Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-12-13

card catalogue is now practically COM
plete; useful and frequently con-
suited card catalogue has been pre-
pared, of biographical sketches and
portraits Of the notable men and
women of the state; a catalogue of
newspapers, with historical notes, will
soon be issued; and work has COM
menced on the classification and shelf
listing of the library, preparatory to
removal.
Lists are given of the accessions to
the portrait gallery and museum, and
the manuscript department., all show
ing a very healthy growth.
In reporting upon his own official
movements during the year, it appears
that during the past summer, thus
enjoying his first regular vacation for
several years. the secretary visited
the countries of central and western
Europe, paying especial attention to
the furnishing and administrative
methods of large libraries. archives
! and museums, with the view of gradu-
ally introducing into the work of the
Wisconsin society such as seemed
suited to it's needs and were otherwise
practicable. While in Paris and Lon
don, he spent much time in the public
archives, and made arrangements for
copying numerous documents which
threw much light upon early Wiscon-
sin history, particularly the relations
/ between the French and the Indians,
in the old Fox war. The trip was
made without expense to the society.
He also, during the year, made sew
eral visits to various portions of Wis
consin, upon errands of research in
connection with the editing of the Wis
consin Historical Collections. He
also responded to invitations to ad-
dress public meetings within the state
with the aim of cultivating popular in
terest in state and local history. He
/ is at present editing volume IA of the
Collections, which will be issued from
the press early next spring.
Progress upon the new building is
reported. 1t is hoped that the society
may be able to move in during the
summer of 1899; but the building com
missioners will apparently have to go
before the legislature once more. in
order to obtain means for equippino.
the structure.
The law of 1897, authorizing the
formation of local historical societies
auxiliary to the state society, is
IaVoraDly commented upon, and
the hope expressed that a.
considerable number of such will be
organized. With each local society
lntelligently cultivating it's own field
OF research, and the results carefully
summarized in the annual reports of
the several societies, published in
connection with the report of the
state society, we would achieve re-
suits quite unparalleled in any other
American state. Every document of
historic interest would thereby grad
ually be obtained from it's private
owner, and placed where it would be
] OF use to all, in the archives of the
commonwealth, which are entrusted
to our keeping; every event of local
interest would in time have it's histo-
rlan; important historic monuments
would, In every locality be preserved,
or their sites marked with tablets:
and there would be engendered
throughout the commonwealth, par
t1cularly in the schools, a spirit of
historic research which would quicken
civic pride, the true source of pa
triotism. and in general make for the
| intellectual advancement of our peo-
pie"
A report is made, of the action of
the executive committee relative to
the several semi-centennial celebra-
tions,- of the circular letter of No
vember 8, calling popular attention
to the Importance of observing the an
niversaries in May and June; and of
the detailed circular of December 1,
offering suggestions relative to the
! formation of local societies, and
their work in preparation for the
semi-centennial. The report con-
cludes: eve believe that the results
of the various systematic endeavors
| IOW U0luS uduO, LII COuu6CC1Ou WILL
the semi-centennial anniversaries, to
foster the historic spirit in our midst,
will prove of great Importance to the
cause not only of history but of good
citizenship in Wisconsin,; and the
] prominent part in this movement
which has fallen to the lot of our
society, will greatly strengthen it's
hands in the important work which
| lies before it.
Several historic papers were pre-
sented to the meeting. The first was
| by Ernest Bruncken Of Milwaukee,
/ himself of German descent, on How
Germans become Americans. He
did not seek to show the action of the
! foreign upon the native American
elements of our social structure but
/ the reverse. The paper was an inter-
esting psychological study. Among