AN INDEX TO THE BULLETIN OF ATLANTA UNIVERSITY FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY, 1901 THROUGH DECEMBER, 1903 A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ATLANTA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LIBRARY SERVICE BY RUTH LeFLORE WARD SCHOOL OF LIBRARY SERVICE ATLANTA, GEORGIA AUGUST 1963 4, J 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 Purpose and Scope Methodology II. INDEX S BIBLIOGRAPHY 40 ii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION An index, as defined in the American Library Association's Glossary of Terms, is "a list of topics, names, et cetera, treated in a book or a group of books, with references to pages where they occur." Robert Collison said: The indexing of periodicals is based on the same principles as those for the indexing of books, but it involves a stricter discipline, a wider knowledge of unswerving consistency. ...An index to perioci- cals is however an operation carried out over a long period ... and it covers a greater amount and variety of material, generally speaking. Continuative indexing means that the principles on which the index is compiled in one month must be strictly followed in all further installments if the reader is to discover quickly and easily all the material on his subject.2 At the time of the first publication of the Bulletin of Atlanta 3 University in June, 1883, the University itself had been in existence for fourteen years. The Bulletin was a link which provided reports on the progress of the University as well as progress of the South in general. It was hoped that friends and graduates would become more interested in the University and thereby begin to make much needed 1 American Library Association, ALA Glossary of Library Terms (Chicago: American Library Association, 1943), p. 72. 2 Robert Collison, Indexes and Indexing (New York: John de Graff, 1953), p. 105. 3 The Bulletin of Atlanta University (June, 1883). contributions toward improvement and progress of the institution. From 1883 to 1888, only four issues of the Bulletin had been pub lished, but beginning in January, 1889, the Bulletin appeared monthly. The format varied from issue to issue, though attempts were made to es tablish a set pattern for certain periods of time. The contents of this publication provided articles, letters, sermons, names of visitors and contributors, addresses, news of the faculty and graduates, and other items of interest. In the late 1800's the Bulletin was published in a form consisting of four pages (9 inches by 12 inches in size) of informa tion, except the June, 1902 issue, which contained a very lengthy Baccalaureate Sermon. The June issues sometimes varied from others in format and number of pages. Each issue of the Bulletin was assigned a volume number and each page was divided into three columns. The year 1901 marked the thirty-second year of existence for Atlanta University and the eighteenth year of publication of the Bulletin. For the period January, 1901 through June, 1902, each first page contained an article entitled "Atlanta University," which was usually found in column one. This article followed a set pattern for wording: the reader received information about the University as to its location, enrollment, plant, and control. After June, 1902, some of this information, but more detailed, was carried on page four, where the article was entitled "Work of Atlanta University." For the period October, 1902 through March, 1903, page one featured in column one an article entitled "Suggestions." These _ Melzetta P. Laws, "An Index to the Bulletin of Atlanta University for the Period January 1897 through December 1900" (unpublished Master's Thesis, School of Library Service, Atlanta University, 1962), p. 5. 3 suggestions provided bits of information about many things of a general nature, such as Negro education, general quotes from famous writers, and statistics on employment of college graduates. From April, 1903 through December, 1903, this column varied. The second column for page one usually featured "Campus News" and column three usually featured "News of Graduates" until the Commence ment issue of 1902. After this time, the pattern changed and the "Campus News" column seemed to have no definite location. Each May issue presented the features for the coming commencement week. Until June, 1902 each issue listed, on the last page, donations made to the University during the preceding month. After this date no individual donations were listed; only the total amount of "Permanent Funds" was given. Following this were listed the "Needs" of the Uni versity. Purpose and Scope The purpose of this study is to provide an index to the Bulletin of Atlanta University for the period January, 1901 through December, 1903 as an alphabetical guide to specific items that appear in these issues. Since this is a source of detailed information about the Uni versity's activities and progress, the index will represent an attempt to make the contents of the Bulletin more accessible. This index covers 27 issues of the Bulletin and lists entries by author, title, and subject. This thesis is added to the other theses previously presented, or now in preparation, by students in the School of Library Service at Atlanta University. One thesis provides an index which covers the period June, 1883 through December, 1891, by Sylvia Harris; another provides an index which covers the period January, 1892 through December, 2 1896, by Dorothy Thompson. A third study provides an index which covers o the period January, 1897 through December, 1900, by Melzetta P. Laws. One other thesis, now in progress, will provide an index to cover the period January, 1904 through December, 1907, by Rosemary T. Simmons. It is hoped that this thesis, covering the period January, 1901 through December, 1903, will provide an additional guide to information about the University as found in the Bulletin of Atlanta University. Methodology The preparation of this index involved a first reading of each article in the Bulletin, and noting on cards the appropriate author and title entries for each article. A second reading of each article was necessary in order to assign a general subject entry which seemed best to describe the material covered in the specific article. As a result, entries are arranged alphabetically by author, title, and subject. There are some exceptions used in listing articles of a more general nature under other headings. Many outstanding personalities are mentioned in the Bulletin for speeches, addresses, or sermons which they have delivered. These speeches and addresses may be found listed Sylvia Harris, "An Index to the Bulletin of Atlanta University for the Period June,1883 Through December, 1891" (unpublished Master's Thesis, School of Library Service, Atlanta University, 1962). 2 Dorothy Thompson, "An Index to the Bulletin of Atlanta University for the Period January, 1892 Through December 1896" (unpublished Master's Thesis, School of Library Service, Atlanta University, 1963). 3 Laws, op_. cit. 5 alphabetically by the name of the person who delivered the speech or address under the heading ADDRESSES. These persons are again listed under the type of occasion, such as COMMENCEMENT, wherever possible. Sermons are listed alphabetically by the name of the person who delivered the sermon, and under the type of occasion, such as BACCALAUREATE. All of these persons who presented the addresses, speeches, and sermons are also found listed by surnames and by title in their proper alphabetical position. Throughout the Bulletin, faculty members are mentioned or named. These names appear only under the heading FACULTY, alphabetically listed by last names. There are instances where a faculty member is noted for some special contribution, such as writing an article or making an address. In these cases, that faculty member is also listed by the sur name in the alphabetical listing in the Index, and the article is listed by title and by subject, wherever possible. The Bulletin mentions deaths of faculty members, students, graduates, and friends. These names are listed alphabetically under the heading OBITUARIES, and will not be found elsewhere in the Index. All articles that pertain to the subject SPORTS are listed under that heading by the name of the particular sport, such as football or baseball. These articles are alphabetically listed by the type of sport, and will not be found elsewhere in the Index. Many articles appear on the then existing conditions in Negro schools. The articles that list or mention statistics on schools are found under the heading SCHOOLS — STATISTICS, and are listed alphabet ically by author. In instances where there is no author assigned, the articles fall into the alphabetical listing by title. 6 Recognition is given to worthy persons for their contributions in the fields of art, music, teaching, and writing. These articles are alphabetically listed by the name of the person recognized for his con tribution under the heading TRIBUTES. These articles are also listed by the name of the individual to whom the tribute is made in the proper alphabetical listings in the Index. Names of trustees are mentioned for specific reasons in the Bulletin. These names appear in the Index, alphabetically arranged, under the heading TRUSTEES. It was also customary for the Bulletin to list prominent visitors to the University. Since they are too numerous to list separately, they are alphabetically listed under the heading VISITORS, and will not be found elsewhere in the Index. Each page of the Bulletin consists of three columns, which have been assigned the letters a., b} £. All entries are recorded by volume number, page and column letter, and the date. Use was made of the following sources for indexing techniques: Collison, Indexes and Indexing, which provided principles for indexing o periodicals; Walsh, the Indexing of Books and Periodicals, which also served as a guide for the indexing of periodicals; Harris, "An Index to the Bulletin of Atlanta University for the Period June, 1883 Through 3 December, 1891," and Laws, "An Index to the Bulletin of Atlanta 1 Collison, ojj.