Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-19
DECLARES PAPERS UNSAFE
SAFETY VAULT FOR STATE
HISTORY RECORDS URGED
Ihomns Nelson Page Advocates Move
mcht Supported by Colonial
DANES OF America.

=, tho October meeting OF the Colon
lai DANES OF Virginia. held in the city
nt richmond. upon the motion OF Miss
belIe icrkins. resolutions wcro passed
20 make IN appeal TO the Virginia Leg
islature in 1920 for an appropriation
to build a fireproof vault for the pro-
lection OF the archives and records of
biary.
fscerta incd. the bill for an appropria-
.ion to build n nrcproof vault will be
Fought before the Legislature in jan
uary.
Letter From DIR. Page.
The following letter from Dr. Thomas
naison Page: former ambassador :s,,n TO TO
appointed by the Colonial Danes OF
Wirginia in charge Of the bill;
MY Dolr Miss Perkins:
Replying to your committees letter
on behalf Of the Colonial Danes Of Nir-
sinia. would say that the prescrva
ton OF the archives and records Of :,
state is of such supreme importance
that one can but stand amazed before
people have always shown. II is not
necessary to go into the causes Of this
quite extraordinary phenomenon among
their past-traditional and historic.
public and privatc--as the Nirgin!ans.
IL Is more Important To emphasize the
consequences, which are in fact de-
plorablc. That a state, the richest Of
all in historic traditions, should have
permitted SO great a part Of the records
on which these traditions are founded
10 perish. would seem Incredible but for
me universally known fact That they
have gonc--caten Of rats; rotted by
water; consumed by fire.
Need OF Awakening.
- "hiy IN me Ihst generation ina
especially The patriotic societies. awak-
encd to The peril OF the destruction OF
even what remains OF our historic rec
COLLECTION and preservation as far as
possible. y great step has been made
and the state itself has at times mani
tested an interest In the work. though
not always a sufficiently Jealous and
continuous interest as was needed TO
rush the matter forward TO an accom-
pitched fact. And this can only be ac-
complishcd by persistent and intel
iIgcnt effort to arouse and keep aroused
mat the necessary funds shall be raised
and appropriated 10 the work and
duly applied thereto.
Even those records which hllal piety
has so far awaited TO rescue from i'm
mediate destruction are liable at any
moment 10 perish. because they are nos
IN nrcp:oof or even half Nrcproof
vault.
No Snfe buildings.
$50 far as have been able 20 learn.
there is no. a :reproof public building
in Virginia, and certainly there should
be ono. or, II this cannot be accom-
piished immsda,ely; sh.5s should AZ
ton with the state Library of sut-
nciently ample proportions 20 give rea :
Sonable promise OF preserving tne most
precious OF tho unique Virginia arch
ives which still remain This might be
constructed for $4,000. and single
package OF such records might he
worth in the market more than this
sum.
Il was informed few weeks ago
of the intention OF an eminent Virgin
ian. living outside Of his borders. who
contemplated giving TO Virginia Il fine
and very valuable collection OF pictures
IL there were q suitable nrcproof
building in which they could be pre-
served To my charrin, u could not
learn OF such building in the state
capital. II is time We had one.
Very respectfully yours,
"THOS. NELSON PACE"