College and Research Libraries


378 I College & Research Libraries • July 1976 

Rath, Frederick L., Jr., and O'Connell, 
Merrilyn Rogers, eds. Historic Preserva-
tion. A Bibliography on Historical Or-
ganization Practices, vol. 1. Nashville, 
Tenn.: American Association for State 
and Local History, 1975. 14lp. $10.00. 
(LC 75-26770) (ISBN 0-910050-17-1, 
v. I) 

This volume provides an excellent ref-
erence bibliography and research tool on 
the history and organization of historic 
preservation and preservation experiences 
from buildings to archaeological sites. Sup-
ported by the National Museum Act of 
1971, this publication was to serve as a 
third edition of an earlier reference guide 
to the subject. However, the proliferation 
of materials in the field has made this the 
first of a series with other aspects to be cov-
ered in future volumes. The editors have 
done a thorough job and produced an ex-
tremely useful handbook. They attempted 
to include "all the most significant refer-
ences" rather than produce a definitive list-
ing, though over 1,250 references and 90 
periodicals are cited. 

The organization of the work directs the 
reader through the many aspects of historic 
preservation, and the many short descrip-
tive annotations are helpful within the larg-
er categories to define the exact focus. 
Chapters cover Historical Preservation in 
Perspective; Preservation Law; Urban De-
velopment and Redevelopment; Preserva-
tion Research and Planning; and Preserva-
tion Action. Monographic titles and articles 
cover 1945 through 1973, with references 
to major titles planned for 197 4. The many 
addresses for subscriptions and noncom-
mercial publications are a boon, and there 
is a comprehensive index to assist in easy 
identification of all sources. Library of Con-
gress entries are used. 

The informational notes in each section 
are particularly helpful in gathering infor-
mation on training programs, national and 
foreign organizations, surveys, and related 
sources. The Basic Reference Shelf list 
would form a good working core library for 
any interested organization. Especially good 
for local and state historical societies or 
any other group involved in attempts to 
save our historical heritage, this bibliogra-

phy will also give invaluable direction to 
the student planning to enter this field. 
Concise orientation statements are included 
for each chapter heading which leads the 
reader through preservation research, sur-
veys, planning, legalities, funding, actual 
restoration techniques, and state-by-state 
experiences. Overall, this is an excellent 
guide to the field.-Gay Walker, Head, 
Preservation Office, Yale University Li-
brary, New Haven, Connecticut. 

Lewanski, Richard C., comp. Guide to Pol-
ish Libraries and Archives. East Euro-
pean Monographs, no. 6. Boulder, Colo.: 
East European Quarterly, 197 4. (Dis-
tributed by Columbia Univ. Pr.) 209p. 
$11.00. (LC 73-91484) (ISBN 0-231-
03896-8) 

The newly published Guide to Polish 
Libraries and Archives, compiled by Rich-
ard C. Lewanski, may be regarded as a 
necessity to those who are or will be en-
gaged in research on Poland or, for that 
matter, eastern Europe. It gives, among 
other things, first-hand information about 
major Polish libraries, their location and re-
sources. In the "scope and profile" notes, 
one may find information on a library's 
strength in particular subjects, helpful to 
the foreign reader. The easy alphabetical 
arrangement of place names, together with 
the index of specific subjects (which sup-
plements the table of contents) is indis-
pensable. Inclusion of the names of related 
institutions and their collections broadens 
the range of available research locations. 
Bibliographies for each individual library 
in the text supplement the information giv-
en in concise form. An additional listing of 
"Archives and Libraries in 'Mueums'" 
rsic1, not included in the main work, and 
a "General Bibliography•• (although incom-
plete) conclude this concise volume. 

Unfortunately, there are many lacunae 
which should be mentioned to English 
readers in order to prevent them from con-
cluding that this is all that one may find in 
Poland. .Jn a country where every war 
changed political maps and which played 
a role as binding agent between Russia, 
Germany, and Austria, all archival Polish 
libraries should be carefully considered. It 

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