176 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



performed as chairnmn of a committee appointed by the Board and 

 by the American Historical Association to draw up a comprehensive 

 report upon the effects of the war on historical instruction in the 

 schools of the United States, and to recommend such changes in the 

 system as might adapt it better to the altered conditions which the 

 war has brought upon the country in both external and internal re- 

 lations. Dr. Schafer had for several months the helpful assistance of 

 Miss Edith M. Stewart. 



Another member of the Board, Dr. Victor S. Clark, formerly of the 

 Department of Economics and Sociology in the Carnegie Institution of 

 Washington, was constantly occupied from November to July with a 

 special and highly important division of the Board's work, and thus 

 was closely associated with the staff of this Department. 



As in previous years, acknowledgment is cordially made of the 

 favors constantly shown to the Department, with the greatest liber- 

 ality, by the officials of the Library of Congress, and especially by 

 Dr. Herbert Putnam, the Librarian, by Mr. A. P. C. Grifhn, acting 

 librarian, by Mr. Charles Moore, acting chief of the Manuscripts 

 Division, and by Mr. P. Lee Phillips, chief of the ]\Iap Division. 

 Grateful recognition is also made of special courtesies extended by the 

 authorities of the libraries of Harvard University and of Bowdoin 

 College, especially during the summer months, to several members of 

 the staff, of the great kindness shown by the South Carolina Historical 

 Society and its librarian, Miss Mabel L. Webber, to Miss Donnan, and 

 of that shown by the New York Public Library and the Public Archives 

 of Canada in facilitating the work of Mrs. Surrey. 



WORK OF THE PAST YEAR. 



REPORTS. AIDS, AND GUIDES. 



As has been indicated by preceding reports, a large part of the work 

 of the Department has consisted in the gradual preparation and issue 

 of a series of guides to the materials for American history preserved 

 in the archives of foreign countries. The series was approaching 

 completion when the war broke out. In times of warfare its continu- 

 ance was surrounded by so many difficulties that attempts to go on 

 with it were deemed inexpedient. Many of the same obstacles still 

 exist, but it was thought possible in April to undertake archival 

 investigations in the neutral territory of the Netherlands. Mr. A. J. 

 F. van Laer, archivist of the State of New York, and the person whom 

 the general judgment of scholars would pronounce the best qualified 

 for the purpose, was able to secure three or four months' leave of 

 absence from his post at Albany, through the kindness of the regents 

 of the LTniversity of the State of New York. He was accordingly 

 invited to undertake for the Department the preparation of a guide 



