The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-14
HALF CENTURY OLD
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOLDS ITS
FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL
MEETING
GOVERNOR RAMsEY's ADDRESS
Warren Upham Tells Romantic story
of Groseliliers Gnd Radisson,
First White Men In
Minnesota.

owing to the unusually large attendance
the public exercises, which consisted Of
the address of President Alexander Ram
sey and paper by the secretary, War
rem Upham, were held in the senate
chamber. The occasion was notable for
the fact that new members to an un-
usually large number were admitted.
They were as follows:
For Life Observation-Disclosures L.
Schurmeier, St. Paul; James Winston
For Annual Memberships. AleXan-
der Z. Bigelow, st. Paul.
For Honorary Membership-Hon. Rob-
ert l.. Mccormick, Hayward Wis, presi-
dent Wisconsin State Historical society;
Prof. John Bach McMaster, Philadel-
phia, Pa. Benjamin Suite, ottawa, Can
ada; Narcisse E. Dionne, Quebec, Can
ada.
Philip Reade, Naic, Cavite province,
Philippine islands; William Nel2on. Pat
erson, N. J.; Henry Colin Campbell,
Milwaukee; Prof. F, Richard -r Ellsworth,
Owen, Montgomery, Ala; Prof. Frank
lin L. Riley, University, Michigan; DR..
2. B. Greene. Urbana, Ill; Prof. .Isidor
Loeb Columbia, Mo-; w. H Lightly. St.
Louis Mo-; Prof. kendric Charles Bah
cock, Berkeley, CAL; Crawford Lindsay,
Quebec, Canada; Rev. A. E. Jones, Mont
real. Canada; Hon. James W. Longley.
Halifax, n. S; DR.. George U. Hay, st.
John, N. B.; Lieut.. Gov. Anedee E. For
get, Regina, Assiniboia; Dr. J. c. Hcr5-
man, Calgary, Alberta; r. Edward Cos
well, Victoria, b. G.
President Ramsey's address was as fol-
lows:
This society was organized and began
its work for the preservation of Mime
sofas history in the same year, 1919,
which witnessed the establishment Of
Minnesota as a territory. The collection
of the society's library and museum has
thus been in progress during more than
fifty years.
Society's High Rank.
1t is with much pride that we are able
now to say Of this historical library
that it is equaled or surpassed, in its
other such libraries in the entire United
States. We have on our Shelves free Tor
consultation by all very nearly 10000
books and pamphlets, the Increase within
the past year having numbered nearly
three thousand.
Besides the very full collection of all
books and pamphlets relating to Min
nesOta or written by Minnesota authors
together filing five large cases. We have
taken much care to obtain all publica-
tons on the local history of other states
Some idea of the extent of this depart
ment may be given by the number of
books, almost six hundred, in this libra
ry, on the histories of townships in
Massachusetts, 1870 for New Hampshire
dOOuI the same uuulDSr IOr connecticut
and so forth; with many histories Of
counties and of all the states, Of the
Canadian provinces. and, indeed, of every
country in the world.
In the department of biography and
family histories our library is also in the
front rank, as it has now more than /, SEQ
books and about $50 pamphlets of Ameri-
can genealogieS.
Our very large collection of nearly all
the newspapers published during fifty
TWO years IN Minnesota as a territory
and state is perhaps our most valued
possession. This department now con-
tains very nearly 5000 bound volumes of
newspapers, which comprise a detailed
record of the development of Minnesota
on It's counties. and of its separate town
SHIPS, from their beginning to the pres
ent date. The society is now receiving
432 daily weekly and monthly newspa-
pers issued in this state, which arc care
dd1ally preserved and bound, adding about
800 bound volumes yearly.
All our collections of the library
museum and portraits have Increased,
largely through donations from mem
bers and friends of the society until they
now need much more space than is ar
forded in our present rooms in this capt.
tol building. 1t is with great hope ana
desire that we look forward to the COM
plet1on of the new capitol, and to the
| removal of these priceless possessions to
the very commodious rooms there allot-
ted to this society.
For that time we have large collections
of the stone implements, weapons and
ornaments of the modern Indians and Of
the ancient builders Of the mounds,
gathered by one of the society's mem
bers, and stored until this opportunity
| shall come for their display in our
museum.
Another department of great interest
to all visitors in our library rooms is
the portrait collection which comprises
about $50 large portraits exhibited IN
frames, and several hundred smaller
photographs Of the pioneers, the founders
and builders Of our commonwealth.
First White Men
The secretary, Warren Upham, then
gave an address entitled 'The First
White Men in Minnesota, Groseilliers and
Radisson, in 1866. at Prairie Island" 1t
follows:
The earliest white explorers on upper
Mississippi and in the area of Minnesota
were these two French traders, who are
shown by Radisson'S narrative to have
come to Prairie island, on the west side
Of the main channel of the Mississippi,
between Red Wing and Hastings, about
the LIST of May, 1866, and to have con-
tinued there till near the end of June,
1856 These men were brothers -in-law
| Groseilliers at that time being thirty
four years old, an experienced fur trader,
While Radlsson was scarcely more than
a youth, being only twenty years of age.
| They lived at Three Rivers, on the ST.
! Lawrence, between Quebec and Montreal.
During the greater part of their lives
In0y were closely associated IN trading
expeditions to the far West, and in eff
forts to establish the fur trade in the
region of Hudson bay. The narratives Of
their travels and discoveries were writ
ten by Radisson in grotesque English to
promote their interests when they trans
ferred their allegiance and service from
the French to the English government
becoming under the latter the principal
agents in founding the Hudson Bay COM
pany.
Radisson's manuscripts remained more
than 200 years unknown to historians.
They had come into the possession of
the British museum in London and the
Bodleian library in Oxford, the two
largest libraries of Great Britain, and in
1885 were published by the Prince So
| ciety of Boston. The edition of this book,
called 1.-THE Voyages of Radisson," was
| limited to only $50 copies, two of which
/ are in Minnesota, one being owned by
| the State Historical society, and the
| other by the Duluth public library.
GroseillierS and Radisson started on
/ their first Western expedition in August
! 1914, and went with a small company Of
! Indians up the Ottawa river and by
! Lake Nipissing and the French river
| into the Georgian bay of Lake Huron
1 Then they turned south and coasted
along the shores of the bay and lake
corning after this long journey af canoe
| Ing to the Strait of Mackinaw, through
which they passed into the north part
| of Lake Michigan and to Green bay. The
| late autumn and winter were spent in