Scott Martin asked about the massive Black Temperance Collection at the New York Public Library's Annex Building. I used this collection while researching my TEMPERANCE & RACISM book. The collection was assembled by James Black. Shortly after it was bequeathed by him to the National Temperance Society, it was transferred to the New York Public Library (around 1918). When I used the materials, they were crumbling. Generally when I requested an item, I was told that it was not on the shelf. After complaining/pleading to the supervisor, he would go to find it, almost always successfully. Recently much of the collection has been microfilmed. My university's interlibrary loan department has been turned down when I have tried to borrow some of this microfilm, so apparently the intention behind it is simply to preserve fragile material. David M. Fahey History Department Miami University Oxford, OH 45056-1618, USA tel. 513-529-5134 FAX 513-529-3841 e-mail: <[log in to unmask]>