Evening star., 1944-01-30
Columbia Historical Society Nears Golden Jubilee
BY John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
In the last so years, though many or
ganizations have come into being in
this city only . comparative few are
here today and still carrying on. This
is due, at least in part, to the fact that
they did not get the right start In the
first place. And this is Is true Of the
historical as well as Of the other bodies
begun here from time to time during
the last half century. Today, however,
among the former, one organization
which was founded here so years ago. is
still dourishing, as most every one
knows, and bids well to be with us for
many years to come. This is the Co.
lumbia Historical Society, which had
its beginning in this city on March 9,
1894, and plans to celebrate its golden
anniversary some time next April.
w. j. MCGEE, was the originator Of
this society, and sent out the first call
for conference to be held in the presi-
dents Office Of the Columbian University,
now George Washington University,
then located at Fifteenth and H streets
NV.
Here met on the date mentioned,
at 4:3o in the afternoon, the following
well-known persons: Marcus Baker, Miss
Kate Field, Lawrence Gardner, G. Brown
0oode, Alexander B. Hagner, w. j. Nc
Gee, Theodore w. Noyes, J. M. Toner,
Ainsworth r. Spofford, Michael I. Weller
and James G. yelling.
To those whose recollections bring to
mind the important people Of that period
but little need be said OF their civic, SCI
entiflc and judicial importance. Marcus
Baker was q photographer with the Geo.
logical Survey, Miss Field was an enter
prising literary woman who published
here in 1859 q newspaper known as
the Press, and from 1890 to 1895 Kate
Fields Washington; Mr.. Gardner was
secretary Of the Washington Beneficial
Endowment Association and represent
atiye for the Democratic party In this
city, DR.. Goode was a scientist and as
sistant secretary Of the Smithsonian
Institution, Judge Hagner was an asso-
ciate justice OF the Supreme Court Of
the District OF Columbia, Mr.. McGee
was In charge Of the Bureau of American
Ethnology, Mr.. Noyes, for years now
editor OF The Star, was then associate
editor: Dr.. Toner was q highly regarded
physician, Mr.. Spofford was the libra
rian Of Congress, Michael I. Weller, q
local realtor, and DR.. yelling the presi-
dent OF what was then Columbian Uni
versity.
AT the aforementioned conference,
on motion Of DR.. Toner, President
yelling was elected temporary chairman
and MI. Baker temporary secretary. And
upon further motion of DR.. Toner it
was agreed to form historical associa-
ton, and the name selected Is the one
still used.
Society Founders
The list Of 3e persons invited to
this initial meeting, and who were to be
regarded as founders Of the society were:
Henry Adams, Mr.. Baker, Swan M.
Burnett, William E. Edmonston, Miss
Field, Worthington G. Ford, Melville w.
Fuller, Mr. Gardner, William w. Good
Ing. Mr.. Goode, Mr.. Hagner, Teunis s.
Hamlin, William T. Harris, John Hay,
James F. Hood, Gardiner G. Hubbard,
John F. Hurst, Elizabeth Bryant john
ston, John J. Keane, Samuel p. Langley,
Henry Cabot Lodge, Mr.. MCGEE, Ran
dolph H. McKim, Martin F. Morris, John
g. Nicolay, Mr.. Noyes. John w. Powell, j.
Havens Richards, E. Francis Riggs, John
W. Ross, Mr.. Spof1ord, Hugh T. Taggart,
Mr.. Toner. Mr.. Weller, Mr.. yelling and
William L. Wilson.
At the second, or organizing meet
ing, held in the university building on
April II, the minutes reveal the elec-
ton Of the following group of regular
officers: President, Dr.. Toner; vice
presidents, Mr.. Hubbard and Mr.. Spot
ford; recording secretary, Mr.. Baker;
corresponding secretary, Mr.. Weller;
treasurer, Mr.. Riggs; curator, Mr.. Hood,
and councillors, Miss Field, DR.. MCGEE,
Mr.. Gardner, DR.. yelling, Mr.. Nicolay,
Judge Hagner, Mr.. Noyes and Mrs.
Johnston.
The constitution of the society was
also adopted at this time in which the
name Of the organization is styled "The
Columbia Historical Society" and its OBJ
ject, 90 the collection, preservation
and diffusion OF knowledge respecting