The history of Chinese local chronicles compilation cause goes back to ancient times. Since the third high tide of local chronicles compilation in 80's, this century the cause has developed rapidly and made greal progress. Until June 1993, we have published 1379 local chronicles of provinces and towns on the one hand, we have compiled both comprehensive and special chronicles on the other had. It should become common opinions that China is a great country in local chronicles compilation.
Local chronicles record social culture phenomena of every areas' history and present condition, that so-called "local condition" record, it is neither natural science nor pure social science, it combines knowledge pith of social and natural science properly, it reflects every kinds of cultural activities of human society and provides basis for human development.
Chinese local chronicle compilers through the ages have pointed the significance of local chronicle's "supporting politics, education, recording history". This has indeed pointed that the goal of local chronicies is propelling mankind forward, restoring and collecting the humanistic value of human cultural achievements. The new-edited local chronicles have greatly published in recent years, they all have pronounced human colors according to the preliminary study of their discussion styles and contents, but it is difficult for them to go beyond the bounds of "supporting politics, education, recording history".
In writing the prefaces and reviews of many local chronicles on invitation, the writer met with many new-edited local chronicles, recorded many new ideas when they arose. Because of much accumulating, the writer wrote this paper to discuss the humamistic value of new-edited local chronicles and to give wide proposals for the future work of local chronicles compilations.