Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 18.djvu/342



306 F. G. Young

the collections of public libraries, historical societies and other institutions, as well as documents in the possession of private individuals, as fast as its time and resources permit. Early newspaper files, the records of religious and social institu- tions and of business concerns are not being overlooked.

In connection with its work on the county archives it is concerned with determining their historical value and in indi- cating how they may be used by the student of the social sci- ences. It is applying the principles of archive science toward securing the best form and filing of records in the public offices, but also to make sure of their preservation. "While it is a felony for an official to destroy any public record en- trusted to his care, an investigation of the courthouses will show that many records of value to the research worker, often involving even such vital matters as land titles, are being crowded into damp basements, dusty, mice-infested attics, or into outbuildings used for wood, oil and even gasoline."

At the time of making its preliminary report the commission had about finished its work on the county archives and in- tended to turn to newspaper files and other lines of investiga- tion, mainly the records of the United States land offices and other local federal offices. Documents in private hands and in local public libraries have also been listed. It did not con- sider that such important collections as those in the State Library at Sacramento, the Bancroft collection at Berkeley, the Sutro collection, and that of the Golden Gate Park needed its immediate attention. They were ^afely housed and fairly well known. Nor ha4 it the me^ns to undertake so large a task.

The commission uses the second part of its preliminary report to give an historical analysis of tl^e archives of the county clerk. This is done for the purpose of illustrating one typical phase of the work connected with the survey of the county archives. In the third part a full report on the archives of Humboldt County is given as a sample of what the commis- sion will have for its final report, and also as an example of well preserved county archives.