Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-12-18
WITH BRIGHT PROSPECTS.
State Historical Society Begins Its
Forty-fourth Year-An-
nual Reports.

Madison, Wis, Dec. 13.-[Special i
| At the forty third annual meeting of the
State Historical society held last even
ing the following officers were elected:
President-John Johnston, Milwaukee,
k 3D. Madison 5ames 4 lewis LI d.
| Columbus; James Sutherland GAINESVILLE;
Samuel Marshall, Milwaukee; John T. Kings
GGysbert Van Steenwyk. La Crosse; John ..
Cormick, HAYWARD; Thomas J; CUNNING ming
Ashland Gen. Lucius Fairchild, Madison;
| w A. Jones, Mineral Point; w. w. Wright,
Madison; Daniel Wells, Jr., Milwaukee
| Corresponding secretary Reuben q.
Recording secretary-Elisha Burdick.
| Treasurer-Frank NJ. Proudft.
| L:brarian-Isaac S. Bradley.
| Curators, for the term expiring at annual
| meeting in December, 1S98-Jarius II. Car
Renter' IL D Bre zee j. j. Stevens ,o MAJ.
Wayne Ramsay, Alexander II. Main, NJ.
Ransom ,Doyon,, Prof. W; III; Rosenstengel,
EFedeTick RGherf be aof Robert
| Curators, for term ending at annual meet
P. Delaplaine, deceased, Col. William F.
| Villas, and in place of Samuel IL. Hastings,
resigned A. W. Newman
! Curators, for term ending at annual meet
| ing in December, 1896, in place Of Hiram Ii.
Giles, deceased, j. Howard Palmer,
| New members were elected as follows.
Life members-The Rev John Nelson Da-
wilson, Two Rivers; Isaac s. Bradley, Madi-
| son; Gen. e. e. Bryant.
Active members-Frank e. Clark, Prince
ton; henry e. Legler, Henry G. Campbell,
and John G. Gregory, Milwaukee,: the Rev.
J. NJ. Naughtin, 4. 6. Richmond, Charles NJ.
! Norris Anthony Donovan DR.. Grin G. Lib
| by and Paul S. Reinsch, Madison,
| Corresponding members-Mitchell Vincent,
Onawa, Monona county, Ia; William Gray
Brookes. NJ. D., Boston; DR.; Samuel stett
| Green Worcester, Mass; William Foster,
Providence, r. l.; Murray e. Poole, Ithaca,
\. Y; James II: Stout, ,Menomonie, Wis; !;
Jones, Mineral Point; James Pardon, Supe-
rior; the Rev. Edward p. Wheeler, Ash
land; Thomas G. LaWler, Prairie = d da Chen
| Wolff, Rhine; George A Buckstaff, Osh-
kosh; Frank L. Fraser Lake Beulah; Daniel
| O. Mahoney. Viroqua William O'Neill,
Washburn; Thomas B. Mills, Superior; e.
| CT. Timme. KenoSha.
| At the beginning Of the meeting Presi-
| dent Johnston, who had just completed
| his sixth term, reviewed the work that
| had been accomplished i'll that time. The
reports of the treasurer and the finance
| and auditing committees showed that the
/ funds were being economically managed
| and revealed to what straits the society
| is put, owing TO the slender means pro-
vided by the state, to make both ends
| meet. Secretary Thwaites' report gave
| the details of the sOciety'S work. 1t
| showed that the library had been en-
larged during the year by the accession
of 1874 books and PAL pamphlets, to-
| tai of 6975 titles, thus making the pres
ent strength of the library 1888 books
and 50, 737 pamphlets, or 174,270 in all.
| A list was given of the most important
| books added during the year, among
! these being some works of exceptional
! Importance and interest, such as the rolls
and journals of the English Parliament,
| from the Thirteenth century to the pres
| ent date The secretary briefly reported
relative to his field work during the year,
such as an historical trip in June to 10
| cate so far as possible, the landtall of
| the earliest French fur traders ard Jes-
nit priests on ChequamegOn bay. In
| July he visited the leading libraries in
| the East to gather points for the new
| building and in April represented the So
ciety at the American Antiquarian So
ciety's meeting in Boston. Particular
| attention was given in the report to the
new home for the society which is to be
/ erected next year. The treasures will
| then be safely housed in a freprOOf
| building and the society will certainly
! enter upon a broader field Of public use
! fulness.
After the business part of the meet
| ing had been finished the following pa
pers were read: 'Radisson's Journal
It's Value in History" by Henry G..
| Campbell of Milwaukee; "The Fugitive
Slave Law in Wisconsin, with Reference
to the Notification Sentiment" by Vro-
man Mason of Green Bay; early Leg
| islation Concerning Wisconsin Banks"
| by William W. Wight of Milwaukee.
Before the meeting closed an oil por-
/ trait of the late Hiram Barber, ST., of
| Dodge county, one of the most prominent
makers of the state constitution, was
| presented, with appropriate remarks by
| Speaker George B. Burrows in behalf
Of Hiram Barber, Jr., of Chicago.