The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-28
MISS WHARTON'S REPORT
A Summary of the Work of the
Colonial Danes.
Efforts of the Various State Societies
to Preserve Historical Landmarks
Many Marked With Tablets and
Monuments Contributions to the
George Washington Memorial.

Yesterdays sessions of the Colonial
Danes were largely attended and the mem
bers evinced lively interest in the pro-
ceedings and disposed of a great deal OF
business Mrs. Howard Townsend pre-
sided at both sessions, morning and after
noon. The report Of the business commit
zee was read, showing the finances of the
society in good condition and all de-
partments in perfect working order.
The motion to make a change in the
badge of the society created considerable
discussion and was finally referred to i;
committee The constitutional amer iment
to Article " to make the office OF rational
historian created for one year, in 1898,
permanent was adopted by 4 ul..nimous
vote. The work of the several State So
cieties has been summarized by the his
toriar of the society," Miss Anne HOllings-
worth Wharton, in part. as follows:
"All of the colonial State societies, and
many of the non-cJlonial. have had lee
lures upon American history and held
commemorative celebrations Of important
events in our national life. Some of the
papers read on these occasions are valuable
contributions to the history of colonial
things. A number of the State societies
have inaugurated the observance of Flag
Day, June II. Several of the societies
have interested themselves in instructing
the schoolchildren in the proper care of
the Tag. and a strong feeling has been
aroused by some of the State societies in
regard TO the reception of the national an
them at theatres and concerts. Lectures
upon colonial history in the public schools
have been given by a number of the So
cieties. while Pennsylvania, Massachu-
sets New York. New Hampshire Con-
necticut. South Carolina, Maine. Virginia.
the District Of Columbia, Missouri, Louis
lana. Florida, Tennessee, and Wisconsin
have offered prizes for essays on American
history to the students in public and pri-
vate schools: others have raised money for
libraries and historical pictures for remote
district schools. Massachusetts, has also Of
fered prizes of $500 yearly for original
paintings upon colonial subjects, in which
contest artists from other States have COM
peted and in some instances gained the
prizes Massachusetts, has also largely
contributed toward the purchase of Howard
| Pyle's pictures upon the life aid time OF
Was hington which have been placed in the
Boston library. Several OF the States have
Interested themselves in the preservation
OF historic documents. Virginia has had
copied and preserved the records of several
ancient parishes. among them being that
of St Peters Parish, Kent County, the
church in which was solemnized, in 1149,
the marriage of Martha cambridge TO
| Daniel Parke Curtis. South Carolina pub
| fishes each year portion of the register
! of St Philips Church, while Illinois heads
| the roll of non-cOlonial States in purchas
| ing and presenting to their historical So
| cieties valuable French manuscripts be
| longing to the early history of the State.
| California has also made a collection of let
| tiers and relics pertaining to the pictur-
| esque period of its early history, and Ten
| nessee has collected colonial portraits and
| other objects of interest. The Ohio So
| ciety has established permanent loan eX-
| hibt of colonial and revolutionary relies in
| the Cincinnati Art Museum.
Preservation of Landmarks.
/ MANY of the societies have used their
influence and uttered their protest against
/ the destruction of valuable landmarks The
| PENNSYLVANIA society sent a long list Of
names as a protest against the destruction
| of Congress Hall. at the corner OF Sixth
and Chestnut Streets. Philadelphia. Thi.
| historic building having been preserved
| the PENNSYLVANIA Danes have restored anC
| suitably furnished the room in which tht
| First and Second Congresses of the United
| States met. during the Administration 81
! President Washington. This society has II
| the last year been made the custodian Of
| Stentou. the home of James Logan, the
| secretary and valued friend OF the pro-
prietary of the province, William Penn
! Stenton. which was built in 112S. is being
restored by the Pennsylvania Danes anc
fitted out as a museum of colonial relies.
The New York society has obtained pos