The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-17

The annual meeting of the Lacka-
wanna Institute of History and Sci
ence was held last night in the office
of Attorney G. Il. Pitcher in the Com
monwealth building. There were pres
ent c. r. Pitcher, A. w. Dickson, ). u.
Kerr, Edward Merriield, Charles Le-
Roy Wheeler John Prout, f. IL. Platt,
DR.. L. M. Gates, DR.. p. f. Gunster, G.
w. Phillips, j. j. II. Hamilton, j. H.
Fisher and w. d. Kennedy.
In making the annual report for the
trustees Mr. Platt deplored the fact
that the institute is not receiving the
support 1t merits and that the poaru
was forced to recommend the dismissal
of a curator because of there being no
assurance that his salary would be pro-
vided for. Mr.. Dickson supplemented
this report with remarks on the hard
struggle the society has had during the
past year and the many disappoint-
ments it has encountered such as the
failure of the county to keep its promise
to reimburse them fully for the loss they
We're put to by being compelled to move
out of the court house, the failure to
secure quarters in the high school
building and the necessity of finally
storing away the collections in the
Green Ridge library, which is so far dis
tant from the center of the city. He
also paid high compliment to the cur
ator Mr.. Wheeler, and expressed deep
regret that the trustees were forced by
adversity to recommend his dismissal.
The report was received and ordered
filed and the question of dismissing the
curator left to the incoming board of
trustees.
REPORT OF CURATOR.
Curator Wheeler's report showed that
during the year 977 volumes and 722
pamphlets were added to the library
besides over 1900 duplicate books which
it will be possible to exchange, with
other similar organizations for books
that the local society will have use for.
Three historical publications We're is
sued under the auspices of the society
by f. Merrifeld, j. c. Platt and j. p.
Leslie.
To the museum there We're 441 new ad-
ditions including the collection of 137
birds purchased from A. b. Williams, jr.
He recommended that the institutes
property be removed as soon as possible
from the Green Ridge library and
brought to the central city; that imme-
diate and vigorous steps be taken to
the purchase of the Hollister collection
of Indian relics be consummated;, and
that steps be taken to increase the
membership and put the institute on a
| sound financial basis. Unless these
things be done, he said, the institute
is doomed to death and its property will
be absorbed by the Green Ridge Library
| association.
The constitution was changed where
| it referred to membership, dividing
| the members into four classes: Pat
| rome, fellows, life members and annual
| members. BY the payment of $1,000 a
| person can become patron with power
| to perpetuate the title. For $500 one
| becomes q fellow of the institution with
| power to transfer it to legatee, al
| whose death it expires unless renewed
| One can become life member for $l0(
| and an annual member for $5 year
| Provision is also made for honorary
members who may lie elected for merit
and assigned to any of the degrees al
the discretion of the trustees. The
honorary membership is limited to five
THE OFFICERS CHOSEN.
The election of officers resulted as fol
lows: President, j. A. Lansing; frs
vice president f. e. Platt; second vic,
president Il. Merritield; recording sec
retary, j. II. Fisher; treasurer, G. w
| Phillips; corresponding secretary, j
j. II. Hamilton; trustees, DR.. p. +
| Gunster, j. a. Lansing, F. f. Platt, +,
b. Sturges, DR.. l.. NJ. Gates, f. Merri
field, DR. b. II. Throop. A. w. Dickson
was elected a trustee but declined.