ephemeral in character, yet there is much in the collection that will long endure. The compilers could not sit in judgment as to quality; such is not their office. They have sought to be faithful in research, and rigidly impartial. The result, we have no doubt, will be one of the most interesting and suggestive publications ever sent forth by the Society. It will show to the world, at a time when results in every field of thought and progress are being marshalled for inspection at the Columbian Exposition, that a raw western state, whose people have chiefly been employed in seeking for the material things of life, has in little over half a century contributed in no small degree to the mass as well as to the wealth of American literature.

Other class lists, more modest in size, but of great practical value to the student, will soon follow. During the present winter, a complete catalogue of our newspaper files one of the choicest collections in America- will be undertaken; and a list of our extensive collection of maps, which embraces many of much historical interest, is in contemplation.

WORK IN THE LIBRARY.

In addition to the preparation of the Bibliography of Wisconsin Authors, the regular work of the library has been satisfactorily performed during the year. Librarian Durrie retired from active work in March last, leaving us throughout the summer with insufficient help. Upon his death, the last of August, the staff was completely reorganized, with Mr. Bradley as librarian, and has since been in effective condition.

It is with pleasure that we are able to report fair progress on the new card catalogue, a stupendous task which has for the past four years been actively in hand. When complete, perhaps some three or four years hence, we shall have an almost faultless index to our library, both author and subject; it is based upon the most approved modern systems, with special features adapted to our peculiar needs. All of the accessions since the publication of the last printed volume of the catalogue (VII.), May 1, 1887,

have been catalogued under the new rules. The work on accessions previous to that date has systematically proceeded backward through the published volumes, with the result, thus far, that all author cards have been made for Vols. VII., VI., V., IV. and part of III.; some of the subjects in VII. and VI., and a good proportion of subjects in V., IV., and part of III. Upon the completion of the author cards for Vol. III., probably next autumn, the subjects of all the volumes will be fully developed before proceeding further with the authors.

The steady increase in the use of the library has been previously dwelt upon. The reading rooms are frequently much too small for the general crowd of students, especially during afternoons and Saturdays; and the number of advanced students, university professors, and other special investigators who are given the privileges of the alcoves, is now so great as often fully to test our capacity in that direction. This enlarging of our sphere of usefulness is gratifying, but to meet these growing demands we have been obliged to increase our corps of assistants, and, as before noted, seriously need increased purchasing funds as well.

More shelving is necessary on both floors of the library, and the legislature will be requested at its coming session to appropriate a sum sufficient for this purpose. A few miscellaneous mechanical improvements in the library have been made during the year, by the state mechanics, for which work and other courtesies the thanks the Society are due to Governor Peck, Superintendent of Public Property Briesen, and Assistant Superintendent Vance.

of

Pamphlets, made from newspaper clippings, etc., worthy

We may well congratulate the Society upon the turning of the 50,000-point in the growth of our library; it is a notable event in the history of the institution, and has been brought about by unusually large accessions during the year just passed. That the Society has many and warm friends is evident from the report of accessions by gift.

We note above only such gifts as were not already upon our shelves, and were therefore accessions; these amounted to 4,551 books and pamphlets. The actual number of books and pamphlets accumulated by gift during the year reached the astonishing figure of 9,802; the residue, 5,251 duplicates, will be available for exchanges with other libraries, and are by no means dead material. We are grateful for all gifts, whether duplicates or accessions. The list of givers, below, shows that the Society's correspondents are scattered far and wide through the Old World and the New.

The following book accessions during the period covered by this report are worthy of special notice:

Baltimore (Md.) American and Commercial Advertiser (newspaper), 1861-64. 5 vols.

Bancroft, H. H. Chronicles of the builders of the commonwealth; his

torical character study. Portraits. 6 vols. San Francisco, 1891–92. Bartholomew, J. G. (ed.) The graphic atlas and gazetteer of the world. New York, 1891.

Biblical Review. Vols. 1-6. London, 1846-50.

British and foreign state papers. London, 1812 84. 75 vols.

Browning, C. H. Americans of royal descent; a collection of genealogies of American families whose lineage is traced to the legitimate issue of kings. 2d ed. Philadelphia, 1891.

Bureau of American Republics. Bulletins, 40 vols. Washington, 1891–92. Carlier, A. La Republique Americain Etats-Unis. 4 vols. Paris, 1890. Carson, H. L. The supreme court of the United States. Portraits.

Philadelphia, 1891.

Curzon, G. N. Persia and the Persian question. Illust. 2 vols. London, 1892.

Davis, Mrs. Varina J. Jefferson Davis, ex-president of the Confederate states of America. A memoir by his wife. Portraits, illust. 2 vols. New York, 1891.

Dublin Review. London, 1836 90. 107 vols.

Dublin University Magazine, 1833-71. 77 vols.

Hakluyt society publications. London, 1876-91. 29 vols.

Harris, W. An historical and critical account of the lives and writings of James I., and Charles I., and of the lives of Oliver Cromwell and Charles II., after the manner of Mr. Bayle, from original writings and state papers. New ed. 5 vols. London, 1814.

Harrisse, H. The discovery of North America. A critical, documentary, and historic investigation, with an essay on the early cartography of the new world. London, 1892.

Hayden, Rev. H. E. Virginia genealogists. Wilkes-Barre, 1891. Hazlitt, W. C. The livery companies of the city of London; their origin, character, development, and social and political importance. With two colored plates and illust. London, 1892.

Irelan, J. R. The republic; or, a history of the United States of America in administrations, from the monarchic colonial days to the present times. Portraits. 18 vols. Chicago, 1886-88.

Julian, J. (ed.) Dictionary of hymnology, setting forth the origin and

history of christian hymns of all ages and nations. New York, 1892. Lamborn, R. H. Mexican painting and painters. A brief sketch of the development of the Spanish school of painting in Mexico. New York, 1891.

Letters of William Lee, sheriff and alderman of London; commercial agent of the continental congress in France; and minister to the courts of Vienna and Berlin, 1766-83. Portrait. 3 vols. Brooklyn, 1891. Edited by Worthington C. Ford.

New York City. The history of the centennial celebration of the inauguration of George Washington as first president of the United States. Portraits, illust. New York, 1892.

Newman, J. H. Works. London, 1890-91. 17 vols.

Ridpath, J. C. Cyclopædia of universal history. Cincinnati, 1890. 4 vols.

Oxford University. Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714. Oxford, 1891-92. 4 vols.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Archivos de museu do Rio de Janeiro. 1876–87 · 7 vols.

Roberts, D. The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, L. India; from drawings made on the spot, by David Roberts, with historical descriptions by the Rev. George Croly. London, 1846-49. 6 vols. Rose, G. M. (ed.) A cyclopædia of Canadian biography. Toronto, 1888. Royal Asiatic society of Great Britain and Ireland. Journal, 1834 87. 29 vols.

Salvation Army publications. 92 vols.

Sargent, C. S. The silva of North America. Illustrated with figures and analyses drawn from nature. Boston, 1892. 2 vols.

Schem, A. J. Deutsch-Amerikanisches

York, 1869-74. 11 vols.

Scottish Review, 1882-91. 17 vols.

conversations-lexicon. New

Spencer, H. Descriptive sociology; or groups of sociological facts. New York, 1873-81. 8 vols.

Taylor, F. Portraits of British Americans, by W. Notman, photographer to Her Majesty. With biographical sketches, Montreal, 1865 68. 3 vols.

The book accessions for the year are classified as follows: