The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-21

tory from the small room in the state
house years ago to the present mag
nificent building, with its fine mu-
scum. extensive library and worlds
largest newspaper collection.
He reminded his hearers that the
work of the society was of an impor-1
lance not sufficiently appreciated by
the general public; that it was the
work of preserving forever the his
tory-the very spirit-of the times
that formed one of the Unions great
est states; the work. of maintaining
wise soon be forgotten in the minds
of men.
Secretary C0nnelIey's Report.
More than 200 members of the
Kansas State Historical society are in
Topeka today to attend the forty
fourth annual meeting being held in
the Memorial building. The session
this morning was confined chiefly to
business, including the reports of the
secretary, treasurer and various COM
mittees.
This afternoon at 2 o'clock Gen.
Wilder S. Metcalf. president of the
society. will address the meeting
Election of officers and further BUSH
ness will complete the afternoons pro-
gram. In the museum the collection
of French war posters and the collec-
ton of war relics presented by the
353rd au-Kansas infantry were at
tracing much interest and comment.
One of the most successful years in
the history of the Kansas State His
+ toricaI society ended with Its meeting
! today, according to the report of Sec
rotary Connelley, read to the mem
bers this morning. In spite OF many
disadvantages, it has grown in every
department and even every year of the
; world war saw it materially advance.
/ Legislative appropriations have been
small and it was under severe handl-
caps that the officers have kept up
the work. The newspaper section re-
mains the largest in the world, and Is
the pride Of the state. The society is
+ receiving, filing and having bound
I each issue of more than 600 news
papers, including all except two in the
state, and several foreign" papers.
The shelving is not vet completed and
: several thousand volumes are lying on
+ benches in the basement.
! The growth of the library has
steadily continued. Accessions during
: the last year total 1910 books. pamph-
lets and newspapers, 1858 separate
manuscripts and manuscript volumes,
, 1913 maps. aliases, charts and pictures
and 81 relics and museum objects. !
The legislature of 1919 allowed an
increase in salaries but if existing con-
ditions continue, it is probable that a
demand will be made for ipcreaEes
COilSlSNtlAL VIII tAlOf7- itGNiNCO ny OAA-
err state officials The membership
fee fund is in n prosperous condition,
81, 600 worth of liberty bonds having
been purchased and $1,000 still re-
mains in the fund. An examination
of the books of the society since 1914
by the state accountant, showed them
to balance to = penny.
Legislature Was Stingy.
I Owing to the neglect of the legis-
lature in giving proper assistance, the
society has been greatly hampered in
its war work. The biogra phies. letters
and photographs of thousands of
Kansas soldiers in the world war have
been received but owing TO insuffi-
cient help, can be handled and filed
only very slowly. This is one of the
most important works now before the
society and needs the attention of the
next legislature. All the government
war publications have been obtained
and are 70 ming the foundation of a
great collection.
Connelley spoke word of the mem
bers of the society who have died dur
ing the last year These are: Mrs.
George W, Click. widow of a former
president of the society; Caleb ]. Har-
Vey. John P Cone Raymond G. Tay-
Tor, Albert A. Robinson, George NJ
Crawford, A w. Smith. Christian
Bernhardt Mrs Jane A. Carter, Dan
/ iel r. -Wagstaff, John w. Fisher. The
biennial report will contain biographi-
i cal sketches of each.