Catalogue of the Wheeler Gift of EDITED BY WILLIAM D. WEAVER WITH INTRODUCTION, DESCRIPTIVE AND CRITICAL NOTES BY BROTHER POTAMIAN, Sc. D., Lond. NEW YORK: AMERICAN INSTITUTE DEED OF GIFT TO THE COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN IN- It is my privilege to be able to announce the completion of negotiations by which I have become the possessor of the very remarkable collection of electrical books of the late Mr. Latimer Clark of London. My object in securing the collection was to present the books to our Institute and make it the custodian of the most complete electrical Library in the world, as well as to stimulate such interest that the Institute may in time own a permanent home in New York. The assurance received from those who have cooperated with me in this undertaking, that the collection is very complete and includes practically every known publication in the English language previous to 1886, on magnetism, electricity, galvanism, the lodestone, mariner's compass, etc., have been more than verified by my own examination of the books since their arrival in this country. There are among its 7,000 titles many books which are not to be found in either of the famous libraries with which it has been compared, and I find that there are even some of the very earliest examples of printing. I have always been a strong believer in the principle that every professional man is under obligation to contribute in some way to the welfare of the profession in which he is engaged, and in obedience to this idea I now desire to present 224068 this Library to you complete, reserving to myself only the photographs, autographs, and such duplicate books as I may add to my own collection without detracting from the completeness of the Library. As an early contributor to the Institute and one of the original members of its Building Committee, I am interested in securing for it permanent headquarters and adding to its importance, dignity and strength. It is my desire that the Institute accept the Library and through its Library Committee and a suitable Librarian administer it in such a way as to make it generally useful, and I hope that the possession of these books will add to the Institute's prestige. I am inclined not to suggest rules for the management of the Library, believing that those who are in charge from time to time are in the best position to know what is desirable, but in order to fix its general character, and secure its permanence, I condition the gift upon the acceptance by the Institute of the following provisions: First.-The Library to be kept insured against loss by fire as fully as it may be practicable to determine its value, and an annual appropriation of $1,500 to be provided for its maintenance. Second. A complete catalogue raisonné to be published in the name of the Institute, reciting the conditions of gift and explaining the features of interest of each book for the convenience and information of members. This catalogue to be prepared at once and a bound copy of it to be placed in the hands of each member of the Institute. Third.-The Library to be in charge and control of a Library Board or Committee made up of members of the 1 |