The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-22

raise money was by selling life mem
berships for S25 each. On June "a, 1856,
the corner stone was laid, with Masonic
ceremonies. 1t was a great day for the
little town of ST. Paul. A grand parade
was held in which the troops from Fort
Smelling, headed by a full military band,
to ok part. Hon. George L. Becker, who
was then the mayor of the city, deliver
ed the address, and the day came to an
end all too soon. But the great scheme
fell to pieces, and the society was COM
PEELED to give up all thought of the fine
building, and soon after it moved into a
small rented room in the old IngersoIl
block, near Third and Wabasha streets,
where it stayed until 1867 Next to it was
room occupied by the st. Paul library
council, which had it's beginning about
this time.
In 1864 a new secretary was elected in
the person of Mr.. Charles E. Mayo and
in 1868 the society moved into the state
capitol But what has been called the
breath of life of the society was an
act passed by the legislature in 1856. AS
it was the most important act ever pass
ed by the legislature, so far as the His
torical society is concerned, it is given
here in full:
There shall be annually appropriated
to the Minnesota Historical society the
sum VI S0VO " O0 6XpSuueO SdiFu society
in collecting, embodying, arranging and
preserving in authentic form a library
of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manu-
scripts, papers, paintings, stationery, and
other materials illustrative of the his
tory of Mime sota to rescue from obliv-
ion the memory of it's early pioneers, to
OBTAIN and preserve narratives of their
exploits, per is, and hardy adventures; to
secure facts and statements relative to
the history, genius, progress or decay
OF our Indian tribes; to exhibit faithfully
the antiquities and the past and present
resources of Minnesota: also to aid in the
publication of such of the collections of
the society as the society SHALL from
time to time, deem of value and interest
to aid in binding its books. pamphlets,
manuscripts and papers. and in paving
the necessary incidental expenses of the
society.
Nothing sets forth the purpose of the
society better than the words of this
act. But that there should be no mis-
take, another act makes the following
statement:
The objects of sad society, with the
enlarged powers and duties herein Drovid-
ed, shall be, in addition to the collection
and preservation of publications manu-
scripts, antiquities, curiosities, and all
other things pertaining to the social, po-
lit1cal and natural history of Minnesota
to cultivate among the citizens thereof
a knowledge of the useful and liberal
arts, science, and literature
On Jan q, 1867, Mr.. John Fletcher Will
iams became the secretary, which office
he held for twenty-siX years. He was a
most efficient secretary in every way, aud
during his term of office the society grew
to its present size and great value. After
Mr.. Williams came Gov. William r. Mar
shall as secretary, which position he held,
however, only a little OVER a year on ac-
count of i'll health. Mr. Warren sCphan
The present secretary, was appointed in
1896
For good many years now the Ills
torical society has been housed in the
state capitol building. In March, 1881,
fire destroyed the old capitol and the
library and museum of the society suf-
fered great loss. However, both have
grown since Shen, until now the library
numbers over $500 volumes, and the
museum and collection of portraits have
become so large that there is no longer
any place for them in the present ioca-