The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-08
REPORT FOR YEAR
TRUSTEES OF STATE ARCHIVES
 HOLD ANNUAL MEETING.
Director Owen Presents Statement of Work of Department, and Rec0m- mends Legislation, Which Is
 Approved By Board.

At the regular annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the State Depart ment of Archives and History. which annual report of Dr. Thomas M. Owen. Director of the Department. was pre- scented, giving a comprehensive review of the work along the manifold lines of the Department during the past year.
 There were six members of the Board present at the meeting, as follows: Gov ernor Jelks, P. J. Hamilton of Mobile; {; pr. J. H. Johnson of Talladega; pr. W. H. Blake of Sheffield; O. D. Street of Guntersville, and Colonel s. w. John of Birmingham. Governor Jelks. Beard from the Third District. as well as an ex-offlcio member as Governor presided over the session.
 The annual report of Dr. owen, as Director of the Department, was Voi' luminous, and embraced a thorough re- view of all the departments Of work; It was discussed by the members or the Board. after which It was uhan'- mously adopted. The Directors rec concentrations of needed Legislation, and of proposed enlargement or the field of work of the Department met with the approval of the Board
 The report showed growth in each or the activities engaging the attentloii of the Department, and made an exceI- lent showing for the work or satn. ing and preparing historical u"'A the state. - cons,deR7 ble nrograss made in gathering data or 'ne ny movement of the troops or Aldod" the War of Secession. It shows tna. about twenty-five histories or Aiapaniu commands have been compiled uu. @ lls
 
 the past year by surNtN1 .ra to commands and others. which are eo form a part of a regular series or na. rstiva histories of Alabama commands during the war. .a.,o,, o,
 1n the matter of the preparation ol oa5cial material for publication: the re- mort showed that the director hao pie- nared. in addition to the narrative ms tories referred to. several Volunes oi the messages of governors or the ter ritory and state. Irolh AoA' ."
 One volume prepared is devoted to .A of3ciaI or legislative history Of all vthe countries of the State, embracing all legislative acts creating countries altering county boundaries. or liking or changing county seats
 The report also showed that the di- rector had been active in diffusing in- formation about Alabama. and in co- oneratinR with all persons interested 
 in Alabam history. The report contained some very i'm portant recommendations. It was suR- eested that the activities of the depart ment would be enlarged by the present session of the Legislature, by the crea' | ton of a division for the promotion | of library interest in the State. by th' creation of a division of statistics. ano bv the creation of a division of legis' latiye reference. This last named al vision would be assigned the duty oi | preparing and digesting information l for the benefit of members of the Leg i isla ature
 The terms of O. D. Street. of Gun tersvilIe. pr. W. H. Blake, of Sheffield and Colonel s. W. John. of Brming ham, having expired, they were re elected as trustees. Hon. W. L. Lap caster. of wetumpka was chosen as { member of the board from the Fiftl District.