On his return to New York, Mr. Ludewig passed the following summer chiefly upon Staten Island. There he retired from the heat and bustle of the great city to compile a new work relating to the United States, - a work which had no predecessor in this country. It was entitled, "The Literature of American Local History; a Bibliographical Essay, by Hermann E. Ludewig, corresponding member of the National Institute, and of the New York Ethnological Society." It was printed in 1846, but not published, being given away by its liberal author to public institutions, and to his individual friends and others who appreciated such labors. It was a bound volume of over two hundred pages. While preparing this work at Staten Island, Mr. Ludewig had the valuable assistance of the well-known bookseller of New York, Mr. William Gowans, who sent him from his extensive stock of books all such works as could aid him in his enterprise. He had previously received much assistance from the library of the Hon. Peter Force of Washington, from that of Mr. George Brinley, Jr. of Hartford, and from many other private and public collections, which space will not allow of enumeration.
Two years after, namely, in 1848, Mr. Ludewig issued his "First Supplement" to "American Local History." This was published in the "Literary World" of Feb. 19th of that year. He also issued the same in pamphlet form, though the edition consisted of only thirty copies. The nineteenth of that thirty is now before the writer. It may be observed, that this "Supplement" related entirely to the local history of the State of New York.
In this brief notice of the labors of Mr. Ludewig, reference should be made to the able Introduction accompanying his original work. It extends to twenty pages, in small type, and contains sentiments of which even a native of the country might be proud. It opens with this sentence: "No people in the world can have so great an interest in the history of their country, as those of the United States of North America; for there are none who enjoy an equally great share in their country's historical acts." And the closing sentence is in these words: "May the following repertory, as far as possible, facilitate the foundation of such an American historical library; and may it prove useful to further researches into the history of the country, which every one must love and knows how to understand it."
Mr. Ludewig spend some time at Washington before visiting Boston, and while there was kindly treated by Mr. Force, of whom he always spoke with enthusiastic respect. That gentleman readily comprehended his objects, and justly appreciated his noble and manly character, and allowed him free access to his colossal collection of works on American history. In return for the kindness of his Washington friend, Mr. Ludewig dedicated his "Literature of American Local History" to him.
Rare Book Monthly
Articles - October - 2005 Issue
Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History, now in the AED
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