Evening journal., 1910-12-03
HISTORIANS HAD
SUCCESSFUL YEAR
President Grubb Presents Re-
view Of Work at SOCiety'S
Annual Meeting

At the annual meeting Of the His
torical Society last night the Hon.
lgnatius c. Grubb, president, reported
a successful year for the society.
The report follows:s
I'm making this annual report it
gives the president genuine pleasure
TO announce that the society's achieve
ments and success during the year
just closed have never been surpassed
in all its career and will be forever
memorable in it's annals.
Our last annual meeting, Decem-
Der 3, 1909, was held under very dis
couraging, if not disheartening cir
cumstances.
The membership OF the society had
become very much diminished and its
activity and usefulness greatly i'm
paired owing to the death Of many
of its leading and most jealous mem
bers, and other causes.
1T was then profoundly realized
that the society's existence and furth-
er usefulness were seriously inperilled
and that most prompt and strenuous
effort was necessary for its revival
and reorganization. An earnest ap-
peal was Immediately made to the
State pride and liberality of the. pub
lie spirited citizens of Delaware. Hap
PLY the appeal was not in vain.
Within two weeks, at the stated
meeting in December, 1909. over two
hundred citizens were nominated for
election as new active members Of
the society. Others have since been
No al
ent active membership, as shown by
the annual report of the chairman of
the committee on membership, is 1926,
and the total membership, including
associate. life and honorary members
is over $50, making the aggregate
about four times the membership of
the society at its last annual meeting
This increase of membership has
quadrupled the annual income Of the
society and. after deducting all ex-
penditures for the year, has left about
81 $50 for this years addition TO the
endowment fund of the society, which
fund, the treasurer states, is now
about $500, and Available for the So
ciety's proposed new building for
which there is very urgent need.
During the year the meetings have
been remarkably we'll attended and an
unusual amount Of business trans
acted evincing an awakened interest
In the society and steady revival Of
its activities and usefulness which
auger well for its future welfare and
prosperity
, Under the new bylaws defining
the duties of the respective officers
4
marked practical results have been
achieved as the reports Of the var
lious officers and chairmen disclose.
! The work of the committee on H.
ibrary is very laborious and valuable
10 the society apd their announcement
that they have already removed from
the rooms of the society and placed in
the safe deposit and fire proof valutG
Of the Wilmington T-ust Compan,
numerous articles. relics and papers
Of great historical value, secure from
loss by FIRE, etc, is very important
This wise course gives assurance I,
those who possess family records, rel
les, etc. of historic interest that the
can now be presented 70, or deposited
with the society and kept by il in saf'
custody for the use Of the future his
torian and biographer
1T is ardently hoped that the stated
monthly meetings shall regularly D'
well attended by the membership al
large and thus promote and sustain
live and enduring interest in the
society, and its enlarged and increas
ing influence and usefulness. The in.
dividual members should not feel thai
they discharge their full duty by pay
ing the annual dues and leaving ths
affairs and work Of the society entirely
TO the thought and care of the officers
and committees
The Committees on Biography ant
on Literary Exercises by preparing
and reading. or causing to be prepared
and read instructive and interesting
papers at the society's monthly ol
other meetings can do much to make
these gatherings attractive and thui
increase the attendance thereat
Through the valuable efforts Of th'
special committee on charter. consti
tuition and bylaws new and perper
ual charter has been procured for th'
society to correct errors and supply
defects in its previous charter. On Oc
tober Il, 1910 the society was entirel,
lre-OrganlZed under this Charter anC
hencefo,th will proceed in accordance
with its provisions and the bylaws
made pursuant thereto.
"The special committee on NOR
suitable building for the society ha
been giving careful consideration Z
that pressing subject. It is ferventl
hoped that the movement Il has nov
begun will not end until the desire
means are secured and the needle
building occupied by the society.
I'm this connection and in oonolud
ing this report Il seems advisable :
repeat what have stated on a forme
occasion: The present prosperity an
prospects Of the society are most en-
couraging. If these are maintained
as they may be by the unabated in
terest and unrelaxing efforts Of tn
officers. committees and individua
members, the society's future success
will certainly be assured and the NOR
suitable building for the society's us'