Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-08
usefulness through concerted and sustained


Original documents. special monographs.
| reports. acts Of Congress and Of the
colonies and Of the several states,
maps and books of reference are
situations. and are absolutely essential to
accurate work. The painstaking console n
tious historian, like the careful surveyor
who aims to extend straight line, where
the vision is obstructed by irapenetrable OBJ
Jects, frequently tests the accuracy Of his
work by reversing his compass and "look-
ing backward to prove whether the for
ward points indicated and about to be
marked are in correct line when viewed in
the light OF what had been gone over and
marked by himself or others. We can only
argue logically and proftably from what we
Know. To predicate with judgment the
probabilities of happenings In the future We
must possess accurate knowledge of results
In the past, where conditions are compar-
able. Man in his weakness often expects
miracles. Results are but the natural off,
spring or causes. What has been will be.
Purposes of the Society
The Columbia Historical Society earnestly
invites the cooperation and active men,
bership Of all persons interested in our local
history. and in general historical and
biographical research / cannot conceive Of
an individual who does not love his family
and his country, and do not know CT any
better manifestation of such love than in
eSASSs IA 40 ooSidPhy anu HiStOIys "a
unity of purpose by minds trained to ac-
curate thinking and writing, with the aid Of
special repository, ricn in original or au-
thentic records, must, as a matter of course,
lead to many conferences and discussions
among themselves upon important his
torical and genealogical studies and TO valu-
able publications. This society also desires
to interest and secure the sympathy and
good will of all the citizens Of the District
of Columbia in the laudable and unselfish
PURPOSES of this OrCAniZatiO whose ahlrS
must inure to the credit of our people at
the nations capital 1t is believed that the
citizens of Washington city and the public
will be benefited in proportion to the inIer-
est they take In our local history, because
If knowledge is strength, want of IL pro-
claims feebleness and dependence. 1t is be-
coming and proper for Us all to be proud Of
the nations capital and the city Of our resi-
dence
We are aware that historical society as
sumes obligations to the public and de-
liberately accepts them, when IL asks for
special and corporate powers to conduct its
affairs and build UP a repository OF his
torical data, the fruit of the past, and the
rightful heritage of the present and future
time No public institution can in justice to
the people from whom Ii gets its powers be
permitted to collect and lock up useful
knowledge as private or corporate in
vestmept and prevent or delay publication.
Members of all learned societies having
charters stand in the position OF contribu-
tors and managers of great moral trusts in
the interest of the people, and are bound to
respect the natural rights OF mankind, and
to SO discharge their duty, as to not restrict,
but to disseminate. knowledge. and to this
end are bound to keep their collections
great or small. accessible to students, that
the public may be benefited. 1t may be
asked what are the documents, and where
are they to be found. that are supposed to
possess historic value. This 10 difficult
question to answer.
The Sources of a Collector.
The collector of historical treasures often
stumbles upon valuable data and builds
better than he knows. To him who hath
shall be given. By right or wrong treasures
go to the strong. In time 1t will become
fashionable for owners of choice historical
works and libraries to give or devise them
to the Columbia Historical Society. The So
ciety may also in certain cases be favored
by being made sort Of residuary legatee in
the clearing up Of estates. II will always
be thankful to4become the repository OF sne
literary keepsskes from the shelves and at
ties Of old family mansions All old family
records, manuscripts and letters, early
pamphlets. etc, will be welcome to the as
sorting room of the Columbia Historical So
ciety. The rooms of the society should, and
in time will. become great storehouse for
everything which can testify to facts from
the beginning of the national government
and the progress of the District OF Column
prises of its people. Views and prints of
early buildings and portraits of eminent
characters, identified with our country and
the District, should be collected and, when
practicable. displayed in the hall of the
society, and sketches Of their lives and la
bors recorded In manner to be readily re-
ferred to.
venture to predict that II We proceed
with resolution and upon comprehensive
plan, eVincing personal and associate in
tereSt In all matters relating to t!lis enter
prise. ii will be but few years until the
rooms OF the Columbia Historical Society
VIII contain a grand collection OF important
original documents, national portraits ard
related historical material, which will make
IL one of the chief attractions IN the capital
city OF our country. We owe II TO ourselves
that the hall OF the society be made in every
way worthy OF the high and roble purpose
to which 1t is TO be devoted. and accessible
and attractive to people of culture. 1t is at
once our duty and our interest to make II
popular with our citizens by preserving
these records and to see to 1t that our COL
lections, deposits and observations of all
kinds are SO classified, arranged, caleadered
and iaee.;ed as to prove a useful mine of
Information to the inquiring historian.
Should this ideal be realized to any consider
able degree. the ROOMS OF the society will,
II centrally located, be frequented almost
daily by those interested, and particularly
by the more elderly members, 10 examine
records and to meet there consenici friends.
compare notes and consult resent historical
publications. and comment upon such mat
ters in a frank, conversational way, and to
discuss current news and public affairs. In
time Ii should become An established fact
and grow into a popular belief among the
people that calendars, indexes and refer
ences 10 almost everything relating to the
history of our city, her public Institutions,
Old families, notable events ana occur
FENCES, LEGAL and national, are to be found
of record and may be freely consulted at
the rooms of the Columbia Historical So
ia mr. Cfk< 10 f.~t re- ",
time become n vast repository OF defunct
! historical facts. The public will be just to
us, and will hold US neither too high. nor
too low. Our society will be what we and
our successors may make 1t. it Is to be an
institute OF which we shall be proud. Our
collections and the fruit OF our labor viii
answer. The purposes of the society are
lofty and just i have faith in the career
In which we are engaged and in the ability
and strength of purpose or those enlistiaS
in the work 1t is worthy of our highest
considerations and respected by all learned
societies.
The Field of Local History.
As lover and conservator Of historical
materials / an constrained to say that II is.
| in my judgment, safe to assume that the
record or history of any effort or method
pursued for mans advancement, or any in
strument of writing that has defined his
rights or protected his property or person
anywhere in the past, and every accurate
account of inventions in the useful arts, or
events or occurrences in our political and
social history, are pretty sure to possess