Wichita eagle., 1890-03-07
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.

| The board of directors, of the Kansas
State Historical society, at its meeting
January 21st, 1890, by resolution directed
the secretary of the society to open cor
respondence with persons throughout the
state, with the view to the formation of
| county historical societies. This circular
/ has been prepared i'll compliance with
! the resolution.
/ The object of such county historical
! society should be to study the history of
/ the county; and of all its towns, neigh
/ borhoods and localities, and to preserve
! the materials of such history. Such a
! society should have constitution and
regularly appointed officers, and a room
! or rooms, furnished with cases: and
! should have stated meetings. At the
meetings there should be lectures de-
| livered, papers read, and stories and
"reminiscences of the early settlers mar
rated the substance of which should be
written down for preservation in the
societys library. All original papers
should be preserved. Copies OF the
same, if given the state historical society.
will be carefully preserved in the state
archives.
A library of historical and other books,
J
history, should be accumulated. and the
rooms of the society should be adorned
with pictures of early pioneers and other
prominent persons, and with other
pictures of historic illustration. In many
instances probably a room III the county
court house can be secured, in which
cases may be placed for the library and
| collections, where they should be made
I y hn aal-rn~ Of h.a hi 70 I..,.
served for all time.
Local societies in different towns and
neighborhoods in the county can be
made auxiliary to the county society.
But a county society should be broad
enough in It's membership and work to
embrace the whole county. so that all
the people of the county may be made to
take an interest in it, and to realize the
value and usefulness OF the historic
property accumulated.
The objects of the society NAV be
summarized under the following heads:
I. \ library Of historical aud other
books, pamphlets. county newspaper files,
maps, manuscripts, pictures and stat
uary.
?. \ collection of historic relics-espe-
cialiy of the county.
the oral narration Of "reminiscences, TO
be taken down in writing; all to be pre-
served in the library of the society.
(. The transmission of copies Of papers
for preservation IN the library of the
State Historical society.
}. The celebration of local, state and
national holidays.
6. Excursions to historic places.
r1lIppfiDr, Of lc.af fo5l--l1ra
5. The marking of old roads and trails
on maps constructed for that object, and
the marking Of places of historic interest
with suitable monuments.
9. The exploration Of ancient mounds
and the preservation of archaeological
relies.
10. Tie collection OF local literature,
poetry and songs.
II. Reunion OF early settlers.
II. Tableaux and dramatic illustra
tions of early events and traditions.
Il is desired that action taken in ac-
cordance with suggestions contained in
this circular shall be reported 70 the
State Historical Society oy commupi-
cation addressed 10 the secretary at
Topeka. County and other local h's-
torical societies already organized IN
Kansas are also requested TO colnmuni-
cate 10 the state society the history. pro-
press ard present condition of their
work. and the extent Of their collections.
FRANkLIN &. ADAMS Sec'v.