, 1870-03-19
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
How The Organization Can En-
large Its Field of Uso-
fulncss.
Address by the New Secretary,

At the last meeting Of the Chicago Historical
Society, 1t tfaA determlued that the organization
enter upon larger 1eld Of usetuhess. Dr. Noyt,
the recently appointed Secretary and Librarian,
haT1nR given the matter careful consideration,
was calct, upon to address tho society on the sub
tect at interest. He spoke substantially "a follows:
lie kaId that, having accepted, for a short tine,
the Responsible position Of practical manager Of
the Chicago Historical Society. with the under
standing md In the belief that he would have the
wa1m md active support Of the ofllcers sna mem-
hers In general, he congratulated himself on the
Satisfactory evidence already afforded that there
was 70 be no iaek o. needed co-oPeration
on the part Of the % OFFICERS II the .as
equally ready With their PRACTICAL approval OF
measures LOOKING to the advancement Of ita Inter
ests, there would secm 70 30 open before the 20,
ctety career Of uneIampled prosperity. 1t had
already accomplished wondefa. The accommoda-
lions afforded By Its substantial and elegantly fur.
nshe md ssliding eTeetsd q m c1st os %
volumes, and over 100000 nnhound documents;
lta attractive collection Of relics and works OF at
s IT, q ~ Us o. I. .ns
auiyc to erect the remainder OF the noble edlnce1
Il which The present structure Is less than third
~ se Essi ef7 81 nRo In
to tho rapid development Of the material resources
tns asi sy sq
upon the great 1eld OF It's labor, and the present
eetmcd ah appropriate time for revising its plan
OF operations aud setang .as saAes go,andat,o,
sstsr e p4sseaon nsa %aoe and 'sssa
soseeas a1e1a, ID 5e ,se % Of
the system Of classification IN accordance Win tne
general plan already introduced b. the Assistant
Of ali ths publications cmhEaccd, 50 that the L.
lNar!an would be able to lay hls hand, at q mo
menia notice, upon any desired book, pamphlet.
General division Of hooks and documents 80 that
The visitor might easily tnd and At pleasure exam
the AZ the works u 81 an nnete III.
valuable newspapers and periodicals: The matkinS
Of al the works Of art With their epprupsisie Il.
iovnna Of the soce;y's COLLECTIONS Of every kind.
| These several suggestions, he Was hapny 70
.ay had been approved by 1.-THE the 1s
| effect as soon IS practicable ~
! Ills second series Of Recommendations covered
the measures necessary 70 Eapla gtoWte l o. ,s tae
| might result from the labOrB already pcr1otmeds
ut IN increase worthy Of the Cause Of tie earnest
and generous men who aaa 1oonasa tme iasa,u; a,,;
wotltl's history, demanded: :.
| i, The jealous and persistent personal cuoris o.
cyery of1ccr aud member OF the society, each o
whom must consider himself committee, &C
countahe for constant additions 70 its conecuohl
! and to its permanent endowment
= persuasive and ancess!ng eorGspondsnc,
with tndv1duals, pubushe1s societies, institutions
md governments, asking Contributions OF ~na1
ever tneJ may have 10 give. .....-..-... .
nas or pg NAV s proenre, viii all hisolcal and Vii
leading Mse5a sent ny oae aaqs nosies Sac ~
institnttons throuRhout the world
4. The purchase OF such important works, bot
old and new. ns cannot be otherwise procured.
< The ABSORPTION, when mutually satlsfactOt
ev1sn1rmen.s can he made for their consolidation
os all lesser libraries Of the city whose oolscl
l the FIfstnftcA1 Society,",
! The third general Recommendation Was for a
eniarrenent Of the scope and practical operation
J ! of the socicty. as follows:
/. BT the Inclusion Of historic research anon
= Ns primary objects; especially researches phil
: aud character or the aboriginal peoples OF III
! | country and injuries Ito the early settlemei
5 and subsequent history Of the western states an
Z BT ,he organization Of an Ar Department
having for It's ieadlng object: First, INC iliusr1
ssSana Sa 0t te iustFaison of ne cond!top and n
Rress Of American, and especially Of Western, AZ
third, the announcement Of histortc a1t7 by brtn
+ in0 works OF this class into public notice, by nor
/ c5hibitton, md by awarding suitable honors II
E meIit HALL '1' N4S A'''A|N ~ l>0'N>''
c 8 By immediate provision for the annual pub
. cation Of volume embracing ~ approved cont,
t publication of monthly Of quarterly bulletin
11ina nuhi5saor "a M " i,s ost imposni 1snsactons
1 rHlnnf8
!, nr maca1{ne. This suCVestion he considered
{ | the ut1nost importance: not only because the 3
IS ciety could not otherwise ful0 lis mission !!
l. ing and working Institution, hut likewise for q
1 | tnnwjeticet. yaiue to Ctye IN exchange, that
I | cO,lh reasonably hope 70 BecuTc the pnblcatlo
II other pocirt1es and institutions, SO necessary
c the growth and future value Of its own library.
n / DY such extension OF It's Held OF operation
d. and II necessaTy rnoIt1catlon of it's oryanizat
= ami Yit1n NJ VII tend to make II In fact what
~ cncht n hccnrnc great central Historical
" ctefv ri the West
y RIO forrfh GENERAL recommendation covered I
t. whoie grni,n,I ~ nsc,,nia,y enuoTmeut II Was II
c,hi~ nF7o; fhst thc he and ali 9th
e nioEe ~ tha anvcfon,ncn. and unbuijtiIuc OF
,c t, ~ rer ftc nninss the means Gould be NJ
eurnt ~ {hn rhinerv and kq4.pinV II
" .a, ~ ran,tone - Tnnrn .rars hnnlre.]s of m
T. II H. it. ~ EhI.e,a sinne vim cnnid well afIC
be ~ ~ tnYt ~ ana tShr nnuhf ia heroine cither r.
9e w ~ 'if @ mn1ohaGu tntieed Who is lie,
u, tn cst.7cns rcsnnnstl,le in nar1 for the growth
1t thS. mctrnnniIs In ali thuGB that characterize
At tntcectnnt ana htCh,y-ciyfiIzed community, q
nt nnr n tTithhnld eithcr thclr recunia1y tld
re t, w ,n.; ~ cnancrstion from "a impoftant
dc t!,sH sti.Ht1n ~ ,' Morenrcr there werr numcyt
r, sse1tnr rt,,,nno n rsrrernns pyrrrath{ea v
- i, RnSn- sha,r cun IntelIIrent llheralIty
hc o,sN, ~ Iast,nT bcncfit nnnn lie society and
H. n6hiic At iarre by creating liberal permanent fu1
r. Tor Inc Iouo"luG anu ot1ei 1lEsIs ~
He General neral, ioFa W., fnna, fnr he s .narUem USn
nc ot WMen bnoolu ne ~, ists.,tsn, 80 ~ me oti1e