The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-11
iva. HISTORICALSOC
covcLUSTON OF THE INTERESTING
HISTORY or THAT ORGANIZATION
-. struggles 70 Keep Alive and Its Ups and
Downs Before the War--Its Troubles
During That Period.

lnr III. lNt4, we ret thc i1ioloflCal society
q, possession Of an apartment in the
,ben.um building. IN which building
tbov we're also permitted to hold their
annual meetings.
These were not altogether without In
forest. The audiences were generally
,rom the educated and refined class,
many Of whom had a taste for historical
research but the greater part attended
because 10 had become fashionable TO do
g.. II had long been the habit OF the
executive committee TO invite some dis
t.nerl!Shcd man TO deliver on these occa-
Sons what were called "discourses" upon
some appropriate topic. These We're
.rcrwards published under the di-
ro-tion OF the corresponding secretary
and placed among the literary collections
az the society. Prominent among those
Who delivered addresses before the So
l.ofv were Or. Gushing, OF Hampden-
sidney College; Henry a. Washington,
Hon. r.. NJ. T. Hunter, Professor Holmes
o. the University Of Virginia; Hugh Blair
C~rsby. Hon. William G. Rives. James
y. H0lcombe, Rev Or William ). Plumer
and others, who entertained and instruct
u their audiences with Characteristic
ABILITY IL was in this same hall mat the
richmond public were privileged TO hear
Mr. William NJ. Thackeray deliver his
entertaining lecture on the -Four Georges
and the Wits OF Queen Anne's Time
This was not. however. under the auspices
Of the Virginia Historical Society. AT
that day there was no other fitting place
where the famous satrist. or any other
DISTINGUISHED '1iterateur." could have
been decently accommodated, and we
mention this only as one Of the events OF
the time.
Although the society thus manifested
semblance Of life. no practical results
followed. and II was not long before
even this negative existence was dis
turbed. The scheme for maintaining
public library proved a failure. The
A,heneum building was sold. pulled down
and the space IT had filled occupied by
the private dwellings that now stand on
tie southeast corner OF Tenth and Mar
shall streets Another crisis in the az
fairs Of the society had arrived. The
executive committee were called upon TO
make new provision for its effects At
meeting over which Mr. Conway Robin
son presided the following members were
present. Alr. g. A. Myers, Colonel Thomas
H. Ellis Mr.. Thomas T. Giles, Mr..
Arthur Morson, Mr.. George w. fandoIph'
,'r j. p. Taylor, Mr.. II. G. Caoell. Dr.
d q Barney. treasurer, and DR. William
q Palmer. corresponding secretary.
Tho Mechanics ASSOCIATION Of Rich
r.0rd noe Ions before the events just
recorded had finished a spacious build
ir- for their own uses on the western
side of ninth. between Main and Frank
iu streets Here had frequently been
held exhibitions Of the mechanic and fine
arts while other parts of the building
were devoted 20 concerts and other pub
Wc ueas. It afterwards became historic
as the Confederate States War Depart
rant. but was destroyed by fire at the
fu of Richmond in 1865. In the mean
time the Richmond Library Association
lad failed in their effort 10 keep up
circulating library, and their books had
to le disposed Of. The times were out
of Joint. there was no sale for them.
T..rlp's minds were occupied with the
threatening troubles Of impending war.
The members of the Library Association,
b.trr at a loss how TO dispose of such
valuable property. decided at last 70
hand their books to the number or nearly
five thousand volumes, over to the VIZ
c.aia Historical Society. under such con-
dtors as made them practically a gratul-
o. % the latter To effect this arrange
nant a meeting Of the Library Assocla-
ton was called. but after several inef-
f,ctual attempts to secure business
Quorum IL was determined 20 carry out
their purposes by proxy. MI. George W.
Randolph accordingly drew up a proper
five members OF the Library Assocla-
ti.n authorizing DR.. G. G. Barney TO
represent them I'm the proposed arrange
Ye4nt with the Virginia Historical society.
ON this roll are to be seen the names or
many Of the most prominent clutzehs OF
Richmond. and il Is a notable but mel
oucbolv fact that at this date, Deem
Der / 1892 but five Of the slgners are Nv
ing This transfer was made IN loCo'
NH ovacufivp committee or the society
whose meeting was referred to above,
rad now to provide for the additional
number Of books, lately the property Oh
the Richmond Library Association as
well as for their own. After some ue-
law a room in the Mechanics Han pullu-
Ing was secured. and here all the DOCKS
were slowed away as best they could pe'
while the paintings and other valuable
rrorertv were kindly allowed Dy ~
barney 10 be taken to his private dwell
irs at No 403 east Main street
The war between the States had now
beruu. and Richmond was soon al''r
made the capital Of the Cohleuer%'e
States. The new Government had To pe
accommodated. The 5, nate and House OF
p...r.eontatives occupied the Capitol
vhuo the Mechanics Institute building
u anpropriated to the War, Ordnance
md Medical departments. We have Just
t-en that the Joint libraries OF the his
torical Society and the Richmond Library
Association. having become one, had been
hurrtedlv transferred to the Mechanics
T,sti+ote building They had been there
b,t q short time when the necessities OF
tho Confederate Government demanded
thoir Immediate removal. In the struggle
between the muse OF history and the god
dees Of war, BellOna prevailed. once
again the books Of the society were on the
go Nv military order and under the
fram1 OF armed men. they were forced
~ and another place of refuge. What
US now 10 be done? At this juncture
the city authorities, under the persua-
eions OF the indefatigahle treasurer Of the
society. agreed TO let the books go INTO
tbe second story OF brick building then
standing at the corner OF Bank and Ienth
streets. the site of the present Times
puilding. Certainly here az last was lest
~ 10 found for the wanderers. Not so,
however. Grim visaged war was moSe
than ever on his relentless tramp. The
hooks had not been placed upon the
hastNv-arrangcd shelving when the IN
creasinR demands Of the new government
re1ulred the rooms IN this building FOR us
Official use Dr. Barney, who had super
Intended the removal Of the books pro-
tested against this new outrage, and APP
pealed I'm vain to those in authority. Inc
bcality was convenient TO the other de-
partrnents OF the Government ana the
rooms In this building were TO be appro-
priated 70 the commisary and transpOTta-
ton Offices In his despair as 10 what
was now 10 be done the Doctor had the