Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-05
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
State History and Archives.
portland Press.)


actual cash expenses of the historian
shall be paid by the State to an
amount not exceeding $500 a year. II
is prescribed as the duty of this official
that he shall.
1. Compile historical data of the
State of Maine and encourage the
teaching of the same in the public
schools.
2. Encourage the compiling and pub
lishing of town histories, combined
with local geography.
3. Examine ard when he decides
that the material is suitable, approve
Of the publication Of such histories
with State aid.
AS the new Office has been in exist
ence less than two years, it was moi
to be expected of the historian 20 ac-
complish a great deal in that time.
but the report shows that In view of
the limitations under which he must
labor, he has done not little IN that
time. Since one of the objects was to
encourage the teaching of State his
tory, the first thing was to find out
to what extent such history was
taught. A circular of inquiries was
sent to all the school superintendent
in Maine, about 500 in number. The
replies showed that little attention
was paid to State or local history
This is partly from want of suitable
text books and partly because of the
demands of the already overcrowded
courses of study. The historian reports
that several inquiries have been made
touching the compilation and publica-
ton Of local histories and encourage
ment has been extended. In the COM
pllation of historical data he has OBJ
tanned the names and residences of
more than one thousand officers and
men from Maine who We're with
Washlngton's army at Valley Forge,
and by dint of much research he has
obtained from several sources as COM.
plete list of the Maine men at the
capture of Louisburg in 1745 as can
te obtained in the absence OF the Of
1ical rolls which if in existence have
not yet been discovered He has also
compiled for use in the public schools
brief historical review Of the more
prominent facts in Maine history from
the early voyagors to the present time.
1t is evident that, giving his time and
charging only actual expenses within
the narrow limit fixed, Major Burrage
IS doing the State good service. 1t is
also evident that the study of State
and local history is badly neglected
ana thar if the effect of the new dc.
partment is to arouse interest in this
direction it will be worth more than it
costs
But the thing which particularly i'm
presses the State historian is the i'm
perfect condition and deplorable ne
eject of the State archives. He relates
instances. Wishing to prepare a
paper on Governor Washburn's servi-
ceS during the Civil war, he could not
find that single letter written by
Governor Washburn during that great
crisis had been preserved at the State
house, and he was compelled to aban
don the purpose. This condition of
things as to the State archives, he
says. sis doubtless to be attributed
very largely to the fact that suitable
provision has not vet been made for
me care and preservation of the pub
lie records and other valuable papers
accommodating year by year at the
state Capitol" There is lack of room.
Material has been removed to make
place for what was considered more
valuable. Documents have been stored
in the basement or the attic, or any
place found available. A few of Gov
crnor Washburns letters We're recent
~ found in the basement of the State
house. If the building were burned, al,
inc records and other archives would
be destroyed, for there Is little If any
protection against fire.
This is a condition of things that
should not be allowed IF the docu-
ments were destroyed, the loss would
be incalculable and irremediable. even
IN their imperfect condition Quarters
should be provided, ample and fire
proof. where the archives could be
preserved, arranged. indexed and made
available. lii view Of the condition Mr..
Furrago's suggestion is very pertinent
that the duties of the State historian
should be enlarged to Include the
care and preservation of our State
archlVeS and the collection of the ma
terlals of our history before Maine be-
came a State" The saying that any
thl1g worth doing at all is worth do
ing well applies here with peculiar
force. 1t is proposed to enlarge the
state house. When that is done. par
ucu'ar attention should be paid to the
construction of document room large
enough to supply the need for MANY
danpness, ard provided with a proper
custodian. 1T will cost something, but
it will ray.