Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-06-17
NEGRO
HISTORICAL,
RESEARCH
BRIGHT Men and Women of the Race
Will Gather It's History

from African jungles was accorded
but meager space in the daily papers.
But the killing of two and the wound
ing of eleven on an elevated train
by crazed Negro by name of Cain,
the other day. was brazenly painted
In red across the front pages OF yel-
low journals and read in the remot-
est corners OF the earth. The Ne
gro has awakened to the realization
of the fact that If the truth about his
race is TO be known. he himself must
tell il. To this end. just one month
ago at the home of John Edward
Bruce C'Grit"). the veteran writer.
organized the Negro Society OF His
torical Research. whose object Is the
collection OF data concerning the
achievements of the colored race. to
institute a library. a bureau of infor-
nation for students of Negro history:
to publish and distribute pictures of
our great men and women with those
of the friends of the race among the
whites. Those who had the pleasure
of a visit to the home of Mr. Bruce
on May 80 were amazed at the work
accomplished within such a short
space OF time by the society. Beau
tiiully arranged in the spacious par
lor OF the veteran writer. who is the
society's president, were over a hun
dred books by as many authors. This
work has been achieved by Mr..
Bruce and that enthusiastic race man
and ndefatigable connoisseur, Ar
thur Schomburg. the society's secre-
tary and treasurer. The first object
of curiosity. of interest and intrinsic
value, that met the gaze of the visit
ors. was the honorable discharge in
fac smile OF Negro from the Con
tinental army, signed by the first
president. General Geo. Washington;
n volume of Phyllis Wheatly's poems
and Phyllis wheatly's letters printed
in GA. Williams History of the Ne
gro Race, Sojourner Truth-"Narra-
tive" T. Thomas Fortunes Black and
White, a volume of Frances w. Har
pers Earlier Slater poems-and there
sat the dear old William Still. one of
the most important officials of the
underground railroad. that succorred
so many fugitives during the dark
days of slavery. A crown of glory
bright for William Still!
Before viewing the collection of
books, the visitors and members en-.
joyed the following program, l. e.
bass solo. TRY us, o Cod" by Mr.
X. r. Matthews, accompanied by Mrs.
Lillian Urquhart of Newark, N. j.;
reading. The Troubles of the Mo-
riartys." by, Mr.. Bruce; reading, "A
Poem in Spanish" by Mr.. Schom-
burg song, Don't You Cry Ma Hon
ey," by Matthew'S: an original poem,
Memorial Day" by Jack Thorne."
The home OF ldr Bruce, situated in
suburb of Yonkers upon u beautiful
estate OF more than sixty acres. is an
ideal spot for rest and recreation.
After partaking of refreshments
which were served Immediately after
the view inspection of the society's
collection of books. the visitors were
invited to a stroll through the i'm
mense grove. vineyard and flower
garden. Among the visitors were Mr..
and Mrs. Nicholson of Sinsfng, Mr..
Ernest Braxton OF Brooklyn; Mr.. Ar
thur Schomburg and Master Arthur
Schomburg> of New York; Mr.. r. r.
Matthews of New York; Mrs. Lillian
Urpuhart OF Newark, N. j.; Mr.. d, B.
Pulton OF New York.
The officers of the society are Jno.
f. Bruce. president; Arthur Schom-
burg. secretary and treasurer; ID. B.
Pnlton, librarian: Ernest Braxton, art
critic; Prof. Weeks, director of mu-
sic.