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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BOARD

     Chairman--E. A. Burnett, Dean of College of Agriculture, University of Nebraska.
     Secretary--J. M. Matzen, State Superintendent.
     Margaret McCutchen, Superintendent of Merrick County Schools.

EMPLOYEES

STATE SUPERVISORS

     An act of congress, known as the Smith-Hughes act, approved by the President February 23, 1917, was the occasion of the creation of this board by the Nebraska legislature, then in session. The purpose of the Smith-Hughes act is to provide for the promotion of vocational education and for co-operation with the states in such promotion, and in the preparation of teachers in vocational subjects.

     By vocational education is meant training for the common wage earning employments, and a useful, productive life. No academic studies can be supported out of Smith-Hughes funds, and these funds are required by the act to be applied solely to payment of teachers' salaries and for the training of teachers. The allotment of this fund for Nebraska for the year 1925-1926 was $86,890.11, which was divided as follows: For salaries of teachers, supervisors and directors in agriculture, $52,004.21; for salaries of teachers in trades, home economics and industry, $22,571.52; for teacher training, $12,314.38. The state must supplement these grants dollar for dollar, and has pledged its faith so to do.

     The board began its work January 1, 1918. Office space in the College of Agriculture has been provided. Various schools within the state have had, the benefit of the direction of the board, and of the funds at its command. The University of Nebraska was designated as the teacher training school for Smith-Hughes teachers.

     A legislative act authorized the school boards of any public or state school, college or university to establish in co-operation with the state board of vocational education, vocational schools, departments or classes in either agricultural, trade or industrial branches, or home economics. These schools may be organized as all-day schools, part-time schools or evening schools. $177,000.00 was the amount appropriated by the state for the years 1925-1927.

     In H. R. No. 232, 1921, the Nebraska legislature accepted the provisions of a new act of congress for retraining men and women disabled by accident, injury or disease, in industry or on farms, or otherwise and

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ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

     The Nebraska academy of science was organized January 1, 1891, at Lincoln.

     The purposes of the organization were to promote investigation and fellowship, secure friendly criticism and exchange of thought, and aid in the spread of knowledge and interest in the various fields of scientific, study.

     Important papers and discussions upon scientific discoveries have been presented at each annual meeting of the academy. Publication of these papers and discussions has been attended with great difficulty. In 1897, an arrangement was made, for publishing its proceedings and papers that year as part of a volume by the state historical society. During most of the time publication has been secured by use of the small fund received from annual dues of $1 each from the members and by personal donation.

CODE COMMISSION AND REVISION AND PURCHASE OF STATUTES

HISTORY

     An act approved February 13, 1865, provided for the revision of the territorial laws. Governor Saunders appointed Experience Estabrook as commissioner on revision. With some amendments his revision was adopted and is known as the Revised statutes of 1866.

     In 1872 the legislature appointed Guy A. Brown to compile and revise the general laws. This compilation is known as the General statutes of 1873.

     In 1877 a commission to revise the' laws was created. The governor appointed John H. Ames, A. H. Connor and S. H. Calhoun as members of this commission. They reported their work chapter by ,chapter to the legislature of 1879 for adoption. After struggling with the subject through several chapters, the legislature dropped the matter, and the revision was never adopted.

     The state having failed to provide a revision, a compilation was Annotated statutes of Nebraska.

     The legislature of 1881 authorized Guy A. Brown to prepare a compilation of the laws. This publication, in time, became known as the Compiled statutes. After Mr. Brown's death, the publication was

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     In 1891 and 1893, J. E. Cobbey, under authority, published the ,Consolidated statutes. In 1903 Mr. Cobbey was authorized to publish the Annotated statutes, and the next legislature made provision for the publication after every legislature.

     An act approved March 30, 1901, provided that the supreme court should appoint five judges of the district court as a board of revision for the statutes. No additional compensation was allowed the members of this board or their stenographers for the work involved, and the legislative journals of the next legislature are silent concerning the report which this act required the board to make.

     The legislature of 1911 created a code commission of three persons to be appointed by the governor upon advising with the supreme court. This commission, consisting of A. M. Post, E. L.. King, and J. H. Broady, was continued by the legislature of 1913 for a period of eight months. An edition of 5,000 copies of the Revised statutes was provided for. Certain, state officers and libraries were entitled to receive copies, and the remaining copies were sold at five dollars each.

     In 1921, the legislature created a commission consisting of the clerk and the reporter of the supreme court to compile, publish, sell, and distribute the statutes. The new edition appeared in 1922.

APPROPRIATIONS 1875-1923

HISTORY

     A bill creating a territorial board of agriculture was introduced by Robert W. Furnas, and signed by Governor Richardson on October 14, 1858. This board is a body corporate, with perpetual succession. The first territorial- fair was held at Nebraska City, September 21-23, 1859. This fair was not a financial success, and the enthusiasm of the board diminished. Another fair was held at Nebraska City, October 7-9, 1869. An-act of February 13, 1879, prescribed the duties of the board, and provided for the state fair.

     The state owns 183 acres of land on which the fair is held, and the activities of the department are paid out of the proceeds of the fair, and legislative appropriations. The legislature, in 1921, placed under the control of this board the appropriations for the following agricultural societies: Crop Growers' Association, Improved Live Stock Breeders' Association, Potato Improvement Association, Poultry Association, Dairymen's Association and Horticultural Society. Their reports are incorporated with annual report of the State Board of Agriculture,

DUTIES AND POWERS

     The board is required to--
     1. Meet and deliberate on the agricultural prospects and interests of the state.
     2. Make and publish an annual report.
     3. Manage the state fair.
     4. Direct the expenditure of moneys appropriated for the support of certain agricultural societies.

PUBLICATIONS

     Annual report.
     Premium list.
     Official catalog.

STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

     The Nebraska state horticultural society was organized on the state fair grounds at Nebraska City, September 29, 1869. Appropriation was made by the legislature of 1872 and each subsequent legislature to aid this society in its work.

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     It is the duty of the society to encourage the organization of district and county societies and give them representation therein, and to further the fruit and tree growing interests of the state.

     The secretary is required to make an annual report to the governor. This report contains the proceedings of the annual meeting.

PUBLICATIONS

     Annual report.

NEBRASKA DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION

     This association was organized in 1885 and was legalized as a state institution by the legislature of 1889. It is required to hold an annual convention, to gather statistics and diffuse knowledge on matters pertaining to practical dairying and to print and distribute an annual report of its proceedings.

POULTRY ASSOCIATION

     This association was incorporated September 26, 1892. It was legalized as a state instituion (sic) by the legislature of 1893, and an appropriation made for its support. It is required to hold an annual meeting in January, to gather statistics and diffuse knowledge on subjects pertaining to the poultry interests of the state, and to publish and distribute reports of its proceedings.

CROP GROWERS' ASSOCIATION

     The legislature of 1909 legalized this society, which was organized in 1903, as a state institution and made an appropriation for its support. It is required to hold an annual convention and corn show, to gather statistics, and to publish and distribute an annual report of its proceedings.

IMPROVED LIVE STOCK BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION

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NEBRASKA POTATO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

     This association was organized in 1917. The legislature of 1919 legalized it as a state institution and appropriated $1,500 for its use. Succeeding legislatures have continued to appropriate funds for the association, whose purpose is to encourage scientific production, handling and marketing.

NEBRASKA STATE IRRIGATION ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE BOARD

     The Nebraska state irrigation association was -organized in 1893.

     The general purpose of this organization is to promote and diffuse knowledge concerning irrigation and other uses of water; to facilitate conference and deliberation among people of the state concerning irrigation and related interests; to provide means for bringing the needs of the people in respect to irrigation before the state and federal governments and to suggest and assist in procuring the enactment of needed changes in irrigation laws.

     The association holds annual sessions. Bridgeport has been chosen as the permanent seat for these sessions.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

EXECUTIVE BOARD

   Ex-Officio Members--

   Officers and Elected Members--

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EMPLOYEES

     On August 1, 1878, Robert W. Furnas addressed a letter to a number of prominent citizens and asked the use of their names in calling a meeting at Lincoln during the state fair to organize a state historical society. Favorable responses were received and soon after a call for such a meeting to be held kit the Commercial hotel in Lincoln on the evening of September 25, 1878, signed by twenty well known citizens, was published generally in the newspapers of that time.

     At this first meeting committees were appointed and an address delivered by Dr. George L. Miller. On the following day a constitution was adopted and permanent officers chosen Robert W. Furnas, president, and Prof. Samuel Aughey of the state university as secretary.

     The society was given rooms on the university campus, where it has remained. It now occupies quarters in the university library building.

     In 1916 a joint committee of the society and the university made a report on the "concentration of state library agencies and of state museums." The committee recommended that "the Nebraska state historical society and the University of Nebraska join in an effort to secure the erection of a building for the use of both, and for the library commission and the legislative reference bureau." This recommendation was adopted by the historical society board, and agreed to by the other state library activities. A joint committee of the 1917 legislature, in a report (Senate Journal, 1917, p. 975) on the state library activities recommended the "erection by the state out of university funds at the university, of a commodious and handsome. library building, to be governed and maintained by the university, and which shall house the university library, the historical society, the library commission, and such other state supported library activities as may be agreed upon."

     The society maintains a historical museum, and has a library of approximately 60,000 books, pamphlets and bound newspapers. Since 1885 a regular series of volumes of historical collections and papers has been published. A periodical devoted to society affairs and historical notes is published quarterly and sent to sustaining members.

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     The society Is governed by an executive board of thirteen members. The governor, chancellor of the state university, the president of the Nebraska press association and the chief justice of the supreme court act as ex-officio members. The nine other members are elected at annual meetings of the society for terms of three years, three being elected each year.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC

HISTORY

     The Nebraska department of the Grand army of the republic was organized June 12, 1877, with six posts and a membership of one. hundred and sixty-six. It was immediately made an auxiliary of the national organization. January 31, 1906, the order was incorporated. The roster of members in Nebraska has always well represented the civil war veterans residing in the state. As to number, the highest point was reached in 1892, when there were over eighty-five hundred names on the roster. The membership of the organization is now 108 posts with 971 members. The Nebraska division of the Grand army of the republic, with the woman's branch, the Woman's relief corps, has been very effective both as a fraternal society to promote fellow ship among the veterans of the civil war, and also as a charitable organization to assist veterans or families of veterans who are in need. For a number of years, the legislature has made a small appropriation to be expended by the department for office expense and the keeping of military records. The department occupies rooms 202-3 on the ground floor of the capitol, with space for displaying relics.

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