Oak family register, 1906

PDF page 80, printed page 72

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72
HENRY LEBBEUS OAK
the
Bancroft Methods.
Mr. Oak's work as a writer
is not ac-
knowledged by Mr. Bancroft, though credit is given for his serv-
ices as librarian and superintendent.
"To
this
historical work
the author gave
all
his
ability and
energy.
His
resources
of
original
material
had
never
been
equalled in writing the annals of early American territory.
Every
detail was
treated conscientiously according
to
the best of
his
judgment.
The labor was immense; but
this was the happiest
period of his
life
;
for he was conscious of doing faithful work.
Under these circumstances the author
is naturally proud of his
work, and believes in its merits.
Yet his belief does not make
it
so; and the balance of evidence is against him.
The volumes are
neglected by the public, and—though no critic has attempted to
controvert his conclusions or impeach his honesty—ignored
or
sneered at by scholars generally.
The author has yet a faint hope
that in time, when the prejudice against the Bancroft name and
enterprise shall have died out, some merit may be recognized in
the records that have cost him so many years of toil."
These years from 1869 to 1887 were strenuous years in the life
of Henry L. Oak.
His mind matured early, and his judgment at
25 was as sound as that of most men at 35.
For three years he had been engaged in uncertain and uncon-
genial work, and he now found a vocation for which he proved
especially adapted and
to which he gave
his
full vigor of mind
and body.
To understand his work and his relation to the Bancroft enter-
prise,
it
is necessary
to outline
briefly the undertaking and
its
execution.
The head of the enterprise, Hubert Howe Bancroft,
12 years Mr. Oak's senior, came from Ohio to California in 1852.
His ancestors,
like Mr. Oak's, were of the old Puritan stock of
Massachusetts.
Mr. Bancroft did not have a college education,
but had had
business
experience.
He was
an
able,
energetic
young man, and opened
a business
as H. H.
Bancroft &
Co.,
Booksellers and Stationers.
He was industrious, energetic, self-
confident and inspiring confidence in others.
His business grew
by leaps and bounds, and the firm soon became the leading one in
its
line on the Pacific Coast.
In the publishing of guide books
to the different sections of the state was sprouted the seed which
grew to the publishing of the History of the Pacific Coast.

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