Some notes on the bibliography of the Philippines

This 1900 bulletin offers a window into an early American effort to map the literary and scientific output of the Philippines. Compiled by a diligent clergyman after his manuscript survived two fires and a lost‑copy mishap, the text reads like a lively lecture delivered to a Philadelphia book‑lovers’ club. It explains why a three‑thousand‑item bibliography compiled by W. E. Retana remains largely unknown, and it charts the Free Library’s growing collection of Philippine works for scholars and curious readers alike.

Within its pages the author surveys the breadth of Philippine intellectual life, spotlighting striking titles such as the multi‑volume Flora de Filipinas, a lavish botanical treatise illustrated by native artists. Detailed “Finding Lists” reveal fifty‑four volumes and six hundred magazine articles already on the shelves, inviting listeners to appreciate the richness of a culture often misjudged. The bulletin serves both as a guide for researchers and as a modest celebration of the islands’ literary heritage.