The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-23
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
IT'S origin ana lnteBtioa--whyt the Head"
quarters Were Removed from
new Orleans to Richmond.

To the Editor OF the Democrat:
Many Of your readers may not be aware
that the world owes TO certain gentlemen ~
your beautiful city the origin Of the society
which has done and is doing go much 10 res
cue from oblivion the names and deeds OIL phe
men who made our great struggle ior oonS"-
tutjonal freedom. and TO vndlcate the Con
ra,,erecy of the bar ~ history. But those OF
us who are familiar with the early histofy Oh
the society are fully aware Of what we owe I'd
New Orleans. and are ever ready TO MAKE the
pronar acknowledgment. In our last annual
report We gave the following brief sketch OF
run oprarp AND HISTORY or OUR SOCIETY .
In the early part Of 1869, Gen. d. III.
Maury suggested to number OF gentlemen
In New Orleans the propriety of organizing
society for the purpose OF collating, pre-
serving and finally publishing such material
"a would vindicate the truth Of Confederate
history. After number OF conferences, the
southern Historical Society was formally
organic 4 on the first Of May, 1869, by the
following gentlemen Gems. Braxton Bragg,
II. Taylor Dabney II. Maury @. M. Wilcox,
j. s. Marmaduke, s. b. Buckner g. I. Beat
regard, r. l.. Gibson and Harry 7. Hays,
NJ. W. Cluskey 9. W. Gordon. b. M. Harrod
r. II. Farrar, A. L. Stuart. II. N
Ogden, u. j. Sage, +. Ii. Wigfall
Major George o. Norton, Frederick N. Ogden
John b. Sale, James Phelan, William II. Saun-
ders, Rev. J. N. Gallaher, Charles L. 9. Du-
puy. b. A. Pope, M. D., Joseph Jones, M. ID.
B r. Jonas, Edward Ivy, A. w Ellsworth. y
T.. Chaille, M. d.. ~. NJ. Benss, M. d., FRANK
Hawthorne, M. d., James strawbrldge, Rev
Il. M. Palmer, u. d. Hon. Thomas }
| Semmes, T.. Nj. Hudson, Charles Chapotin
| Hon 9. NJ. Conrad J. II. Caldwell, III. Cha
| pata and John }. o'Brlen.
| Rev. DR.. b. NJ Palmer was elected presi
dent and Joseph Jones, M. D. secretary, anc
vice presidents were elected for each State Q
the Confedefacy
Important work was done, and valuable
material was collected by the society In New
Orleans but its most active friends wer
finally led to the conclusion that Its Interest
would be promoted by q change Of domici
and of certain features Of Its organi sation.
Accordingly the executive committee Of u
| society issued call for a convention OF N
friends TO assemble at the Montgomer,
| White Sulphur Springs, Virginia. on TIN
fourteenth of August, 1879 and sent com
municatiun to that convention urging that tn
domieil Of the society be changed, new of
ganizatlon effected and certain alteration
made In its working
IN responss To this call large and enthus
astio convention, composed Of delegate
from twelve States and embracing some {
the most distinguished soldiers and civilian
OF tho Confederaey, assembled, and unan
mously voted to remove the headquarters &
the society to Richmond, and to adopt on
present plan of organization.
Since the removal to Richmond there ha
been steady work and the most gratlfyin
progress. We have now an invaluable co
lection Of material for the use of the his
! toriap, and our monthly Papers have not onl
a won the highest enromufns from our mos
distinguished confederates. but have ais
come to be recognized as high dnthorl
J both at the North and In Europ
, The Mem England Historical and Gene
/ logical Register says that mo librar.
. public or private, which pretends to histories
. fullness, can afford to be without these vo
! umes," and the London Saturday Reuie
4 saws; "The Fnpera Of tho Southern Histories
Society contain q mas OF Information rel
two to the late war, without car
. ful study Of which no historian, how
| ever limited his scope. should venture
3, treat any fragment of that most interestin
We are sure that the lady friends Of Il
society will rejoice to hear OF It's success, III
that they will be glad to rally around an
push 1t to yet greater usefulness IN Il
I future.
II Our efficient general agent, Gen. George
Johnston, of Alabama, is now in New Orlean
Gen. Johnston was u gallant soldier in Ii
Y Western army, and IL too we'll known rs
! chivalrous, accomplished gentleman to nee
/ any commentator from VIZ.
But we beg that all who desire to see Wind
2 Gated the truth of our Confederate hstor
!, will give Gen. Johnston their active co-oper
{ ton In enrolling members Of the society, az
, securing documents Of any kind which wi
: add to the value Of our collection.
J. A. EARLY,
vi President Southern Historical Society.
ID. ii. MAuRY,
Chairman Executive Committee.