The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 49, July 1945 - April, 1946 Page: 465

Book Reviews

ment, their purpose, functions, and publications, the author
repeatedly emphasizes the importance of the "collection, preser-
vation, and making available" of documents. Publication pro-
grams were undertaken because publication of historical ma-
terial was conceived to be the best way to accomplish this
primary aim. By 1860 the societies had published more than
five hundred works. All but ten societies participated in this
activity, but ten societies issued about three-fourths of the total.
As Mr. Dunlap points out, "most of the successful societies
were sustained by the faithful service and indefatigable labor
of one or several individuals." Outstanding among those whose
efforts he describes are Dr. Isaiah Thomas and Christopher
Columbus Baldwin of the American Antiquarian Society, Dr.
Basil Manly of the Alabama Historical Society, Dr. Thomas
Robbins of the Connecticut Historical Society, and Lyman
Draper of the Wisconsin Historical Society. The author quotes
Manly's description of the type of man that the societies needed:
"a man full of antiquarian tastes-of habits laborious enough
to make a splendid fortune,--but who is willing barely to earn
a subsistence. He must have ability enough to make a chan-
cellor-but will content himself with the pay of a constable."
The book is well written, meticulously documented, and con-
tains a useful index. In addition to fulfilling his obligation of
presenting a comprehensive history of the historical societies,
the author includes innumerable details about the men who
were active in the groups and the minute problems encountered
in their operation. These bits of information contribute to the
book's being entertaining reading as well as a valuable work
on a little touched subject.
BETTY BROOKE EAKLE
The University of Texas
Pitchfork Ben Tillman: South Carolinian. By Francis Butler
Simkins. Baton Rouge (Louisiana State University Press),
1944. Pp. xiii+577. Illustrations. $4.50.
The best review that could be written of this book appears
in its last chapter under the title, "Final Estimate." This sum-
mary covers nine pages, and in it Professor Simkins has very
clearly presented an excellent appraisal of Benjamin Ryan Till-
man II. The first sentence of the summary is reminiscent of

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