The McDonald Papers, Part II, Chapter 9: John MacLean Macdonald (biographical sketch)
Since that time the "Papers" have been carefully read several times and such data of their author as could be found has been compiled. The "Interviews" were included in the Hufeland West-chesteriana in 1925 and are preserved there in splendid form. In scanning them my earlier impressions of the unusual merit of Macdonald's labors were confirmed and efforts to learn more about him continued down to the present time. These were not fully rewarded until quite recently with the information herein contained which is believed to be reliable. When the testimony of the various persons interviewed is published, it will be possible to make an accurate analysis of all the Macdonald manuscripts. This sesquicentennial period is of sufficient importance, however, to publish such as are now available and leave until a later date the completion and fulfilment of the task. The sincerity of purpose, and loftiness of ideals of Macdonald encourage the hope that the balance of the manuscripts will be published at an early date. Macdonald's illness and confinement consigned him to a sphere apart. He left no record of civic work; he was a stu-dent and worker in a limited field; but the spirituality of his writings will cause him to be remembered as long as the story of the Revolution is the background of the wonderful tales of 98 THE McDONALD PAPERS
Cooper, and Irving, and a host of others, story-tellers, poets and historians, who have immortalized the territory now known as Bronx and Westchester Counties.
WILLIAM S. HADAWAY