The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-03
MEETING OF TRUSTEES Of Department of Ar chives and History EXCELLENT SHOWING MADE Many Physical Improvements Re-
 ported by Director. Showing of pr. owen, the Director, in Matter of Library Extension Most
 6ratifying-Board Makes
 Tour of Inspection.

The regular annual meeting of the board of trustees of the Department of Archives and History was held in the office of Governor Conner yester- day noon and the members heard the annual report of Director Thomas M. owen.
 There were present Governor Conner, president, P. J. Hamilton. Dr. J. H. Johnson, Colonel S. W. John and Dr. owen, the director and secretary. The only absentees were ex-Gov. William D. Jelks and Judge H. B. Foster. both of whom were kept away on ac- count of important business.
 The routine business was soon dis posed of. and the report of the direc- tor was called for. Dr. owen, who has been the director of the Depart ment from the beginning. presented his report, which was read at length. It was quite voluminous and entered into the details of the work of the year from october 1. 1907 to Septem- Der 30. 1908, inclusive,
 It appears that the activities of the department are grouped in accordance to the various subjects matter. and these embrace publication, State ar- chives, books, newspaper and periodi- cal files. manuscripts. gallery mu- scum. war records, library extension. legislative reference and miscellaneous activities. It appears that the library has, received an addition of about twenty-five hundred volumes during the year. and that more than one thousand bound volumes of newspa- pers have been received. Besides the usual number of small pictures and other illustrative material. seven large portraits have been added to the gall lery. including likenesses of Governor Oates, General John B. Gordon, pr. Basil Manly. Major Thomas Peters and Colonel George S. Gaines and wife and Governor B B. Conner. Many inter estlng and unique specimens and relics have been received and these will be displayed in the cabinets of the department. Included in these relics are the gun carried by William Weatherford. "The Red Eagle" at Fort Mims. the cylinder head of a steam engine forming a part of the Confederate rolling mill equipment at Briarheld. and the mule bridle bits used by Santa Anna, the Mexican gem eral. at the time of his capture of San Jacinto, Four Confederate flags have been added during the year These are the flag of the Conecuh Guards of the Ath Alabama Infantry Regiment. Q, S. A.. the flag of Ruck- ST DTlBHuet anu tNO bHldil LidBS UT markers used by Captain E. S. Ready's company in the 3rd Alabama Infantry Regiment
 Physical Improvements.
 It appears from the report that dur ing the preceding year quite a lot of the furnishings authorized by the last Legislature have been received, in- cluding a manuscript filing cabinet. series of vertical file cases, shelving for the State archives in the public record room. display frames for show ing small pictures In the gallery, two large flag cases, two cases for Indian relics and six larges cases for miScel- laneous relics. These furnishings, it appears are now being installed, al- though some of the cases have been in place for quite while.
 The showing made by the report in the matter of library extension was most gratifying to the board. Persis- tent effort has been put forth in pro- noting interest in public and school library extension, trained librarian ship has been urged. and numbers of travelling libraries have been in circu- lation. From the report 1t Is shown that the deparment has been directly instrumental in the organization of several public libraries in the State, besides having conducted during last summer course of library instruction in methods. administration and econ omy. Miss Nimmo Greene Is the clerk in charge of the library extension di- vision.
 The report goes at length into the cooperative features of department activity, and presents a very interest ing summary of the help which has been extended to the various historical patriotic and other organizations and institutions in the State. The Depart ment and its collections have been especially helpful 1t appears to the Baptists and the Methodists of the State, who are this year celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of their official entrance into Alabama These organizations as we'll as num- erous individuals have given testi- mony as to the helpfulness of the de- pertinent in their work and re- searches
 The director reviews in his report the work of enumerating the Confed- crate soldiers in the State. All of the counties have reported. and approxi- mately twelve thousand names appear on the rolls. The showing according to the director is not all that it should have been, because. as is explained. several of the tax assessors. who are charged with the duty of taking the census in the several counties did not show the interest in the work expect cd of them. The names on the rolls will be published, arranged by com. mands.
 The report reviewed the several branches of activity being carried on by the Department. and the members of the board were unanimous in their expression of congratulation on the extent and magnitude of the work. with the limited resources at hand. The director completed his report with an expression of appreciation to the Governor for the encouraRemtnt which he had lent to the success and up- building of the Department. He stat ed that the Governor from the date of his induction into ofTlce had been sympathetic and cordial. and that he had both In a public and private way done everything that could be expect ed of the executive. There was an extended discussion of the report. the director being interrogated on various fatures of the work, the members of the board evidencing n desire to be- come familiar with every detail of what was being done. The report was adopted unanimously and with thanks to the director for his years work.
 Auditors Report.
 The auditing committee reported that the books. accounts and vouch- CTS of the director had been carefully