# Journal of American Folk-Lore/Volume 13/Issue 48/Annual Meeting of the American Folk-Lore Society

ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY.
The Eleventh Annual Meeting was held in rooms of Yale University, New Haven, Conn., on Thursday and Friday, December 28 and 29, at the same time with other affiliated societies, namely, the American Society of Naturalists, the Association of American Anatomists, the American Physiological Society, the American Psychological Association, the Society for Plant Morphology and Physiology, Section H, Anthropology, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The Society met for business on Thursday, at 11 A.M., the President, Prof. Charles L. Edwards, in the chair. The Permanent Secretary presented the Annual Report of the Council, which was adopted.
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.
At the conclusion of the twelfth year of the organization of the American Folk-Lore Society, the usual duty devolves upon the Council, to point out the inadequacy of the means of recording primitive tradition as compared with the magnitude of the opportunity now rapidly vanishing. The number of qualified workers in this field is all too few, while every year has brought the loss of some eminent collector or investigator, whose place remains unfilled. On this occasion we have to lament the absence of one of those who have been most prominently identified with the Society from its origin, the honored Daniel Garrison Brinton. The advance of anthropological research, and its rapid extension in the universities, will indeed supply a number of qualified and enthusiastic young students; but a few brief years will end the chance which still exists, to observe aboriginal life in its survivals, and to obtain new material for solving the most important facts of mental history, problems which are difficult only on account of the lack of adequate information, and which in the absence of such record will forever remain the uncertainties of philosophical conjecture.
Even in the closing years of the century, a rich gleaning remains for the collector; but the value of such gathering depends upon its accomplishment by capable and trained workers, possessed of linguistic knowledge. On the other hand, the remnants of the Indian tribes have now arrived at the point where contributions to ethnography may be expected from educated members of those tribes. The Council would suggest, that in view of the importance to local history of proper acquaintance with the races that our forefathers ​found on the continent, it is not too much to ask that, in view of the deficiency of means of enlightenment, the legislatures of the States in which remnants of the aboriginal population still exist, should make special appropriations for examination into the languages, history, place-names, ethnology, art, and folk-lore of these interesting peoples. If such sums were expended under the supervision of the universities, and in accordance with sound anthropological theory, it is not to be doubted that the results would not only be adequate to justify the expenditure, but would give occasion for gratitude on the part of future citizens of these States, who must of necessity find no small part of their romance and historical interest in memories of the various aboriginal stocks now fast disappearing. The Eastern States would be thankful for the opportunity still open to California, Oregon, and Colorado; but even as regards eastern tribes, there is still the possibility of enlarging knowledge from the descendants of the original population, now far removed from their old homes. It cannot be too forcibly impressed on the people of the United States and the Dominion of Canada, that small sums of money properly applied may bring results which posterity will consider inestimable. If young students can be shown that at least a temporary support can be provided for investigators, competent persons can be found who will pursue such researches in the true spirit of scientific self-sacrifice.
With regard to the negroes of the Southern States, the Council earnestly urge that immediate means be provided to make a proper collection and study of negro music, which, to the reproach of musical science in the United States, is perishing without proper record or study.
During the year 1899, the Society has added to the number of its memoirs a seventh volume, namely, "Animal and Plant Lore," by Mrs. Fanny D. Bergen, being a sequel to the collection of "Current Superstitions," already made by Mrs. Bergen, and published as the fourth volume of the Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society.
To accomplish the important duties, which in regard to collection as well as publication ought to devolve on a folk-lore society in America, the means at the disposal of the Society are altogether insufficient. The total membership does not exceed four hundred, while during the current year the number of withdrawals has exceeded that of additions. There seems to be no way in which the comprehension of the importance of the task can be brought home to the American people, save by the formation of local societies. It is therefore recommended that some sort of organization be effected in each State, with a view of completing local record.
The Council continued the Committee, appointed at the previous ​Annual Meeting, for the Collection and Study of Folk-Lore and Folk-music, namely, Dr. Franz Boas, Prof. C. L. Edwards, Miss Alice C. Fletcher, Mr. H. E. Krehbiel.
The following is the substance of the Treasurer's Report:—
RECEIPTS. :
| Balance from last Report | $1207.75 |
| Subscriptions to Publication Fund | 290.00 |
| Sales through Houghton, Mifflin & Co. (Journal and Memoirs) | 338.74 |
| Sales through the Secretary | 6.00 |
| Annual dues | 957.00 |
| | $2799.49 |
| DISBURSEMENTS. ||
| Houghton, Mifflin & Co., for manufacturing Journal of American Folk-Lore, five numbers (Nos. 42–46) | $1252.38 |
| Houghton, Mifflin & Co., for manufacturing vol. vii. of Memoirs | 451.66 |
| Houghton, Mifflin & Co., volumes supplied to Secretary | 6.00 |
| W. W. Newell, Secretary, salary of clerk | 150.00 |
| W. W. Newell, Secretary, postage and printing | 42.50 |
| G. A. McLeod, Treasurer of Cincinnati Branch | 12.50 |
| M. A. Fernald, Treasurer of Cincinnati Branch | 16.00 |
| M. Chamberlain, Treasurer of Boston Branch | 30.00 |
| F. Boas, postage and printing, expenses of Tenth Annual Meeting | 23.80 |
| Stamped envelopes, and other expenses of Treasurer | 17.95 |
| | $2002.79 |
| Balance to new account | 796.70 |
| | $2799.49 |
Note. The payments to local Treasurers are in accordance with a rule adopted by the Council, allowing to local Branches for necessary expenses a rebate of twenty-five cents on each membership fee.
In the course of the meeting, the Permanent Secretary announced that he had received no independent nominations as provided for by the rules. The nominations of the Council were therefore announced:—
President, Dr. Franz Boas, American Museum of Natural History, New York, N. Y.
First Vice-President, Dr. Frank Russell, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
Second Vice-President, Mr. Stansbury Hagar, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Councillors (to serve three years), Dr. Robert Bell, Director of ​Geological Survey, Ottawa, Can.; Miss Alice C. Fletcher, Fellow of Harvard University, Washington, D. C.; Mr. Gardner P. Stickney, Milwaukee, Wis.; Dr. G. J. Engelmann, Boston, Mass.; Prof. Frederick Starr, University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
The Permanent Secretary and Treasurer hold over.
The Permanent Secretary was instructed to cast a ballot for the officers as nominated.
The business being concluded, the Society listened to an Address of the President, Prof. C. L. Edwards, concerning "Animal Myths and their Origin."
Other papers on the programme for Thursday were read by title.
Onondaga tale of the Pleiades, Dr. W. M. Beauchamp, Baldwinsville, N. Y.
The Cherokee River Cult, James Mooney, Washington, D. C.
Early American Ballads, Mr. W. W. Newell, Cambridge, Mass.
In the afternoon, the affiliated societies held a joint discussion, the subject being "The Position that Universities should take in regard to Investigation."
At seven o'clock the Annual Dinner of the societies was held at the New Haven House.
On Friday, December 29, the Society held a Joint Meeting with Section H, Anthropology, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Papers were read as follows:—
The Counting-Out Rhymes of Children, William S. Monroe.
Fly-Leaf Rhymes and Decorations, Mrs. Fanny D. Bergen, Cambridge, Mass.
American Sun-Myths, Franz Boas, New York, N. Y.
Star-Lore of the Micmacs, Mr. Stansbury Hagar, Brooklyn, N. Y.
An Arapaho Creation Myth, Mr. A. L. Kroeber, New York, N. Y.
Negro Song, illustrated by phonographic cylinders, Miss Alice M. Bacon, Hampton, Va.
Taboos of Tale-Telling, Alexander F. Chamberlain, Worcester, Mass.
The Devil's Grandmother, Mrs. Isabel C. Chamberlain, Worcester, Mass.
The Society adjourned, the Permanent Secretary having received authority to arrange the time and place of the next Annual Meeting.