volumes, 1671-93; Dapper's Histories of China, Arabia, Palestine, etc., copperplate engravings, 5 vols., folio, 1672-78; works of Josephus, copperplate engravings, folio, Amsterdam, 1772; Hubner's Geslacht Tafelen, in 4 oblong folio volumes, a valuable work on the genealogy of royal and distinguished families of Europe, Leyden, 1722; De Larrey's History of England, 4 folio volumes, 1728; Verklaring der H. Scrift (a Biblical commentary), 8 volumes folio, Amsterdam, 1743; Hedendaagsche Histories, 37 vols. 8vo., Amsterdam, 1761; Encyclopedia or Dictionarie Universal Raisonée, 58 vols. quarto, Yverden, 1772; Linnaeus Natural History, 37 vols. 8vo., Amsterdam, 1781; Groot Placart Booke, 9 vols. folio, Amsterdam, 1657-1796." Mrs. Tank has added to this really magnificent gift, the bequest to our art gallery of her collection of sixty-five engravings and paintings, which were received from the executors of the estate in July last. The greater part of these have been re-framed, and are now on exhibition in the gallery, under the name of "The Tank Collection." The following are the titles of the several pieces: quarrel (Ferdinand de Braekeleer, 1792-1883). Original in Tippenhuis, Amsterdam,-Copy by Mrs. Tank. Mme. Van der Meulen, mother of Family A study. The night school (Gerard Dou, 1613- Painted in Dresden, 1821. len's church in Amsterdam. Peasant girl.-Mrs. Tank. Musical family. Mother and child.-Mrs. Tank. Man reading. Lady in cloak. - Mrs. Kiers. Mother and children.—Mrs. Tank. Tank. Going into the cellar.-Copy by Mrs. Lace worker. Woman cleaning fish. Three children. Mrs Tank. Madonna. Copy by Miss Van der Woman and children. A woman. A church interior. A lady. Asking a blessing.-Mrs. Tank. The four stages of life. Miss H. Little girl and dogs. - Mrs. Kiers. During the present year, the library of the Society has been enriched by a noble gift from its president, the Hon. John Johnston, of Milwaukee, who has in this as in many other directions, proven his hearty interest in our institution and its work. When the corresponding secretary went to Europe, last spring, President Johnston gave him instructions to select $500 worth of books, to be paid for by the latter and presented by him as a gift to the library. The secretary finally selected the following rare and important works, with Mr. Johnston's approval, and they are now the property of the Society: "Monuments of Mexican Art, Antiquities, Ornamentation, Mythology and Tributes." This is a literary and artistic enterprise, edited by Dr. Antonio Penafiel, a famous Mexican scholar, under the direction of President Diaz. It was printed for the Mexican government in Berlin, Germany, by the well-known art publishers, Ascher & Co. The edition was small, being intended only for the Mexican government library, a few extra copies being printed for sale to leading libraries in America and Europe. It consists of three mammoth folio volumes, two of them devoted to plates and one to letter-press description. The lithography is of the best, the pictures being accurate representations of the originals, and in all respects the volumes are of the most sumptuous character. This work alone cost Mr. Johnston $265. "Hasted's History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent." This is a magnificent work, few copies being in public libraries, the small edition having been printed for subscribers only. It bears date 1799, and consists of four folio volumes. "Stow's and Strype's Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster and the Borough of Southwark." This monumental work was first written in 1598, by John Stow. In 1720 it was reprinted, being greatly enlarged and improved by John Strype. It was brought down with improvements, by other hands, to the year 1755, the date of this, the best edition. The work is in two large folio volumes, and, as with all the other books in the Johnston gift, abounds in engravings. "Blore's History and Antiquities of the County of Rutland" (England). A large folio, rare edition and beautifully printed, bearing date 1811. "Smith's New History of Aberdeenshire" (Scotland), two volumes quarto, dated 1875. A standard work on Mr. Johnston's native shire. "Hulbert's History and Antiquities of Shrewsbury," also the "History and Description of the County of Salop" (England), two volumes folio, dated 1837. The standard book on this important district, so rich in antiquities. "Croston's County Families of Lancashire and Cheshire" (England), a quarto volume, dated 1887. The work, like all of the English county histories, of which the Society has one of the two or three large collections in the United States, is very valuable for purposes of genealogical research. The above volumes are exceedingly valuable additions to the Society's library, and the possession of them will serve still further to enhance its reputation among scholars the country over. The Society owes to President Johnston a most cordial vote of thanks for his liberal and appropriate gift. THE SECRETARY IN EUROPE. The corresponding secretary spent the past summer in Europe, under leave of absence from the committee. He devoted much time in professional visits under most favorable conditions, to the chief libraries, galleries and museums in the United Kingdom and several continental countries, with a view to acquiring practical information for use in the conduct of these several branches of our own work. If we are to keep step with the times, it behooves us to bring to bear upon the management of our institution the knowledge of what is best elsewhere, endeavoring as far as possible to emulate or to adapt to our own needs whatever is found worthy of our adoption. ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. Owing to the fact that the annual conference of the American Library Association was this year held in San Francisco, it was, on account of the expense that would be entailed, thought not best to send a representative to the meeting. The meeting in 1892 is to be in Chicago, and we may appropriately be represented at the coming conference by one or more of our force. Much practical good comes out of these annual gatherings of American library experts, and all return to their desks with freshened zeal. It is eminently proper, also, that the society be represented at the annual meetings of the American Historical Association, which are held either in Washington or Baltimore during the winter holidays. Heretofore, the time of our annual meeting has made it impossible for the corresponding secretary to be present at these helpful conferences, in which other societies throughout the country have freely participated. One of the reasons for changing the date of our meetings from January to December, a year ago, was to facilitate this representation. PUBLICATIONS. Vol. XII. of the Wisconsin Historical Collections, edited by the corresponding secretary, will issue from the press during the coming year. Much of the material is in readi ness for the printer. We feel confident that the volume will be at least equal in interest to its predecessor. A new edition of the triennial catalogue of the portrait gallery will be published in 1892, and will exhibit a healthy growth of this department during the three years past. WORK IN THE LIBRARY. In no department of the Society's work have more efficient labors been performed, more fidelity been displayed, than in the conduct of library details. The public at large has but slight knowledge of the assiduity necessary to success in this field of labor, or the degree of technical skill required. It is necessarily a work behind the scenes, receiving but little popular attention; but it is none the less important and worthy of our cordial recognition. Within the past five years our library management has been completely revolutionized. The old-fashioned methods of a third of a century ago have been abandoned for those in vogue in the best American reference libraries of our day. Within a dozen years past librarianship in the United States has developed into a profession, with training schools and technical journals, infused with an eager spirit of inquiry and progress. Our institution, long lagging in this forward movement, has finally, we hope, caught up with its fellows. There has been little stir outside the walls of our library about this change, while it has been going on. It has been a quiet, though persistent progress. The librarian and his first assistant, together with the force of workers under them, have throughout been in hearty sympathy with the reform and have energetically wrought its accomplishment. At the close of these five years of patient toil, with the new methods at last fully established, it is proper to call attention to their earnest labors and award them their due measure of praise. Satisfactory progress has been made in our dictionary card-catalogue. The author index, work on which is proceeding backwards, through the published volumes of the general catalogue, has reached the middle of Vol. 1V. The subject catalogue now covers all the accessions since the |