Thousands of pamphlets issued by the departments of work have been mailed out and separate accounts kept of those sold. Accounts for current office expenses have been kept and forwarded monthly to the Finance Chairman.

10,000 letters in behalf of the American Woman's Club in Paris were sent out with the assistance of volunteers and acknowledgment of returns handled by the Treasurer, Mrs. Wm. Daly Phelan, through our office force.

The office and forty-eight state directories were put at the disposal of the Adirondack Farm and Forest Club who sent out from our Headquarters 10,000 club announcements.

Filing

A complete system of filing has been installed, material filed according to officials of General, State and Local clubs, Departments of Work, Other Organizations, Government Bureaus, and Bureau of Information material. Requests for information material are filed according to the applicant, subject, and state. An effort is made to keep a complete record of everything which passes through the office for two years, material older than that being retained only as it has historical value.

General Inquiries

BUREAU OF INFORMATION

General inquiries are increasing in volume constantly as it becomes known that we are equipped to give information concerning women's organizations, their activities and their interests. Business organizations, congressmen, churches, the press, individuals call on us for all sorts of information-some of it pertinent, some of it far removed from our field of activity.

Research

In discussing this subject, one might say that a morning's mail at Headquarters brings requests for information on subjects ranging from Legislation of Interest to Women, to Holland Since the Late War, Aims and Ideals of a Club, Our Children's Savings Accounts: do they tend to develop miserliness or generosity, Great Educators of Today, Women and Jury Service, History of Breadmaking, Evolution of Man, Summer Sports, History of the World, and Reviews of Recent Books.

The limited budget has handicapped seriously this type of reference work. With few books, only complimentary subscriptions to magazines and a meager supply of Federation pamphlets, we have almost been forced to make brick without straw The success of this department has been due in large measure to the untiring zeal and splendid ability of Miss Matilda Young. In its efforts to obtain data on special subjects, Headquarters appeals to government bureaus, other national organizations, the Library of Congress, state libraries, University Extension departments and similar sources. Only through our reciprocal relations with such bodies may we meet the demand upon us and in every instance we have found them generous in their cooperation.

One subject very often requires several letters and a trip to the library. As an example, take the subject "Great Editors, Past and Present." Letters asking for data were sent by Headquarters to the Louisville Courier Journal, the New York World, The New York American and the New York Sun.. A trip was made to the library. In reply to the request, Mrs. Henry Watterson sent "copy" on "Marse" Henry; other papers sent typed data on William Randolph Hearst, Joseph Pulitzer, Charles Dana. From the library was secured data on all these, together with Horace Greely and Lord Northcliffe.

On receipt of a request for information on "organizing a curb market where farmers could sell their produce direct to the housekeeper," we called among others the Farmer's National Council and Open Forum with Headquarters in Washington. The Council was glad to send information.

The Ladies' Home Journal and Butterick Patterns were called upon for assistance on the "Origin and Growth of Paper Patterns in this Country." Both sent data. Butterick sent a typed manuscript-"The Romance of the Paper Pattern: Ancient and Modern and the Part it Plays"-one copy to Headquarters for its file and the other to our correspondent.

When the subject called for is one on which opinions differ, Headquarters endeavors to gather data for and against. An example is Compulsory Military Training. Letters were sent to the American Union Against Militarism (opposed) and the National Security League (for). In answer pamphlets giving arguments for and against were received. In this way, the

club woman preparing her paper was obliged to draw her own conclusions.

Another example "Ireland under British Rule." The British Embassy and the American Association for the Independence of Ireland sent data.

Reference Material.

A year and a half ago Headquarters had only out-of-date magazines which it begged of local club women from which to clip items for its Bureau of Information. Today it has complimentary subscriptions to no less than fifteen of the leading magazines. For current events, economic and social conditions we have the Independent and Weekly Review, the Review of Reviews, the Survey and The Survey Graphic, and New Republic. For women's activities, we have the General Federation News, The Woman Citizen, the Ladies' Home Journal, the Woman's Home Companion, Pictorial Review, and Good Housekeeping.

The Bookman keeps us informed of the literary world; the Congressional Digest of legislation, while the Moving Picture Age, the American Forestry Magazine and the Garden Magazine, each meets another need.

Other magazines sent by the publishers to Headquarters are Miss Columbia, the Southern Club Woman, Club News, The Edict, Chicago Woman's Bulletin, Washington Woman's City Club Bulletin, State Federation bulletins, etc.

Publishers of books and magazines have met all of Headquarters requests with the most courteous co-operation. We are now on the editorial list of Century's, Harper's, Page Co., Lippincott's, Dutton's, Funk and Wagnall's, and Masmillan's. A visit from the Vice-President of H. W. Wilson Co. resulted in the exchange of a Periodical Index of several years ago for the last copy published-1918-1921, as well as the exchange of three out-of-date Book Review Digests for those of 1918, 1919, 1920-21. We are now on H. W. Wilson Co.'s editorial list.

Headquarters should receive regularly copies of all magazines. One copy even is insufficient to meet the demand for clippings. Almost everyone has a favorite magazine. Would it not be possible to re-address yours to Headquarters every month

after you have read it, or the year's copies if more convenient? Research Methods.

We have made a point of visiting other Research Bureaus such as the Searchlight Bureau of Information of New York City, Russell Sage and Rockefeller Foundations, Library of Congress, International Reform Bureau, Luce Press Clipping Bureau of New York, Authors Clipping Bureau of Washington, Bureau of Commercial Economics and Research University-to exchange ideas, to learn the most modern and practical methods of research, indexing, cataloguing, etc. Many ideas have been gained and will be put into more extended operation next year. A Bureau of Information in Each State and Other Suggestions.

No matter what request has been made, we have not turned a person away empty-handed. However, we have become convinced that much of this work should be directed as quickly as possible back to the state from which the club comes. If each state were to have its own Bureau of Information for which a Clipping Bureau was conducted by chosen women; which was in touch with all the state's resources, libraries— local, state, and traveling; the Extension Department of its University and Historical Societies; with the state Federation officers and clubs; and if there direction might come from the national office-Headquarters-in details and material concerning national affairs-General Federation. Government Bureaus, kindred organizations, supplementing the state assistance-we could give the club women the best possible service.

Each state might easily take care of a thousand inquiries annually. The central office should be functioning in a larger way than by answering individual requests which may or may not be asked a second time. Time, strength, skill, a large staff. more adequate office space and equipment can scarcely be given to meet the need from year to year if the service continues to grow. Let's begin now to build up State Bureaus and train the national office to supplement the state so that it will function. adequately and comprehensively.

Until this plan or a similar one matures will you not continue to send us club year books. If you are writing or have written a magazine article or book, will you not present Headquarters with an autographed copy? If you have a book which

would serve our purposes and which you do not need, will you not remember us? The Division of Literature of the District of Columbia Federation is serving as a Clipping Bureau for the national office, the magazines being donated by club women. Try it. Texas has presented the Headquarters with copies of the minutes of board meetings. If other states would follow its example we could know more intimately the work of the Federation through the country.

We have tried always to give accurate, carefully chosen material and to be prompt in responding. Many women are still writing to the former bureau in Portsmouth and replies have been delayed as a consequence.

The accompanying list of requests for information gives some idea of the scope of this department.

BIENNIAL PERIOD-1920-1922

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

AMERICANIZATION.

Americanization addresses at Biennial.

Americanization of aliens.

America, as a national character.

Great charters of Americanism (pamphlet issued by Extension Division, University of Iowa).

How may Americanism be promoted?

Plan of program of Americanization General Federal Department.

Shall we have a school of Americanism?

where secured).

APPLIED EDUCATION.

ᎪᎡᎢ .

American.

American artists of today.

American artists.

Development of American paintings.

Great American paintings.

Handbook of art in American cities.

Lecture American art.

Life and work of John Singer Sargent.

Progress of American art.

The art treasures of America.

Art inspired by the war.

Appreciation of art.

Art topics.

(rate per hundred and from

As an educator and its influence on daily life.
Crafts.

Pottery, Illinois.

Pottery, Rookwood. Etchings and etchers. Exhibits.

Fine arts.