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American Historical Association 487 ties, and Dr. J. F. Jameson in response to inquiry gave some in- formation as to such bibliographical work as is tmdertaken by the Department of Historical Research in the Carnegie Institution. The need of a bibliography of American colonial newspapers was con- sidered by Mr. Clarence S. Brigham, librarian of the Rhode Island Historical Society, in a formal paper, and in remarks by ]Ir. William Nelson of the New Jersey Historical Society, Mr. Victor H. Paltsits of the Lenox Library, and others. A committee was appointed to consider the proper mode of description of such files. Another body of source-material of much interest to students of American his- tory was brought under discussion by ^Ir. Theodore L. Cole of Washington, who described the plans of the Association of Ameri- can Law Schools for preparing by united effort a catalogue of printed issues of American colonial laws. A committee to con- sider co-operation on the part of the Bibliographical Society of America was appointed. At a later session the society took up the subject of an international catalogue of the current literature of the social sciences, including history. On the afternoon of Thursday the American Historical Associa- tion held a joint session with the New England History Teachers' Association, devoted to the consideration of a report prepared by the Committee of Eight on History in Elementary Schools. The conference was presided over by Professor James A. James of Northwestern L^niversity, chairman of that committee. The por- tion of the report presented on this occasion was that which dealt with history in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades of the ele- mentary schools. Professor James spoke of the methods used in reaching the conclusions, and of the purpose of the committee in its work. The committee desired to re-assert their belief that the subject-matter for a course in the elementary schools and especially for the last three grades should be selected from the field of Ameri- can history. In the sixth grade it is recommended that attention be devoted to the beginnings of American history in England and in Europe at large, with a view to showing the historical dependence of American history and institutions upon the Old World ; in the seventh grade should be studied the discovery, exploration and colonial history of America, while the last year should be given over to the history of the L^nited States. The teacher's main task should be to give an historical representation of our national life, rather than to recount the events which have happened in America since the first discovery. He should aim mainly to teach the child what his fellow human beings have done and are doing and to