DEPARTMENT OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH. 167 



PLANS FOR 19i5. 

 REPORTS. AIDS. AND GUIDES. 



The first work of the Department in the year beginning November 1, 

 1914, should be the final preparation of two books for print. The first 

 of these will be the Guide to the materials for American history in 

 Swiss and Austrian archives, consisting of Mr. Faust's report, supple- 

 mented by the materials derived by the Director from the archives of 

 the French cantons of Switzerland. The second will be Mr. Hill's 

 Descriptive Catalogue of the papers concerning United States history 

 in the "Papeles de Cuba" of the Archives of the Indies. Dr. Phil- 

 brick's report, representing thus far only a fragment of the total results 

 to be obtained from the Audiencia de Santo Domingo, must wait for 

 its completion by later researches; but the making of prints from the 

 series of photographic negatives obtained by him, in the Cuban or 

 Louisiana section, can be undertaken in Paris after the conclusion of 

 hostilities, or perhaps before. 



Mr. Leland, so long as he is detained in Washington, can work over 

 the materials which he has collected, and when the cessation of warfare 

 makes it possible will repair once more to Paris to complete his collec- 

 tion of data. The Department desires, during the year 1915, to carry 

 forward one or the other, as circumstances may make expedient, of 

 two European undertakings, the beginnings of which have been de- 

 scribed in a preceding paragraph. The first lies in the Archives of the 

 Indies at Seville. While Dr. Philbrick accomplished all that could be 

 accomplished in a summer's campaign, the results show that, in so 

 brief a period of residence, much time is lost in renewing preliminary 

 arrangements and organizing and training the small clerical staff which 

 is requisite, insomuch that one is forced to the conclusion that expedi- 

 tions to Seville of so brief a duration are not expedient if longer periods 

 of service can be secured. It is not possible for Dr. Philbrick to con- 

 template a longer period, in any given year, and it may not be possible 

 for Mr. Hill. However, if he, or any agent possessing competence at 

 all approaching his, can be engaged to go to Seville in September 1915, 

 with a view to continuance during nine months or a year, the Depart- 

 ment would wish that the completion of Dr. Philbrick's calendar of 

 papers relating to United States history in the Audiencia de Santo 

 Domingo should be then undertaken. It is also desirable to bring to 

 completion Professor Hull's examination of the Dutch archives, unfor- 

 tunately interrupted last summer by the approach of war. 



It is hoped that, with more assistance available for the task than 

 hitherto, including during the first month of the year the valuable 

 services of Professor Whitbeck, our labors on the Atlas of the Historical 

 Geography of the United States may during the year be advanced 

 under Dr. Paullin's direction through or into several other sections of 

 the proposed work. 



