The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-20

CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTIErH ANNIVERSARY
OTHER HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.
The seDtcenNnn celebration Of the New -,
Historical 81 ciety, which is {, be held to day. is
occasion Of extraordinary interest to the litsrar
pubic. Besides very large astsniance Of mem
bes 1t is exoected that many delegates from Other
learned societies win be present Among the H.
sited guests are Edward Everett, Jared sparks
Washington Irving, James X. PauIdiag, aud mlny
other emicen. authors bon. W. L. Marcy, Secre-
tary Of State, and Hon. Robert Mcclellan, Score
fairy Of the Interior, are also expected. Tne cxsr-
cises at Niblos in the afternoon will onss. OF al
Grafton by the Hon. George Bancroft, and spec ,aes
ffcm some Of the distinguished men jus. mentioned
The dinner will be ut P. H., at tho Astor House,
after which there viii doubtless be feast Of rea
son anc flow Of soul"
This society vas originated in 1904 by Judge
Egbert Benson and John Pin.ard, Esq., through
whose EXERT ,ps several meetings were held in a
rom Of tie old City Hall, to discuss the project
TER fr-t regular meeting was held Nov. 20, 1904
wss Ds Wit. CliDtoo), and they agreed TO form the
society. On Dec. 10 ensuing the co0st'tution wss
adopted, and on Jan. IA. 1905, tho fest regular
officers chosen. The liss Of Presidents Of the
society is "a fnllOws:-
Esbert B.rson, lS05-l6; Gouvcrneur Morris,
lsl6-l7; De Witt Clinton, lsl7-2O; David Hossck,
ls2O-2s; james Kent, 1928 80; Morgan Lewis
1882 SO; Peter Gerard Ssuyvessut, 1sS6-l0
Pet<r Augustus jay, csssen In lS40, and who hss
b. On succeeded BY Albert Gal attn aud Luther Bra
pish. In 1907 the formation Of liorary was com
mepced by the purchase at )st OF Mr. Pintard's II
brary; and this was kept in the "C,ty Library" 10
1909 the society was incorporated with arter for
6ftteD years; 1t also removed to the Government
House, spd issued the rss volume OF its collections
in the same year. In 1912, "whcn the war was do.
clare d, the entire collection Of books and manu-
scripts ives 30 uncomfortable that one or t~o cart
loads were all that we had TO transfer from one
place Of safety to another apprehensive taat BY in
vasicn the enemy might possess the city," Shortly
after this tho society the rare and valuable
treasures Of Rev. Timothy Alden, OF which ho pre-
pared the catalogue Issued with ths second volume
Of collections in 1914. In 1914 the Legislature
me N risljzsd by De Witt Clioscn in behalf Of toe
society fOe aid, AM this resulted in Q pr0mss0ry
grant Of $l2 900, to be raised by lotters: but from
this not moe than $1,000 waa realized. In the
came year the city corporation erantci the use OF
spsfioha and oonvs nient apartments in tho New
York Institution, and viii were ret iined un-
rl 1882. From 1912 to 1919 mauy valuable
sdditsO.s were made to the library, OF whica
Dr. Francs bad charge, and among teese
was the military cofrespoossnc of General Gates.
The society having Unfortunately ANTICIPATED tha
avsis Of the legislative oo alton, IL be samr much
embarrassed, but @as relieved IN 1927 BIZ al add
tloIal grant Of 600, and With other aid was freed
from all debts Ia 1882 il removed to Romsens
building, corner Broadway aud Chanpers street,
which was a0 uufsvofable movement, aud resulted
in fibaIcial troubles until 1886. Tneu course OF
lectures was delivered BY D.. Hacks and others, and
the net proc eds again paid of the debts The u
bTary removsd IN 1887 to Ssuyvesan. Institute,
uno. pratn,fous lease for swo years of coavenant
rooms. In 1889 the society held gr4od celebration
on the fhietl anniversary Of ~sshiogsoas a st in.
angurat,oD, when an address was delivered By lon
Quincy Adams For several years the society ~ sd
rs hall library cabinet &c, Ia the University WASH
ipg'on square, where Il will reSa until tas com
pie,ioD Of its ed,ace in toe Second Avenue Tne
subsctjDtioDs for its construction now aonnnt to
000O, and $4,000 mo Q ae waosed to defrsg 9
estimated cost. This balance should not loaq be
wanted In this liberal community.
There are now some twenty-five or thirty histo \
cal SOCIETIES IN the United States. Most OF tns Q
a'e State societies, each n.ving its hail. lbrarY,
cabinet &c, In tine prlo ipal city or town OF i.s
~. cfivo state. The following list presents the dates
at which some of them were organized:--