uscripts. Among
these older ones may be mentioned an "Evangelistarium, sive Lectiones ex
Evangeliis," a French-Carlovingian manuscript on 200 vellum leaves, date
about 870 A. D. Another manuscript of special note is the work of Giulio
Clovio, his "Christi Vita ab Evangelistis descripta," sometimes called
"The Towneley Lectionary." It was made for Alexander, Cardinal Farnese,
and was presented by him to Pope Paul III.

[Illustration: ONE OF THE SPECIAL READING ROOMS

(GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY)]

The collection of American historical manuscripts ranks as one of the
best in the United States. Here, for example, is the original manuscript
of Washington's "Farewell Address," a copy of the Declaration of
Independence in Jefferson's autograph, and many other letters and
original sources for research. Lists of the principal manuscripts have
been printed in the Bulletin of The New York Public Library (Volume 5,
page 306-336, and volume 19, page 135-162).

=Music Division.= Turning to the west, the corridor along the 42nd Street
side of the building leads to the Music Division (No. 324), which opens
from the north side of the corridor. It is open week days from 9 a. m.
to 6 p. m. The resources of the Division number about twenty-two
thousand volumes and pieces of music.

A tablet at the north end of the room bears this inscription:

DREXEL MUSICAL LIBRARY.
THE LEGACY OF JOSEPH W. DREXEL 1888.

On the east wall is a tablet reading as follows:

IN MEMORY OF
1855 JULIAN EDWARDS 1910
WHOSE COLLECTION OF MUSIC SCORES
AND BOOKS WAS GIVEN TO THIS LIBRARY

BASEMENT

The basement contains three rooms of public interest. The entrance from
42nd Street is the most convenient way to reach these rooms from the
outside of the building, but a visitor on one of the upper floors should
take the elevator or the staircase, both near the north end of the
building.

[Illustration: CENTRAL CIRCULATION ROOM]

=Newspaper Room.= In the Newspaper Room (No. 84) about sixty daily
newspapers are on racks for free use, without the need of any
application. About twenty-five foreign newspapers are obtainable upon
application at the desk. A bulletin board at the right of the entrance
gives full information about these and other resources of the Newspaper
Room.

On the western side of the entrance corridor, near the door of the
Circulating Library, is a bronze tablet with the following inscription:

[Seal of The New