Evening star., 1901-02-20

lNESS Huh SO11oOI. .,
the past year the library has received near
ly 200 additions, many of them worthy OF
special recognition. The congress under
stands that this is in every sense rel y
ence library, composed of histories and
genealogies, carefully selected with a view
to its primary object, which is to facilitate
the work of the registrars office in verify
ing the papers of applicants. and to aid the
office of the historian, where the lineal book
is compiled.
I'm the report of the ninth continental
congress-" it continues, stress was laid
upon the lack of local histories, and here
again must be emphasized the great need
of more town and county records. OF the
thirteen original states, New Jersey, Della
ware, North Carolina and Georgia not
represented by a single county history.
There number of Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut To-
cal histories.
library have been obtained In response to
the librarians appeals to chapters and in
dividuals all over the country. Many have
been gifts, but the larger number have
been received in exchange for the lineal
books"
Among gifts to the library mentioned in
the report are THE Lodge of Washing
ton" presented by Mrs. Eleanor Washing
ton Howard, a great-great-nece of Cen
eral Washington: Scotch Highlanders in
America" and Genealogical and Historical
Notes or Culpeper County, Va.
Auditing Committees Statement.
The next report in order was that Of the
auditing committee. The members Of this
committee are Mrs. n. d. Sperry, chair
man: Mrs. julius c. Burrows, Miss Julia
II. E. McBlair, Miss Mary Isabella For
syth and Mrs. S. b. c. Morgan. The re-
port set forth that the increase in the work
of the society was shown in the increase
In he l,,ci tba ,f4ia nF}
general. All the accounts rendered by the
various officers were reported to be correct,
and the statement of the securities and in
vestments. made by the treasurer gem
eral, was approved.
State Regents Heard.
Much OF the afternoon session was given
over to the presentation and reading of
tho annual reports of the state regents.
These reports were in some cases read by
the regents, in other instances the official
reader of the congress. The report of
Massachusetts was quite a long one and
the reading of it was interrupted by a
delegate from Maryland, who called atten-
tion to the fact that the time of the repre-
sentative of Massachusetts had expired.
Michigan was called next, and Mrs. Ed
wards the regent, yielded until the read
ing of the report from Massachusetts could
be concluded.
At 4:45 a recess until o'clock was or
dered, and when the congress reaSsem5led
at $50 Mrs. Avery. editor of the official
magazine. presented her annual report.
She acknowledged assistance rendered by
Mrs. Mary Lockwood of the District Of
Columbia and this called forth applause.
LAS you know said Mrs Avery, II did
not take charge of the magazine till July.
| The contracts were all let for the year.
AS usual, come with deficiency, but
I also come with an apology for the
past, for 1 consider the magazine worth
| to the organization all that it has cost in
| the upbuilding of the society and the G1s-
semination of patriotic information. One
reason why 1 hesitated to take up this
| work was that l know that no mortal
person, and least of all L. could place the
magazine upon paying pasls IN SIX
| months, with all the ground to cover and
! the limitations in the way. Immediately
on taking the editorship, in connection with
| the efficient business manager, to whom L
| have been greatly indebted and with whom
! I have worked in perfect accord, we took
| up the matter of advertisements.
| ut did not take me long to learn what
| those before me had already learned-that
| that was matter that We could not nam
| die to any advantage; 1t needed one trained
| in that business. The uncertainty Of the
| life of the magazine does initiate against
| us and Is one great cause of failure In
| the past to obtain competent person to
| take charge Of the work on commission.
| Now we have found the competent person,
| who will take charge of the whole business
| on a commission. Another thing from
I business standpoint we need. and that is
| new cover 1 do not object to calico
dress, but 1 do object to one all catered
! and torn"
Mrs. Avery urged the members to engage
| I'm historical research. One article dealing
| with a historical discovery was worth more
| to the official organ of the society, she
! said than many volumes of compilation.
She made a special plea for diaries Of revo-
| lutionary soldiers, location of graves or
| revolutionary soldiers and the names or
prison ship martyrs.
! tie of the revolution was fought at Niles,
| Mich. when the Spaniard in aid of the col
| onies marched from ST. Louis across I'LL
| nois, surprised the red coats at Niles. the
| most western point where the British flag
| fioated, pulled down the ensign and sent it
to Madrid, where 1t is today. Not one word
have / ever seen in Michigan history on
the subject.
! Business Items.
Miss Lillian Lockwood, business manager
of the organ Of the society, presented her
| report Some expressed doubt at the
close Of the last congress- said Miss Lock-
| wood, "as to our being able to successfully
| carry on the work of the magazine, with
| the editor. living in Cleveland, so far from
the publication Office and business manager.
| I'VE have found that 1t presents but few
difficulties and comparatively little extra
trouble.
THE usual custom has been pursued of
requesting bids on printing the magazine
from different publishers in Washington and
nearby states. The contract was again
awarded to Harrisburg publishing COM
pany, the lowest bidder.
I'VE urge each chapter regent to appoint
one Of her members to act as agent for the
magazine. We had several hundred dollars
in outstanding accounts in advertising and
subscriptions, which unfortunately did not
come In in time to be included In the re-
ceipts before the books were closed to be
audited, but which properly belongs to the
years business. and would have materially
| decreased the expense.
1.-The printing is not the most serious con-
sideration-it Is the postage. We now mail
! under noooud-class matter rates. cent for