Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-27
For Preservation of
Grand Army Documents


Grand Army Documents
1t has just come to light that a law
passed by the Maine Legislature at the
session of 1909 providing for the set
ting aside of a room at the State House
for the preservation of relics and me-
mentoes OF the War of the Rebellion
and the history of Maine soldiers and
sailors who served therein, has been
allowed to fall into non observance.
The statute stipulated that room at
the State House be set apart, under
the charge Of the adjutant general and
subject to the orders of the Governor,
where there should be preserved what :
ever Civil War records, relics or me-
mentoes the Grand Army of the Re-
to be accessible at all times to men,
bers of the Grand Army and others
who might be engaged in historical re-
search.
At the time this law was passed
there was a serious lack of Office space
at the State House and the plan for a
Grand Army room was to be put in
effect whenever an enlargement Of the
building made such an addition posi-
BILE. A small room was so assigned.
| it also containing the battle flags,
which were by Legislative order in
1911 restored to the rotunda in their
present handsome cases. The law
then was evidently forgotten and re-
manned so until it was brought to light
recently by Adjutant General Presson.
Many Grand Army records have been
stored at the State House, but a large
part Of them has not received the care
. their value warrants.
Chapter 149, Public Laws Of 1909,
which provided for a Grand Army
room at the State House, reads as fol-
lows:
Section THAT there shall be set
apart a suitable place or places in the
State House whenever an enlargement
may permit Of the same being done
which place or places shall be under
the charge Of the Adjutant General OF
the State and his successors in Office
subject to such orders of the Governor
and Commander in Chief as may be
made from time to time under the
militia law Of Maine; and said place OF
places shall be used by the Adjutan,
General of the state tor the purpose OF
Ystoring supplies and property Of the
department., relics and mementoes Of
the war, arranging and preserving the
history of individuals who served ir
the army, navy or marine corps of the
United States during the War of the
Rebellion, who belonged to organiza
! of Cto<n o;< 80 hi
State who served in the regular army
navy or marine corps of the United
States. which said Grand Army of the
Republic may collect and desire tt
preserve as a part Of the history Of
this State, and such records shall b.
accessible at all times, under. suita biz
rules and regulations, to members O.
the Grand Army of the Republic ane
others engaged in the pursuit Of his
torical information.
Section 2-The books of record
papers, relics, mementos and othel
effects Of whatever nature, belonging
to the said Department Of Maine O.
the Grand Army Of the Republic, shall
whenever said department ceases t.
exist as a departmental organization
become the property Of the State O.
Maine
Until the state shall have provided
a building of suitable dimensions fol
providing the place or places con
templated by this act such records
papers. and property of the Crane
Army Of the Republic Of the Depart
ment Of Maine, shall be stored in som,
place in the present State House mos
convenient for that purpose. under thu
charge of the Adjutant General. when
lever they may be delivered to him b.
the department commander of thi
State, of the Grand Army of the Re
public"
Adjutant General Presson at one,
called the matter to the attention o
Governor Curtis and after reading TIL
above law the Governor immediatel.
: gave the necessary orders for a full
compliance with the long neglected
; statute. A room will be set apart 70
Civil War relics and Grand Army rec
crds, and those already at hand will
not only receive the care their valu
warrants, but also will be so arrange;
as to be readily accessible and thei
valuable contents available to Gram
Army men and those seeking histori