SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 325 



on our shelves. I regret to say that, as yet, nothing has been done in 

 that direction. I trust the Academy may find it possible to make an 

 appropriation for this work in the near future. Until such time as the 

 Academy can procure some one to give his entire time to library work, 

 I fear but little progress will be made on the index already begun ; 

 owing to press of other work I have been unable to accomplish any- 

 thing in that direction during the year. 



January 3, 1894. C. E. Harrison, Librarian. 



REPORT OF THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. 



In the first presidential address, read before the Academy in 1869, 

 Dr. C. C. Parry recommended the publication of the proceedings. In 

 every succeeding president's address, especially since the issue of Vol- 

 ume I., in 1876, the sentiment has prevailed that the most important 

 work of the Academy, after original investigations and the writing of 

 papers, was publishing them for the benefit of other scientific societies. 



Volume I. was an unexpected success, and since then the interest in 

 the publication has never flagged, although circumstances at times have 

 almost suspended active work. From that time — the Centennial 

 year — to this — the Columbian year — five volumes have been published, 

 recording a most interesting story of struggles and triumphs over dif- 

 ficulties, of an enterprise wholly dependent upon the unselfish devo- 

 tion of a few; supported by subscriptions to volumes, "by entertain- 

 ments and donations. The Publication Committee has seldom had a 

 printer's bill presented without funds provided for paying it. 



The most important event in the history of the publication this year 

 is the completion and distribution of Volume V. This labor of dis- 

 tribution, no light task, was performed by Dr. W. H. Harris, occupy- 

 ing a month of arduous work. 



Volume V. contains 370 pages, forty-seven wood cuts and illustra- 

 tions and a portrait of the late Professor D. S. Sheldon ; also an index 

 of the entire publication — Volumes I.-V., prepared by J. W. Mc- 

 Gee, chief of the United States Ethnological Department, Washington, 

 D. C. 



This work of Prof. McGee was a gratuitous donation to the Acad- 

 emy. The clerical work alone, which he has done, is worth $350.00, 

 which is his donation to the enterprise. The index covers eighty- 

 nine pages and is complete in all its details, gotten up on methods 

 original with Prof. McGee, and much commended by all who have 

 examined it. 



Volume V. has been distributed to all scientific societies, both home 

 and foreign, the latter through the courtesy of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, which kindly attends to sending the Academv Proceedings, if 

 properly addressed, to various foreign societies. 



We have already received many acknowledgements from all over the 



[Proo. D. a. N. S., Vol. VI.] 41 [February 9, 1897.] 



