ness, if not madness. The territory, it was thought, was far too wide. The task of selecting and rejecting was too nice and too hazardous. To do even a reasonable amount of justice to all deserving persons was impossible. And so why risk so much?
Now, the remarkable feature of all this is, that those who made these objections were correct. Indeed, each point in itself is sufficient to retard one from undertaking the task. Yet, there was, and is, at least an equal weight on the side that here is an opportunity to render good service, service of help on the one hand and of enlightenment on the other. To sit by and let slip so fair an occasion merely because of fear per se, or because of fear of failure seemed as criminal as to try and even fail.
The men whose lives are here sketched, the Institutions and Organizations here represent ed, by no means exhaust the list. In fact, some of the most thrilling tales of struggle and con quest of both men and Organizations are, for one reason or another, not here at all. It is doubtful, in many instances, if they can be secured. Indifference to fame, a shrinking from publicity, intense engagement in one kind of work or another, all conspire to with-hold the desired information from the public.
The Editor has drawn freely from the writings of others. Just what particular work he is most indebted to, he is at a loss to say. He has consulted most printed matter on Negroes. He is therefore grateful to Negro Magazine Editors, Negro News Paper Editors, and to all Authors of books bearing on Negro people. If there has been any purloining, such has not been done through any wish to arrogate knowledge or talent, but with the full desire, bordering, it is hoped, upon enthusiasm, to send abroad the good news and glad tidings that the people for whom so many good tempers have been spoiled, and for whom so much blood has been shed, are not being redeemed in vain.
One of the happiest phases of the endeavor, both to the publishers and to the Editor, has been the quick and hearty response accorded by the leading Negroes and those White people interested in Negroes throughout the country. This was particularly true of professional and thinking men of the race; of the Ministers, of the Doctors, of the Editors, and of up-lift workers. So numerous are these that to name them is impossible. Again, the leading schools for Negroes, which er in the hands of Colored people or White, have given an encouragement, without which the work could hardly have progressed. Tuskegee, Fisk, Spelman, and scores of other sach Institutions gave their backing in every sense unreservedly.
Two men must be spoken of, else this Cyclopedia had not been Dr. R. R. Moton and Hon. Emett J. Scott. The former was coming into the principalship of Tuskegee Institute at the inception of this work. Without question, without hesitation, he not only gave his endorsement, but took the occasion when ever approached to commend the undertaking, an act wholly in keeping with the known generous traits of Dr. Moton. Upon the latter should have devolved the editing of this work. While he occupies the place of Chairman of the Advisory Board, Mr. Scott is, as a matter of fact, in many ways the Cyclopedia's sponsor. His exceeding wide contact, his host of warm personal friends everywhere, made for the Editor and the Publishers a rose covered path, which might otherwise have been one strewn with gravel, if not with thorns.
CLEMENT RICHARDSON,
Lincoln Institute,
Jefferson Citv, Mo., Nov. loth, 1918.
