I steadily think of thin work of nine as a research library or laboratory, and pray that it can held as such until there is broad knowledge to support historical writing. I steadily think of your work as broadly basic. I hope the day may come when ft. bary's here may feel, warranted in coordinating with this South Texas local study....research. There is much helpfulness possible there.
vou speak of small groups of real workers gathered around the table. That is my thought. Here at this "workshop" there is space for tha" Hound Table, duly planned for long since. If times were normal that table •■•ould be here. Here also is wall space for large map display; some of this map display is now erected. Haps in these studies are like graphs and tabulations in business houses. There are also here card indexes, files, records etc. to assist such round table discussion... .but not completej history records can never be complete.
The principle; y-v- 1 y down for such conference and cooperation are my pri.aoi les also.
’’he enclosure "Spanish History Research in Progress" shows something of the bredth of our inquiries> and how vast the field. Hoi'her I no?' any one man con study it alone. I have used my cwpac ity for organization end 3 ead.ers’J p to put others at work , holding them to the specialiaed lines they are bon fitted for.
A number of these workers are moving along slowly but nicely. Father Garriga is identified with several of 'these specialized line:- or inquiries, and throughnhira many churchmen are contacted and data keeps accumulating.
Ken and women who work must be regarded. It is not easy for me, individual ly, to keep them working. T have thoughts in mind, they are similar to yours, to give then recognition ■lien organization can be effected. Have in mind, for one thing, "Research ITembers".....they who qualify as authorities. when, they can get one of their Studies published they will become a research member, with privileges and recognition. Ho Study should be published until it has passed the Hound Table; then all should help in seeing it is financed and given indorsement that will clothe it with dignity and authority.
You a*-a. we are both thinking closely together on this conference table idea.
Gome of us, at time:?, have discussed a code: something intelligent minds can agree upon as correct; something to make mutual helpfulness easier to achieve; something to enable the public to /judge of a -work.
I want to see the day I can take the cor, and such oersons as. will join, and go over the Spanish trails of this Spanish South Texas....to Laredo; down the Pio Grande to J’oma and Lior; up the coastal trail to Goliad; over the La Bahia trail to San Antonio....visiting the many places of the Spanish Era, and con-