Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10
DIS STRICT HISTORY
One Way in Which 1t Will Be Gathered
and Preserved.
Formation of the Columbia Historical
Society and the Gentlemen who
Are It's FOunders

In response to a call issued early in the
week, conference was held IN Columbian
University Friday afternoon for the pur-
pose OF exchanging views As to the best
means Of gathering and preserving the his
tory OF the national capital. The meeting
was called to order by ". ]. McOee. the
author of the call. and the need of some
fundamentally to collect and preserve the
historical records was briefly stated TO
effect temporary organization Or. Well
ing was called to the chair and Mr.. Mar
Gus Baker was made temporary secretary.
There were present. also DR.. Toner, Prof
G. Brown Goode, Mr.. Spofford. Miss Kate
Field. Lawrence Gardner. NJ. l. Weller,
Theodore W. Noyes. Judge Hasner and
Mr.. Worthington G. Ford, and 4 number
of communica tons from other recipients
of the call were laid before the Meeting.
The Columbia Historical Society.
Different plans for gathering ana pre-
serving historical records and for develop
ing interest in the history of the national
capital were proposed and discussed. The
question whether the ends couli De ac-
complished by increasing the local member
ship and widening the local scope of the
American Historical Association or by
streng thening the Memorial Association re-
celved special attention 1t was the unani-
nous opinion that some organiza .ioa Is e.
quired for collecting the scattered and
rapidly disappearing records Of events sI d
individuals prominent in the history OF the
city and District: and the discussion
brought out the prevailing opinion that the
most effective organization wound be n
historical association coordinate with those
already established in many Of our states.
Accordingly 1t was decided Institute
such an organization under the name CT
the Columbia Historical Society.
With view TO permanent organization
three committees were appointed. DR..
yelling and Messrs. Spofford, Toner, Nico-
lay and Hagner were appointed a commit
tee to draft a constitution; Justice Morris
and Messrs. Ross. Taggart, 3oode ard
Gardner were made committee on charter
and Messrs. MCGEE. Hubbard. Hood. Moves
and Weller were charged with the fixing Of
Offices and the nomination If officers The
three committees were Instructed to CO.
operate and report action at a future meet
ing.
List of Founders.
The list of the founders adopted Is as
follows: Mr.. Henry Adams Mr. Marcus
Baker, DIR. Swan VI. Burnett, William F.
Edmonston. esq. Miss Kate Field, Worth
ington c. Ford. Chief Justice Melville w.
Fuller, Lawrence Gardner. DIR. William W.
Godding. DR.. q. Brown Goode. Judge Alex
snder L. Hagner. Rev. Teunis 8. Hamlin,
Commissioner of Education william T. Har-
ris. Col. John Hay. James +. Hood. esq.
Mr.. Gardiner G. Hubbard. Right Rev. John
T. Hurst. Miss Elizabeth b. Johnston, Right
Rev. John J. Keane. Mr.. 8. P. Langley
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Rev. Randolph
H Nckini. Justice Martin f. Morris, Mr.
John Z. Nicolay. Mr.. Theodore w. Noyes
Major John w. Powell. Rev. ]. Havens
richards. L. Francis Riggs. esq.,, Com
missioner John w. Ross. Mr.. A. Il. Spot
ford. Hugh T. Taggart esq, DR.. J. NJ
Toner. Michael I. Wel!ar. esq. DIR. James
c. yelling. Representative William L. Will
son.
The Object of the Society.
In no other part Of the country are his
tOrical records more interesting and I'M
portant than in the District of Columbia
Set apart as the home for the national cap
ital. this District is most inseparably con-
nected with the country at large; Its growth
in population and social character repre-
sents the development of the nation; its
history is an epitome of that of the coun-
try. Yet. while there have been sporadic
movements in the direction Of systematic
preservation of the history OF the District
IL Is a remarkable fact that the District Is
without an organized instrumentality for
promoting historical research and preserv-
ing historical records of general character
The exp press purpose of the conference at
Columbian University was to supply this
deficiency and to institute q society which
may by large membership. by public ad-
dresses and printed publications. diffuse in
terest in historical matters and bring to-
gether the data for a complete history of
the District of Columbia not simply as one
of the territorial divisions of the Union, but
as the site of the national capital.