work for the increase of the library and other collections of the society is carried forward by frequent meetings and regular publications.
To mention finally what I deem the highest [merit and crowning honor of the local historical societies, they are shown by their results, extending in some of the old States a century or more and in the Northwest more than half a century, to be nobly useful by the discovery and development of historical workers, local antiquaries, and the persons in every part of the several States who have been best qualified for historical researches and for rescuing the past from forgetfulness.
A. C. McLaughlin, director of the Bureau of Historical Research in the Carnegie Institution of Washington, was introduced and asked to state the plans of that institution. These look rather to aiding than to undertaking research. In this respect the interest and appreciation of the historical societies of the country is desired. It is hoped that the institution may be of service to them and that, by proper correlation, duplication of work and needless searching may be avoided. The institution hopes eventually to secure the transcription of all American documents in European archives, as well as to calendar all collections of such transcripts already in the United States. The last undertaking will be entered upon immediately—the former will, in due course, be carried forward in connection with the Library of Congress.
The question of the possibilities of mutual cooperation between societies, state and local, was then taken up. C. M. Burton, president of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, spoke substantially as follows:
The purposes for which historical societies should cooperate would be to prevent needless duplication of matter in their published reports and proceedings and the gradual preparation of an index to all printed historical material, so as to provide a ready access to such matter for students and investigators.
There are two classes of historical societies—those maintained by private donations and dues of members and those maintained by legislative donations. The publications of the first class of these societies is frequently confined to a small edition to be distributed only among the members of the society. In the second class the published works
