60 American Antiquarian Society. [Oct.,

REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

IN THIS my last report of the nineteenth century, Irecord my heartfelt appreciation of the conscientiouslabors of my assistants. Miss Mary Robinson and MissMary G. Whitcomb. In the hands of my long-time chiefassistant. Miss Robinson, the reins of library governmenthave been placed from time to time with perfect confi-dence. The constant oversight by the library comniittee.President Salisbury and Treasurer Paine, has been both anaid and a comfort to the custodian of the Society's treas-ures, whose grateful thanks are tendered herewith.

During the busy six months last past there has beena marked absence of startling library events.

The book of accessions furnishes the following statistics :Gifts from two hundred and eighty-two sources, naniely,from thirty-nine members, one hundred and twenty-threepersons not members, and one hundred and twenty societiesand institutions. From them have been added tb thelibrary eight hundred and three books ; sixty-seven hun-dred, and sixty pamphlets ; four bound and one hundredand three unbound volumes of newspapers ; two boundvolumes of manuscripts and two hundred and seventeenunbound ; ninety-four photographs ; twenty-nine coins ;twenty-seven maps ; fifteen broadsides ; three framed en-gravings and one unframed ; two collections of newspaperclippings and one steel plate ; by exchange fifty-sevenbooks and thirty-eight pamphlets ; and from the binderythirty-one volumes of newspapers and sixty-eight of niaga-zines ; a total for six months to the 15th instant of ninehundred and twenty-eight books ; sixty-seven hundred

1900.] Report of the Librarian. 61

and ninety-eight pamphlets ; thirty-five bound and onehundred and three unbound volumes of newspapers, etc.

President Salisbury has added to his usual semi-annualcontribution the first two volumes from the press of Mr.Franklin P. Eice, trustee of "The Systematic HistoryFund." Number one is entitled " Worcester County,Massachusetts, Warnings, 1737-1788"; and number twocontains the " Vital Kecords of Auburn (formerly Ward),Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1850, with theInscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds." The editionsare limited to one hundred and one hundred and fiftycopies respectively.

Dr. Charles L. Nichols has given us—with his pains-taking Avork the Bibliography of the Town of Worcester—the steel plate which furnished the portrait of IsaiahThomas. It was first used in Little & Brown's issue ofBuckingham's Reminiscences, Boston, 1852. I have notbeen able to find the original painting or draAving of thisfine head by Mr. Hammatt Billings. Mr. Stephen A.Schoff, the engraver, under date 28 August, 1900, Avrites :" In reply to your favour I beg leave to say I have noknoAvledge at all of the drawing of Isaiah Thomas referredto. When I Avanted to make a good piece of Avork for-merly, I used to put it in good shape as a vignette tobetter please myself, as I probably did in this case. Andusually at my oAvn expense. I am sorry that I cannothelp you in the matter." Little, Brown and Company inletter of 22 September, 1900, say: "Replying to yourenquiry of August 29th, Ave Avould say that Ave do notknoAV that the original painting of the portrait of IsaiahThomas—from which our steel engraving Avas made bySchoff—is still in existence. We regret that we cannotgive you the information you desire."

The gifts of Mr. William A. Smith have always been ofa high order. His latest is "Universities and Their Sons.History, Influence and Characteristics of American Uni-

ß2 American Antiquarian Society.

versities, with Biographical Sketches and Portraits ofAlumni" This valuable addition to our college materialis an elaborate work in five volumes,, which was begunin the year 1898 and but recently completed. It hasalready proved useful in furnishing well authenticatedinformation regarding some of our own members.

Mr. Samuel Jennison ^ has added to the manuscriptmaterial acknowledged to him in my last report, nearlytwo hundred selected letters dated from 1705 to 1856.They are from the same source as the former gift ; liavingbeen collected by his father, our first librarian, whosename the only son has so long and so honorably borne.

The Davis Spanish-American alcove . has again beenenriched by Dr. Joseph F. Loubat. At this time hisliberality secures for us, as well as for other learned I insti-tutions, a remarkable reproduction of " I I ManoscrittoMessicano Vaticano 3738 Detto il Codice Rios."

The contribution of Mr. J. Evarts Greene includes afine photograph which he has kindly endorsed : " Worces-ter, September 12, 1900. Ealph Pomeroy, Quarterniaster-General of the State of Connecticut in the later years ofthe Eevolution. The portrait from which this photographwas taken was painted by an artist unknown to me andthe date is also unknown, but it must have been not farfrom 1780. His daughter, the late Mrs. Eunice White ofNew Haven, told me that it was an excellent likeness ofher father."

Dr. Mendenhall of our Council has placed in the library" Monographs on Education in the United States," editedby Nicholas Murray Butler, Professor of Philosophy andÉducation in Columbia University. 2 vols. 8°. Albany,N. Y. 1900. This work Avas issued b}' the Departmentof Education for the United States Commission to theParis Exposition of 1900. The edition, which is limited

• Died September 21,1900.

1900.] Report of the Librarian. 63

to five hundred copies, contains an introduction by theeditor and nineteen papers by experts. Dr. Mendenhall'simportant contribution thereto treats of " Scientific, Tech-nical and Engineering Education."

We acknowledge to Mr. Henry P. Upham the sixmonths' issues of " The Jesuit Relations and Allied Docu-ments," in continuation ; and to Mr. Andrew McF. Davis,in addition to his own recent publications. Rev. ThomasShepard's Theses Sabbaticœ, (London, 1651), and his"Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied,"(London, 1660).

A large accession from the Rev. Dr. Daniel Merrimanhas aided in the completion of sets of magazines andbenevolent society reports.

On July 19, 1900, our associate Mr. Andrew McFarlandDavis addressed to your librarian the following short butsuggestive note : " John and Horace and myself proposeto establish a small fund in the American AntiquarianSociety in memory of Father and Mother. Can yousuggest any specific line to which it should be devoted,whether governed by fitness or by the needs of theSociety?" In the short list immediately forwarded toMr. Davis, the first place was given to the literaturerelating to the War of 1861-1865. This departmenthaving been selected, the income from their fund—at leastfor some years—Avill be used therefor. Your librarian'sstrong interest in here preserving the home and fieldmaterial relating to the war is most natural. The first twoyears of that period were passed on duty at home and thelast two years at Fifth Corps headquarters in the Armyof the Potomac. Upon entering your service on April1, 1867, his first effort was to complete our imper-fect newspaper files of the war period ; but with limitedsuccess. The high price of paper stock had swept quan-tities of valuable periodical and other literature into thepaper mills, and funds were not on hand for the purchase

64 Aínerican Antiqitarian Society. [Oct.,

of what we needed of the remainders. Other ephemeralpublications Avere sought as gifts or by exchange, and laterthe more elaborate Avorks. During the winter of 1877-78,Avhen the Salisbury Annex was first occupied, an alcovetherein Avas devoted to miscellaneous Avritings oii AvhatAvas then called "rebellion and slavery." As an object:lesson rebellion Avas based on slavery, the gallery beingused for the former and the main floor for the lattersubject. The arrangement, Avhich is by authors, does notinclude manuscripts, which are in the northeast lobby onthe first floor ; neAvspapers, which are arranged by stiates inthe ncAVspaper hall ; biographies, which Avill be found inthe alcove of individual and collective biography ; war his-tories of states or toAvns, Avhich are in their respectivealcoves ; national and state government reports, Avhich arein the stack hall ; or sermons, addresses and speeches,Avhich are duly classified and placed, in one of the northlobbies on the second floor. This Avise gift of our threeassociates, sons of a former President of the Society, willremind other members of a rich department Avith manygaps Avhich they also may help to fill. A special book-plate is recommended for use in the books, etc., Avhichare to be secured Avith the income of the fund.

The various book funds established by our membershave been draAvn upon for the enrichment of the depart-ments Avhich they severally represent.

Mr. John A. Dana's presentation of early imprints isof special value and interest. It includes five volumesformerly owned by Thomas Prince ' ' minister and chro-nologist," and containing either his signature or hisautograph notes. The Dana family of Princeton hadretained these treasures for generations, but our friend,shortly before his death, selected Antiquarian Hall astheir permanent home. Here they will find numerouscompanions bearing the clear-cut autograph of ThomasPrince.

1900.] Report of the Librarian. 6.5

Mrs. George S. Howe and her sister. Miss MarthaHobbs, have placed upon our walls, richly framed, "TheLast Days of Webster at Marshfield," which was paintedby Joseph Ames and engraved by C. Mottram.

Mr. Henry F. Harris has again remembered ourdepartment of biography by placing therein Jones's" Life and Works of Joseph Dudley " ; and Miss SusanTrumbuii has added to the general library, Ijooks,pamphlets and maps from the old Trumbuii home inWorcester.

Mr. D. Berkeley Updike has added to our collection ofmanuscripts a volume entitled " An African Story, byAbijah Bigelow." It bears the inscription, "A gift to theAmerican Antiquarian Society from D. B. Updike, Boston,1900. The book belonged to Mrs. Elizabeth Bigelow(Adams) Updike, and came to her from her aunt LucindaBigelow, daughter of the author." Various newspaperclippings relating to slavery have been inserted coveringthe period from 1819 to 1822. The date of the poem issuggested in the preface by the following : " The generalinterest excited by the discussion and termination of thegreat Missouri question first led the author to an examina-tion of the subject of slavery. This examination gavehim such a view of its horrors as could not easily beeffaced and furnished the hints for thé following poem,

• which was principally written soon after the terminationof that question but for various reasons withheld from thepublic." Hon. Abijah BigeloAV was a life-long friend ofthis Society and a member of its Council from 1817 until1828.

Mr. Henry C. McFarland sends a copy of his privatelyprinted "Personal Recollections, 1831-1891." His letterof gift says : " One day last autumn making inquiry aftera locality in Worcester, I received most kindly assistanceat your library. As a very slight evidence of my appre-ciation thereof, I have just mailed to you a copy of

5

66 American Antiquarian Society. j [Oct.,

'Sixty years in Concord, N. H., and ElseAvhere,' which itAvill gratify me to have you accept."

The Misses May of Leicester, daughters of the lateReverend Samuel Ma^y, have placed in our keeping theremainders of such classes of books and .pamphlets astheir father had for many years brought to the library forpreservation. We shall miss his kindly face as Avell as histimely gifts.

Miss Mary E. Liscomb, at the' suggestion of our asso-ciate the Reverend Calvin Stebbins, has presented acollection of books, photographs and framed lithographs.

Mr. William G. Thompson has made a further additionof educational material gathered by his father, the lateDr. Charles O. Thompson.

Mr. F. Walter Hamilton sends three original manuscriptdocuments relating to Mayor KrioAvlton's call for troops toquell an incipient riot in Worcester, May 18, 1854! Theepisode is thus referred to in SaAvyer's recent " History ofthe Department of Police Service of Worcester, Mass.,1674 to 1900 " : " One of the unusual events that riiarkedthe progress of the year 1854 Avas the advent of ' Gabriel 'and his horn. It Avas not the Archangel Gabriel spokenof in the sacred page, but John S. Orr, a Scotchman Avithmore impudence than brains, Avho Avith a three-corneredhat and a cockade on his head, and an old brass horn inhis bosom, came to Worcester. He took advantage of thepolitical excitement and travelled about the city tooting hishorn, collecting croAvds in the streets, and delivering Avhathe called a public lecture, passing the hat for contribu-tions. His lectures generally consisted of a repetition ofa few ill-chosen Avords, principally a tirade against thePapacy and Catholicism, resulting in a disturbance! Hisbest argument Avas the tooting of the horn. He dreAvcroAvds, demanded police protection, and a rough time hehad of it. He Avas arrested the second day he appearedon the streets and on promise of leaving the city Avas

1900.] Report of the Librarian. 67

released. He returned a week later, and on occasion ofhis lecture a riot followed. Mayor Knowlton read theriot act and the City Guards were called out. He wasfinally got out of town, and peace and quiet were againrestored. He went to San Domingo, where he was placedin prison during one of his harangues, on the charge ofI)eing a general disturber, and died before the end of histhree years' sentence." Mr. Franklin P. Rice in his" Worcester Book of Noteworthy Events " gives additionalfacts. He says under date of 18 May, 1854 : " J . S. Orralias ' Anger Gabinel ' with his brazen trumpet collected acrowd and began the delivery of a no papacy harangue,when he was arrested by the police for disturbing thepeace, and locked up. A large and excited crowd gatheredabout the Common, when Dexter F. Parker made a speech' full of sound and fury,' as the Spy has it ; followed byothers. The assemblage soon became violent ; stones werethrown, one hitting Sheriff George W. Eichardson onthe head ; and a rescue of the prisoner was threatened.Finally the City Guards were ordered out and the riotersdispersed. ' Gabriel ' was a Scotchman, Sandy McSwishby name, although he called himself Orr or Horr. Hisfather was of the Clan Gordon. Sandy was born on theIsle of Skye, September 3, 1809. He was bound appren-tice to a weaver. His father having died, his mothermarried a Baptist minister named Orr. Sandy joined acompany of players ; afterwards was a Methodist preacher ;and then came to America and joined the Mormons. Afterfollowing various avocations, he finally began preaching inpublic places against papist authority and foreign influence.He had a horn or trumpet which he blew to attract anaudience, hence the name Gabriel. He acted as an adjunctto the Native American or Know Nothing Party." *

• See also, "An Episode of Worcester History," read before the Worcester Societyof Antiquity, April 1,1884, by our Treasurer Nathaniei Paine.

68 American Antiquarian Society. [Oct.,

We are indebted to The Worcester District l^edicalSociety for a large mass of books, pamphlets and neAvs-papers winnowed from their valuable library. The dupli-cates forwarded to the United States Surgeon-General'sOffice Library, included many early catalogues and otherpublications of the Medical Schools of America, greatlyneeded to complete their files of such literature.

The American citizen is not often charged with anexcess of modesty, but the librarian of an historical orantiquarian society is well aware that it still exists, especial-ly during the time of spring and fall house-cleaning. Werecently received a basket of books of special value withthe following note : " I send down some trash for which Ido not wish thanks, being only too glad of a place to sendit ; and shall not feel hurt if you sell some of it for oldpaper, or burn it." The wise librarian in such case willnot only give thanks, but when possible will personallyinterview the giver. Our late associate. Dr. WilliamF. Poole, when public librarian of Cincinnati, said ofthe tidy housekeeper who puts aside one parcel ¡for thelibrary and another for the pedlar : " if the parcels aretransposed no mistake is made." There appears to be ageneral disposition to throw into the waste i basketephemeral literature which is unbound ; and perhaps thisdisposition was never more strongly exhibited than duringthe civil war.

In view of the Society's centennial celebration in1912, it is thought wise to preserve in the librarian'sprinted record, for easy reference, any important con-temporary accounts of its early doings, or commentsthereupon. For instance, Thomas's Massachusetts Spy orWorcester Gazette of August 30, 1820, contains an inter-

esting narration of the exercises at the dedication of ourfirst library building, with other items regarding theSociety and its work, which follows : " DEDICATION. OnThursday last the elegant and commodious building lately

1900.] Report of the Librarian. 69

erected in this town for the accommodation of the Ameri-can Antiquarian Society, Avas dedicated to their use Avithsuitable solemnities. The Society assembled at their neAVHall at 10 o'clock, and at 11 moved in procession to theNorth Meeting House. The services Avere opened byPrayer from the Rev. Dr. Bancroft, who also read selectpassages from the sacred volume. The Address by IsaacGoodAvin, Esquire, Avas learned and ingenious, and Avasreceived with much satisfaction by a numerous audience.Sacred music was performed by a choir of singers from thevarious religious Societies in this toAvn. After the Ser-vices, the Society returned to their Hall, and from thencerepaired to Sikes's Coffee-House, where the most sumptu-ous entertainment was provided for the occasion. Mr.Goodwin's Address Avill soon be submitted to the public.We rejoice in the situation and prospects of this infant butrespectable institution, Avliich is not intended as a rival toany of the learned Societies of our Country, but to co-operate Avith them in the diffusion of Science, and in thepreservation of materials for the historian and biographer.The Society are indebted for the spacious and durable edificeAvith Avhich they are noAv accommodated, to the munificenceof the President, Isaiah Thomas, Esquire, Avho was thefounder and has been the patron and bountiful benefactorof that institution. The Library and Cabinet are far moreextensive than could have been anticipated, considering theshort period during Avhich collections have been making.The former already consists of about 7000 volumes besidesseveral hundred volumes of newspapers, neatly bound andlettered, and a very considerable collection of manuscriptsand pamphlets. Many of the books and manuscripts arevery rare and ancient ; and of. some of them it is believedthat no other copies exist in the United States. A greatnumber of valuable German books were included in the latelegacy of the Eeverend Dr. Bentley. We cannot forbearcalling the public attention to a late interesting publication

70 American Antiquarian Society. [Oct.,

of the Society, under the title of ' Archœologia Americana,^it being the first volume of the Transactions and Collectionsof the Society. It contains much entertaining and instruc-tive matter, and is embellished with maps, engravings andcuts, illustrating the objects of curiosity which it describes.The price is $3, and is certainly moderate for a volume ofits size and character. It will well repay the perusal ofany one who feels interested in the antiquitiesportion of the world."

of tliis

Respectfully submitted.

EDMUND M. BARTON,

Librarian.