The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-04

srn history. education and the negro |. The pamphlets are the gift of his son. Captain Walker Curry. while the re- mainder of the collection was present. ed by Mrs. Alice Thomas Connally, the representative of the estate of her sis ter. Mrs. Curry. Mrs. !Connaily also included in the donation . volume of the autographs of the Presidents of the United StStes. several personal relics of pr. Curry. and most excel- lent life-sise oil portrait. cannot speak too highly of the importance and value of the pamphlet collection. comprising substantially 2,500 separate pieces. Those of you who have exam- ined my Bibliosraphy of Alabama will recall how often mention Is made that the special book or volume noted was seen in the Curry collection. I men, ton here only two items of the very many of extraordinary value--wood- wards "Reminiscences of the Creek In- dians, and the Journal of the Consti- tutional Convention of Alabama, 1919. Remnant of Pickett Historical Library.
 am sure you will all agree with me in the high estimate which should be placed on Colonel Albert J. Pickett as our first Alabama historian. There- fore an unusual interest attaches to his life, the inception and progress of his historical studies, and to every thing said or done by him. For soms time I have been endeavoring to locate his library. but 1t has only been with in the last ninety days that have been successful. Without further de- tails. have secureo about sixty voi- tunes, all of which were used by him in the preparation of his History of Alabama. Apart from the intrinsic value of these books. they have a sem timental value to which we cannot be insensible.
 We have also been so fortunate as to secure from Colonel M. L. Woods, a son-in-law of Colonel Pickett. a num- Der of old original letters and papers. In the latter are several written from Charleston during the time Colonel Pickett was there experimenting the publication of his History. In the collection are also the original draw ings or maps of the Massacre of Fort Mims and the old town of Autauga- vile, Ala.
 Miscellaneous Manuscripts.
 The general manuscript additions have been numerous. They are all listed at length in their appropriate place. but particular mention should be made of some of the more import ant. These are a bound book of Pres idents autographs, consisting of let ters of all the Presidents of tho United States from George Washington to Theodore Roosevelt; the Record Book of Monroe County, Alabama, August. 1S16. April 21. 1921; several letters of Thomas D. Clarke. Attorney General of Alabama. 1S43-1s4s; a manuscript map of old St. Stephens, Ala; collec- tion of autographs of living and mod Aern celebrities, presented by Miss Louise Manly. Clear Water Harbor. Fla; and the old Record Book of the town company of Jackson, Ala, 1Si6- 1877, presented by s. T. Woodward. Esq. of Jackson.
 Meek AIanuscripts.
 One of the most important additions to our manuscript collections Is an un- published History of Alabama" left unfinished by the late Alexander B. Meek at the time of his death in 1885. Judge Meek was the earliest student of our State history, contributing as early as 1889. a series of historical sketches to the ''Southron," published In Tuscaloosa. The manuscript refer red to is in excellent condition. and tho narrative Is practically complete from the earliest times to about 1919. We are also in receipts of number of manuscript poems, and other literary manuscripts and scrapbooks of MT.
 
 cellent life size oil portrait of him, the sword carried by him in the Creek and Seminole Wars of 1886, and a lot of newspaper files preserved by him. These were all presented by his nephew. William c. Meek, Esq, of Columbus. Miss, who promises other contributions to our collections concerning his dis tinguished uncle.
 Lewis Manuscripts.
 ppaNrtnf H0l- lection which has come to us are the manuscripts of William Terrell Lewis of Louisville. Winston County Miss. This collection was secured for us through the interpretation and assist ance of Professor Henry s. Halbert. Mr. Lewis began correspondence, lasting fifty years, with various parties in the United States. especially in the South, on genealogical and historical subjects. During the course of long life this correspondence had become quite voluminous and every letter was carefully preserved by him. He cor responded with Dr. Lyman c. Draper, with Col. J. E. H. Claiborne, Generals William Barksdale and John A. Quit man of Mississippi. and with many emil nent citizens of Virginia, the Carolinas. Tennessee. Kentucky and Alabama. This correspondence. a historic mine. will be or lncdlcuidDlo SerVlce 10 StuQentS or the history of Southern families The correspondence extends from 1884 to 1891.
 Binding.
 To make our files accessible and to properly preserve them, 1t is necessary that they should be bound. It has been my effort to have everything in our coll lection substantially bound, where a need therefor existed. An examination will show how we'll this has been done.-
 Historical Gallery.
 The principal additions to the histori- cal portrait gallery during the year are life size oil portraits of Alexander B. Meeks. Mrs. Caroline (Bird-Yancey) Beaman, Dr. J. L. M. Curry, James R. Powell. Jere Clemens, and Robert Jemi- son. Over one hundred photographs have been received.
 Museum.
 It is a source Of constant regret to all friends of the Department that our facilities are such that we cannot dis play our collection of treasures and curiosities in a suitable way. The ! very general interest taken by the pub