Preface v Contents vii List of illustrations ix 1. Introduction 1 2. The study of beginnings 5 3. Definition of the Library 14 4. Method 22 5. Antediluvian libraries. General 25 6. Libraries of the gods 27 7. Animal and plant libraries? 34 8. Preadamite libraries 39 9. Adamite and patriarchal libraries before the flood 42 10. Prehistoric and historic libraries 50 11. The evolution of record keeping 54 12. Memory libraries 65 13. Pictorial object libraries 76 14. Mnemonic object libraries 91 15. Picture book libraries 100 16. Ideographic records 114 17. Types of primitive libraries 116 18. Contents of primitive libraries 132 19. The administration of primitive libraries 142 20. The beginnings of library schools 151 21. The beginnings of library research 156 22. Bibliography 159 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. A collection of quipus Frontispiece. 2. A collection of message sticks 94 3. A collection of wampum 98 4. A record ornament of leopard teeth 102 5. Tupai Cupa’s Tattoo Marks 106 6. Picture writing, Lone Dog’s Winter Count 108 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE BEGINNINGS OF LIBRARIES § 1. _Introduction_ This talk is addressed to those beginning library work as a life work. This connects “library work” with two significant phrases, “those beginning” and “as a life work”.