The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-24
MRS. LAMBS QUEER WAYS.
She Was the Only Woman Historian In
America, Perhaps in the World.

She Was the Only Woman Historian IN
America, Perhaps In the World.
Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, editTess Of The
Magazine of American History, was
singular and remarkable woman. She
was something of writer, something Of
business woman, something Of phi
!anthropist something Of an organizer
and great deal of historian.
Mrs. Lamb was the one woman who
has written history successfully. She
took as much delight in hunting through
musty letters, manuscripts and records
and in digging into ancient ruins as the
late Mr. Bancroft. Not only did she
take interest In historical matters-an
easy enough and common enough thing
10 debut she won the respect and ad
miration Of eminent and erudite histor-
ical scholars Gu both sides Of the Allan
tic, and came to be recognized as an au-
thority on American historical matters
Mrs. Lambs strong, kindly, womanly
face was familiar in all of the book stores,
Libraries and those out Of the way book
marts IN the city, the existence OF which
Is unknown to most busy New Workers,
where literary people, book lovers and
antiquarians congregate TO follow their
studies and fancies. Although sixty
three years Of age, for years, regularly
vacations were quite unknown To her
at o'clock IN the morning she arrived
at her Office in the building occupied by
the Scribners Indeed she brought on
her death by persistence in attendance TO
her duties when her health would not
permit it, In the details of her work she
was as systematic as bank clerk, and
she would brook nothing else on the part
Of her assistants
Editress and business manager of the
| magazine. an active participant IN the af
fairs of numerous societies devoted 70
historical research and the advancement
of women, an author Of historical works,
a constant writer on historical themes,
she accomplished all with the aid Of but
one stenographer, and she had been heard
to say that this stenographer was lux
ury. There's an example Of activity and
devotion to duty to be admired by man
and woman alikel
Mrs. Lamb began writing at an early
age. AS girl she was shy, modest, I'M
assuming and never accessible to stran-
gers. When she was fifteen years of age
she went to visit the birthplace Of her
mother, who died when she was child.
She wrote long account Of the impress
sions she received and sent it unsigned
TO paper at Northampton. Mass, near
by where she was living. The editor
learned who the author was and p-b-
- - a.
was twenty she had number of stories
for children accepted by magazines and
periodicals, and during her lifetime she
wrote eight books for children.
She was often abrupt and original in
her decisions. She would advance pc
culiar opinion upon subject, and upon
being asked for her reason would answer
simply that she had none, but she knew
what she stated TO be true
Mrs. Lamb had her hobby. 1t was So
cieties. She was member Of more or
CARNATIONS than any other woman who
ever lived When there was no society
for her to join she organized one The
walls Of her apartment were covered
with framed certificates of membership
in societies in all parts of the world. She
was the originator of the Home for the
Friendless and the Half Orphan society,
the Colonial Danes and numerous 9TH
ers. When she attended meeting of
historians last year at Montreal she was
granted the freedom of the city-some-
thing never given before to woman
Although most enthusiastic in all mat
ters of woman's work, Mrs. Lamb her
self most enjoyed to.work with men.
She made The Magazine of American
History pay-a miraculous accomplish
Inent in the eyes of publishers.
.'The History of the City of New
York" won for Mrs. Lamb her spurs as
a historian. Many consider it the most
complete and accurate record ever COM
piled. Afterward she published half a
dozen historical works which were re-
ceived and are looked upon as coming
from high authority What she has
done in her magazine toward preserving
American historical references cannot
fail to be of value to the future historian
/ in his work-New York Press.