The Beginnings of Libraries

by Ernest Cushing Richardson

For the quipu an article by L. Leland Locke on The ancient Quipu, a Peruvian knot record is given in the American Anthropologist v. 14, 1912, pp. 325-32. This gives a modern point of view, has excellent illustrations and its author promises a bibliography of the extensive literature immediately.

For message sticks there is a long chapter with illustrations in A. W. Howitt, The native tribes of South East Australia (London, 1904, pp. 691-710).

An accessible first reference for pebble records and the abacus is the chapter on systems of numeration in W. W. R. Ball’s History of mathematics (London, 1888), pp. 114-19, also, and perhaps even better, J. Gow’s A short history of Greek mathematics (Cambridge, 1884), pp. 26-40. Cf. also article on the abacus in the Pauly-Wissowa Encyclopedia.

In the matter of the votive offerings W. H. D. Rouse’s Greek Votive Offerings (Cambridge, 1902), is a most suggestive and readable, while detailed and scholarly book.

On the Orphic tablets, see appendix to Miss Harrison’s Prolegomena to the study of Greek religion (Cambridge, 1903), pp. 660-74, and text passim,—the text being one of the classics of modern comparative religion.

The end

---

INDEX

• A, [109].
• Aalu, [128].
• Abacus, [76], [98], [147], [148], [163].
• Abbreviation, [83], [84], [85], [109].
• Abbreviation of signs, [81].
• Abel, [42], [139].
• Abydos, [149].
• Accumulation of experience, [5].
• Actor, [67], [70].
• Adam, [26], [39]-[40], [41], [42], [43], [46], [47].
• Adamite, [25].
• Administration of primitive libraries, [142].
• Adornment, [162].
• Agathias, [125].
• Alcaeus, [125].
• Aleph, [56], [109].
• Alpha, [56], [109].
• Alphabetical printed words as ideograms, [114].
• Alphabetical writing, [61].
• Ambrosia, [127].
• Ampère, [98].
• Amulets, [93]-[94], [116], [128], [132].
• Animal libraries, [25], [160].
• Annual records, [149].
• Annual registers, [132].
• Antediluvian libraries, [25], [42], [160].
• Anthropology, [14], [117], [156]-[157].
• Apocryphal libraries, [33].
• Archaeology, [22].
• Archival science, [152].
• Archives, [18], [19], [125], [147], [154], [155].
• Aristomache, [125].
• Aristotle, [125], [156].
• Articulate speech, [61].
• Asclepius, [125].
• Assyrian, [111].
• Astrology, [28].
• Astronomical observations, [133].
• Australians, [107].
• Babylonia, [28], [117].
• Babylonian libraries, [44], [148].
• Babylonian temple records, [123], [135].
• Basketry, [147].
• Basketry work, [146].
• Baskets, [74], [75].
• Battle flags, [78].
• Beads, [97], [148].
• Berosus, [44], [47].
• Bibliography, [24].
• Bibliotheke, [15], [16].
• Bibliothèque, [16].
• Bidder, [98].
• Birch bark, [113].
• Bird tracks, [101], [102].
• Blankets, [113].
• Body painting, [104], [105], [106].
• Bones of sacrifices, [138].
• Book, [20].
• Book-jars, [127].
  • See also, [Jars].
• Book keeping, [20], [142].
• Book of the Dead, [127], [130].
• Book-pouches, [146].
  • See also, [Pouches].
• Bookcase, [145], [146].
  • See also, [Chests].
• Books, [38].
• Books of Hermes, [144].
• Books of Thoth, [144].
• Bookshop, [16].
• Borneo, [82].
• Bounty on scalps, [85].
• Boxes, [146], [147], [148], [149].
• Bracelets, [106].
• Brahma, [27], [29], [30].
• Brain, [65], [68].
• Brain paths, [65].
• Branding of cattle, [135].
• Building, [17].
• Bundles, [148].
• Buried books, [128].
• Bushmen, [107].
• Business documents, [18], [19].
• Business records, [15].
• Cain, [42], [43].
• Calendar skins, [113].
• Calendars, [108].
• Calumet, [162].
• Cañute, [99].
• Cardinal’s hat, [94].
• Cartography, [155].
• Cassianus, [45].
• Cataloguing, [149].
• Caves, [143].
• Celestial tablets, [28].
• Cell complex, [18].
• Characteristic part, [83].
• Cherubim, [43].
• Chests, [74], [75], [145].
  • See also, [Boxes], [Bookcase], etc.
• Child psychology, [10].
• Child-study, [54].
• Child teaching, [11].
• Children, [23].
• Children’s games, [23].
• Children’s playthings, [129].
• China, [93].
• Chroniclers, [68].
• Classification, primitive, [149].
• Claw necklaces, [85].
• Clay boxes, chests or jars, [19], [145], [146], [147], [148].
• Clay tablets, [32], [148].
• Clog Almanac, [95].
• Coadamite libraries, [25].
• Codexes, [19].
• Collections, [17].
• Collections of mnemonic books, [153].
• Collections of sacred emblems, [127].
• Collections of written records, [140].
• Color symbolism, [162].
• Columbia University, [151].
• Comparative library science, [22].
• Comparative mythology, [26].
• Comparative psychology, [26].
• Confucian books, [69].
• Contracts, [132], [133].
• Copies of necklaces, [106].
• Counting house, [19], [92].
• Creator gods, [27].
• Crete, [84].
• Cries, [10], [60].
• Custom, [22].
• Dances, [73], [74].
• Darius, [93].
• Deaf-mutes, [72].
• Definition of the library, [159].
• Delphis, [33].
• Department records, [143].
• Determinatives, [111].
• Development of ideas, [10].
• Dodona, [33].
• Dog, [35].
• Dramatic representations, [162].
• Draped strings, [148].
• Drum language, [99].
• Earliest librarians, [142].
• Earliest libraries, [142].
• Economic records, [132], [133].
• Eden, [43], [46].
• Education, [3].
• Egypt, [111], [117].
• Egyptian hieroglyphics, [115].
• Egyptian models of tools, [129].
• Egyptian mysteries, [74].
• Egyptian temples, [147].
• Egyptians, [51].
• Elysian fields, [128].
• Engraving, [155], [162].
• Enoch, [43].
• Eudoxus, [125].
• Eve, [46].
• Evolution, [9], [22].
• Evolution of language, [58].
• Face painting, [105].
• Family histories, primitive, [132].
• Featherwork, [86], [162].
• Fetish, [162].
• Fetish collections, [88].
• Fetish objects, [87].
• Fetishes, [89], [132].
• Field of library science, [3].
• Filipino head hunters, [82].
• Financial accounts, [132].
• Finger-print records, [102].
• First fruits, [123], [136].
• Folded documents, [19], [147].
• Folklore, [23].
• Footprints, [101].
• Foretelling, [13].
• Fossils, [103], [106].
• Fox, [34].
• Fox’s brush, [85].
• Genetic, [9].
• Germ of the library, [140].
• Gesture, [58].
• Gesture language, [35], [37], [59], [60], [61], [72], [99].
• Gesture records, [60].
• Gesture signs, [112].
• Gestures, [10], [34].
• Girdles, [148].
• Golden tumors, [124].
• Graves, [132].
• Greek mysteries, [74].
• Greek temple treasuries, [120].
• Hairdressing, [162].
• Ham, [42].
• Hand gesture, [59].
• Handwriting, [36].
• Hanno, [125].
• Haoma, [32].
• Happy hunting grounds, [128].
• Head of cattle, [83].
• Heap of pebbles, [97].
• Heidrun, [30].
• Heraclitus, [125].
• Hermes, [157].
• Hesiod, [125].
• Hieroglyphics, [57], [144].
• Historic libraries, [50].
• Historical method of teaching, [10].
• Homer, [70].
• Horns on altars, [84].
• Horns on men, [84].
• Horses, painted, [109].
• House of wisdom, [28].
• Hunting trophies, [81], [82], [83], [84].
• Hymns, [132].
• Identification mark, [104].
• Ideograms, [55], [99], [114].
• Ideographic records, [114].
• Iduna, [30], [139].
• Image collections, [55], [116].
• Image writing, [56], [103], [109].
• Image, [124].
• Imitation, [34].
• Indians, [72].
• Individual mark, [104].
• Initiation ceremonies, [153].
• Invention of handwriting, [58].
• Inward books, [66], [71].
• Inward handwriting, [66].
• Inward record, [72].
• Inward speech, [66].
• Jackdaw, [34].
• Jars, [32], [146].
• Jewish oral tradition, [70].
• Jewish temple, [120].
• Jewish temple treasuries, [122].
• Juno, [94].
• Keeper of records, [142], [143].
• Keepers of quipus, [153].
• Keepers of the books, [143].
• Kiowa, [108].
• Knife-hilts, [95].
• Knot amulets, [130].
• Knot books, [93].
• Knots, [162].
• Knots for records or reminders, [130].
• Knotted cord, [91].
• Knotted measuring line, [94].
• Koran, [27], [69].
• Kvaser, [30].
• Labels, [134], [149].
• Labrets, [87], [162].
• “Laid up”, [125], [136].
• Land deeds, [134].
• Language of the apes, [34].
• Latest book not always best, [6].
• Lawyer’s green bag, [146].
• Lecturers, [70].
• Leopard’s teeth, [103].
• Leopard’s tooth necklace, [86].
• Libraria, [15].
• Librarians, priests, [144].
• Libraries for paradise, [129].
• Libraries for the dead, [116], [117], [127].
• Libraries of the gods, [25], [27], [32], [160].
• Library, [8], [19].
• Library economy, [155].
• Library research, [156].
• Library school training, [1].
• Library schools, [3], [151].
• Library science, [4], [11].
• Lightning calculators, [98].
• List of arrows, [134].
• Lists of cattle, [134].
• Literary works, [19].
• Liturgical rites, [73].
• Living library, [105].
• Local administrative records, [143].
• Log line, [92].
• Magic spells, [127].
• Magical charm collections, [116].
• Mail pouches, [146].
• Manuscripts, [154].
• Marbles, [98].
• Marks, [106], [135].
• Mathematics, [102].
• Mead, [32].
• Meal “before God”, [137].
• Medical works, [149].
• Medicine bag, [86], [87], [89], [116], [146].
• Medicine man, [68], [142].
• Medicine sack, [89].
• Medicine temple, [92].
• Medicine tent, [92], [132].
• Medicine wigwam, [143].
• Memory, [62].
• Memory libraries, [36], [37], [53], [54], [55], [65].
• Mendelism, [7].
• Message sticks, [54], [91], [95], [132], [153], [146], [162].
• Metal, [19].
• Method, [22].
• Methodology, [24].
• Methods of research, [158].
• Methuselah, [46].
• Mexicans, [94].
• Military records, [143].
• Milk-stones, [101].
• Minerva, [157].
• Minstrels, [70].
• Mnemonic collections, [116].
• Mnemonic fringes, [93], [130].
• Mnemonic libraries, [53], [54], [91].
• Mnemonic objects, [90], [119], [126], [127].
• Mnemonic records, [132].
• Mnemonic writing, [53].
• Models, [121].
• Mongol libraries, [40].
• Monuments, [22].
• Moses, [43].
• Mourning, [162].
• Moving pictures, [100].
• Museums, [79].
• Mythologers, [32].
• Myths, [157].
• Natural image, [103].
• Natural method, [11].
• Natural object images, [101].
• Natural relics, [138].
• Natural stone forms, [107].
• Nautical knot, [94].
• Necklace, [103], [148].
• Nectar, [32].
• New York Public Library, [17].
• New York Public Library school, [3].
• Nick-stick, [95].
• Nisibis, [44].
• Noah, [26], [42], [43].
• North American Indians, [107], [111].
• Notch books, [91], [95].
• Notch records, [95].
• Object abbreviation, [82].
• Object collections, [116], [119].
• Object libraries, [53], [55].
• Object record collection, [88].
• Objects buried with the dead, [118].
• Odin, [27], [29], [30], [31].
• Odrörer, [31].
• Old Testament, [69].
• One book library, [17].
• Onopides, [125].
• Oracles, [33].
• Oral speech, [58].
• Oral verbal tradition, [69].
• Origin of libraries, [133].
• Ornament, [162].
• Ornament a personal record, [129].
• Orphic tablets, [128], [164].
• Ownership mark, [104].
• Painting, [162].
• Palaeography, [152], [154], [157].
• Palermo stone, [63], [134].
• Pantomime, [61], [72].
• Paper, [19].
• Papyrus, [148].
• Papyrus rolls, [32].
• Paradise, [129].
• Parrot, [34].
• Patriarchal libraries, [25].
• Patriarchs, [25].
• Peace, [137].
• Peas, [98].
• Pebble records, [91], [97], [98], [163].
• Pebbles, [147], [148].
• Pentateuch, [69].
• Personal adornment, [87], [132].
• Peruvians, [94].
• Petalian tablets, [128], [129].
• Petroglyphs, [57], [108].
• Philosophizers, [140].
• Phonetic records, [52]-[53], [64], [122].
• Phonetic signs, [112].
• Phonetic writing, [51], [115].
• Phonograms, [55], [99].
• Phonograph, [158].
• Phonographic records, [66].
• Photograph, [158].
• Pictographs, [99], [162].
• Pictorial collections, [116].
• Pictorial image record, [115].
• Pictorial object libraries, [76].
• Pictorial objects, [90], [103].
• Pictorial writing, [56].
• Picture book libraries, [53], [54], [100].
• Picture books, [100].
• Picture library, [113].
• Picture writing, [53], [76], [100], [103], [111], [112], [114], [115].
• Picture writing by successive pictures, [113].
• Pictures, [121].
• Pintadores, [105].
• Plants, [25], [34], [37].
• Playing of children, [98].
• Political archives, [121].
• Pottery marks, [101], [136].
• Pouch, [98], [146], [147].
• Prayer sticks, [162].
• Prayers, [132].
• Preadamite libraries, [25], [39], [40], [160].
• Predynastic libraries, [53].
• Prehistoric libraries, [50], [53], [161].
• Prehistoric period, [50].
• Prehistoric western Europe, [161].
• Prehuman libraries, [25].
• Prephonetic libraries, [53].
• Priest-king, [136].
• Priest librarians, [145].
• Priestly collections, [116].
• Primitive art, [14].
• Primitive libraries, [14], [116], [159].
• Primitive libraries, contents, [132].
• Primitive picture writing, [107].
• Primitive tribes, [161].
• Primitive writing, [132].
• Printed books in the Stone Age, [105].
• Private library, [117].
• Private record collections, [116].
• Prophecy, [12].
• Pseudepigraphic literature of the O. T., [160].
• Psychology of children, [24].
• Public documents, [18].
• Public records, [117].
• Pueblo Indians, [93].
• Purse, [147].
• Quillwork, [162].
• Quipus, [54], [76], [91], [92], [94], [128], [130], [132], [146], [163].
• Race history of man, [9].
• Rebus, [100].
• Receptacles, [145].
• Reciters, [70], [130].
• Record, [35], [60].
• Record by primitive man, [161]-[162].
• Record collections, [36], [138].
• Record keeping, [35], [54], [61].
• Record objects, [120].
• Records of cattle, [134].
• Reflection in water, [106].
• Registry, [19].
• Religious collections, [117].
• Research, [157], [158].
• Robes, painted, [109].
• Rock carvings, [101].
• Rolls, [19], [147].
• Safety deposit, ancient, [120].
• Sample record, [111].
• Scalp belt, [85].
• Scalping, [162].
• Scalps, [82].
• Schoolboy’s bag, [146].
• Schools for library science, [4].
• Schools in ancient India, [153].
• Schools in Babylonia, [153].
• School libraries, ancient, [121].
• Science, [3].
• Score, [95].
• Scribes, [143].
• Scriptoria, [153].
• Sculpture, [103].
• Seals, [101].
• Secret languages, [153].
• Secret libraries, [144].
• Secret writing, [144].
• Secular collections, [116].
• Secular recorders, [149].
• Seshait, [96], [157].
• Seth, [42], [43].
• Shadow, [106].
• Shaman, [119], [143], [149].
• Shelves, ancient, [148].
• Shepherd boys, [98].
• Ship’s figurehead, [101].
• Shrines, [119], [145], [162].
• Sign, [20].
• Sign language, [162].
• Signals, [162].
• Signposts, [108].
• Silhouette, [107].
• Single book library, [21].
• Single cell origins, [9].
• Single word book, [21].
• Sippara, [44].
• Skin calendars, [132].
• Skin marks, [106], [107].
• Solon, [45], [125].
• Soma, [30], [32].
• Sound language, [59].
• Sound records, [61].
• Spoils, [78].
• Stamps, [105].
• Stenography, [81].
• Stone, [19].
• Storeroom, [127].
• Story teller, [67].
• Stringing together of records, [148], [149].
• Study of beginnings, [5].
• Sumerian, [52].
• Sumerian hieroglyphics, [115].
• Sumerian records, [134].
• Sumerians, [51].
• Sunburn, [107].
• Symbol records, [121].
• Symbolic emblems, [129].
• Symbolic processions, [73].
• Tablets, [19], [105], [123].
• Tablets “laid up”, [121].
• Tablets of destiny, [28].
• Tablets of wisdom, [28].
• Tabu, [120], [139], [140].
• Tallies, [91], [95], [96].
• Talmud, [27].
• Tattooing, [104], [105], [162].
• Temple deposits, [119].
• Temple libraries, [142], [144], [149].
• Temple schools, [153].
• Temple treasuries, [120].
• Temples, [142].
• Thank offerings, [122].
• Thoth, [27], [29], [157].
• Tithe-tax, [124].
• Totem poles, [162].
• Totems, [104], [132].
• Tracking of criminals, [102].
• Tracks in clay, [107].
• Trade-mark, [136].
• Trailing, [102].
• Treasuries, [78], [122], [146].
• Tribal feasts, [138].
• Tribal libraries, [144].
• Tribal mark, [104].
• Tribal meal, [137].
• Tribal record collections, [116].
• Tribal recorders, [130].
• Tribal records, [68].
• Tribal story teller, [119].
• Trophy collections, [86].
• Trophy necklaces, [86], [98], [106].
• Trophy objects, [148].
• Trophy records, [103], [133], [136].
• Twig bundles, [98].
• Twig records, [96], [97], [148].
• Ulysses, [94].
• Universe, [8].
• University of librarianship, [155].
• Ushabtiu, [130].
• Vedas, [27], [29], [30], [69].
• Vellum, [19].
• Vishnu, [45].
• Votive collections, [121], [124], [132].
• Votive libraries, [125].
• Votive offerings, [116], [118], [123], [127], [135], [163].
• Wampum, [54], [96], [162].
• Wampum belts, [91], [113].
• War paint, [104], [105].
• War trophies, [81], [84], [123].
• Whole object records, [77], [82].
• Wigwams, [132].
• Wood, [19].
• Wood cases, [147].
• Wooden chests, [145].
• Wooden models, [103].
• Word, [20].
• Writing, [60].
• Writing ape, [36].
• Written tablets, [70].
• Xenocrates, [125].
• Zeus as god of the storeroom, [126], [127].
• Zodiac, [28].

---