The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-27
OWEN FUNERAL ID
 BE HELD SUNDAY
Messages of Coincidence Pour in From All Sections
 of the Country
By FRED H. GORMLEY Montgomery Bureau The Ase- Herald
 o1Io Efrst Hs4ionaf p.nk Q.fIdfn

Montgomery, March 26.-(Special)- Messages of condolence poured into Mont gomery from all sections of the United States Friday when news of the death of Dr. Thomas M. owen, noted historian and director of the Alabama department of archives and history, was disseminated. pr. Owen, who died suddenly of heart failure about midnight Thursday after returning from a meeting of the Thirteen Club, which he organized in 1902, was known throughout the nation by his lit- erary work and his efforts in organizing the department of history and in gather ing together the fragments of southern history and in placing them in an har- monious whole had received commenda- tion even in other countries
 Offcialdom at the capitol was shocked at the news of Dr. Owens death. He had been in i'll health for some months, due to his arduous work, which was sup plemented by his efforts in behalf of the erection of a state memorial to Ala bama soldiers and in behalf of various civic enterprises of the state and Mont gomery. He suffered with influenza re- gently, but it had been thought he had entirely recovered. After returning from the meeting of the club Thursday eve- ming, he discussed various happenings Ol lH6 udy Wlln MTS. OWcI anu ulSu shortly after going to his room.
 Governor Kilby issued an official order Friday placing the American flag over the capitol at half-mast until after the burial Sunday afternoon, and made public d statement in which he declared the death of Dr. Owen was an irreparable loss to the state. Alabama has suffered an iTreparable loss in the death of Dr, Owen,' said the statement. "As director ar,1 Of tbod dar,a artt1o of archives and history, he rendered a service of immea surable benefit to the state. His department through it's phenomenal effi- ciency, contributed materially to every branch of our government. His patriotic services in all causes for the upbuilGsnis and advancement of his state endeared him to all our people. The death of pr. Owen has deeply grieved me"
 Funeral services will be conducted at the Court Street Methodist Church by the pastor, pr. Mark H. Holt, at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. This time was set in order that friends throughout the na- tion might have an opportunity of aA- tending. It was the request of Dr. Owe to Mrs. Owen that about 200 specs,- friends be informed of his death and that the funeral be public affair so they might be present.
 Dr. Owen is survived by Mrs. Owen and one son, Thomas M. Owen, Jr., g*lO has been his assistant in the department of archives and history. He is also sur- vived by his mother, Mrs. William Owen, and his sisters and brothers-Mrs Harvey c. Geer of Palm Beach, Fh. Mrs William Hope of Guntersville, Mrs. R. Rosamond of Birmingham, Mrs. Fra-ti Ryland of Baltimore Md; Wellingtvn Owen of Birmingham and Dr. Gaines Owen of Dora.
 Hundreds of tributes were paid to Dr. Owen during the day by state and city officials and friends who had known him and his work for the state. Among them was one from John H., Wallace. Jr., com- missioner of conservation, who had known Dr. Owen throughout the time the de- partment of archives and history has been in existence and who becomes the oldest official of the state in point of service as a result of Dr. Owen's death.
 Congressman William B. Bankhead. with his brother, John Hollis Bankhead, Jr., arrived this afternoon to attend the funeral Sunday afternoon of their brother -in-law.