LETTER OF TRATSMITTAL. JUNE 6, 1898. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the twentieth number of a current series of contributions to American educational history prepared for this Bureau, the same being under the editorship of Prof. Herbert B. Adams, of Johns Hopkins University. The present pamphlet contains the history of higher education in the State of Louisiana, and is written by Dr. Edwin W. Fay, son of a former superintendent of public instruction in that State. The treatise contains an interesting account of the first settlers in Louisiana, necessary to understand the system of education which has grown up in that Commonwealth. The conditions existing in Louisiana at the time of its first settlement were very different from those in the other American colonies in the period of settlement. The work begins with an account of the French explorations and settlements under La Salle, D'Iberville, and others. The Ursuline nuns, who began the educational work in New Orleans in 1727, are considered, and then follows an account of the work of the Spaniards, to whom Louisiana was transferred in 1763. The second and third chapters take up the beginnings of the career which Louisiana entered upon after becoming a part of the United States. The history of the old University of Orleans is given, and the circumstances which attended the dissipation of the very liberal gifts of the State to education. This part of the history of Louisiana reminds one of the history of Maryland. The State University was developed out of the State seminary of learning, established previous to the civil war, and over which W. T. Sherman, afterwards to become the famous general, was the principal. The colleges of the several religious denominations are described in their careers, and an entire chapter is devoted to the schools of the freedmen. The last chapter is devoted to Paul Tulane and to the organization of the prosperous university that bears his name. An appendix discusses literature in Louisiana, by Charles Gayarré. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. T. HARRIS, Commissioner. Hon. CORNELIUS N. BLISS, Secretary of the Interior. SIR: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Education, Washington, B. C., I regret to say that I have for distribution no copies of circulars Jurevious to :71, and not a copy of No. 1, 1892, send No. 2, 1899 which com میکند ނ we had for re Jublished in 1895, 1896, 1897, by twory in 18.94, Two in 1898, -3 سم have, 2408b10m W. T. HARRIS, Commissioner. Mr. R.b. Davis, you Ann Arbor, Michi |