The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-15

Literary Association:
In compliance with the request to give
a report of the work done during the
year. as chairman of the Museum Com
mlttee l have to say that very gratifying
progress has been made. On the first Of
last December the Commissioner of Agri-
culture placed at my disposal noble hall
in the new wing of the State Museum,
the dimensions being 100 As feet and
the ceiling very lofty and handsomely
finished In native pine, polished. The work
of installation of objects of historical in
terest began that very day. The number
already collected runs into the thousands
and thirty-two cases have been filed. The
collection covers a very wide range and is
arranged as far as possible chronologIcally,
beginning with the Indian period, thence
passing into the long period before the
War of the Revolution, covering that war
and also that of 1912. that with the Brit
ish with Mexico, the Civil War,
terest felt by the public, both
in attendance at the Hall of His
tory and in the gift or loan OF objects
shows the awakened interest in historical
matters. So late as last year it was as
found impossible to secure specimens IL
Illustrating North Carolina history in suf-
ficient numbers and variety to be of
real value, but the collection thus far,
young as it may be said to be. shows the
inaccuracy OF such a statement.
Of course the majority of objects shown
are loans, though many are direct gifts,
and great care has been taken to indi
cate whether they are loans or gifts
and also to properly show the names o.
the lenders or givers. Large printed
cards designate the cases, while smaller
typewrittcn ones mark the various OBJ
jects. Among the most notable of the
lean collections are the following IS
Mrs. Margaret Devereux, the Treaty o.
Peace made between the whites and the,
Tuscarora Indians in 1712, as we'll as the
diary or letter book, deeds and othe 4
papers OF Colonel Thomas Pollock frol
1906 to 1862 By the council of state
autograph letters of distinguished Ameri
cans and North Carolinians. BY BishoI
Joseph Blount Cheshire, rare books and
letters, including the 1890 edition Ct
Hariot's description of the discovery of
North Carolina, with the first map oil
this part of the world also the yellow
Jacket the first book printed in North
Carolina; the only copy known to exist
o. the proceedings of the State Conven-
ton at Hillsboro which refused to ratfy
the Federal Constitution. BY the trus-
tees of the State Library, the first e3i-
ton OF Lawsons History of North Caro-
lina being the copy presented by Presi-
dent James Madison to this State. BY
the Gulford Battle Ground Association,
relies OF the Battle of Guilford Court
House. By Mr.. Charles Earl Johnson Of
Raleigh, portraits of distinguished North
Carolinians of colonial and revolutionary
days, mainly etchings, of great rarity
and value; also historical documents from
the collection of Justice James Iredell CT
the United States Supreme Court. BY
Mrs. j. Il. Turnbull of Littleton and Gen.
Julian S. Carr, relics of Nathaniel Macon.
By Justice Robert NJ. Douglas OF the Su-
pr ame Court. relics from the collection
of his father U. S. Senator Stephen 4.
Douglas, including the original of the
Massachusetts petition for the dissolu-
ton of the Union. BY Prof. w. A. With
ers autographs of the signers OF the
Me,kleIburg Declaration of Indepen-
deTcc. BY Governor Aycock. silver-ware
FROM the North Carolina blockade-runner
advance" and by Mrs. Carr, a paint
ing Of that noted vessel. BY Mr.. Howard
HAYWOOD Rev. DR.. Lew Branson and
others school books and other books
puY lished in North Carolina during the
Civ War. BY members of his family,
relics of Brig. Gen. James Johnston Petit
grew By members of his family, relics
Of Erig. Gen. l.. OBJ Branch By men,
bers of his family, relics OF Maj Gen.
Bryan Grimes. BY Mrs. Collett Leven-
thorpe relics of Brig. Gen. Leventhorpe.
BY Mrs. Baker, relics of her brother
Col. Henry King Burgwyn, who COM
manded the 26th n. G.. Regiment at Get
tysburg, which there sustained the heavi
est loss in battle of any regiment n
either the Federal or Confederate armies.
BY Gen. Matt w. Ransom, the sword
worn by him during the war, and pre-
sented by the officers of the First North
Carolina Regiment. By the survivors of
the '"Bether Regiment the state flag
borne by it in the first battle OF the war.
BY members of his family, including Mrs.
Fannie Ransom Williams OF Newton,
relics of Mai Gen. Robert Ransom. BY
Col. Thomas S. Kenan, relics largely
illustrating the prison life Of the Con-
federate soldier. BY Maj. G. w. F. Har-
per of Lenoir. the battle flag of the 2Sth
n. C. Regiment, borne at Chickmauga and
other battles >in the southwest. also rife
of a soldier of that regiment. BY the
United States Navy Department canon
from one of the Spanish vessels sunk al
Santiago. By the city of Raleigh canon
captured at ManilaN By Mrs. Adelaide
Bagley, relics of her son, Ensign Worth
Ba gley, the only American officer e
during the war with Spain. BY Gen.
Armfleld, the flag Of the frst>N. c. Regl-
ment, U. s. Volunteers, the first, Ameri-
can flag borne by troops through
Havana.
Besides the above named objects, there
are innumerable loans or gifts The
grouping is of course changing, as new
objects arrive, but the installation in q
number of the cases is permanent ALI
the cases are dust-rroof and moth-prooe