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BULLETIN

OF THE

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

Published monthly by The New York Public Library at 476 Fifth Avenue, New York City. President, George L. Rives, 476 Fifth Avenue; Secretary, Charles Howland Russell, 476 Fifth Avenue; Treasurer, Edward W. Sheldon 45 Wall Street; Director, Edwin H. Anderson, 476 Fifth Avenue.

Subscription One Dollar a year, current single numbers Ten Cents.

Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as second-class matter, January 30, 1897, under act of July 16, 1894.

Printed at The New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Avenue. Edmund L. Pearson, Editor.

VOLUME XIX

FEBRUARY, 1915

NUMBER 2

THE MANUSCRIPT DIVISION

IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

BY VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS, KEEPER OF MANUSCRIPTS

N former years manuscripts were concentrated in the Lenox Library Build

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building in the spring of 1911, the manuscripts were placed in the present Central Building, in conjunction with the rare and reserved printed works of the American History Division, save that an overflow of manuscripts was segregated in a part of the book stack. The reserve book rooms soon became very much congested and necessitated the removal, from time to time, of more manuscripts to the stack. Moreover, the growing work of the American History Division precluded anything like undivided attention to the manuscripts, as to their proper arrangement and cataloguing; in fact, very little cataloguing had been done for a number of years, while accumulation of accessions awaited sorting and arrangement in cartons. It was evident that the overcrowded reserve book rooms should be relieved of the congestion and that the manuscripts could be more satisfactorily administered apart from printed books, from which they differed essentially in the method of use and treatment. In November, 1913, the trustees of the Library began to consider the desirability of creating a Manuscript Division and on January 14, 1914, determined upon it. Two rooms (nos. 319 and 226), on the third and second floors, the one above the other, were allotted for the use of the new division and arrangements were planned for their equipment and for connecting them by a staircase. At the same time Mr. Paltsits * was appointed Keeper of Manuscripts, to begin in September, meanwhile co-operating in the preparation of the rooms for occupancy. In May, plans were drawn for the equipment of room 319 with fireproof metal construction cases, partly with roller shelves for heavy volumes and large portfolios and more generally with bin shelves, all protected by steel roller curtains with Yale locks (see illustration). The equipment, built during the summer, was installed in the month of September. The removal of the manuscripts to the new division was begun on September 24. From that date until November 16, the manuscripts continued to be used in room 303 of the American History Division without the least inconvenience to students, as there was not a single instance where a manuscript could not be produced readily, notwithstanding the absence of a systematic arrangement incident to the process of concentration from five separate rooms and a far-removed stack.

On November 16, the Manuscript Division was opened, and on the same day Mr. Wilmer R. Leech, for over six years a member of the staff of the State Historian's office, at Albany, and for eight years prior thereto of the Division of Manuscripts of the Library of Congress, began service as assistant in the division.

Special rules for the administration of the division have been established by the trustees. Room 319 is the "Research Room" into which students are admitted by a ticket obtained from the Director of the Library. Room 226, at present with exposed shelves and a gallery, is used only for administration purposes and the storage of manuscripts. It is not open to the public. The special rules of the division are as follows:

1. The Manuscript Division has been established for purposes of reference and research. Exhibitions of manuscripts for the benefit of the public are also provided in the general exhibition on the main floor (Room 113).

2. Persons desiring a card of admission to the Manuscript Division (Room 319) should make a written application to the Director of the

* Note, by the Editor of the Bulletin: Mr. Paltsits was connected with the Lenox Library from 1888 to 1907, serving as assistant librarian for fourteen years. He was New York State Historian from 1907 to 1911, and in that capacity edited three volumes of "Minutes of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies," 1778-1781; and two volumes of "Minutes of the Executive Council of the Province of New York," 1668-1673. He has also edited "The Journal of Captain William Pote, Jr.," 17451747; Rev. John Miller's "New Yorke Considered and Improved, 1695"; "Papers Relating to the Siege of Charleston, 1780," and other historical works. As bibliographical adviser he was on the editorial staff of Thwaites's "Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents." His bibliographical contributions include analytical descriptions of the "Lettres édifiantes"; the works of Philip Freneau; the voyages of Baron de Lahontan; the works of Father Louis Hennepin; the almanacs of Roger Sherman; etc.

Library, specifying name, address, profession or occupation, and the purpose for which admission is desired. Such application should be made, if possible, at least two days in advance and must be accompanied by a written recommendation from some person of known position. In special cases, which do not admit of delay, the Keeper of Manuscripts may show a particular manuscript or small group of manuscripts to a person properly identified who has not yet obtained a card, especially a person who brings a written request from a donor to the collection.

3. A blank form for such application and recommendation may be obtained in the Manuscript Division or by written request to the Director of the Library.

4. A card of admission to the Manuscript Division is strictly personal and admits but one person.

5. The manuscript research room (319) is open to persons having cards of admission from 9 a. m. until 6 p.m. on every day, excepting Sundays, Independence Day, Christmas and New Year's day.

6. No person under eighteen years of age will be admitted to the manuscript research room.

7. No person will be admitted for the purpose of preparing for examination, of writing prize essays, or of competing for prizes, unless a special reason is given. The use of manuscripts for sensational exploitation is discouraged by the Library.

8. In applying for manuscripts, a separate ticket is to be clearly written and signed by the applicant for each piece or consecutive series desired, and a record thereof is to be kept in an official register. When the user returns the piece or series, it will be examined. If it is found in as good condition as when delivered, the ticket will be canceled and returned to the applicant. Persons are held responsible until their tickets have been returned.

9. Manuscripts of exceptional value or in fragile condition shall be produced singly, or subject to such conditions as the Keeper of Manuscripts shall, in the particular case, think requisite for their safety and integrity.

10. It is forbidden to write upon, or mark with pen or pencil, any manuscript. Those who use manuscripts are expected to handle them with care, not lean upon or place the hand on the page before them, or lay a manuscript or book or the paper on which they are writing, upon an open manuscript. As a general rule, manuscripts, while in use, are to be placed upon book-rests.

11. Pencils shall be used in copying or taking notes. Pen and ink may be used only in special cases and subject to special permission from the Keeper of Manuscripts.

12. Tracing is not allowed, unless by permission of the Keeper of Manuscripts. In no case can permission be given to trace from illuminations or paintings or artistic drawings.

13. Manuscripts, or other articles belonging to the Manuscript Division, shall not be removed from the division to other divisions or departdepart ments, unless by specific permission of the Keeper of Manuscripts, the Chief Reference Librarian, or the Director of the Library.

14. Permission to photograph, photostat or print certain manuscripts will be given by the Keeper of Manuscripts on the following conditions:

(a) That the Library be given a copy of the book or other publication in which the original appears; or, in special cases, a finished print of the photograph or other facsimile.

(b) That the Library in no wise surrenders its right to print or give permission to others to print any of the materials in its possession, or assumes responsibility of copyright violations.

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