Beside these public lectures, Prof Dziatzko gives once a week a bibliographical seminar for a smaller circle. The majority of the members of this seminar are the library volunteers who naturally are more numerous in Göttingen than at other Prussian university libraries. If it is true of the public lectures that valuable results are gained only by real co-operation of the students, these seminars directly demand independent work of the members. A considerable part, in fact half of the allotted time, is given to description of incunabula according to the rules formulated by Prof. Dziatzko and published in no. 10 of his "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten." Apart from the importance of incunabula for the history of printing, they are particularly suited to bring out questions of various kinds relating to bibliography and librarianship. The remaining seminar hours are given up to reviews and papers by the members. In most cases the subjects are selected at the suggestion of Prof. Dziatzko, but it is preferred that the members should select their own topics. The papers deal with the most varied subjects: questions of a purely practical nature alternate with scientific and historical investigations of bibliographical topics. (Several of these papers have afterwards been prepared for publication in Prof. Dziatzko's "Sammlung bibliothekswissenschaftlicher Arbeiten.") The papers are followed by judicious criticism by Prof. Dziatzko and discussion by the members of the seminar. Whatever time is left is devoted to reading of old manuscripts, exhibition of bibliographical rarities and curiosities, important new publications, etc.
In connection with the palæographical studies just mentioned it should be noted that a special seminar in palæography, given by another professor, Dr. Wilhelm Meyer, is attended by many as a supplement to their bibliographical studies.
A. S. Root, librarian of Oberlin College, supplemented this letter with a description of his work with Dr. Dziatzko, stating that the real strength and power of the work consisted in the bibliographical seminar and the work with incunabula. In this work each student has assigned to him the work of a special city or a special press. He studies the books, catalogs them, and submits his work to Prof. Dziatzko for review. These papers are then discussed by the members of the seminar and sharply criticised by Prof. Dziatzko. The new literature of bibliography added to the library is periodically examined and discussed by the class.
G. W. Harris, librarian of Cornell University, gave in outline, the substance of a course of 15 lectures on bibliography, delivered one each week during a half year at Cornell. The nature of these lectures is general because in each department more or less stress is based on the use of special bibliographies, and each thesis for an advanced degree at Cornell must be accompanied by a satisfactory bibliography of the subject treated. The large collection of early imprints representing many of the different presses affords excellent opportunity to inspect and study examples of early printing. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that work in the bibliography of special subjects should be given by the heads of the departments concerned. Mr. Harris gave the following
SYNOPSIS OF LECTURES ON BIBLIOGRAPHY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY.
LECTURE.
| I. | Definition—Advantages of knowledge of bibliography; Range of bibliography; Antiquity of books. Ancient materials—Clay tablets of Assyria, Assyrian libraries—Palm leaf books of India—Birch bark books of Cashmere—Maya books and mss. |
| II. | Papyrus and its importance, preparation, grades, roll form of books—Papyrus mss. and Egyptian literature. |
| III. | Papyrus paper among Greeks and Romans—Methods of bookmaking and publishing in Greece and Rome. Writing instruments and inks—Mss. of Herculaneum—Public libraries of the ancients—Alexandrian and Roman libraries. |
| IV. | Wax tablets of the Romans—Introduction of parchment—Change from roll form to square form of books—Results of this change—Palimpsests. |
| V. | Latin palæography and various styles—Bookmaking in the Middle Ages—Schools of calligraphy—Scriptorium and its rules—Colophons—Monastic libraries. |
| VI. | Secular scribes of Middle Ages; Gilds. Art of illumination with examples of illuminated mss.—Changes resulting from introduction of paper—Cotton vs. linen paper—Block printing in China and Europe—Block books. |
| VII. | Invention of printing—Career of Gutenberg—Earliest printed books—Spread of the art in Germany, Italy, France, England—Printing in America. |
| VIII. | Incunabula—Characteristics—Types, abbreviations, signatures, colophons with examples. |
| IX. | Technical terms for sizes of books—Confusion of size and form—Signatures, water-marks, size notation. |
| X. | Bindings of books—Historical sketch—Processes of book binding—Examples. |
| XI. | Rare books—Fashions in books—Famous presses—Famous editions. |
| XII. | Illustrated books—Methods of illustration—Manuals for collectors. |
| XIII. | Classification of books in libraries; various systems briefly described, with examples. |
| XIV. | Catalogs and cataloging; various kinds of catalogs briefly described, with examples. |
| XV. | Aids in use of the library—Reference lists—Bibliographies, national and special, with examples. |
Prof. Charles H. Haskins, professor of European history in the University of Wisconsin, presented an outline of his
COURSE IN HISTORICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN.
My standpoint is that of the user, not the custodian, of books, and of the user of historical books in particular. There is no branch of knowledge more dependent upon bibliography than is history. The natural sciences, for example, get their bibliographies through current journals and their original materials in the laboratory, while the student of history must not only cover current literature thoroughly but is entirely dependent upon bibliographies to guide him to the primary sources of his subject of study. There is not as yet enough definite instruction in historical bibliography offered in American universities; indeed, there is some vagueness as to just what historical bibliography is. In the work at Wisconsin the course is divided into two broad sections. The first half of the course is taken up with a general account of the manuscript and printed collections of historical material in Europe and America. The second half begins with a description of the bibliographical tools which all students alike use, the national bibliographies, and the trade bibliographies of all the important countries, and goes on to consider the bibliographical materials peculiar to history and of prime importance only to the historical student. In this connection especial stress is laid upon the historical periodicals. The aim throughout the whole course is to indicate the nature and the range of historical material, where it is to be found, what and where are the sources, so that the student will come to know what he wants and where to find it. The course is given one hour each week through a half year and is taken entirely by graduate students. The registration is usually from 8 to 12. The work in the lectures is supplemented by many references to articles and books. In the latter part of the course the "Manuel de bibliographie historique" of Langlois is used as a text in the hands of the students. The second edition of this book, which is just out, forms an exceedingly satisfactory book for this purpose, and is supplemented by informal comment and mention of additional material. In this admirable little volume nothing of importance is omitted and very little indeed which is unimportant is included. Very much is made of the actual handling of the books by the students. No regular system of practical exercises in connection with this course has yet been worked out, but progress is being made in this direction. The object is primarily to impress students with the importance of the use of bibliographical tools. Considerable practice in the use of bibliographies is also given in all the advanced courses in history.