Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-16

IuS very Q6alIny 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 yeaTs,-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 its 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 particularly the relations
between the French and the Indians.
in the old Fox war. The trip was
maze 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
/
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
mlss1oners will apparently have to go
before the legislature once more in
order to obtain means for euuippine
the structure.
Inc law Of 1897, authorizing the
formation of local historical societies
auxiliary to the state society is
laVoraply commented upon. and
the hope expressed that
considerable number Of such will be
organized. with each local society
lntelllgently cultivating it's own field
OF research, and the results carefully
summarized in the annual reports of
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the several societies, published in
connection with the report of tha
sUaCe 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 he
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-
RAN; 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
triotlsm, 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 3, calling popular attention
to the Importance Of observing the an
niVersaries in May and4 June; and of
the detailed circular or December /.
Offering suggestions relative to the
formation of local societies, and
their work in preparation for the
semi-centennial. The report con-
cludes: 1--WE believe that the results
Of the various systematic endeavors
now being made, in connection with
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
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
other positions taken was, that a con-
siderable amount Of education on
the part Of the immigrant causes de-
liberate resistance to the assimilating
process; those settling in native
American neighborhoods yield more
readily, while those coming to
neighborhoods of their own
people are slow to assimilate. For
eign-speaking churches and schools
constitute an important means Of
preventing rapid Amaricanization;
cor, to speak from the standpoint Of
a German, they are one Of the strong
est bulwarks of Germanism in this
country" The public schools are the
simplest and most effective agency
of reducing the foreign elements to
a common type-but most immigrants
come at an age too great for attend
ance on school. On the other hand,
newspapers printed in foreign lam
guages tend at once to interest the
foreigner in our politics and induce an
early participation in public affairs.
The greatest factor in retarding
Americanization is the social life; eff
in any locality there is a sufficient
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