Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-20
Preserving Local History.

The office Of State historian, which OIii-
cial is 10 receive no salary. bur Will be
REIN bulSed for actual cash expenses i'll
n sum not to exceed $500 Il year. The
governor is 10 name the historian bE
nomination from the members Of the
State historical society This pre-
supposes that some fit person is willing
to undertake the work as Il labor of
love. But the Legislative act reaches
out beyond the compilation of Il STATE
history ana aims to encourage the
writing Of local history. 1t is provided
that ia the town histories to be pro-
mot.d prominence shall be given To
matters of local geography, which
may be suitable for use in the gram
mar and high school grades of the pub
lie schools" in such towns. The manu-
script Of town histories must he APP
proved by the state historian, ANA
when published by the town The
State treasurer shall pay the town 50
publishing sum not exceeding $3.50.
prov ided the State shall not pay 10 any
| Town To exceed onc-half of the amount
paid 10y said town for printing and
binding said histories" There are
novel features about this Maine hiStor-
| zeal movement, and il. will he interest
ing to see what the result Of it may
prove 10 be. Ii is evident that much
| volunteer service is looked for AL along
| the line, but it is also to BE- said that
| town history i'll other coinmonweilths
is produced without the stimulus Of
state aid. Springfield Republican.
| 1t u also true that here in Maine
many town histories have been pro-
| duccd without the stimulus of State
| Maine there are many good old towns
| whose histories have not been written
aud the action of the I'D Legislature
referred 10 above is intended to serve
as a stimulus in the preparation and
publication of the histories of such
towns. If Maine is the first state to
more To the credit of Maine. and it is
altogether likely that il the Maine eX-
pertinent is successful the example OF
our State will he followed elsewhere in
New England.
The preservation of local history is a
matter of much Importance to which
in the past too scant attention has been
paid in many communities. If any
thing is 10 be done in those towns
which have so tar neglected this mat
1T il is necessary Tor thu required
steps to be taken without much longer
delay because the early records. if in
, deed they are sin preserved. are in
constant danger of being lost or de-
stroycd and the oldest Inhabitants
WHO ia lIahV nf our towns are chit.
tiers. cannot much longer be dcpcnd",
upon for information regarding III,
history ANA traditions Of early days.
by IN" provisions of this new law j
is also hoped thar tie pupils IL ON
| public ecnouls viii learn more a5"u
I local history and geography than ha!
: her. tofrr,- been required Of them. Tn
| stat" historian under whose oversight
the details of this new law viii b.
| worked out, has not sci been Appointed
hy Governor cohb. As there il; ~
sal:try attached this work will have t,
hr Il labor 81 love. but IN" Maine Ills
torical society has already done inval
: line. ana among It's loyal member
there i doubtless on" SELF sacrificing
enough to Welcome this new Office a
an opportunity 70 do u good work j
hrhAlf Of the state.
We do not know how many Tow
histories there have been written j
Maine. INT probably the total rcachc
several scores. In several counti"!
notably Androscoggin and Kennebc,
complete county histories in sever;
volumes have been published. includ
u ing chapters devoted To each town i
/ those counties. But there are scores I
r other Maine towns, many of thel
y which have passed the century mari
! concerning whose settlement ana dC
> vClopment ana old families no book
~ have, been written. The results of I'll
u new law Will be awaited with much If
If terest ara il j. sincerely hoped that
IL Will go far toward bringing about
more general knowledge Of local III:
: tory III Maine. and the publication
lie many town histories in places whei
y this important matter has been mes
in leCted.
+ Evidently this latest earthquake.
in series Of earthquakes. in Mexico. Cer