The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-08-05
Tennessee Archives.


troduced at the recent reunion of
the Sons of Confederate Veterans,
at Nashville, by W. Armistead Col
ler, Jr., of Memphis, looking to the
establishment of departments Of
archives and history in the Southern
States, for the preservation of his
torical data appertaining to the
Southland, is appended. The docu-
ment was adopted, but has never
heretofore appeared in the public
prints, and is doubtless destined to
be the cornerstone of a great move
ment in a very worthy direction. The
resolution reads:
Whereas, In view of the following
facts. set forth in the supplementary
report of the past historical commit
tee:
%. That the archives of the State
Of Tennessee have been found by a
committee of the last legislature to
be in a deplorable condition-many of
the most valuable State records hav-
ing been allowed to go to ruin from
neglect;
(2). That the archives of the State
of Mississippi were in like condi-
ton previous to the establishment of
a State department, known as the
Department of Archives and His
tory; and therefore,
90. That in all probability similar
conditions exist in other States of the
South; and,
Whereas, We believe the preserva-
ton of historical material to be a
sacred duty which we owe to our
State and country, to our forefathers,
OF tselves and posterity, and one of
thu high objects for the existence of
ou1 organization of Sons of Confeder-
ate Veterans; and,
Whereas, 1t has been demonstrated
by the States of Alabama and MiSsis-
sippi that this object can be best &C.
complished by the creation and main
tenance of a separate department of
State, devoted to 1.-THE care and Gus
tody of official archives, the collec-
ton of materials, bearing upon the
history of the States official records
and other historical materials, the
diffusion of knowledge with reference
to the history and resources of the
State, the encouragement of historical
work and research" ETC.; and that
such department can be maintained
and do efficient service at an expense
of $4,000 per year; be it, therefore,
Resolved, That, we the United Sons
of Confederate Veterans, in conven-
ton assembled, do hereby indorse and
commend the efforts of the States of
Alabama and Mississippi; and we do
hereby pledge ourselves, as an organ
iZation, as camps, and as individuals,
to bring about the early establishment
in every State in the South of similar
departments to those now in success
full operation in the above-named
States. the purpose of such depart
ments being-to save from neglect,
loss and destruction the archives of
the States, to collect, preserve, edit,
and make known their invaluable rec
ords, and all public documents and
material which will be necessary in
the future to a true knowledge and
understanding of State and Southern
history. Be it further
Resolved, That the movement to
establish these departments be put in
charge of a special committee, which
shall be appointed for no other pur-
pose and with no other end in view;
that this committee be designated the
Committee on the Establishment of
Departments Of History" that it be
made up only of comrades who are so
much interested in the movement
that they will pledge themselves, be-
fore appointment, to appear before the
legislature of their respective States,
and bear their own expenses, in using
every honorable means to secure the
enactment of laws establishing such
departments in every State, where,
after personal investigation, the same
are found to be needed. Be it further
Resolved, That we hereby call upon
the governors of the Southern States
to recommend the passage of such
laws as aforesaid; that we invite the
cooperation of all patriotic organiza-
lions and historical societies in the
South, and we invoke the aid of the
press in this important movement.