old and new), Iowa State Drainage, Conservation and Waterways Commission, Records of Custodian of Public Buildings, etc. It is imperative to provide for the expansion of the Hall of Public Archives. The rooms assigned for that purpose are filled to their capacity. All filing cases are filled and we are now using storage cases for filing purposes. A detail report, a manual or guide to the public archives of Iowa is greatly needed and should be published. Nothing of this character has been published since the work was transferred to the Executive Council and as Iowa is one of the pioneers in this kind of work; frequent requests are received for reports on the subject. These requests come from Libraries, National Archives Commission, and from Archives Departments in other States, the last request being from the National Archives Department of Cuba. These requests I have supplied in the past as best I could by sending typewritten synopses, explanatory letters, and copies of the ANNALS OF IOWA, which contain articles on the subject of "Public Archives of Iowa." In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Executive Council and your Secretary for the interest, encouragement and support you have given the work. In the beginning, as you are aware, the subject of public archives was not generally understood, hence, unappreciated, and at times the appropriations were totally inadequate. No persons trained for this particular line of work could be secured, because there were none, but through all these discouragements you have always done the best that could be done under the circumstances and have carried the work on until, at the present, you have the satisfaction of knowing that in the work of public archives in the United States, Iowa stands well in the front rank with other states and that the work is rapidly becoming more appreciated. Each of the former faithful employees should be given full credit for their part in the building up of the department. I have at all times fully appreciated the great responsibility placed upon me and have endeavored to give to the work all my time and the best thought of which I am capable. Respectfully submitted, C. C. STILES, Supt. of Classification and Arrangement. |