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BAXTER MAPS [In red ink, underlined in black ink]

September 12 1944

Dear Percy, I of course deplore the fate which seems certain to deprive the State Library of an item of high value and one which we have held in trust all these years with real pride and care, respecting your wishes we not make public use of the maps.There have been many times when we would have been glad to refer people to them and we do have from time to time students and research workers who prize the opportunity to view such material.

They are right in the vault near the front where those of us on the staff have occasionally looked at them to refresh our memory and knowledge of these beautiful maps. I realize how inadequate our facilities for display of certain prized items and we have lost certain ones by withdrawal for that reason. I have mentioned this regret of ours in my report which is about to be published. As long as we are without adequate facilities I presume we cannot blame people for removing highly prized items which ought to belong here but if ever the state does provide a dignified set-up for it's library many of these things will be gone.

When you come for the maps could I persuade you to take the box which we have stored for you, containing papers. We want very much to build some shelves in that section of the vault but have hesitated to ask for this space occupied by the box. Now that