The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-02
INTEREST IN KANSAS.
George W. Martin Calls Attention tc
1t in His Report.

Secretary George w Martins re-
port of the past years work or the
Historical society is a very interesting
document and will be preserved with
the other papers read at the annual
meeting in the next published state
ment of the society's collections. Mr..
Martin stated briefly the number and
nature of the accessions to the collec-
tons; described the work and the de-
mands upon the society, and made
slight forecast of the work in prospect
for the coming year. In the course OF
his report he said:
During the period beginning July L.
1902, and closing June 80, 1903, there
have been added to the library 2,947
volumes of books; 6516 unbound vel
umes and pamphlets; 1857 volumes of
newspapers and periodicals; 2,117 single
newspapers and single magazines con-
tanning matter of historical interest: 10
maps, aliases and charts; 1858 manu-
scripts; 90 pictures and other works of
art; 1856 miscellaneous relics. Thus to
the library proper, of books, pamphlets,
newspapers and periodicals, during the
added 1O.930 volumes. OF these 10,70O
have been procured by gift and ex-
change and 230 by purchase.
The correspondence of the society
during the year amounted to 400 let
tiers and 1,500 postal cards. The postal
cards were simply tracers sent out
after missing newspapers, and some
acknowledgements made in this form.
I
were inquiries for information along
historical lines or for official data per-
tanning to Kansas. The larger number
of these letters were answered Offhand,
or after few minutes examination,
but several hundred of them were of a
nature requiring from one hour to five
hours each of careful research. We
| have constant calls for the definite To-
cation of old towns, forts, Indian bat
ties, or other points named in early
travels. I should Judge that there are
a score of people throughout the coun-
! try writing books about Kansas or In
which Kansas will figure. The amount
of personal biography we are called on
| to furnish IS endless. and when we do
not have it there is oftentimes indig
nant talk John Brown, Quantrill, the
sacking of Lawrence, the Louisiana
purchase. scores and scores of terri
tOrial and western Kansas incidents we
are asked about. 1t is not possible to
anticipate the character of the count
less questions suggested by the early
history of Kansas.
! Scattered all over the state there are
yet many citizens in seclusion who passed
| through those stormy days. There were
no listless men then. Every man ap-
preciated the seriousness of the times.
/ Lately 1 have visited several of these
old men, and I am amazed at the new
and unheard of things they tell, backed
! by cOrroborating papers and incidents,
showing the modesty that has kept
much valuable material from the world.
I have the promise of many interesting
things, but men from seventy-f1Ve to
eighty-flVe years of age in Kansas,
think they have abundant time for full
filment.
The territorial settlers of Kansas are
rapidly passing away. Soon all per-
sonal source of Information for that
period will be closed. The year 1904
will bring on a number of semi-Gen-
tennial anniversaries of events of the
greatest importance-the beginning of
a decade not surpassed in the worlds
history, during which the pioneers of
Kansas enjoyed an inspiration rarely
vouchSafed to any other people. There
have been other heroic pioneers in the
westward development of things, but
Kansas have left upon the world an
! impress more enduring and attractive.
The subject of marking the Santa F'e
trail through the state has made some
progress. It was brought before you
one year ago by Mrs. Fannie G.
Thompson, in behalf of the Daughters
Eof the Revolution. Mrs. Thompson was
took charge of the matter. She did
some work in the way of correSpon-
denee and agitation, but she was taken
/ from US by death February II, 1903.
Her work, however, was not lost, for
friends outside and among the Daugh-
tiers had caught her inspiration and
zeal, and SO a lively interest continues.
! At the annual convention of the Daugh-
! tiers for the state of Kansas, held Oc-
tober 16 and H. a committee was ap-
pointed to continue the vbJrk in COIL
junction with the State Historical So
ion that if suitable maps are furnished
of the route through each county and
school district, they can enlist the
lschool teachers and pupils in raising