732 125 C45 1905 A^ := g ggjt^^lll iMI A = -— ^ C/J HIUll^llHJHl'AdliuliflHl = m U = ^^ x> ^^^■^^^^^^■■H 3 = 3 m ^— ~ > IIIHII^^^^^^^^H 8 m 3 m 8 m > ■j^HBHUHHUU 1 = •^H 7 — ^H ^L.lfB:RA:R:¥:=Cl-,U:i iii CK»«'a-S'* Ub ■X' "^r tlu.V' ^ M HI ■IHH jiirJIn '■!ii!5ir i^iSiT^iT ..^BSBb^:. HH HUHHIIh h 1 HI i^ ^^uiilLlii!lii>lLiB3^HHH^^^^^^I 1 i 1 1 ^^^^^H praSi ||H 1 ni4!ii I^^^^H t^^^H 1 II n IHH^H 1^ a 1 1 1 HI" "■■" ^^^^^H 1 1, lifl^^l ^1 *^I^1HH ''IM H H !(Sf!atii!a!i3r.i)! jM;v' -itY OF \ ^X«. L S SCHOOL OF LIBRARY SERVkTe Practice Collection LIBRARY SCHOOL DISCABLED ^ '32 1KB Given by "\ \^. 7^ /^ LIBRARIES OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITH AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THK CHICAGO LIBRARY CLUB THE CHICAGO LIBRARY CLUB 1905 JTlif Uakrsilir \3rcss K. R. DONNEl.LEY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO ■::^>;, Slate u^"'^ iO CONTENTS PAGE A List of Libraries in Chicago - - - - 9 Ryerson Library, Art Institute - - - 19 Chicago Historical Society Library - - 27 The John Crerar Library ----- 37 Newberry Library - - - - - - - S^ Chicago Public Library ----- 61 The Chicago Library Club - - - - - 79 86;37 .~ V A FOREWORD This little volume is in nowise an attempt to give a com- plete statement regarding libraries or library efforts in Chicago. It is the result of the desire, long standing, of the members of the Chicago Library Club to gather in one place such data concerning the club, its history, its scope, and •object as shall present a fairly adequate reason for its exist- ence. There are many more libraries in Chicago than are enrolled here, but it has seemed inexpedient to wait longer for responses to the several requests sent to them for data. Moreover, as the Illinois Library Association is about to publish a fairly complete statement concerning the libraries of the state, including Chicago, the omission of some names from this will not be so serious. The five libraries of which extended notice is herein given have helped to make possible the publication of this hand-book, and to them acknowledg- ment is here given. Mary Eileen Ahern, C. W. Andrews, John Vance Cheney, F. H. HiLD, H. A. Gould. Committee. LIBRARIES IN CHICAGO Altrua Art Library, 1223 Masonic Temple. Miss Mary Calkins, Librarian. History. — Founded iSgy: supported from dues of the Altrua Circle. Regul.^tions.— Open 9 a. M.-5 p. m.; reference and circulating; for tlie use of all self-supporting girls and women. Resources. — Art books 1,075, others 500; also several thousand photographs. Armour Institute of Technology, 33d and Armour Ave. Mrs. J. Beveridge, Librarian. History.— Founded 1S93; supported by Armour Co. Regulations.— Open S a. M.-5 p. m., and 7-9 p. m.; for the use of the students of the Institute only; reference and circulating. Resources.— 17,291 vols. Chicago Bar Association, lOO Washington St. Carlos P. Sawyer, Librarian. • History. — founded 1S92: supported by membersliip dues. • Regulations.— Open g a. M.-5 p. m., except Sunday; reference ; fur the use of members. Resources.— 7,500 vols. Chicago Heights Free Library, Chicago Heights. Harriet Tay- lor, Librarian. History. — Founded 1902; general free library; supported by taxation. Regulations.— Open 2:30 6 p. m.. 7-9 p. m.: reference and circulating. Resources. — 2,100 vols. Chicago Historical Society Library, Dearborn Ave. and Ontario St. Caroline M. Mcllvaine, Librarian. History. — It was founded in 1856; lor use of all students; its source of in- come lies in dues of members and interest on legacies; reports of the library have been printed. RECiULATloNS. — It is open from 9 A. .M.-5 P. M.; it is a reference library oiil> . Resources. — 140,000 vols.; its contents is made up of materials for history particularly of the Northwestern .States; it has special collections of Karly Chicago lo Chicago Libraries imprints, Karly Illinois ni.nvs|>apcTs, Karlv l.iws of Northwestern territories and states, and between fifteen and twenty thousand manuscripts 'mainly dealing with this region; museums of relics of early days in the Northwest, portrait gallery of oil-paintinKs, and marble busts including the explorers and settlers of the Northwest and Mississippi Valley. (See historical sketch, page 27.1 Chicago Kent College of Law, 18 26 Van Buren St. Thomas E. D. Bradley, Librarian. History.— Founded i8Sf<; supporteil from tuition fee.s. Kegul.ations.— Open during school hours; reference: lor the use of students and members of the legal profession. Kesources.— 2.^00 vols. Chicago Law Institute, 414 Court House. William H. Holden, Librarian. History.— Founded 1^57; lor use of stockholders of the Institute (who must be licensed attorneys); income is derived from the sale of memberships and from annual dues levied on the memberships; issues annual reports of officers. Reculations.— Open 8:30 A. m.-;:3o, p. m., 6-orted by occasional small appropriations from the general funds of the seminary. Regulations.— Open for reference at all times ot the day and evening; for the withdrawal of books by seminarians from 9 A. M.-12 m. The clergy and religious people generally may consult the library where previous arrangements have been made. Resources.— 5,700 vols.; chiefly theological. Special collections— Jubilee College and Bishop Hale. Young Men's Christian Association — Central Department, 153 La Salle St. W. S. Sandford, Librarian. History. — Founded 1S60; supported by the Association. Regul.ATIONS.— Open q \. iM.-io p. m.; reference and circulating; open to members of the Association. Resources.— 1,000 vols. Young Women's Christian Association, 288 Michigan Ave. D. B. Crandall, Librarian. History.— Founded 1S77; No special source of income. Regul.ATIONS.— Open 8 \. m.-9:3o p. m.; Sundays, 1:30-9 p. m-; for the use of the members of the home. Resources.— About 3,000 vols. a h ^<, 1— I 'r7! (/; o Z a. h-l o Pi -1 -f u U-, W ID ffi "1 h 1 1— < THE RYERSON LIBRARY THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO The foundations of the library of the Art Institute were laid in 1879, when a fee of $2 was imposed upon every student entering the school, to be expended for the pur- chase of books upon art, so that it is now about 26 years since Mr. French, the Director of the Art Institute, bought the first book for the library, namely, "The Grammar of Painting," by Charles Blanc. In this way a library was founded, which, until 1887, received no other help except a few trilling gifts of books. In 1887, through a gift of $1,250 from Mrs. A. M. H. Ellis, additions were made to the Reference Department, proper cases and appliances were provided, a card catalogue was begun, and it became possible to devote a room to the uses of Library and Read- ing-Room. The books purchased with Mrs. Ellis's gift are all marked "Sumner Ellis Memorial." In 1894-95 this fund, although always expended with careful consider- ation, became exhausted, and for several years the matricu- lation fees of the students, amounting to something like $700 annually, was the only regular source of income. Of necessity, this sum has been expended for subscriptions to periodicals, binding and repairs of books, library fittings, and occasional small purchases of books. In October, 1901, the Art Institute entered into pos- session of the present library building, the munificent gift of Mr. Martin A. Ryerson. The library was formally opened by an afternoon reception (October 26th), attended by many friends of the Art Institute, the librarians and 19 20 Chicago Libraries other officers of sister institutions, who were invited to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ryerson. The Library occupies a room of generous proportions for so special a library, sixty-five by seventy feet, situated in the south court, and corresponding to Fullerton Memorial Hall in the north court, designed by Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, the architects of the rest of the building. The general scheme of decoration was designed and executed by Elmer E. Garii- sey, of New York. The walls are a soft green, and the pillars separating the alcoves have capitals of greenish bronze, while above them are lunette-shaped windows. The skylight, of translucent glass, sliglitly iridescent, and leaded in a graceful pattern, was designed by Louis J. Millet. The frieze run- ning below the lunettes bears in gilt letters the names of writers on art from classic times to the present. The fur- niture and fittings are of mahogany. The Dewey Classification, subject to modifications made by the librarian, is used, for which the alcoves are admirably adapted, the student finding very readily what he wants, if the alcove contains it. There is shelving space sufficient to accommodate about eight thousand volumes, nearly half of that number being already installed, and in constant use in the Library. The stack room space underneath the Library is almost unlimited, the wall space alone being sufficient for at least 20,000 volumes. So far no stack room has been in requisition, and the space assigned for it has been devoted to offices, a Library Class Room, and school purposes. The Library Class Room has been of great assistance to art classes under teachers, since the photographs and books can be taken to it, and conversation and discussion carried on in this room, which of course is not permitted in the Library. In connection with the Dewey Classification a dictionary The Ryerson Library 21 catalogue is used, giving simply the author and title, supple- mented, by a subject catalogue. An analytical catalogue of the illustrations and text contained in the volumes is also well advanced. The Library of the Art Institute is a students' library, embracing under that term teachers, lecturers, authors, curators, etc., originally intended for students and members of the Art Institute, but practically made free to any serious student of art. It is exclusively an art library, but contains also necessary reference books and dictionaries. Preference has been given to works in English to suit the general reader, although a good many volumes in foreign languages are included, of which English translations do not exist. To meet the wants of art students, more especially students of the Art Institute, is the principal aim and desire, and to them are issued certain books, which constitute a circulating library. Books containing valuable plates are kept in the Reference Department. The students of architecture and decorative design are especially dependent upon books of reference, and much attention has been given to their needs. The collection is already respectable, but the costli- ness of books of this class prevents their rapid accumulation. Provision is made also for the needs of students pursuing required or special courses, such as artistic anatomy, per- spective, illustration, history of art, etc. From time to time the Library has been the recipient of very valuable gifts. Mrs. Ellis's generous and timely assist- ance in 1887 was shortly followed by the accession of Muy- bridge's great work on "Animal Locomotion," consisting of eleven large volumes, costing $600, subscribed for and pre- sented by friends of the Art Institute. This book demon- strated not only something of what could be done in 22 Chicago Libraries photography, but also revolutionized the work of the artist, giving him almost any and every variety of pose. The dis- covery was then made that many of the old pictures and statues, particularly the equestrian, were untrue, as it would be utterly impossible in life for the horse to occupy the positions it is represented as occupying in earlier art. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Nickerson presented 125 vol- umes, many of them "edition de luxe," all important works, and a valuable addition to an art library. Special mention should be made also of Mr. William G. Hibbard's gift of "The Vanderbilt House and Collection," published by George Barrie & Son, of Philadelphia, the reproductions constituting a magnificent work of four volumes. Louis Prang's wonderful reproductions of Mr. W. T. Walter's Col- lection of Oriental Ceramics, with text by S. W. Bushell, is in the department of Decoration and Design. The process used in these reproductions is simple lithography, but carried to such perfection that the result is remarkable. These ten volumes were another gift from Mrs. Ellis, always the friend of the library. A short time ago Mr. Pierpont Morgan sent to the Library the exquisite catalogue of his collection of Chinese porce- lains, in which the process employed by Prang is followed, but carried still further than in the Walters Collection. The Pierpont Morgan catalogue was printed for private circula- tion only, and is limited to something like 250 copies, one of which the Library possesses. The Library has many generous friends who have repeat- edly remembered it, among them Mr. H. H. Getty, Mr. R. Hall McCormick, Mr. J. E. Woodhead, Mr. A. H. Granger, Mr. W. J. Onahan, etc. Time and space will not permit the enumeration of their gifts. < u I— ( X U o w H 13 H I— I h I— I h < W t-H Pi < O m W The Ryerson Library 2 J During the summer of 1903 the Librarian was asked to prepare a bibliography of about 500 works on art, not al- ready in the Ryerson Library, which would greatly enhance its value. At his own request, this list was sent to Mr. Ryerson, who responded with a check for $i,000, suggest- ing that this sum be expended in the purchase of the more inexpensive books mentioned in the list. The rule accord- ingly adhered to has been an average price of about I3 a vol- ume, occasionally including an $8 or $10 volume, but preserv- ing the average. In February of this year Mr. Ryerson gave another |i,ooo, suggesting an average price per book of $12 or $15. In October, 1903, the Trustees voted that the income from the John Quincy Adams fund, the Frances E. Ogden fund, and the Huntington W. Jackson fund (the interest of $ii,000) be appropriated for the year to the pur- pose of buying books for the Ryerson Library. The Libra- rian was thus enabled, during a visit to London in the sum- mer of 1904, to select some important works on subjects in which the Librai'y was lacking. It is hoped that the appro- priation maybe continued. A very important feature in the Library is the collection of photographs. In 1893 Dr. D. K. Pearsons presented to the Art Institute the collection of large carbon photographs, commonly known as autotypes, published by Braun & Co., of Paris. The collection numbers 16,001 subjects, and at the time of its presentation was nearly the complete pub- lication of Braun & Co. Reproductions of the works in several other museums and private collections have since been published, to the number of 2,185, ^^'^^ the Libra- rian is at present in correspondence with Braun & Co. in regard to completing the collection. The photographs in the Library include authentic reproductions of the paintings. 24 Chicago Libraries drawings, and sculptures of the great masters, ancient and modern, contained in the museums of Europe. There is no other collection so large in America, and it constitutes a feature of the library of the highest value. The place formerly filled in art libraries by expensive collections of engravings is now filled, and well filled, by photographs. For the ordinary purposes of art study, photographs are better than engravings, and vastly less expensive. Engrav- ings have become chiefly valuable, not as reproductions of the works from which they are taken, but as exemplifications of the engraver's art. In a purely artistic light, therefore, the Pearsons' Collection of Photographs is an excellent sub- stitute for the great collections of engravings in some of the older libraries. The value of this collection is estimated at $30,000. It overshadows all other single acquisitions to the Library, and is known as the "Mrs. D. K. Pearsons' Collec- tion of Carbon Photographs." They are conveniently in- stalled and alphabetically arranged in 38 cases, containing each seven sliding drawers. A drawer holds between 60 and 70 photographs. The Old Masters are on one side of the library, the works of Modern Masters and drawings from the old masters on the opposite wall. Many miscellaneous pho- tographs of minor importance are kept downstairs, as well as "The Stickney Collection of Engravings," consisting of 275 prints, large, medium, small, mounted, and unmounted, also 22 volumes, some of which are bound, others in port- folios. The Stickney Collection is installed in a case which does not correspond with the Library furniture, and for that reason it is kept in the Library Class Room, where it is per- fectly accessible. The Library at present contains 3,947 volumes. This does not include outstanding orders, nor does it include the The Ryerson Library volumes of binders containing catalogues, about 370 in num- ber, on our shelves. The number of volumes in the various departments is approximately as follows: Architecture, 610; decoration and design, 510; dravi^ing and painting, 775; sculpture, 160; engraving and etching, 105; general history of art, illustrated catalogues, and periodicals, 1,025. The remaining 762 vol- umes comprise works on archaeology, encyclopaedias of art, guide books, general encyclopaedias, and dictionaries. Our periodical list comprises 56 of the leading art periodicals of the day. The Library is open daily, with the exception of Sundays, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays it remains open until seven for the benefit of the evening students. Wednesdays and Saturdays, the open days of the Museum, it is practically a free public library. The Libra- rian's report for 1904 records an attendance during the year of 51,882 visitors, of whom 31,851 were members of the Art Institute School; 397 was the largest total attendance in one day. The Library staff consists of one Librarian, one Reference Librarian and Cataloguer, one Assistant Ref- erence Librarian and Cataloguer, and three student Assist- ants. Jessie L. Forrester, Librarian. CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY LIBRARY Previous to the great Chicago fire of 1 87 1 there were but two libraries in Chicago open to the public. One of these was that of the Young Men's Association, organized in 1841. The other v/as the Chicago Historical Society Library, founded in 1856, which may be said to have had a continuous existence of fifty years, for although the entire collection, amounting to 100,000 volumes, manuscripts, and pamph- lets, was destroyed October 9, 1 871, yet before the end of November of that year, active steps had been taken to resume the work. Sister societies in all parts of this country, and even abroad, contributed their publications and duplicates, and the New England Historic Genealogical Society, of Boston, placed a room in its new fire-proof building at the disposal of this Society, to which the vari- ous donations were sent until a safe place of deposit could be provided. Very considerable collections were soon made and forwarded to Chicago, only to be consumed in the fire of July, 1874. Undismayed by this second calamity, a few enterprising and cultured men, true to the brave and sterling qualities for which Chicago has become famous, stood together and began again the work of the Society, at a time when men of less exalted ideals would have felt justified in turning their whole attention to the re-establishment of their own homes. As the result of such heroic effort the Society met for the first time in its temporary building, October 16, 1877, with the nucleus of a third collection, and with a prestige heightened by these vicissitudes. It was 27 28 Chicago Libraries even possible to reassemble the greater portion of the rare books and newspapers destroyed, for members of the Society contributed their personal copies of these works, and hun- dreds of volumes in the Library bear the autographs of pioneer citizens. An attempt to give a list of the prominent residents who have been members of this organization and supporters of its Library would result in naming almost every public-spirited man who has aided in developing the commercial, artistic, and literary growth of Chicago. The officers who have suc- cessively served the Society are as follows: Presidents.— Wilham H. Brown, Walter L. Newberry, J. Young Scammon, Edwin H. Sheldon, Isaac N. Arnold, E. B. Washburne, Edward G. Mason, John N. Jewett, A. C. McClurg, and the present incumbent, Franklin H. Head. Secretaries and Librarians. — Rev. William Barry (the founder of the Society), assisted by Samuel Stone; Thomas H. Armstrong, Lemuel G. Olmstead, J. W. Hoyt, William Corkran, Belden F. Culver, Albert D. Hagar, assisted by Charles Harpel; John Moses, Charles Evans, James W. Fertig, present Secretary; Caroline M. Mcllvaine, present Librarian. Sources of Income. — Mr. Henry D. Gilpin, a public- spirited citizen of Philadelphia, who died in i860, bequeathed to the Society the sum of $45,000 to be invested and the proceeds used for the erection and maintenance of a fire- proof librarv building. Others who have made bequests to the Society have been John Crerar, Lucretia Pond, George M. Pullman, Elizabeth Hammond Stickney, Jonathan Burr, Philo Carpenter, Mrs. J. Y. Scammon, Huntington W. Jackson, Henry J. Willing, Elias T. Watkins, and T. Mauro Garrett. The interest on these funds, together with the ui ^ 1—1 i3 O o o " 1—4 O o s -J Chicago Historical Society Library 29 dues of its members, constitute the only sources of revenue of the Society. Buildings. — The Society has occupied successively the following homes: 1856-68, Newberry Building, northeast corner Wells and Kinzie streets; 1868-71, Society's Build- ing (first). Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street; 1872-74, number 209 Michigan Avenue; 1877-92, Society's Building (second). Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street; 1892-96, collections stored; since 1896 Society's Building (third), Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street. In 1892 the Henry D. Gilpin fund, having by careful investment more than trebled itself, and the legacy under the will of John Crerar having become available, it was determined to solicit from its members subscriptions for the erection of a permanent fire-proof home for the Society, on the site at the corner of Dearborn Avenue and Ontario Street so long identified with its history. To this appeal the members responded with their unfailing liberality. The temporary building being cleared away, the corner-stone of the new structure was laid with appropriate ceremonies, November 12, 1892, and on the evening of December 15, 1896, in the presence of a brilliant and representative gathering, the formal dedication took place. To the energy of its president, Edward G. Mason, who was at once a man of affairs, an historian, and a bibliophile, this consummation of the designs of the early founders is due. Under his direction, and at a cost of $190,000, ex- clusive of the land, a scheme of fire-proof construction and furnishing was executed which in completeness has no equal in a building used for similar purposes in the world. The design is Romanesque and being carried out in Aberdeen red granite, steel, and tile, the effect is one of massiveness, 3© Chicago Libraries and great durability is secured. The absolute safety from fire has aided to make this Library a repository for dona- tions of valuable manuscripts, relics, and portraits. After passing the outer doors of ornamental bronze one enters the main hall, which extends two stories in height, and is lighted from above by a sky-light. This hall is devoted to portraits and relics of representatives of the French rc'gime in the Mississippi Valley. Here is a fireplace built of relics of the great fire — stones taken from the old Illinois Central depot, Cook County Court House, and the Nixon Building. At the left of the entrance is the Reading Room, the walls of which are hung with portraits of historical characters connected with the history of Illinois. Here, also, are kept current periodicals, reference works, and the file of the Chicago Tribune, which, with its predecessors, the Press and the Democrat, goes back to 1833. Back of the Reading Room is the Gilpin Library, which at night is shut off from the rest of the building by sliding iron doors. Here the books are all stored in iron cases with movable stone shelves. On the right of the main entrance is the John Crerar Hall, the lecture hall of the Society, where are placed marble busts and oil-portraits of persons prominent in the history of Chicago, who have been members of this Society. Ascending the broad stairway from the main hall, one passes a series of bronze relief portraits by Kemyss, of the French explorers, Indians, and some of the famous hunters and trappers of the Central West. On the second landing hangs a full-length oil-portrait of Shabona, the well-known Chicago Indian, painted from life by Webber. Scenes in the life of Father Marquette, done in relief by McNeil, occupy the gallery about the main hall on the second floor. From this gallery open the Manuscript Room, the Stickney Chicago Historical Society Library 31 Library, and the Museum, which latter contains objects illustrating the development of the Chicago region from prehistoric times to the present. On the third floor are the Newspaper Room, the United States Document Room, and the Duplicate Room. Scope of the Library. — Contrary to popular belief the Library does not consist mainly of works relating to Chicago, although Its collection of Chicago material is probably more extensive than that of any other library. As stated in its constitution the Society was formed "to collect and preserve the materials of history, and to spread historical information, especially concerning the Northwestern states." By com- mon consent this has been extended to include the Mississippi Valley. With the above object in view the officers of the Society have, through the years, watched the book-marts of the world to purchase for the Library the source books, and above all the manuscripts and documents, which would make this collection a store-house for future writers and teachers of history, where might be found all the materials for refer- ence and original research relative to every line of interest in the Middle West. In fact, "history" has been defined in its broadest sense to include all that goes to make up the development of this region along economic, social, political, scientific, and artistic lines. The total number of volumes, manuscripts, and pamphlets is 140,000. Manuscripts.— The James Madison Papers, 1778- 1836, purchased for the Society by Mr. Marshall Field, consist of eight large volumes, containing some 1,400 letters and papers, written during the time Madison was delegate to the Continental Congress, member of the Constitutional Convention, and of the first Congress, Secretary of State, and President of the United States. Three volumes con- 32 Chicago Libraries tain the letters of John Armstrong, Joseph Jones, and Edmund Randolph to James Madison, and throw light upon all tlie important occurrences of those times. The James Wilkinson Papers, 1 779- 1 823, are contained in four magnificent folio volumes, bound in full morocco, and each manuscript is mounted separately. In this collec- tion, besides letters written by Wilkinson, are letters from Thomas Jefferson, Timothy Pickering, General Dearborn, W. C. C. Claiborne, Governor of Louisiana; Marquis of Casa Calvo, Spanish commandant at New Orleans; Morales, Spanish commandant at Pensacola; Auguste Chouteau, of St. Louis; and copies of letters from Aaron Burr and others relating to Burr's movements and capture. The Ninian Edwards Papers, consisting of the letters and documents, public and private (i 800-32), of Illinois's terri- torial governor, are an especially interesting commentary upon the politics and manners of his day, particularly in the Northwest. A portion of these papers form volume IIL of the Society's Collections, for the publication of which the Society is indebted to Mr. Marshall Field. The Pierre Menard Papers comprise three quarto volumes, largely official documents of the first lieutenant governor of Illinois, who held almost every office in the power of the people of Illinois to bestow. The papers relating to the French r/gimc in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley, consist of original documents and letters in the handwriting of Joliet, Allouez, La Salle, Tonty, Frontenac, and other governors of New France, copies of the parish registers of the early French missions, etc. Among these documents is the letter of La Salle, dated at Chicagou, September i, 1683, in which he gives his parting directions to Tonty and the little band left at Fort St. Louis. Pi O H P3 »— t ►-( Oh 1-1 Chicago Historical Society Library ^t, Another document of even greater historic interest is the deed, or bill of sale, given by Francois de la Forest, the partner of Tonty, to Michel Acau, by which De la Forest's share of the land that is now Starved Rock, was conveyed to Acau. This is in all probability the first deed to real estate within the present state of Illinois. The Papers of President James K. Polk consist of the Diary kept during his administration, 1845-48, and original drafts of documents, 1826-48. In addition to the above collection the Society has some 14,000 individual manuscripts bound and indexed. These contain many documents, letters, and reminiscences of Illi- nois pioneers, and additions are constantly being made by early residents. Gilpin Library — ^Leaving the Manuscript Room and returning to the first floor, we come to the Library proper, with its many dingy russet-colored volumes bearing on their bindings the blind or gold tooling of a bygone epoch. These are the original editions of the writings of the explor- ers of the Mississippi Valley. First and foremost of these rarities is Melchisedech Thevenot's Recueil de Voyages, in which motley collection of pamphlets Marquette's narrative of his voyage down the Mississippi first saw the light in print, though in abridged form, and accompanied by a map which Marquette never saw. Next to this little volume stands the reprint made for Mr. Obadiah Rich in Paris in 1845, being number 64 of an edition of 125 numbered copies. And next to this the Dutch translation of Pieter vander Aa, Leyden, 1707. An opportunity to compare these printed records with the manuscript originals occurred during the winter of 1904-05 when those precious documents were loaned to the Society and were on exhibition for several weeks. 34 Chicago Libraries _ ^ together with other archives from the College of St. Mary's at Montreal. Here, also, is the Dernures dc'couvertes dans V Amc'rique septentrionale de M. de la Sale, par Tonti, Paris, 1687, which Tonti repudiated, and the English translation of the faithful Joutel's Journal oj the Last Voyage perjormed by Monsr. de la Sale, London, 17 14; here we may read Henne- pin's version of affairs in French, Dutch, and English, like- wise that of La Honton. Later we find Charlevoix, La Potherie, the Jesuit Relations, Margry, etc. The collection in the department of geography and travels beginning with the nineteenth century lacks few if any works of importance, and contains many volumes of the greatest rarity. Here are numerous editions of Lewis and Clark, Patrick Gass, and other early travelers. The collection of maps, directories, gazetteers, and guides to the Central West is remarkably rich, and among these latter are many rare and curious emigrants' guides filled with direc- tions and advice to prospective settlers. The collection of county atlases and histories of Illinois and the surrounding states is also large. A great effort has been made to assemble examples of all the early newspapers and periodicals published m Illinois, with the result that over two hundred titles are catalogued, forming an almost inexhaustible source of information as to the politics, manners, and customs of bygone days. The Library is a government repository for United States documents, and also receives the publications of Illinois and the surrounding states. Notable in this department are the rare original editions of the statutes of the Northwest Terri- tory, Indiana Territory, and Illinois Territory, 1788 to 1818, comprising seventeen volumes. Chicago Historical Society Library 35 Classification and Cataloguing. — Reclassification by the Cutter Expansive plan for special collections is in progress. A typewritten card-catalogue of the dictionary tvpe is in course of preparation. The special catalogue of maps chrono- logically arranged under localities contained 1,500 entries January i. An Index of Portraits of residents of Illinois and the adjacent states contains at date over 12,000 entries, drawn entirely from oil-portraits, portrait busts, photographs, and illustrated books in the possession of the Society. Publications. — The series of Collections published by the Society consists at present of the following: Volume I., History of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illi- nois, by George Flower, with notes by Honorable E. B. Washburne, 1882, 408 p.; Volume II., Sketch of Enoch Long, an Illinois Pioneer, by Harvey Reid, 1884, 112 p., the two preceding volumes being published at the expense of the late Levi Z. Leiter; Volume III., The Edwards Papers, edited by E. B. Washburne, 1884, 632 p.; Volume IV., Early Chicago and Illinois, Sketches of Gurdon S. Hubbard, and others, 1889, 400 p. In addition to the above the Society has pubHshed some forty papers on his- torical subjects presented at its meetings, and the Annual Re- ports of the Executive Committee, which contain the Libra- rian's reports. Lectures. — Historical lectures are maintained during each winter. Regulations.— The Library, Museum, and collection of paintings are open daily, except Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 P.M., and are free to visitors. Classes of pupils from the schools, under fifteen years of age, must be accompanied by their teachers. Officers. — President, Franklin H. Head; vice-presidents, 36 Chicago Libraries Thomas Dent and Lambert Tree; treasurer, Orson Smith; secretary, J. W. Fertig; executive committee, Edward E. Ayer, Joseph T. Bowen, William A. Fuller, Charles F. Gunther, Samuel H. Kerfoot, Jr., George Merry weather, Walter C. Newberry, and Otto L. Schmidt. Caroline AL AIcIlvaixk, Librarian. THE JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY Foundation. — The John Crerar Library, the latest estab- Hshed of the free pubHc hbraries of Chicago, owes its exist- ence to the bequest of the late John Crerar. Mr. Crerar, for many years a prominent citizen of Chicago, was of Scotch ancestry, the son of John and Agnes (Smeallie) Crerar. Born in New York in 1827, he was educated in the schools of that city, and entered into busi- ness there, becoming a member of the firm of Jessup, Ken- nedy & Co. Coming to Chicago in 1862, he established the firm of Crerar, Adams & Co., dealers in railroad supplies, and accumulated a large fortune. At the time of his death he was a director of the Pullman Palace Car Co., of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Co., of the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, and president of the Chicago and Joliet Rail- road Co. He was a member and trustee of the Second Presbyterian Church, and gave liberally of his time and money to the work of his church. He was greatly interested in the charitable institutions of the city, being a director of the Chicago Relief and Aid Society and of the Presbyterian Hospital, and vice-president of the Chicago Orphan Asylum. All of these and many others were remembered liberally in his will. He was equally prominent socially, and was a member of the Chicago, Calumet, Union, Commercial, and Literary clubs. Mr. Crerar died October 19, 1889. His will, dated August 5, 1886, was admitted to probate November 14, 1889, and its validity was finally established by a decision of the Supreme Court of Illinois, rendered June 19, 1893. 37 ;;8 Chicago Libraries Specific bequests of more than $600,000 were made to rela- tives and friends, and of nearly $1,000,000 to charitable in- stitutions and public purposes. The fiftieth section of the will disposed of the remainder of the estate in the following words: Recognizing the fact that I have been a resident of Chicago since 1862, and that the greater part of my fortune has been accumu- lated here, and acknowledging with hearty gratitude the kindness that has always been extended to me by my many friends, and by my business and social acquaintances and associates, I give, devise, and bequeath all the rest, remainder, and residue of my estate, both real and personal, for the erection, creation, maintenance, and endowment of a free public library, to be called "The John Crerar Library," and to be located in the city of Chicago, Illinois, a preference being given to the South Division of the city, in as much as the Newberry Library will be located in the North Division. I direct that my executors and trustees cause an act of incorporation under the laws of Illinois, to be procured to carry out the purpose of this bequest; and I request that Norman Williams be made the first President thereof; and that, in addition to my executors and trustees, the following named friends of mine will act as the first Board of Direc- tors in such corporation, and aid and assist my executors and trustees therein, namely: Marshall Field, E. W. Blatchford, T. B. Blackstone, Robert T. Lincoln, Henry W. Bishop, Edward G. Mason, Albert Keep, Edson Keith, Simon J. McPherson, John M. Clark, and George A. Armour, or tlieir survivors. I desire the building to be tasteful, substantial, and fire-proof, and that a sufficient fund be reserved over and above the cost of its construction to provide, main- tain, and support a library for all time. I desire the books and periodicals selected with a view to create and sustain a healthy moral and Christian sentiment in the community, and that all nastiness and immorality be excluded. I do not mean by this that there shall not be anything but hymn books and sermons, but 1 mean that dirty French novels and all skeptical trash and works of questionable moral tone shall never be found in this Library. I want its atmosphere that of Christian refinement, and its aim and object the building up of character, and I rest content that the friends I have named will carry out my wishes in ihese particulars. JOHN CRERAR The John Crerar Library The amount thus bequeathed was estimated at the time to be about $2,500,000, but it was hoped that improvement in the business conditions of the country would materially increase this sum. These hopes have been realized, and the total endowment, on a most conservative estimate, is now $3,400,000. Development. — The administration of the estate in the Probate Court was closed July 13, 1894. Meanwhile the trustees of the estate had co-operated with the trustees of the Newberry estate in securing legislation which seemed needed for the better organization and administration of endowed libraries, embodied in "An act to encourage and promote the establishment of free public libraries," approved June 17, 1891. Under this act the John Crerar Library was incorporated on October 12, 1,894, and duly organized Janu- ary 12, 1895. All of the directors named by Mr. Crerar nine years before were living and present, and Norman Williams was elected the first president, as Mr. Crerar desired. Mr. Williams gave much time and thought to the devel- opment of the Library, and retained the presidency until his death, in 1899. He was succeeded by Huntington W. Jack- son, who, both as trustee of the estate and as chairman of the committee on administration, had already proved his interest in the Library, which was further manifested by a bequest of $1,000, notable as the first bequest received by the institution other than the one by which it was founded. His death followed too soon, in January, 1901, and he was succeeded by Honorable Peter Stenger Grosscup. Other deaths and removals from the city have changed materially the consti- tution of the Board of Directors, which in April, 1905, consisted of the following gentlemen: Marshall Field, E. 40 Chicago Libraries W. Blatchford, Robert T. Lincoln, Henry W. Bishop, Albert Keep, John M. Clark, Frank S. Johnson, Peter Stengcr Grosscup, Marvin Hughitt, Thomas D. Jones, John J. Mitchell, Leonard A. Busby, Robert Forsyth, and the mayor and comptroller of Chicago, ex officiis. The Treasurer, William J. Louderback, and the Librarian, Clem- ent W. Andrews, were appointed in 1895, and have served to the present time. The first act of the Directors, after organization, was to declare that the whole amount of the bequest was not too large for the sufficient fund which they were required to reserve in order to provide, maintain, and support the library for all time, and that therefore the endowment should not be encroached upon either for land, building, or books, but that a building fund should be accumulated from the income. This fund in January, 1905, amounted to nearly $600,000. Scope. — The second act of the Directors was to deter- mine the character and scope of the Library. The trustees of the estate had prepared a list of the public libraries of the city, giving their character and size. The actual and pros- pective development of the Chicago Public Library as a great lending library, and of the Newberry Library as a great reference library in certain fields, largely influenced the trus- tees to suggest that the John Crerar Library be made a refer- ence library, embracing such departments as were not fully occupied by any other existing library in Chicago, and that the number of departments be limited to such as the funds of the Library could render complete and unique. After a careful consideration of the whole subject the directors unanimously decided to establish a free public reference library of scientific and technical literature. This decision seemed to them to accord with the particular busi- The John Crerar Library 41 ness activities by which the greater part of Mr. Crerar's fortune had been accumulated, to exclude naturally certain questionable classes of books which his will distinctly pro- hibits, and to favor the aim and object which it expressly points out. As personal friends, who had been acquainted with his wise and generous purposes, and with his civic patriotism and gratitude, they believed that he would surely have wished his gift to supplement, in the most effective way, the existing and prospective library collections of Chicago, and to be of the greatest possible value to the whole city. Accordingly, a series of conferences with the trustees of the Chicago Public Library and the Newberry Library was held, and an elastic scheme for the division of the field was adopted. The special field of the John Crerar Library may be defined as that of the natural, physical, and social sciences, and their applications. The administration of the Library is not organized into departments, nor is there any difference of treatment of the various subjects, but for convenience in dealing with appro- priations, statistics, etc., the books are divided in five classes. General Works, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Applied Sciences. The last named class includes the applied fine arts, but not music, sculpture, or painting". With four exceptions, theology, philology, aw, and medicine, all the subjects comprehended by a broad interpretation of its field as already defined, are to be found n the Library. All these exceptions are well provided for n other libraries in the city, but the omission of medicine las always been regarded as anomalous, and has caused much otherwise unnecessary duplication. It is hoped that the erection of the permanent building will offer an oppor- 42 Chicago Libraries tunity of correcting this, and of making the valuable collec- tion of the Newberry Library, by a more central location, even more useful to the medical profession. While it is the purpose of the Directors to develop the Library as symmetrically as possible within these limits, they have not hesitated to take advantage of exceptional opportunities, and have made several purchases which make it notably strong in certain subjects. Unusual attention, also, has been given to the collection of files of scientific and technical periodicals, both American and foreign. The years 1895 and 1896 were spent in the preliminary work of organization. A Librarian was appointed, a staff selected, and temporary quarters secured. The purchase of books was begun, and when, on April i, 1897, the Library was opened to the public, without formalities, there were 15,000 volumes ready for use and 7,000 more in the hands of the cataloguers. Administration. — The management of the Library is controlled by a board of fifteen directors. Two, the mayor and comptroller of Chicago, are ex officio members, the others were appointed by Mr. Crerar or have been elected by the Board to fill vacancies, such elections being subject, by the act under which the Library is incorporated, to the approval of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. The Directors hold quarterly meetings and usually act only upon the recommendation of the standing committees, of which there are four — on Finance, Administration, Buildings and Grounds, and Books. The President and the Chairmen of these committees form an Executive Committee. A care- fully considered succession to the powers of President and Chairman makes further provision for action in emergencies. Besides the President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary, The John Crerar Library 43 who must be members of the Board, the Directors elect a Treasurer and a Librarian, who may or may not be mem- bers. They are the executive ofificers of the corporation, and are entirely independent of each other. The Treas- urer, under the supervision of the Committee on Finance, has charge of the receipts and payments of the Library and the investment of its funds. The Librarian, under the supervision of the Committee on Administration, has charge of the general management of the Library, and, under the supervision of the Committee on Books, of the selection and purchase of books. In the latter work he has the assistance of several of the staff, who systematically read and summar- ize book reviews. Suggestions from readers are welcomed and given careful consideration. Staff. — The work of the Library is carried on by a staff of forty-three persons, consisting of a librarian, assistant librarian, cataloguer, reference librarian, classifier, assistant cataloguer, assistant reference librarian, six senior assistants, fifteen junior assistants, six attendants, four pages, janitor, assistant janitor, and three charwomen. Of the forty-three, twenty-one are women. Appointments are made by the Committee on Administration, subject to the approval of the Directors. All applications are referred to the Librarian, and the Committee act only upon report from him. On account of the peculiar demands of a scientific library, they will not consider applications for positions above the grade of attendant from persons not having a reading knowledge of French and German. The Committee also place great weight on library training and experience, so that nearly all the employees above the grade mentioned are graduates of library schools or have entered the service from other libraries. Of the attendants almost all in the evening ser- 44 Chicago Libraries vice have been students at one or another of the educational institutions of the city or vicinity. Rooms. — Temporary quarters, pending the accumulation of a building fund and the erection of a permanent building, were obtained by leasing, in July, 1895, the sixth floor of the Marshall Field & Co. Building, No. 87 Wabash Avenue. In May, 1900, one half of the fifth floor was added, and in January, 1906, the rest of that floor will be occupied. The Reading Room, furnished in dark oak, is on the sixth floor, and acconmiodates about one hundred readers. The Society Room is on the fifth floor, with separate entrance. It seats about fifty, and its use is granted by the Committee on Administration without charge to meetings for scientific and educational purposes, and can be secured for the stated meetings of societies. The Stack Rooms are on both floors, and have at present seats for about twenty readers engaged in special research, and shelf room for one hundred thou- sand volumes. The remainder of the collection has been placed temporarily in a room kindly offered by the New- berry Library. The Directors' Room, on the sixth floor, contains life-size portraits of Mr. Crerar and of the Due d'Aumale by the late G. P. A. Healy. Besides these the suite contains several other rooms needed for the administra- tion of the Library. Collections. — On June i, 1905, the Library had entered upon its books of record 134,194 volumes, and there were still unrecorded, from recent purchases, some 10,000 vol- umes and 20,000 pamphlets. It is a sood working col- lection in most of the subjects within its scope, and, through certain special purchases, much more than this in some. The special purchases include about 8,000 volumes on science and technology, bought of the Newberry Library in 1896; o o Pi < Pi >< < Pi Pi < pi w Pi u X The John Crerar Library 45 some 300 volumes on ornithology, bought of the same library in 1898; the private library of Professor R. T. Ely, consisting of 6,000 volumes and 4,000 pamphlets, mostly on American labor and social movements; the private library of Mr. C. V. Gerritsen of Amsterdam; and considerable purchases at auction of mathematical books from the libraries of Boncompagni and Bierens de Haan, and of zoological books from that of Milne-Edwards. The Gerritsen collection is the largest and most important of these special purchases. It consists of some 1 8,000 volumes and 15,000 pamphlets on social and economic sub- jects, being especially full on finance, banking, labor, and socialism. It includes a distinct collection of nearly 6,000 volumes and pamphlets on the social, political, and legal status of woman. Besides 2,000 current periodicals which are kept in the Periodical Alcove of the Reading Room, the Library re- ceives 4,000 other continuations, such as annual reports and parts of books issued serially, w^iich are placed on the reg- ular shelves as soon as received. In public documents the Library is rather stronger than might be expected, considering the short time it has been established. It is a "designated depository" of the Con- gressional Documents, a special depository of the publi- C3tions of the United States Geological Survey, and a deposi- tory of all bills, resolves, and acts of Congress since 1901. Many state and "some city documents have been acquired. Of foreign documents it has all the Parliamentary Papers of Great Britain since 1896, and many earlier ones on economic subjects; a nearly complete set of the Parliamentary Papers of Canada; a very full set of those of the Netherlands; an unusual collection of French documents of the fifteenth to 46 Chicago Libraries tlie eighteenth centuries on economic subjects; and many serial official publications of Austria, France, and Germany. Catalogues. — Much time and care are given to the devel- opment of the card catalogues, both public and official. Nearly 6o per cent of the titles are printed especially for the Library, and almost all the remainder are obtained from the Library of Congress. The public card catalogue is in three divisions: author, classed subject, and alphabetical subject index. The author catalogue is the usual one, con- taining besides the names of authors those of editors, trans- lators, and the subjects of biographies, and also striking titles. The classed subject catalogue is the one most con- sulted and has been made as full as possible. It is arranged according to the Decimal Classification with few alterations but many expansions. Under each final subdivision the arrangement of the titles is chronological, the latest being put first. An unusual and important development has been made in that part of the classification treating of history and geography. Under each political unit (country, province or state, and town) are given the titles of all works dealing directly or chiefly with the place. These are subdivided systematically in accordance with the first three figures of the main classification. The result is not only that works on adjacent places are brought together, for example, Illinois next to Michigan; and works on part of a country immedi- ately follow those on the whole country, for example, works on Chicago following those on Illinois; but also under each place related subjects are brought together, for example, 977-3 (570) Natural History of Illinois, 977.3 (581) Flora of Illinois, 977.3 (591) Fauna of Illinois. The alphabetical subject index is primarily an index to the classed catalogue, and no entries are made in it which would duplicate exactly The John Crerar Library 47 any collection in the latter, when a single reference gives all the titles, and no others, on a specific subject. On the other hand, entries are made under headings which collect material separated in the classed catalogue because of its relations to broader subjects and also under those which separate material collected in the classed catalogue. It is therefore an alphabetical subject catalogue of all material more conveniently consulted through such a catalogue. This triple catalogue is supplemented by a card catalogue of serials, a printed list of current periodicals, printed lists of dictionaries and biliographies, several card indexes on special subjects, a considerable collection of bibliographies, and an author catalogue of all books, so far as recatalogued, in the Library of Congress. The public catalogue contains the titles of all books in the Library, and in addition the titles of articles in some 300 periodicals. Part of these latter are obtained by co- operation with four other American libraries, part from the Library of Congress, and part by the independent work of The John Crerar Library. So far as the selection has been made by the latter preference has been given to those containing long articles likely to be reprinted and referred to as independent works and to those with which a specialist is not so apt to be familiar because of their general character. Use. — The Library is open to readers from 9 a.m. to lO P.M. every day in the year, excepting Sundays, but including all holidays. A Cloak Room is provided where outer gar- ments may be checked without charge, but its use is not insisted upon, except in wet weather and when the Reading Room is crowded. The Library, however, will not hold itself responsible for articles taken into the Reading Room or left in the Cloak Room over night. 48 Chicago Libraries In the Reading Room is shelved a collection of four thou- sand volumes, intended to include, besides general works of reference, the best books, both advanced and popular, on each important subject within the scope of the Library, and a selection of other works either especially interesting or much in demand. It is constantly revised and kept up to date. This collection may be consulted without formality, as also may the periodicals within the Periodical Alcove. Books may be drawn from the Stack, and periodicals from the Periodical Alcove, for use in the Reading Room, upon presentation of call slips properly filled out. A few books, on account of their character, may be consulted only upon registration and statement of satisfactory reasons, and some of great value or rarity only in the presence of an attendant. As the Library is for reference use only, no book is allowed to leave the Library except for special reasons other than the convenience of the reader, and then only if it is one not likely to be called for. Such loans are for a short time and must be covered by a money deposit or satisfactory guar- antee from another library. Persons making special researches may be admitted to the Stacks at the discretion of the Librarian upon registration with the Reference Librarian, and passes admitting without registration may be granted to those likely to make a prolonged use of the privi- lege if they are personally known to the Directors or the Librarian. The unauthorized removal, mutilation, or mark- ing in any way of the property of the Library is absolutely prohibited. The officials are authorized to exclude any per- son of unseemly behavior or appearance, and any one who wilfully violates the regulations. The use of the Library by the public has fully justified the decisions of the Directors as to its scope and character, The John Crerar Library 49 Beginning with eighty, the average daily attendance has increased to 279 in 1904, in spite of the fact that the Library is so situated as to escape the notice of one seeking it, ratlier than to attract the attention of the passer-by. The recorded use, which does not include books from the shelves in the Reading Room, those read in the Stack Rooms, or periodicals read in the Periodical Alcove, has in- creased even more rapidly, and for 1904 was 75,000 vol- umes and periodicals. The total use is about three times that number. Publications. — The Library issues, usually in May, an Annual Report covering the previous calendar year. Copies are sent free. The bibliographical publications are in- tended primarily for the readers, but it is hoped that as the size of the Library increases they may become of use to scholars and libraries elsewhere. They are not distributed gratuitously, but in exchange or upon receipt of a nominal price of about one-quarter the cost of paper and press work, and the postage if sent by mail. A price-list will be sent upon application. Permanent Building. — In 1901 the Directors look up the question of a permanent site, and decided that the greatest usefulness of the Library could be secured only by a central location. They therefore appealed to the state legislature and to the city council for permission to erect a building on what is commonly known as the Lake Front. This permission was granted by the legislature in "An act to authorize The John Crerar Library to erect and maintain a free public library on Grant Park," approved March 29, 1901, and by the city council in an ordinance passed March 18, 1901. The act provided that the Library should procure the consent of such abutting property owners as might have 50 Chicago Libraries the right to object. Most of these gave their consent readily, but a few refused through fear of losing their right to object to the erection of other buildings in the park. In January, 1 904, the Directors, under the provisions of "An Act concerning free public libraries in public parks," approved May 14, 1903, requested permission of the South Park Commissioners to erect and maintain a monumental building in the classical style upon that part of Grant Park between the Illinois Central Railroad and Michigan Avenue and between Madison and Monroe streets, extended. The question of granting the request was submitted to the voters of the South Park District at the election of April 5, 1904, and was favored by a vote of 50,960 to 9,329. An ordi- nance passed by the Commissioners February 15, 1905, was accepted by the Directors on February 23, 1905. They propose to proceed with the construction of the building as soon as possible. The site is about 400 by 310 feet, and the length of the building will be about 300 feet. The sketch plans provide for the storage of 1,000,000 volumes and the accommodation of 600 readers, and for future extensions doubling this capacity. Clement W. Andrews, Librarian. WALTER LOOMIS NF.WBERRY THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY Walter Loomis Newberry. — Walter Looniis Newberry, merchant, born September i8, 1804, in East Windsor, Con- necticut, was educated at Clinton, New York, and fitted for the West Point Military Academy; but, failing in the physi- cal examination, entered commercial life (1822) with his brother in Buffalo, New York. In 1828 he moved to Detroit, Michigan, and there engaged in the dry- goods business. During a successful period of five years he bought lands at various points on the Great Lakes, notably at Chicago, whither he came in 1833. Here he entered into business with George W. Dole, Esq., as forwarding and commission merchant and dealer in general merchandise; subsequently he became a banker. In 1841 Mr. Newberry was president of the Young Men's Association of Chicago, an organization which he was active in founding, and to which he made the first contribution of books. This association was the fore- runner of the Chicago Public Library. In 1843 Mr. New- berry served on the Board of Health. In 1846 he was a member of the convention assembled in the interests of common schools; he was many years on the School Board, and twice its chairman. In 1847 h^ was a director in the pioneer Galena and Chicago Union Railroad. In 185 1 he was city comptroller, and, for a time, acting mayor. In 1857 he was one of the founders of the Merchants' Loan and Trust Company, of which institution he was long a director. The same year he became a member of the Chicago His- torical Society. He was for six years president of the society. His death occurred at sea, November 6, 1 868. 51 52 Chicago Libraries Sucli, in brief outline, was the life of the founder of the Newberry Library, a free reference library endowed and maintained by the moiety of his estate. The Building. --The trustees of the estate, Mr. Eliphalet Wickes Blatchford and Mr. William Henry Bradley, made partition, according to the terms of the will, in 1886 and the early part of 1887; and in July, 1887, they appointed William Frederick Poole, LL.D., then librarian of the Chicago Public Library, librarian of the newly founded institution. Rooms were leased at No. 90 La Salle Street, August i, 1887, and the purchase of books began. These rooms were occupied until April, 1888, when possession was taken of the three- story-and-basement building. No. 338 Ontario Street. There the collection remained until the completion. May I, 1890, of the temporary building on the northwest corner of Oak and State streets. The site of the present building was purchased June 28, 1889, for the sum of $175,000; being a block with 318 feet frontage on Walton Place, 212.3 feet on Clark Street, 318 feet on Oak Street, and 213 feet on Dearborn Avenue. Here stood the historic (Mahlon D.) Ogden house, the only house in the fire district undestroyed by the great fire of 1871. The foundation of the library building was laid in the summer of 1890; the superstructure was begun early in 1 891, and the building finished in No- vember, 1893, ^t a cost of $545,429.28. The plans were drawn by Mr. Henry Ives Cobb; the plans of the book rooms, providing for departmental shelv- ing, after sketches prepared by the librarian. Dr. Poole. The style of architecture is Spanish Romanesque; the material is Connecticut granite. The partition walls are of brick and tile, the floors of red English tile and marble. The present building, with its imposing fayade, looking south The Newberry Library 53 on Washington Square, is but one face of the edifice called for by the plans. When, in after years, the structure is completed, it will occupy the entire square, leaving a central court measuring approximately 180 by 60 feet. On April 12, 1 892, Mr. Blatchford, sole surviving and acting trustee, conveyed the Library property, estimated at $2,624,918.48, to the following board of thirteen Trustees: Honorable George E. Adams, Mr. Edward E. Ayer, Mr. Eliphalet W. Blatchford, Mr. Edward S. Ishani, General Alexander C. McClurg, Mr. Franklin MacVeagh, Mr. William Harrison Bradley, Mr. Daniel Goodwin, Mr. Franklin H. Head, General Walter C. Newberry, Judge Lambert Tree, Mr. Henry J. Willing, Mr. John P. Wilson. Since this date the Library has lost six of the original trus- tees, Messrs. Isham, Willing, McClurg, Goodwin, deceased; and Messrs. Bradley and MacVeagh, resigned. Their places have been filled by Messrs. David B. Jones, Bryan Lathrop, Horace H. Martin, George Manierre, John A. Spoor, Moses J. Wentworth. The original intent was to make the Newberry Library a general reference collection; but the scheme of co-operation entered into with the John Crerar Library in 1896, involving the transfer of the Newberry books relating to Science and the Useful Arts (7,800 volumes and pamphlets) to the younger institution, modifies to this extent the initial design. If the Newberry be now a class library, it is a class library closed only against extensive collections devoted to certain well-defined branches of learning grouped under the broad and elastic term. Science. Naturally, if not necessarily, the departments are at varying stages of development. Department of Medicine The Newberry Library is indebted to the medical profession of Chicago for generous 54 CiricAGO Libraries aid in the form of advice and contributions of books and pamphlets. Specially is it indebted to Dr. Nicholas Senn for his munificent gift, the Senn Collection. The tirst gift from Dr. Senn was the library — surgical works from the Middle Ages down — of Dr. Wilhelm B. Baum, of G^ittin- gen; the second was the famous collection — chiefly physio- logical — of Dr. Emil Du Bois-Reymond, of Berlin. To these collections Dr. Senn has added largely, from time to time, including among his gifts the original manuscripts of over one hundred works from his own hand. Department of History. — The department of history, including biography and travel, contains many of the great collections, basic works and political documents requisite for the study of universal history. In works relating to America its strength is exceptional. As any '^ook in Mr. Edward E. Ayer's collection of Americana can be consulted at the New- berry Library, on twenty-four hours" notice, the entire Ayer collection is at the disposition of students in this department. While the Ayer collection is essentially ethnological, devoted to the history, character, manners and customs, institutions, arts and crafts, myths, religions and languages of the North American Indians, it necessarily covers the principal sources of information in regard to the discovery, exploration, con- quest and colonization of the North American continent. In Indian history, particularly the history of the relations between the Indians and the Government of the United States, the Ayer library is very strong, containing over 2,300 assorted Congressional Documents, as well as the complete reports of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs and of the Board of Indian Commissioners. The whole is sup- plemented and illustrated by manuscript documents, treaties, letters, Indian drawings on maguey paper and skins, and PQ I— I Pi w r The Newberry Library 55 by Indian portraits, — engravings, water-colors, oil-paintings, and photographs. Since 1898 the scope of the collection has been extended to include Hawaii and the Philippine Islands. With reference to the Philippines, it already con- tains most of the early and important works and a number of unpublished manuscripts. It has also a good working col- lection of linguistics, — grammars and dictionaries in both the Hawaiian and Philippine dialects, as well as text- books, religious treatises and a large number of Tagalog corridas. The genealogic division of the department of history is, at present, noteworthy rather for the analysis of its contents than for the size of the collection. It has a practically exhaustive index, presented to the public in some 700 folio volumes of typewritten Indexer Books. This division draws to it in considerable numbers patrons living at a dis- tance. Department of Philosophy. —The department of philos- ophy, a good working collection, includes philosophy proper, religion, sociology and education. Art and Letters. — The art collection consists of works on aesthetics and the history of art, including architecture, painting and sculpture, together with biographies of artists. Numismatics is classed here, also ceramics, the history of costume and the various arts and crafts. The books deal rather with completed work illustrating the history and development of the several orders of art than with construc- tive and technical processes. There are many periodicals covering, as do the books, the wide field from archaeological research to contemporary arts and crafts. The department of letters is a well-equipped and efficient collection of imaginative literature, and of history and criti- 56 Chicago Libraries cism dealing with the periods and forms of its development. The lives of authors' are shelved here, also periodicals and the publications of learned societies devoted to the study of literature. While most of the foreign books arc in German, French, Spanish, or Italian, many other languages are repre- sented. Department of Philology. The department of philology was suddenly brought into prommence, June, 1901, by the acquisition of the famous library — 16,500 volumes and pamphlets — of Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte; a collection of basic data for the study of the nature and the history of man as developed through speech. The primary aim was to bring together specimens of all the languages and dialects of Europe; but it was soon heightened to the acquisition of some specimen of every known language possessing even the most rudimentary literature. Department of Music — In 1889 the Library secured the musical collection of Count Pio Resse, of Florence, con- sisting largely of works of Italian writers on the theory and the history of music. To the Resse collection have been added, from time to time, the orchestral and vocal scores of the great composers, supplemental works on the history and the theory of music and on musical instruments, together with biographies of musicians, dictionaries, encyclopedias and periodicals. Other Collections. — To the foregoing collections are to be added (l) the elegantly bound Clarke collection of works — 1,453 volumes and 429 pamphlets — on fish, fish-culture and angling; (2) the collection of works on Egypt; (3) the Bailey collection of works on China; (4) the Blatchford col- lection of works on libraries and library buildings; (5) the collection of English and American hymn-books. The Newberry Library 57 Department of Bibliography. — Of the department of books about books it need be said only that it is, of neces- sity, one of the strongest in the Library, adequate to the stringent and continuous demand made upon its resources. The Museum. — The Museum, opened January, 1897, presents as its special feature the choicer items of the Probasco collection, about 1,200 volumes of masterpieces in the arts of calligraphy, illumination, printing, illustration and binding. The arrangement is chronological, exhibiting the origin and development of the book. The manuscripts, numbering over 150, are written for the most part on vel- lum or parchment, and are in a fine state of preservation. To Greece belongs the oldest and rarest of the manuscripts, the Evangelia Greece — probably of the twelfth century — with its distinct black-lettered script, rubrications, and four miniatures of the Evangelists. Among the modern manu- scripts are poems of Burns, Bloomfield and Thomson, and sermons of Cotton Mather and Increase Mather. The Museum has the four Shakespeare folios, 1623, 1632, 1664, 1685. Early Printing. — The Museum contains choice works of the old m.asters of typography, including over three hundred incunabula. Among these are the Latin Bible printed in Strasburg, 1466, by Heinrich Eggestein, and Cicero's De Amicitia of the same year, printed in Cologne by its first typographer, Ulrich Zell. Early Engraving. — Specimens of first attempts at engraving are to be found in such books as the old German volume, Theurdanck, the copy of Roswitha, the 1545 Aldine edition of H ypnerotomachia Poliphili, and the early books of emblems. Binding Many of the 1,200 volumes in the Museum 58 Chicago Libraries are excellent specimens of bibliopegy, dating from the fifteenth century to the present time. Among the books from Italian binderies are: Plinius Secundus, Ilistoria ihiluralc, Venetia, 1548, bound in brown calf after the style of Thom. Maoli; two books from the library of Jean Grolier, both having his motto on the cover, and one con- taining a manuscript note and autograph. Lecture-Rooms. — The Newberry Library has two lecture- rooms, with a seating capacity of lOO persons each. Bindery. — The Newberry Library maintains its own bindery. The Rudolph method of pamphlet binding is pecu- liar to the institution. Extracts from periodical publications, fugitive essays, and other works presenting a variety of subjects in one volume, are treated as collections of pam- phlets. Scattered writings, properly falling under one head, are bound securely and economically; and at the same time, room is left for continuous interplacement. Single pam- phlets are also inclosed in cardboard. The Catalogue. — The catalogue also is a distinctive feature. While it is a "dictionary" catalogue, the entries, instead of being made on cards, are made on narrow slips of pasteboard inserted in card-holders bound into expansive Tndexer Books and in a series of card-holders revolving over two drums. The Indexer Books, constructed on the same principle as the Rudolph binder, are manufactured in the bindery. The Indexer Books are used for the shelf-list, duplicate copies of which serve as finding-lists of the various departments. The classification used is Cutter's Expansive Classification, adopted with some modifications, specially in the notation of class and book numbers. Shelving Capacity — The shelving capacity of the pres- ent building is about one million volumes. When the build- The Newberry Library 59 ing is completed it will hold, in round numbers, four million volumes. The Healy Portraits. — The forty-six portraits in oil, on the walls, were painted by the late George Peter Alexander Healy, and presented by him in 1886. Inter-Library Loans. — While the Newberry Library is a non-circulating library, exception is made in favor of univer- sity professors and authors living at a distance. On their request books are sent to librarians in charge of libraries near the residence of the applicant. On January i, 1905, the Library contained 202,727 volumes and 70,965 pamphlets, maps, manuscripts, etc., a total of 273,692; the proportion of books in foreign Ian guages to those in the English language being 56% as against 44%. The number of current periodicals on file was 1,182. The patronage of the Library averaged, for the year 1904, 282 visitors per day. The Library is open from 9 a.m. to 10 F. M. every day in the year except Sundays, New Year's Day, Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christ- mas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve. Closed also during the first two weeks in August. Trustees of the Newberry Library, 1905. George E. Adams, Second Vice-President, Edward E. Ayer, Elipha- let W. Blatchford, President, Franklin H. Head, David B. Jones, Bryan Lathrop, George Manierre, Horace H. Martin, Walter C. Newberry, John A. Spoor, Lambert Tree, First Vice-President, Moses Wentworth, John P. Wilson. Secretary of the Board of Trustees. — The present Secretary, Mr. Jesse L. Moss, took office December, 1898. The Librarians.— The first Librarian, William Frederick Poole, LL.D., held office from 1887 until his death, in 6o Chicago Libraries 1894. Mr. John Vance Cheney, the present Librarian, resigned the librarianship of the San Francisco Free Public Library to take charge of the Newberry Library, December I, 1894. Mr. Alexander Joseph Rudolph entered the service of the Library on the same date, as First Assistant Libra- rian. J. V. Cheney, Librarian. THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY The Chicago Pubhc Library was estabhshed under the lUinois Library Act in 1872. The Hbrary owes its origin to a movement started in England after the great fire by Thomas Hughes, the famous author of "Tom Brown's School Days." Mr. Hughes and those associated with him made an appeal to authors, publishers, scientific societies, and literary institutions of Great Britain which resulted in the donation of about 7,000 volumes. These books, each of which bore a book-plate stating that it was presented to the city of Chicago toward the formation of a free Hbrary, after the great fire of 187 1, as a mark of English sympathy, formed the nucleus of the Chicago Public Library. When the donation was received in Chicago in 1872, the books were temporarily stored in the "Tank," which was attached to the temporary city hall building on the corner of Adams and La Salle streets. On January I, 1873, a reading room was opened in the third story of the City Hall, adjacent to and connected with the "Tank." Mr. W. B. Wickersham, who had been appointed secretary on July 20, 1872, was placed in charge. On October 25, 1873, Dr. William F. Poole was appointed librarian, which position he held until August I, 1887, when he resigned to take charge of the Newberry Library. Mr. Frederick H. Hild, the present librarian, was appointed to succeed him on October 15, 1887. On March 16, 1874, the library was removed to the southeast corner of Madison street and Wabash avenue, where the circulating department was opened May r, 1874, 61 62 Chicago Libraries with 17,355 volumes. On May 2-j , 1875, the library was removed to the third and fourth floors of the Dickey build- ing, on the southwest corner of Lake and Dearborn streets, where it remained until May 24, 1886, when it again found new quarters in the fourth story of the City Hall, to accom- modate its 120,000 volumes. Here it remained until its re- moval in September, 1897, to its permanent home in the new building. The Chicago Public Library building occupies the rec- tangular site formerly known as Dearborn Park, bounded by Michigan avenue, Washington street, Garland court, and Randolph street, its longest fac;ade being on the avenue, with a court in the rear for future extensions. Its extreme dimensions are 3525^ by 1461/3 feet and the top of its cornice is 90 feet above the sidewalk, exclusive of the crowning balustrade. It contains three principal stories with two intermediate floors and a basement. The exterior is of Bedford limestone with a granite base. The foundation rests on piles, the tops of which are driven to an average depth of 74 feet below the sidewalk. The walls are of solid masonry construction, and the floors are of steel beams and hollow tile arches. The building is not only fire-proof, but is practically incombustible. The general treatment of the exterior of the building is a harmonious combination of various styles of architecture, the lower part being in the neo-Greek style with wide arched windows, and the upper part in Grecian style, with pillars and columns separated by windows. The entablature is of pronounced Roman character, with heavy projecting garlands and lions' heads sculptured on the frieze. The two entrances to the building vary greatly in style, the Washington street entrance being a wide arched portal leading directly to the u I— t pq Oh o o < U I— ( u w h The Chicago Public Library 63 grand staircase hall, while the Randolph street entrance is a portico with massive Greek columns before the three door- ways. The southern entrance to the building leads directly to the grand staircase hall of nearly white statuary Carrara marble, illuminated by sparkling inlays and panels of glass mosaics, mother-of-pearl, and shells. The mosaic floors are composed of light and dark green marble and a great bronze relief of the seal of the city of Chicago is embedded in the floor at the foot of the staircase. A massive elliptical arch crowns the middle of the hall between two pillars that sup- port the two branches of the upper staircase. The ascent is by means of wide marble steps with balconies at easy distances, and the delivery room is entered by three open archways at the upper landing. The walls of the hallway at this landing are of Carrara marble with inlaid lines of glass mosaic and a frieze of the same mosaic fully six feet high entirely around the room. Panels of rich mosaic design with suitable inscriptions and the names of famous authors are set in the walls. The delivery room extends across the entire width of the building with two great windows at each end, and is 48 by 134 feet. Over the center of the room rises a large dome of richly colored glass. The wings of the delivery room are wainscoted in white Carrara marble, above which extends a frieze of glass mosaic containing large panels of green serpen- tine marble inlaid with white inscriptions in ten different languages from Egyptian hieroglyphics to modern charac- ters. Four large stack rooms are located next to the de- livery room. These have shelf room for about 350,000 volumes, and are equipped with book stacks of iron and steel construction with glass floors. On this floor of the building are also located the administrative rooms of the 64 Chicago Libraries library. The cataloguers' rooms are on the entresol floor below. On the floor above the delivery room are located the reference and reading rooms. The reference room is 38 by 138 feet, is 30 feet high, and will accommodate 225 readers. Adjoining this room on the south are the public card catalogue room and the study room for special students; also a three-story stack room for the storage of bound periodicals. On the top floor at the south end of the building are the directors' rooms and the rooms for art books. The great reading room adjoins the refer- ence room on the north and will accommodate 450 readers at a time. Its dimensions are 55 by 142 feet. The Grand Army Memorial Hall Association occupies about 16,000 square feet of space on the second floor at the north end of the building. Here are located Memorial Hall and a large assembly room devoted to the use of the Grand Army of the Republic; also a number of minor rooms for various purposes of the organization. The library building contains a most complete mechan- ical equipment for the generation of light, heat, and power. The devices for washing the air used in ventilating the building and the apparatus for distributing the same are the most modern and up to date. The elevators in the building are operated by electricity generated on the premises, and there is special provision for protection against damage from fire which might brcTk out in the buildings west and north of the library. The cost of the building was about $2,000,000, which includes th*e furniture, book stacks, and machinery. To the resident member of the firm of Shepley, Rutan & The Chicago Public Library 65 Coolidge, Mr. Charles A. Coolidge, is chiefly due the credit for the design and construction of the building and for its decorations. On April I, 1905, the library contained 302,666 vol- umes and about 50,000 unbound pamphlets. The annual revenue from all sources for the maintenance and operation of the library is about $260,000. The number of em- ployees in all the departments is 173. How to Become a Book-borrower. — The right of draw- ing books from the Public Library belongs to all who reside in the city of Chicago, and also to those who make their homes in the suburbs within the limits of Cook County and are regularly employed in the city. In order to become a book-borrower it is only necessary to file an application giving name and residence of the applicant and bearing the signa- ture of a second person who must be an actual resident of the city, appearing as such in the latest city directory. This person becomes the "guarantor" to the library for the proper observance of the library regulations on the part of the applicant. These regulations merely provide that books drawn for home use must be returned within the stated period and must not be defaced or injured. It is therefore a simple matter to find a friend, neighbor, or employer who will co-operate to this extent with any one desirous of using the Public Library. ""^ The card which is issued to the applicant, after due examination of his application, entitles him to draw books, which may be retained for two weeks, and may be renewed for the same period. The card remains in effect for three years from the date of registration, at the expiration of which term a new application must be filed. 66 Chicago Lijiraries What the Library has to Offer. The 300,000 vol- umes which are contained in the Chicago Public Library may be broadly classified as follows: History, biography, and travels . Fine and practical arts, and sciences . Poetry, drama, essays Mental and moral science, religion Language, literature, bibliography Political and social science Dictionaries, encyclopedias, periodicals Government and state publications English prose fiction, and juvenile Books in foreign languages Books for the blind .... 40,000 30,000 11,000 11,000 13,000 8,000 43,000 21,000 70,000 50,000 1,000 A somewhat closer analysis will reveal the especial strength of its collections in certain departments, developed to a higher degree of completeness than the rest, without, however, impairing the efficiency of the general library. Foremost among these is the department of American history, general and local, American travel and biography, and the whole range of topics included in the term "Ameri- cana," comprising accounts of early voyages of discovery and exploration, narratives of early settlers, the history of the American Indians, and the history of all sections of the country, of states, counties, and cities, together with a very large and complete collection of Civil War literature, includ- ing the regimental histories of hundreds of the volunteer regiments. Another department to which particular attention has been given is that of the fne and industrial arts, embracing painting and sculpture, theory and practice of the ans, architecture, design, decoration and ornament, tapestry, furniture, costume, ceramics, photography, illumination of The Chicago Public Library 67 manuscripts, printing, illustration and bookbinding, and many other branches of the arts and crafts. Reproduced in sumptuous volumes, preserving all their original beauty of color and detail, the works of the masters are here made available for the guidance of teacher and student, and the inspiration of craftsman and amateur. Almost equally strong are the resources of the Public Library in the departments of the useful arts, technology, natural science, and kindred subjects, particular attention being given to the popular side of these studies, such as the new field of "nature study," including the bird, flower, and animal books at present so much in demand. In English drama, also, the library is especially rich, while its Shakespeare literature is so voluminous and impor- tant that it was recently made the subject of a special bulletin, no less than fifty editions of that author's complete works being found in the library. Worthy of mention, too, are the periodical section (30,- 000 volumes), comprising many volumes and complete sets of great value and rarity, and the foreign section, with its large and well-chosen collection of representative writers, among which the literatures of eleven European peoples are included. It is unnecessary to add that in developing these special collections, the symmetry and usefulness of the library as a general repository has not been allowed to suffer. Keep- ing abreast of the times and the latest literature in all depart- ments, it aims to serve all its patrons impartially and to be able to offer something to every one who comes in good faith to use and profit by its treasures. Drawing Books for Home Use. - Having obtained a card after the manner described, it is necessary to become famil- 68 Chicago Libraries iar with the method by whicli books may be (h'awn for liome use. This is exceedingly simple, and requires little expla- nation. As guides to the literature on its shelves, the library publishes finding lists, each embracing the works in a par- ticular class or group of classes, e.g., History and Biog- raphy, Fiction and Juvenile, German Literature, French Literature, etc. These finding lists, which may be consulted at the main library and at the stations, or may be purchased at prices ranging from five to fifteen cents, give the authors and titles of the books, in alphabetical order under each sub- head, together with a letter and number annexed to each title, which is the library shelf mark for the book in question. Having made a selection of books which one desires to read, it is only necessary to copy the letter and number (not the author's name or title) on a slip, which is handed to a clerk in the delivery room and from which the first book found is brought, and charged to the borrower by means of his borrower's card, which is stamped with the date of issue. Books so drawn may be retained for fourteen days. If at the end of that period the borrower desires the use of the same book for a longer time, he may have it "renewed" by presenting his card at the receiving desk or at the nearest delivery station, and having it re-stamped, when the book may be kept for a further period of two weeks. But a fine of three cents per day is charged against every borrower who retains a book longer than the stated period without having secured a renewal. It should also be noted that there are some books, recently purchased and in great demand, which may be kept for seven days only, and may not be renewed. They bear a label to this effect on the front cover. The Chicago Public Library 6g The Delivery Stations.— Mention has been made of the deUvery stations, by means of which the Hbrary reaches many readers in remote sections of the city, who could scarcely be supplied at the main library. These stations are established in small shops, under the care of the shop-keep- ers, who are paid for their services. The service is inter- changeable; a borrower, having drawn a book at the main library may return it at a station, and vice versa, or he may draw books at one station and return them at another. Order lists for books may be left at any delivery station by any card-holder. These lists are sent to the library and books are returned by wagons making daily deliveries. In certain districts it is possible for a borrower to leave his order list at the station nearest his home in the morning and call for a book in the afternoon, and it is expected that, with the development of the system, similar quick service shall apply to all stations. New c^rds are also issued through the stations, and finding lists are on file to aid patrons in making their selections. There are at present seventy delivery stations maintained at convenient points throughout the city, from Rogers Park on the north, to South Chicago and west to Austin. This service is of course entirely free to card-holders. The Reference Department. — Co-ordinate with the delivery and stations departments, whose mission it is to supply books for home reading, is the reference depart- ment, designed to serve and assist readers who come to pursue their studies within the library building. This department controls the entire resources of the library. No card or guaranty of any sort is required, the only con- dition being that books shall not be taken from the room. All books which circulate for home use may be used here, yo Chicago Libraries and in addition nianv thousands of volumes not adapted to general circulation, by reason of their size, costliness, or rarity, are at the free disposal of the patron of this depart- ment. A staff of trained assistants is ready to lend him aid, whether his wants involve the selection of a course of reading", the preparation of an essay or thesis for the school, the study-class or the club, or merely the answer to a single question, the source of a quotation, or the portrait of a celebrity. But most of all the reference department offers opportunities to the enterprising student tor acquiring such familiarity with books and with bibliographical tools and "books about books" as will quickly render him independent of the services of the staff, and inspire him with a degree of self-confidence and satisfaction which will add greatly to the pleasure and profit of his studies. On the open shelves which line the entire west wall of the reference room he will find, freely at his disposal, some 2,000 volumes of reference books, comprising the stand- ard dictionaries and handbooks in all departments of knowledge, general encyclopaedias in English, French, Ger- man, Spanish, Scandinavian, and Bohemian, dictionaries of the classical and of all the modern languages, guides to his- tory, literature, science, art, and religion, biographical dictionaries, directories of the principal cities, and many other works of general information. In addition he will soon learn to use and value the many bibliographies, readers' aids, and indexes helpful to the student, which may here be consulted. With the idea of directing his attention to this most useful class of time and labor saving works, the titles of a few of the most comprehensive may be mentioned. The most inclusive are the annual lists of all books pub- lished in various countries. The American. Catalogue and The Chicago Public Library 71 its predecessors cover this field for American publications; the United States Catalogaie gives a list of all American books now in print. The English Catalogue, 1835 to date, Kayser's Biicherlexicon, 1750-1900, and Lorenz's Catalogue General de la Librarie Frangaise, 1840-1900, with their continuations, are the corresponding publications for Eng- land, Germany, and France, respectively. The immense mass of valuable matter currently appearing in periodicals is admirably indexed and digested in the well-known Poole's Index, covering the period from 1802 to 1896, and continued in the Annual Literary Index, the Cumulative Index, and the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, which keeps the index closely up to date. The A. L. A. Index to General Literature is a useful key to books made uo of collections of articles upon many subjects, and as a help in finding a fugi- tive essay or sketch. It gives references to countless titles, dealing with a variety of topics, hidden in the collected works of writers or in volumes of miscellaneous essays. Sonnenschein's "Best Books" and "A Reader's Guide" are excellent aids in the choice of books. Larned's "Litera- ture of American History" is a bibliography of American historical literature, annotated and evaluated by a group of experts, and published by the American Library Association. Similar bibliographies, of varying excellence, exist for many other branches of literature. A useful guide to these and to reference books generally is the "Guide to the Study and Use of Reference Books," by Alice B. Kroeger, librarian of Drexel Institute, Philadelphia. This excellent manual will give the student a very clear view of the best of the helps ready to his hand, and will inevitably lead him to cultivate a closer acquaintance with them. All of these works are to be had in the reference department of this library. 72 Chicago Libraries The Public Card Catalogue. One of the great and indispensable aids to the iisefuhiess of a large library is a complete and properly arranged catalogue. Printed finding- lists, while possessing many advantages of economy and con- venience, have distinct limitations; the new^est books can never be included; each successive list is "out of date" almost on the day of its issue, and a constantly multiplying number of supplements becomes a hindrance rather than a help. To overcome this difficulty libraries have for many years availed themselves of the "card system" now^ so gener- ally used in business, and the library card catalogue, easily kept up by the addition of new cards for each nev^r book added to the shelves, is always the final and most complete key to its resources. The card catalogue of the Chicago Public Library, which is open for use by the public, is situ- ated in a room immediately adjoining the large reference room, on the fourth floor. It is contained in two large cases, aggregating over i,000 drawers, and comprises over 500,000 cards. It is arranged strictly in one alphabetical sequence, from A to Z, and contains references to every book in the library, (i) by its author's name, (2) by its title, and (3) by the subjects of which it treats. A reader who desires to find the number of a book entitled "The Russian advance," without knowing the name of its author, has but to look through the cards under "Russian," where he will find a card which tells him that this book bears the shelf number I 8425 in this library, and that it is the work of Albert J. Beveridge. In exactly similar manner the reader who remembers that Senator Beveridge tias written a book about Russian interests in the Far East, the title of which he cannot recall, will find the card under Beveridge, which gives him the information he is seeking. Again, the o o I o I— H Q t two terms; resigned.) Miss Margaret Mann, Jan.-Oct., 1897. (Part of two terms; resigned.) C. B. RoDEN, Oct., i897-A])ril, 1899. (Part of two terms.) Miss Irene Warren - - 1899/1900. Miss Margaret Zimmerman, i 900/1. Chesley R. Perry, April, i9oi-()ct., 1902. (Part of two terms; resigned.) Miss Renf.e B. Stern, Oct., 1902-May, 1904. (Part of two terms.) Charles H. Bro\vn - - 1904/5. TREASURERS Miss Lydia A. Dexter - 1892. Miss Lodilla Ambrose - 1893. Wm. Stetson Merrill - 1894. Miss Elizabeth A. Young, elected Dec, 1894; resigned Jan., 1895. \\\i. Stetson Merrill, Jan., 1895-March, 1896 (two terms). W. \V. Bishop - - - 1896/7. Miss M. E. Ahern - - i897/8-i899/i9oo(threetcrms). C. A. Torrey - - - [900/1-1902/3 (three terms). C. A. Larson - - - 1903/4-1904/5 (two terms). PRINCIPAL PAPERS READ AND ADDRESSES GIVEN BEFORE THE CHICAGO LIBRARY CLUB 1892-1905 "Library Organizations," Edith E. Clarke, January 8, 1892. "The Probasco Collection," Chas. A. Nelson, January 8, 1892. "How TO Read and How Not to Read," William F. Poole, LL.D., March 10, 1892. "Subjective Review of the American Catalogue, 1884- 90," Mary Imogen Crandall, October 6, 1892. "Institute Libraries and their Work," Edith E. Clarke, November 3, 1892. "Some Popular Errors in Entering and Cataloguing Books," E. F. L. Gauss, December i, 1892. Printed in L. J. 18:5-8. "Broad Lines on which a Reference Library should - be Established and Maintain'ed," William E. Poole, LL.D., February 2, 1893. "On Pal/eography," Karl Pietsch, Ph.D., February 2, 1893. "A , Study of College Libraries," Lodilla Ambrose, March 4, 1893. Printed in L. J. 18:113-118. "The Public Library in its Relation to Education," Emil G. Hirsch, LL.D., April 6, 1893. "Some of the Ancestors of the Modern Book,", if r^. Zella A. Dixson, April 6, 1893. "John Gutenberg and the Early Printers," William F. Poole, LL.D., October 5, 1893. ."The Cataloguing of Incunabula," Haakon A^yhttiis, October 5, 1893. 105 io6 (' II ic AC. (I 1. 1 i; K A K 1 1: s "Sl'GCKSTIONS TO S IIMT I, All; 1 )lS( TSSIO.N," (/'. /•". Wire, .!/./>., November g, 1893. "Tin: T^RKPARATioN OF Printed Lists for Circti.a itxc. Libraries," Kate M. Henneherry, December 7, 1893. "Woman in Literature at the Fair, from the Stand- point OF a Librarian and Cataloguer," FAiith R. Clarke, Januar_\' 4, i8g4. PrinU'd in L. J. 19:47-49. "An Lvening with Old Books," Kev. /•'. IT. Ciuusaiiliis, D.D., Noveml)er 2, 1894. "Departmental Libraries," Mrs. Zrlht A. Dixson, Fel)- ruary 8, 1895. "A Brief History of Some of the Libraries ix Chkwgo," ir. B. Wickersliani, March 8, 1895. Printed in L. J. 20:274-279. "Historical Sketch of the Library Commissions of the LTnited States," G. E. ]]lre, M.D., October 3, 1895. "The Wisconsin Library Commission — How It was Created and Organized," F. A. JIulchius, October 3, 1895. "Library Extension," /. O. Thompson, Novemljer 7, 1895. "Specialization in Libraries," C. \V. Andrews, January 2, 1896. "Library Organizations, their [Need and Benefits," Wm. Stetson Merrill, ^Lircli 5, 1896. "The Librarian, Assistants, and the Public," Lutie E. Stearns, October 7, 1896. Printed in L. J. 21:489-495. "The English Lake Region," 1/yn/ Reynolds, Ph.D., December 3, 1896. "Libraries from the Outside," //. 7\ Snddii/h, jaiuiar\- 7, 1897. "New Devices in Library Appliances," G. B. Meleney, February 4, 1897. PaI'KRS AXI) a DDK KSS KS "Decorative Illustration OF Books," 11'. 7'. Way, March 4, 1897. "A Day with a Reference Librarian," Hervey While, October 7, 1897. "The Problem of Classifying the Library of a The- ological School," IV. IV. Bishop, November 4, 1897. "Post-Conference Trip of the A. L. A. in England," M. E. Ahem, December 2, 1897. "Some Recent Plans for Co-Operative Bibliography," C. IF. Andrews, December 2, 1897. "Library Progress in Germany," A. G. S. Josephson. January 6, 1898 Printed in P. L. 3:126-128. "Home Libraries in Chicago," Cornelia Marvin, January 6, 1898. "Character and Writings of Heinrich Heine," R. F. L. Gauss, February 2, 1898. "Possibilities of Library Work in Jails and Among Criminals," Hon. C. G. Neely, March 2, i8q8. "The Royal Society's Proposed Classification in Science," C. IF. Andreivs, Nov. 10, 1898. "A New Classific.a.tion of Anthropology," ////// Dieseriid, November 10, 1898. "The Library Movement in the Dark Ages," Mrs. Zella A. Dixson, December 8, 1898. "The Relation of Libraries and Schools," IF. U. Brell, February 8, 1900. Printed in P. L. 6:84-85. "Preparation for Librarianship," A. fi. S. .fosephson, April 8, 190G. Printed in L. J. 25:226-228. "A Perspective in Library Movement," Mrs. Salome Culler Fair child, November 15, 1900. "Some Beginnings" (of co-()[)erati()n between libraries and .schools), Col. F. IF. Parker, January 10, iqoi. io8 Chicago Lihrariks "How May the Library Help the Public School?" E. G. Cooley, January lo, 1901. "State Supervision of Public Libraries," C. A. Torrey, February 14, igoi. Printed in P. L. 6:271-273. "Library Architecture," Normand S. Patton, Marcli 14, iQOi. Printed in P. L. 6:200-204. "Hook L-LUSTKAtion," IF. .1/. Chile, April 11, igor. "Color Printing as Illustrated by Modern Color Photography," F. S. Osgood, April tr, 1901. " Co-Operative Plans of the Library of Congress," Herbert Putnam, LL.D., October 11, igoi. "Chicago Library Club; Its Founding and Early His- tory," Mrs. Zella A. Dixson, January 9, 1902. "The Chicago Library Club; Its Present and Future," C. B. Roden, January 9, 1902. "France Since the Dreyfus Case," James Westjall Thomp- son, Ph.D., February 13, 1902. "The Modern Library Movement," Charles Ziiehlin, April 2, 1902. "Home Libraries," Harriot E. Hassler, April 10, 1902. "The Sanitary Construction, Heating, and Ventila- tion OF Library Buildings," Charles Wilkes, October 8, 1902. "The Place of the Library in the Community," Melvil Dewey, October 31, 1902. "Maps and the Reading of Maps," Zonia Baber, Novem- ber 13, 1902. "The Making of a Map," R. H. Allin, November 13, 1902. "Branch Libraries and their Relation to the Com- munity," Jane Addams, December 10, 1902. ''Libraries .and Education," Emil G. Hirsch, D.D., Feb- ruary 10, 1903. Papers and Addresses lOQ "The Booklovers and the Tabard Inn Libraries," F. H. Gill, March 12, 1903. "Mural Decorations in Public Buildings," O. L. Triggs, April 9, 1903. "The Sanitary Construction and Care of a Library Building," Mrs. Ellen H. Richards, October 15, 1903. "The Sanitary Care of Books and Libraries," Dr. Adolph Gehrmann, October 15, 1903. "Reference Work in Public Libraries," M. E. Ahem, November 12, 1903. Printed in P. L. 9:55-65. "The Place of Music in Libraries," Thomas Delaney, December 10, 1903. "The Collection, Preservation, and Use of Historical Material in our Libraries," James Westjall Thomp- son, Ph.D., January 14, 1904. "The Library, the School, and the Museum," A. H. Hopkins, February 18, 1904. "The Problem of Children's Literature," Mrs. Giidrun Thorne-Thomsen, April 14, 1904. "The Library from the Viewpoint of the Trustee," Dr. F. S. Johnson, Franklin H. Head, Dr. B. J. Cigrand, December 8, 1904. "The Yellowstone Park" (stereopticon), Capt. E. C. Culver, January 26, 1905. "The Library as an Educational Institution," /. H. Canfield, LL.D., January 30, 1905. "Library Extension in New York City," Arthur E. Bostwick, April 21, 1905. UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 338 381 New York State Library School Class work collection This book should be charged in the Library School. Lsj-Si 1-3000 (7-7916) ' ":M'i"{:!:,'M:i;:;;J!:iHM?J':lv! !' mu-i'.'.isi'Mtit:-