmont streets has beentorn down and a modern apartment-house erected upon itssite. As its further destruction is a probable event in thenear future, I am led to record a few facts with regard tothe old home. They have been chiefly gathered fromunpublished records and other manuscript sources. Anofficial advertisement in the Massachusetts Spy of August23, 1820, signed Rejoice Newton, Recording Secretary,announces that "The Building lately erected for the use ofthe Society in Worcester by the bounty of the PresidentIsaiah Thomas LL.D. being now completed, will be dedi-cated on Thursday the 24th inst. (tomorrow). The exer-cises on the occasion will be prayers, a Public address byIsaac Goodwin Esq. and appropriate musick. Members ofthe Society and others disposed to Countenance this

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 261

National Institution, are requested to attend. The Societywill dine at Sikes' Cofiee-House." The Sub Council Eecordsof August 24, 1820, inform us that "On this day the Presi-dent, Vice President Bancroft, Sub Council and other offi-cers of the Society met in the new building for the library,together with a number of the members, and went in pro-cession to the Church of the North Parish i where the Dedi-cation was performed agreeably to an order on the 10th ofApril last. A large number of people visited the Libraryafter the exercises were over." The building having beencompleted and occupied, the following entries in the SubCouncil Eecords show how the Collections were to be madeuseful : Sept. 18, 1820, it was "voted that the members inWorcester take turns, each one week, to take charge of theLibrary and Cabinet." February 7, 1822, it was "Agreedthat the following gentlemen, in the order of their names asstated below, attend for the purpose of waiting on personswho shall be admitted to visit the Society's Library, weekly,one of them a week each, viz. : Mr. Thomas, Eev. Dr.Bancroft, Mr. Bangs, Mr. Bigelow, Mr. Burnside, Mr.Jennison, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Maccarty, Mr. Newton." Ourfounder's plea for protection from the dangers by fire, whichwas written with his own hand under date August 4, 1823,in a volume marked " Donors and Donations to the Ameri-.can Antiquarian Society," is as follows: " N o fire is everto be made in the Eooms occupied for the Library andCabinet, and no fire mu'st be made in the room appropriatedfor the Librarian until the wood work of the fire-place istaken away or covered at least half way up with tin orsheet-iron, and fioor adjoining the Hearth covered at leastfour feet each way where the Hearth projects, with tin orsheet-lead, after which a stove should be used placed backfrom the Hearth. No fire or lights to be used after sunset.Too much care cannot be taken as it respects fire." Possi-bly too little fire had resulted in too much dampness and

I TUe CUurcU oí which the Keverend Dr. Bancroft was then pastor.

262 Amei'ican Antiquarian Society. • [April,

this may have been, in part at least, the occasion of the fol-lowing entry in the Sub Council Records of July 13, 1826,viz.: "The Librarian was requested to take an assistantand put the library and cabinet in better order—which wassoon after attended to." Thus much of the building in itsoriginal form and the service therein rendered. Dr. Thomasdied April 4, 1831, and at the semi-annual meeting, June20, following, the Society accepted the report of a SubCouncil Committee consisting of Frederick W. Paine,Isaac Goodwin and Rejoice Newton, which had been ap-pointed to consider and report on the subject of erecting afire-proof wing or. wings to Antiquarian Hall under the pro-visions of the will of the late Isaiah Thomas. • They re-ported in favor of ' ' the erection of two wings as soon asmay be convenient, each wing to be twenty-five feet longand twenty deep, two stories high and covered with slate orzinc. One of the wings to have the floors covered withstone or brick and to communicate with the main buildingby means of an iron door." The estimated expense wastwelve hundred dollars, and for painting the wooden partof the main building thirty-five dollars including the cupola,which latter, however, it is frankly added, "Your commit-tee consider neither useful nor ornamental but on the con-trary, as defacing the building and very diiEcult to rendertight, and they would, therefore, suggest,the propriety oftaking it away." A foot-note records the fact that " I(saac)G(oodwin) objects to that part of the report which rec-ommends removing the cupola," and his objection has beensustained for nearly sixty years. The minutes of the An-nual Meeting, October 24, 1831, mention a report of theBuilding Committee (Governor Levi Lincoln and FrederickW. Paine, Esq.) on the erection of the library house, and theSemi-Annual Report of the Council, October 24, 1832, says"Two wings to their Hall have been erected and are nowfinished. Repairs and some alterations have been made inthe main body of the building, rendered necessary by the

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 263

additions, the want of proper ventilation and the rot occa-sioned by damp and leakage." The element of dampnessis again forcibly suggested by the following entry in thelibrarian's account book the month previous ; "Paid Jona-than Wood for old barrels for my well in the cellar 12^ c." !I add from the above-named report the following para-graphs : " The want of more room was felt before the deathof Mr. Thomas, and he left a legacy of one thousand dollarstowards building the wings. It was thought most judiciousto erect at this time two wings sufficiently spacious to meetthe wants of the library for some years to come, and also,.to accommodate the Librarian. These objects have beenfully attained and the expense as appears by the report ofMr. Frederick William Paine for the Building Committeewill be about nineteen hundred and fifty dollars, one thous-and of which is provided by the aforesaid legacy." TheCouncil Eeport of May 29, 1833, .«signed by WilliamLincoln and Samuel M. Burnside, speaks of the building as"Convenient for the purposes of appropriation, neat andelegant in appearance, alike useful for the Society and or-namental to the town." (The present hall was first occupiedfor a meeting of the Society, October 2, 1853.)

Eeferring to our list of members, it appears that but fiveremain to tell us of the annual doings at the Hall of ourFounder. Their honored names follow in the order ofseniority of election : George Bancroft, Eobert C. Win-throp, George E. Ellis, Edward E. Hale, and J. C. Ban-croft Davis. Such reminiscences would be of markedinterest to members of a later period and might well beillustrated with the existing cuts of the building as it hasappeared from time to time. Before leaving the old home,I venture to submit, chronologically arranged, a few itemsrelating to the library and the librarian's life in the daysof the Society's youth and early manhood. Admission tothe enlarged treasure-house was to be obtained under thenew By-Laws of October 24, 1831, "On the personal in-

25

264 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

troduction or on producing a ticket of a member of theSociety." •

The quotations which follow have been taken from theimportant though very personal Diary of Christopher C.Baldwin, Esq., who was elected to membership in the Soci-ety October 23, 1827, was later placed temporarily incharge, of its library and collections, was elected Librarianin the autumn of 1831, and took the office April 1, 1832.As a whole it covers from January 1, 1829, to the morningof his sudden death, August 20, 1835 ; and has a decidedlyquaint style, with a marked local coloring. It may serveto indicate to us the strong personality which was throwninto the library work within and without the library walls,not only by Mr. Baldwin but by others of the Society'searly and devoted librarians. The following paragraphsfix the date of Mr. Baldwin's first salaried service and thelocation of the librarian's room: "April 1, 1832. Thisday my salary begins as Librarian of the American Anti-quarian Society. I build a fire in my apartment in theHall of the Society (in the south wing) and answer severalletters." The following refers to the personal service ofone who was for thirty-seven years a faithful officer of theSociety: "His Excellency, Governor Lincoln, came withseveral men to lay out the grounds in front of the Antiqua-rian Hall. He worked very diligently two days and madesome very acceptable alterations. The thermometer stoodat 91, and I have no question but that he had a warm timeof it." Two facts appear from the next selection, viz., thatour newspaper collection of 1832 numbered about twelvehundred volumes, and that it was placed on the second floorof the wing now demolished. "Ju ly 10, 1832. This dayI have shelves erected in the chamber of the north wing ofthe Antiquarian Hall for the reception of newspapers. Theshelves are put up and I load them with six hundred vol-umes of papers, which comprise about half of our collectionof that kind of reading." An early visit to the library

Report of the Librarian. 2()5

by Peter Force is thus chronicled: "October 8, 1833.Peter Force, Esq., of Washington, D. C , came to townlast evening. He is engaged in collecting and arrangingfor the press, the documentary history of all the coloniesfrom their origin to the Adoption of the Federal Constitu-tion, April 13, 1789. He has been employed about it sev-eral years already. He has now associated with him Mat-thew St. Clair Clarke, Clerk of the House of Representa-tives of Congress, and both are acting under a directioncontained in a Resolve of Congress. They visit Worcesterfor the purpose of examining the collection of newspapersin the Antiquarian Plall. Mr. Force was with me all day.I have never found one who was so familiar with the eventsof our Revolutionary War as he." The facts of a visit anda request from Hon. Henry Clay are thus entered : "No-vember 5, 1833. I was visited by Mr. Clay at the Anti-quarian Iiall, this morning, in company with the committee.He requested me, upon his arrival at Washington, to writehim, giving an account of the Antiquarian Society."

Perhaps Mr. Baldwin's devotion to his library work isnowhere more forcibly put than in the following short par-agraphs : "January 21, 1834. But what right has a Libra-rian to have any aflection but for books and manuscripts ?I doubt his authority for any other love even though it befor a beautiful lady." The intention, expressed in°the fol-lowing, as to a Dictionary of books relating to Americawould doubtless have been carried out in our'old hall hadMr. Baldwin's life been spared, as frequent allusions to hispurpose are to be found in his diary. "March 13, 1834.I must account this one of the happiest days of my life. Ireceived early in the morning a copy of the BibliothecaBritannica by Robert Watt in 4 vols. 4to. Edinburgh 1824,for which I paid thirty-eight dollars. It has often occurredto me how much we want such a work in this country, andsince I have been Librarian 1 have uniformly held out theidea that our Library was designed to collect all the pro-

266 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

ductions of American authors. I shall begin shortly tomake a sort of BibUotheca Americana, but there will be nooccasion for many notes because our continent is so new.But by making such a book I may get some fame,, and ofall fame in this world the fame of a librarian is the most tomy taste. I can make a work of this description and aHistory of American Printing at this time." Evidence ofhis interest in the external surroundings of the hall appearin the following entries: "March 17, 1834. Set out infront of Antiq'n Hall ten Locust Trees which I procuredfrom the nursery of William Lincoln. I brought them onmy back at two loads. The trunks are about an inch indiameter at the ground. I have set all the trees that arenow growing about the Hall. I began the planting of themin November, 1832, but the greater part of them wereplanted in March and April, 1833." And again he writes,"April 19, 1834. Anniversary'of the battle of Lexington.I spent the afternoon in planting trees about AntiquarianHall. I have now planted all I designed to in the begin-ning. I have set out perhaps five hundred of differentkinds. I have dug these up in the woods and have broughtthem on my back. They will afford a comfortable sliadêfor my successor, if I should not live to enjoy it myself. '̂And here I am reminded of William Lincoln's touching ref-erence to some of these trees when called by the Societythe following year to pay the last tribute to his friendBaldwin. He said, "The evergreens selected by the tasteand planted by the hand of the late lamented librarian, avethe fit symbol of the memory of that excellent officer ascherished by the many who had the pleasure of hisacquaintance, and particularly of those who from official̂association intimately, knew his merits and his worth."Mr. Baldwin thus refers to his journey to Boston to attendthe Society's spring meeting in 1834, and to interviewswith several members : " May 27, 1834. I went to Bostonwith William Lincoln to attend the Semi-Annual Meeting

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 267

of the Society. We left Worcester at 6 in the morning inthe mail stao'e and reached Boston at 12 at noon. Ourstage company consisted of the Hon. Benjamin Russell, thefamous Editor of the Boston Centinel, Gen. Mattoon ofAmherst, Col. Edward G. Prescott, etc. Mr. Russell, andGen. Mattoon being Revolutionary soldiers entertained uswith their fighting experience. They fought every battlefrom that of Lexington to the taking of Cornwallis. Bothknew General Washington personally and also Dr. Franklin.Russell mentioned several anecdotes of the latter, and onewhich occurred while he was a printer's boy with IsaiahThomas at Worcester. Dr. Franklin was on some publicbusiness in this part of the country which required his stayat Worcester two or three days. Much of this time wasspent in the printing ofiice, and Mr. Russell says that hegave the men some very useful hints about working thepress. The press was so constructed that only half ofone side of a sheet could be printed at one motion and theDoctor took the apparatus out and in a few minutes ar-ranged it so that the whole side of a sheet could be printedat one instead of two operations. Although he (Russell)is now seventy-six, he looks like a man of sixty, and whenhe begins to tell an anecdote his manner is so eai-nest andthe circumstances so particular that the hearer has noground for doubting anything. On Saturday morning Iwent to visit the Rev. Dr. Jenks. He wished me to givehim an account of my labors as librarian and of the condi-tion of the Institution. He particularly commended my planof increasing the Library by making it a collection of theproductions of American authors. He inspired me with somuch new zeal and love for my vocation that I shall returnto my labors with new pleasure and satisfaction. I metJared Sparks at Wilkins' Book-store. Í spent a half hour.with him very pleasantly and he in an especial mannercommended me for my care and labor in the collection andpreservation of newspapers, saying that in his different pub-

American Antiquarian Society. [April,

lications he had made great use of them and regretted thatso few perfect files of old papers had been spared from de-struction. I was in Boston five days. I amuse myself bygoing among the different book-stores and hunting upAmerican History. I found some hundreds of volumeswhich I wanted that could be purchased for a mere trifle.I had only fifteen dollars of the Society's money to expendand this I laid out as advantageously as I could." The fol-lowing reference is to Bentley material received by bequestfrom Mr. Wm. B. Fowle, and acknowledged in the libra-rian's report of April, 1866, in which report Dr. Havensays: " I t is not known that he had ever intimated an in-tention to make this disposition of his share of his uncle'sbooks and papers. Indeed, it was understood that he hadproposed to prepare the diaries for the press, since the lapseof time had obviated the objections to a publication of thesonieAvhat free and flavored comments upon men and thingsthey are said to contain." However, the good seed! whichhad been so ñiithfully sown some thirty years before by apredecessor in office, sprang up and bore abundant fruit.The interview which was productive of action is thus re-corded : "June 4, 1834. William Bentley Fowle, Esq., ofBoston, came to see me today and remained with me twodays and a half. He is the nephew of the late Eev. Dr.Bentley of Salem. He promised me that at some conven-ient time he would present to the Antiquarian Society themanuscripts which belonged to his uncle and also that hewould prepare a biographical memoir of him, for the trans-actions of the Society." The kindly relations which have solong existed between the Massachusetts Historical Society,thé Boston Athenasum and our' own, are briefly indicatedby the following: "January 20, 1835. I brought with mefrom Boston many books that were given me for our Libra-ry. The pamphlets from the Historical Society and Athe-najum are in number between three and four thousand."Absence from the library to attend the May Meeting in

1890.] Report of the Librarian. 269

1835—-the, last at 'which he was present—is referred to asfollows: "May 25, 1835. Took the stage this morningfor Boston to attend the Semi-A.nnual Meeting of the Anti-quarian Society which is to be held on the 27th. At West-borough, I left the stage and took a seat in one of the carsof the Eailroad and reached Boston at 10 A. M. Therewere about two hundred passengers. .May 27, 1835.The Antiquarian Society met at 12 o'clock at the ExchangeCoifee House. We were all invited to dine with Mr. Win-throp, President of the Society. The Society always dinewith him and he gives a prime entertainment."

A leading feature of the old hall which is pleasantly re-membered by persons now living, is mentioned by WilliamLincoln, Esq., in his Council Eeport, May 29, 1839, viz. :"The Cabinet occupies one large room and has been ar-ranged with great neatness. There are old specimens of thearts of Peru and Mexico, a vast number of implements,utensils, weapons and ornaments of the northern Indians,and some most interesting memorials of the planters of NewEngland, and of the patriots of the Eevolution." Of theexterior, he says, in the same report, "Improvements havebeen made during the spring season on the grounds of theSociety. The belt of trees flourishing in the front of theHall has been extended along the sides and rear, and at nodistant period, the library will be embowered in the shadeof evergreens, proving walls of perennial verdure to sepa-rate the still retreat of the Antiquarian from the busy stirof the world."

My closing reference to the old home shall be a quotationfrom our friend Dr. Haven's library report of April 27,1853, upon entering the new home. He said, "An expres-sion of regret may be permitted at parting with the old ac-customed edifice which has so long served so useful a pur-pose and been the centre of so many pleasant associations.Its very defects are in a degree harmonious with the pur-pose to which it has been devoted. Its shaded position and

270 American Antiquarian Society. [April,

sombre halls, though generating mould and decay, have tocommon conception a fitness and propriety that almost com-pensate for their disadvantages."• The years that have passed since these descriptive noteswere first penned, have brought to the Society added caresand opportunities, but may we not after all truly say of itnot only that "the past at least is secure" but that " thefuture is full of promise." If our early members wereproud of their Antiquarian Hall—the gift of the first Presi-dent— which Mr. Goodwin in his dedicatory address called"that splendid edifice," so may we of these later days bejustly proud of our well located, well lighted, well heated,well drained and, I may add, well filled Antiquarian Hall,largely the gift of our second great benefactor, who wasalso for so many years our honored President, and whosehonored son and namesake now occupies the chair.

Respectfully submitted.

EDMUND M. BARTON,Librarian.

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