The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-04

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 that he could not do 70 without assis- tance. Owing to the great impo'sase of the subject and. the further Iaes that Prof, Halbert was better equipped than any one else for the task. Il oe- cided to invite him to enter .ne employ of the Department TOT sur ficient length of time To conpleSe ms history. His service dates iro.n reo uary 1, 1so4. He has faitnIuhy plo' tha history i. in finished form. It IS exnected that it will be compietea Tn four months. The Department colec- tions have been of invaiuaoie assis- tance in his work. .,.s.
 stereoptican Lecture on AisD.-'
 In order to arouse public interest. not onlv in the department. but more espe- ciaiIy in the history of our great com monwealth. I have brought together large collection of Alaoama pho. graphs and views. of which steIeop can slides have been prepared 10. use in an illustrated lecture on Alaoama history. This lecture has been pre- aented on three public occasions. In Montgomery, May 27. before the ciuo women of the city and their iriehds' July 1, at the University Of Aiapama' before the teachers and students or the summer school; and July Fl, 1So4. Tn Jackson. Ala, for the benent or the First District Agricultural and Indus trial School. The two first named were free. The latter netted suDetantiai sum for the school. No charge or ex- penee whatever was made by the Direc- tor or the Department for thosc lectures. The attendance In each case was large. and profound interest was aroused in the history of Alabama and in tho work of the department. It was deemed suficient compensation to thus interest the public. It Is my pur- pose to present this lecture on other occasions in the future. which course am sure will do much to bring us friends and to discover many hidden treasures of our history.
 Historical Localities and Monuments
 The suggestion is made now, in order that it may have public discussion. that the legislature induced to arrange foI the acquisition either by purchase oi otherwise. of several historical sites oi localities in Alabama. such sites oi spots to be suitably enclosed and mark ed by tablets or monuments.
 have also deemed 1t proper to here mention another activity which has tc a limited extent engaged us and which should have our full and enthusiastic encouragement. refer to the erection of monuments to mark historic spots to commemorate historic events. tc identify historic houses. Some of the places which should be so marked arc the sites of Fort stoddert and the grave of Ephriam Kirby. near Mt. Vernon, the home of Emma Sansom; the site of the old capitol at Cahaba: and the site oi ha nl1 at tablet should be placed in the Senate chamber to commemorate the fact oi the organization there of the Provis- ional Government of the Confederate States of America, and in the House of Representatives to note the fact oi the secession of the State in that hall The old house in Huntsville where our first constitutional convention was held should be marked. The battles oi Mobile Bay and of Selma should be commemorated In some suitable way These monuments would be ''object lessons in local history" The CO., operation of the department with local authorities and public spirited citizens can be safely promised for the accom- plishmcnt of these suggestions as well as others of like kind. E
 State Field Work.
 Heretofore our growth and develop ment has been the result of correspond ence. While much can still be accom- piished by this method of work, 1t is believed that the time has come when the Director should enter the field for the collection of materials. But little expense would be attached to field work. Therefore unless adverse direc- tion be given, shall travel as much as possible in future in behalf of the Department.
 Archaeological Investigations.
 Comparatively no systematic explora- tion has yet been made of Alabama mounds and antiquities. To your board Is given the direction and con- trof of the "exloration of prehistoric and Indian mounds and other remains existing in the State" In order to make a beginning have planned some investigations for the coming year. which fact I am sure will meet with your approval.
 Other Activities.
 now refer briefly to other historical activities which have engaged me- Seven lectures on Alabama history were delivered by me before the Girls High School of Montgomery. February l, 8 and 29, March z, and May l, and Is. 1904. A lecture on Alabama was de- livered before Starke's University School May 5. and on the same subject before the eighth grade of the Capitol Hill School. both of Montgomery. I am an associate member of the histori- cal committee of the Alabama Division, United Daughters of the Confectionery. and an adjunct member of the general historical committee of the United Con- federate Veterans. Last year I served as chairman and wrote the report of the historical committee of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans. The Alabama day program was prepared by me, for the celebration. December IA, 1903. of the anniversary of the admission of Alabama into the Federal Union. As secretary of the Alabama. Historical Society have edited and superintended the publication of Vol. " of its transactions, 1S99-1903. At the December 1908 meeting of the American Historical Association in New