The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 458

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

A Guide to the Manuscript Collection of the Bancroft Library.
Edited by Dale L. Morgan and George P. Hammond. Berke-
ley and Los Angeles (University of California Press), 1963.
Pp. vii+,379. Index. $15.00.
Historians, archivists, manuscript curators, and countless others
interested in the history of the American West will applaud the
appearance of this first element of the several volumes projected
for the comprehensive guide to the manuscript materials in the
Bancroft Library of the University of California. From initial
planning through final execution, the production of this key to
the treasure house of the Bancroft's Pacific and western manu-
scripts (excluding California) has proceeded within the context
of high standards of excellence, and the end result-Volume I-
clearly deserves the general acclamation it will receive.
All of the persons responsible for this publication are, of
course, well known to the predominantly Texan readers of the
Southwestern Historical Quarterly. One name, however, strikes
a note of special recognition-that of Donald Coney, librarian
of the University of California, who made many fine contribu-
tions as librarian of the University of Texas between 1932 and
1945 before accepting his appointment on the Pacific Coast. It
is not surprising to Texans who are familiar with the achieve-
ments of the Coney administration in the realm of developing
historical materials in the University of Texas Library that the
genesis of the Bancroft guide occurred under his leadership
in 1946.
Immediate responsibility for the development of the Bancroft
guide fell to George P. Hammond, director of the Bancroft
Library and professor of history in the University of California.
Assisted by Roscoe R. Hill of the National Archives, Professor
Hammond chartered the course for the monumental undertak-
ing in 1946. In 1954, a fourth major name was added to the
list of primary contributors when Dale L. Morgan joined the
Bancroft staff and was appointed to direct the guide project.
To all of these men, and to the many men and women who
worked with them, students of the American West will long owe
a large debt of gratitude.

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