LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a general report of the proceedings of the American Historical Association at their thirteenth annual meeting, held in Cleveland, Ohio, December 28-30, 1897. The report is prefaced by a list of officers for 1898 and a table of contents. Following the treasurer's report and a list of committees for 1897-98 is the inaugural address by the president of the association, James Schouler, LL. D., of Boston, Mass., with most of the papers that were actually read and some that were presented by title. Then comes the second annual report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission, the work of which has been highly appreciated by specialists and which promises even better results in the future. Certain valuable bibliographies which for lack of space were omitted from the annual report for 1896 are appended and recommended for publication. Very respectfully, HERBERT B. ADAMS, Secretary. Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. S. P. LANGLEY, Organized at Saratoga, N. Y., September 10, 1884. Secretary: HERBERT B. ADAMS, Ph. D., LL. D., Assistant Secretary and Curator: A. HOWARD CLARK, Custodian of Section of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. Treasurer: CLARENCE W. BOWEN, Ph. D., Secretary Church History Section: Executive Council: (In addition to the above-named officers.) CHARLES KENDALL ADAMS, LL. D., JAMES B. ANGELL, LL. D., Hon. GEORGE F. HOAR, LL. D., RICHARD S. STORRS, D. D., LL. D., JAMES SCHOULER, LL. D., H. MORSE STEPHENS, A. M., Hon. MELVILLE W. FULLER, Chief Justice of the United States, Washington, D. C. Professor, Harvard University. VII CONTENTS. Page. I. Report of Proceedings of Thirteenth Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, December 28-30, 1897, by Herbert B. II. Report of the Treasurer. List of Committees and Officers.. IV. John Cabot and the Study of Sources, by George Parker V. To What Extent may Undergraduate Students of History be trained in the use of the Sources? by James A. Wood- burn...... VI. The Functions of State and Local Historical Societies with Respect to Research and Publication, by J. F. Jameson.. VII. State-Supported Historical Societies and their Functions, by VIII. History in the German Gymnasia, by Lucy Maynard Salmon. IX. Discussion of the Relation of the Teaching of Economic History to the Teaching of Political Economy, by Henry B. Gardner, George W. Knight, and Henry R. Seager.... XI. Mirabeau and Colonne in 1785, by Fred Morrow Fling...... XX. First Suggestions of a National Observatory, 1825, by James |