Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-10
LADIES' MEMORIAL MUSEUM Visited by Members of the Southern Associated Press. LOCATED IN RICHMOND, VA. In the House Occupied by Jefferson Davis, and
 Known as the "White House of
 the Confederacy"

It will be a matter of pride as well as of qualification to every true southerner to know that a museum for the preserya- tion of relics and records of the Southern Confederacy is an established fact.
 At their recent annual meeting, held in Richmond the members of the Southern Associated Press, on invitation, visited the Memorial Museum, which Is located in the house formerly occupied bysJef- feEson Davis, and known as the White House of the Confederacy," and so struck were they with the great work that had been accomplished, and of which so lit tie is known even in the south, that a resolution was adopted appointing a committee to prepare an article upon the Museum which should be published in all the newspapers represented by the Southern Associated Press.
 INSPIRATION OF THE WORK.
 This great and noble work was fin spired by Mrs. Joseph Bryan in 1S90. when she was elected president of the Hollywood Memorial association, and has been carried successfully on with un- tiring zeal by the women of Richmond and the south. The plan was to secure from the city of Richmond the house which was occupied by President Davis and his family during the war, and to es- tablish therein a museum for the whole south. The house, which was erected in the early days of Richmond in what was then the most fashionable part of the city, was one of the handsomest of that time. It was built by MT. John Brock enbrough dS1719. He sold it to MT. James M .Morson, who added the third story, succeed the house, and adorned 1t with the beautiful carrara marble man. tlepieces. It was next sold to his cousin and law partner James A. Seddon, who was 0 member of congress from Vir- ginia, member of the peace congress held January 19, 1861, in Washington. and secretary of war of the Confederate States of America. Just before the war it was sold again; this time to Mir. Lewis D. Crenshaw, of the Haxall-Crenshaw mills. When the Confederate government was removed to Richmond, the city bought it for $35,000 and rendered it to President Davis. He declined to receive 1t, but consented to occupy it on the condition that full rent should be paid, the Confederate government making the first payment June 10, 1861.
 OCCUPIED BY FEDERALS.
 At the evacuation Gen. Godfrey Welt gel and staff rode immediately to the quarters for federal troops. It was used as such under Gems. Canby, Ord, and others during the time Virginia was known as District No. 1. While in com mand of District No. l, Gen. Canby, but for the efforts of the citizens and some friends in Richmond would have turned the building over to the Freedmanis bu- reau to be used as negro normal school. On Sept. s. 1870, it was restored. to the city, and in 1871 was given for the use of a public school.
 To secure this house for a museum, a new society was formed and chartered. May 31, 1890, under the name of the Con- federate Memorial Literary Society. A memorial asking for the house, signed by the ladies, was presented to the city council by Maj. Capers.
 HOW THE SOCIETY WAS NAMED.
 In order to meet certain legal require ments, the literary character was given to the society and the word literary" was incorporated in the name. There was embraced in the plan proposed by the ladies a clause to secure records, his torical matter, and literature of the south, and the Southern Historical Society was afforded a habitation in the building. On Dec. 8 Col. John B. Cary offered a res- olution for an appropriation for a new school building, and the delivery of the white house of the confederacy to the society for the museum and library as soon as the new school house was ready.
 On Jan. 5, 1891, this ordinance passed the council of the city of Richmond.
 A BAZAAR TO RAISE FUNDS.
 In the spring of 1891 1t was proposed to make an effort to raise money in the following fall. Tine association which had in charge the erection of the Private Soldiers and Sailors monument had not succeeded in collecting sufficient sum to complete that work, and applied to the Memorial society to hold a joint ba- zaar. The museum was only the sequal to the story of the dead soldier and his monument. As the life-work of the Hol- lywood Memorial association was to per petuate the memory of the soldier who fell in battle, they could not refuse to aid in erecting this monument to all the private soldiers-living and dead. Their circulars calling upon the other states to aid in the work of making this a muse um for the whole confederacy had been prepared. These were destroyed and oth- CTS gotten out, including an appeal for both the monument and the museum. These circulars were sent to every pa-s per in the southern states, including Maryland and Kentucky.
 TENT FOR EACH STATE.
 In October, 1892, the preparations for the memorial bazaar began, and Mrs. E. D. Hotchkies was elected president of the organization. Instead of tables, each state of the confederacy was to have tent, under the charge of a chairman and committee. who should enter into communication with people in the re- spective states. they represented, asking for contributions of all kinds. money, ar ticles. etc.. stating the whole plan of the museum, and that it was to be for the whole south. That this movement re- ceived the hearty endorsement and CO., operation of all the states was shown by the magnificent sum of $30.O00, which was realized.
 Fifteen thousand dollars was at once put in the soldiers and sailors monu- ment, which was unveiled on the 3Oth day of May, 1893, the Memorial Day of the Hollywood Memorial association. The remaining $15,0o0 was put into the treasury of the Confederate Memorial Literary society, to await the turning over to it of the building.
 THE BUILDING SECURED.
 On June 8, 1894. this was done by Col. John B.. Cary. chairman of the school committee, in the presence of the school board, the mayor, the ladies of the so- ciety, and its advisory board of gentle men. and was accepted by MT. Joseph Bryan, of the advisory board, on behalf of the society The building. has been restored to the appearance and condition in which it was when used by President Davis. except that it is now fireproof