PDF page 81, printed page 73

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Scan of page 81 of the 1906 Oak family register
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BANCROFT LIBRARY
73
To accommodate the compiler of the "guides,"
all the books
and maps
relating to
the coast were
gathered on
the
table or
shelves most convenient, and as the "guide" business grew the
number
of books
increased
until
large enough
to
attract Mr.
Bancroft's attention, and he realized that
it would be a wise move
to make a collection of all books and maps published relating to
the Pacific Coast, and at
it he went with zeal.
In 1866-7, ^^- Bancroft made a trip to Europe, securing a large
number of books, maps,
etc., so that when Mr. Oak took charge
of the library there was already a collection of 16,000 vplumes for
him to classify, index and care
for.
In May, 1870, the library was moved to the Bancroft building,
721 Market street, San Francisco, and housed on the
fifth
floor,
in a room 35x170 feet, specially arranged for
its reception.
Mr.
Oak
also "roomed" on
the
fifth
floor.
The
library
constantly
grew
until
it contained upwards
of
50,000 volumes, much of
it
original manuscript of surpassing value.
In
1881
the library was moved
to a building erected
for that
purpose at 1538 Valencia street.
There Mr. Oak spent six years
of his
life.
This library included everything obtainable
in print or manu-
script,
relating
to
the
Pacific
Coast,
from Panama
to
Alaska.
No
other
collection
approaching
this
in
completeness
can
be
made or has been attempted.
The decision
as
to what to buy
was largely left to Mr. Oak's judgment, as well as the sifting of
the chaflF from the wheat after the material arrived.
Mr. Oak re-
mained
librarian
during
all
the
productive
life
of
the
library.
Since he left
it in 1887
it has lain idle until recently sold by Mr.
Bancroft to the University of California—and removed to Berke-
ley.
It was not injured by the earthquake and fire of April, 1906.
When Mr. Oak began work for Mr. Bancroft in
'69, no ques-
tion of salary was
raised.
He was
willing
to accept whatever
Mr. Bancroft offered, and during the 18 years' service Oak never
asked
for a
raise
in
salary, though Mr. Bancroft several
times
voluntarily increased his pay, and Oak once, after a serious
fire,
reduced his own salary.
His pay, though larger than that of any
other
in the
library, was not more than
half that
paid
at that
time, in an equally responsible position, in commercial houses of
San
Francisco.
The
financial outcome
of
the
"History
Busi-
ness" was
problematical
from
the
beginning,
and
there
were
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