historical addresses were delivered. The first volume of transactions and reports was issued from the press in 1885. During the next eight years a good start was made in the collection of Nebraska newspapers and in the accumulation of a library. There were also published, during this period, three more volumes of transactions and reports. In 1895, with an increased appropriation and the opening of the new rooms provided by the University, which it then seemed would afford ample accommodations for years to come, the work of the Society took on new life and vigor. Rapid progress was made in the next few years, and the biennial appropriations increased from $1,000 in 1883 to $10,000 in 1901, and altogether ten volumes of publications had been issued, the last of these appearing in July, 1902. No more volumes were published until 1906 when a start was made on the series known as "The Debates and Proceedings in the Nebraska Constitutional Conventions." The first volume of this series appeared in January, 1907, the second will soon be delivered, and the third is partly in type. There will be four volumes of this series. The present volume of Proceedings and Collections is designated Vol. X, Second Series, to make allowance for the two volumes of the constitutional series yet to come.

   Among the special lines of work which we have undertaken during the year may be mentioned the following: the organizing and cataloguing of the library and museum; the invoicing, classifying, and arranging of our exchange material; the providing of a complete system of permanent financial records; the reorganization of the Nebraska Territorial Pioneers' Association and the building up of its membership; the acquisition of new members for the Historical Society and the correction of its membership roll; and the preparation of a miscellaneous volume covering the proceedings of the Society from 1901 to 1907 inclusive. The accomplishment of these things has led to the doing of many others of minor con-

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 sequence, which in the end will result in great good to the Society.
   We have also given special attention to the establishment of friendly relations and the perfecting of exchange arrangements with the historical societies of other states. An especial effort has been made to get into personal touch with all of these societies, to keep in constant communication with them, and to effect the exchange of such duplicate material as we have accumulated for such as might be had from these various societies. Your Secretary has personally and very largely at his own expense visited all of the societies of neighboring states and made himself familiar with their plans and purposes. These visits have tended to the establishment of a closer relationship with these societies, which can but result in good to our work in the future.
   In line with this idea, an invitation was extended some months ago to the secretaries or librarians of all the historical societies of the Mississippi valley to meet in Lincoln, October 17-18, 1907, for the purpose of forming an organization for the advancement of historical research, and the collection and conservation of historical material in these western states. In response to this invitation there assembled in Lincoln on the dates named the representatives of several of the most progressive of these societies. A formal meeting was held in the University Chapel, and several business sessions were held at the rooms of the Historical Society, which resulted in the organization of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, which held its second meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, December 28, 1907.

   From 1902 to 1907 the efforts of the Board and its officers seem to have been devoted chiefly to the work of securing new and permanent home for the library and collections of the Society, although progress was made in building up the museum during these years. Little encouragement was given the building proposition until the last legislature made an

appropriation of $25,000 "to be expended in the construction and equipment of the basement story of a fireproof wing of a building," provided that the city of Lincoln within two years from the date of the act should donate to the State Historical Society block 29 in the city of Lincoln, known as "State Historical Society Block, or property of equal value." This act was approved by the Governor April 10, 1907, and, became effective July 1 following. Soon after the passage of the act, committees were appointed by your Board of Directors and by the city council of Lincoln for the purpose of devising some plan to comply with the provisions of the act. one joint meeting was held by these committees, which resulted only in revealing the fact that there was pronounced opposition on the part of the city government, backed by a considerable public sentiment, against conveying to the Historical Society Market Square or any part thereof. Therefore, if the Historical Society is to benefit by this act, it is incumbent upon the city of Lincoln to provide some other "property of equal value." 
   While cooperating to secure the block now known as Market Square for the site of the proposed Hall of History and Archives, because there were those who seemed favorable to this location, your Secretary is and has been from the first opposed to this site. First and chiefly because of its surroundings, which do not give promise of improvement; second, because the continued insistence upon this site, and the attempt to array Omaha and the country districts against Lincoln, is liable to alienate a very large number of influential friends, and possibly defeat any effort to secure another site; third, as a citizen and taxpayer of Lincoln he is opposed to giving to the Historical Society a block of ground that is worth for commercial uses $50,000, when other properties of equal if not greater value for the purposes of the Society are to be had for much less money. This matter can well be left to our public-spirited Mayor and business-like Council to provide a site conforming to the law, and that in ample time to make use of the appropriation before it lapses. This

much confidence may be placed in the intelligence, public spirit, and civic pride of Lincoln public officials and taxpayers. 

   The varied activities of the Nebraska State Historical Society and the great variety and scope of its enterprises are indicated by the following divisions into which the work undertaken by the Society naturally divides itself:

   These divisions may be subdivided in turn, until the amount of work shown to be necessary would seem almost disheartening in view of the limited number of employees. In a word, the work of the Society has grown out of all proportion to the ratio of increase in the appropriations, and if Nebraska is to maintain her place and reputation among the sisterhood of states in this work of preserving the present for the future,

two things are absolutely necessary: first, a commodious fireproof building; second, appropriations for maintenance large enough to enable the Society to do the work for which it was created. 
   The character and variety of this work is well illustrated by a few of the requests, selected at random, from among the hundreds received by the Secretary the last few months.
   A prominent member of the Woman's Club of Hastings, Nebraska, wants material for the preparation of a paper on the early explorations in the Nebraska country.
   A pioneer lady of Falls City wants to know where she can find personal reminiscences of early Nebraska.
   The Secretary of the Nemaha County Historical Society wants a photograph of a distinguished pioneer of that county.
   A citizen of Cass county inquires by long distance telephone the date of the great blizzard in Nebraska.
   An attorney of Dundy county, Nebraska, requests by first mail a certified copy of a legal notice appearing in a paper of that county several years ago.
   A high school girl of Hall county, Nebraska, wants data concerning the early settlement of that county.
   The Governor of the state forwards a request from an eastern magazine for a historical sketch of Nebraska.
   An eastern publication requests biographical sketches of several leading Nebraskans, by first mail.
   A Chicago lawyer wants information concerning one of the early judges of Nebraska territory.
   A prominent lady of Nebraska, a member of the. Society and a taxpayer, requests the assistance of the Society in tracing her genealogy.
   A gentleman of New York city wants a pamphlet issued by the department of education of Nebraska. in 1898.
   These and other requests of like character follow each other so closely that a good stenographer can be kept busy writing letters explaining to these people the reasons why the Historical Society can not do the work for which it is supposed to exist.

    Your special attention is directed to the report of the Librarian, which shows a total of 28,550 titles in the library, consisting of western history, description, and travel, colonial records, government and state departmental reports, genealogical publications, the reports of antiquarian, anthropological, historical, genealogical, and scientific societies; state, county, and town histories; bound magazines; a varied collection by Nebraska authors, and miscellaneous volumes covering nearly the whole range of regular library classification. In addition to the books and pamphlets, the library has acquired many rare manuscripts, documents, and maps, and many portraits and biographies of Nebraskans.
   This report also shows that the Society has exchanged, during the past year, 900 duplicate volumes for 1,400 volumes that have been added to the library, and that there are now on hand, for exchange purposes, 25,115 duplicates. These duplicates may he readily exchanged for almost anything in the book line that may be needed for the library.
   In the purchase of books during the past year we have limited ourselves to those which it was absolutely necessary that our library should have, leaving out of the question those that could be had at any time, and selecting only those which, because of their rarity must be secured at once, in order to make sure of their acquisition.
   You will note that a total of only $245.80 has been expended for books for the library during the year. It has been the judgment of your Secretary, approved by the library committee, that we should seek to make the books we had accessible before buying new ones. The library committee has been especially active and helpful during the year.
   Among those making valuable donations to the library during the past year are N. C. Abbott, Tekamah; John L. Pierce, Lincoln; Hon. H. M. Eaton, Lincoln; Gov. George L. Sheldon; Mrs. E. C. Baker, Miller; Dr. David Hershey, Nebraska

City; William Hayward, Nebraska City; S. A. Gardiner, Lincoln; W. J. Eyestone, Lincoln; MISS Emma Morton, Nebraska City; Mrs. Caroline Morton, Nebraska City; Mrs. Agnes D. Chapman, Plattsmouth; M. L. Learned, Omaha; Charles K. Ott, Tekamah; Horace S. Wiggins, Lincoln; and Richard L. Metcalfe, Lincoln.

   The museum is the most popular feature of the work or the Historical Society. It is a conservative estimate to say that 80 per cent of all the visitors to the Society come for the express purpose of viewing the museum. These visitors are not limited to residents of Lincoln, nor even of Nebraska, but represent many states of the Union, and even foreign countries. The museum, which contains approximately 28,100 objects, is free to visitors, and is open from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.m. each week day. The assembled relics are very largely donations from patriotic citizens, or loans placed with the Society for safe-keeping.
   Mr. Blackman has finished during the past year a complete catalogue of the articles in the museum, which is appended to his report and is included in this volume. Mr. Blackman's report, which you are asked to read, covers in review practically all of the work accomplished by this department since its organization under his direction. Mr. George W. Martin, secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, in his report for 1907, just received, says: "I find Nebraska away ahead of Kansas in archeological and ethnological matters." This is a very high commendation coming from one who is so familiar with the great work that has been done by the Kansas Society.
   Larger quarters are imperative for the work of this department, and unless they are soon provided the interests of the Society will materially suffer. Because of our inability to receive and care for numerous collections of historical relics

and curios that have been offered, many local museums have been established in county courthouses, under the auspices of county historical societies; and if this policy is continued, it will mean a great number of museums distributed over the state, instead of one great collection here in the capital city, where it will be easy of access to all the people.

   The field work of the Society, which has been under the direction of Mr. Addison E. Sheldon, might easily occupy the time of half a dozen men, and if properly carried out would mean an expenditure of a large sum of money annually for traveling expenses. All of the state institutions should be visited from time to time, and periodical visits should be made to all of the county seats to secure such records as the law provides may be turned over to this Society as custodian.
   All over the state public records are being destroyed that would be of very real value to future historians, and other public documents of far greater value are in constant danger from loss by fire, stored as they often are in the basements of frame buildings.
   Your Secretary has taken this matter up with various county boards, and nearly all have been found entirely willing to turn over these archives to the Historical Society, it being simply a question of our ability to send a man to sort, box, and ship them, and to find a place to store them upon their arrival here. This latter problem will be solved only with the erection of a new building.
   Another phase of the work, properly coming under this head, is the gathering of old libraries, original manuscripts, correspondence, and portraits of distinguished Nebraskans, who have been prominent in the public life of the commonwealth. Some work has been done along this line by Mr. Sheldon, the most notable illustration of which has been the acquisition of the correspondence and papers of the late

Judge Maxwell. Your Secretary has also been able to recently secure the correspondence and papers of the late Judge Samuel M. Chapman of Plattsmouth.

   Under the direction of Mr. Addison E. Sheldon, this bureau rendered faithful service to the members of the last legislature, a room in the capitol building being provided for its use during the session. New material is constantly being added, especially upon such subjects as will likely receive the attention of the next legislature. Leave of absence was granted Mr. Sheldon from October 1, 1907, to June 1, 1908, to pursue studies in Columbia University, the work of the department being left to his assistant, Mr. William E. Hannan.
   The organization of this bureau, as a separate and distinct department of the Historical Society, under a secretary, with full power to employ his own assistants, contract any indebtedness, and do all things necessary to the conduct of the department is not likely to prove entirely satisfactory in practice. In the judgment of your Secretary this bureau should not be conducted as an independent enterprise at the expense of the Historical Society, but the work should be left to the Society itself. It is well to avoid the machinery of a separate department, which is certain to lead to confusion, conflict of authority, and duplication of material.
   The state of Wisconsin was the first to establish a legislative reference department, and what has come to be known as the "Wisconsin plan" has been largely copied in other states. In Wisconsin this department is maintained in the capital, and is under the control of the free library commission of that state. It may yet be found advisable to place the work in this state under the direction of the Nebraska Public Library Commission, or establish it upon an independent basis in such manner as to insure its freedom from partisan bias or manipulation.

   Of the 613 newspapers published in Nebraska, this Society is regularly receiving 308, and an earnest effort is being directed toward securing those that are not now on our list. There are also received fifteen papers from other states, many of them being among the leading dailies of the country. All papers are first placed upon the racks in the reading room, and as they accumulate, they are tied up carefully and laid away for the bindery. All duplicates are clipped, the clippings pasted on bristol board and filed away in proper order.
   The Society has altogether 2,070 bound volumes of Nebraska papers and 253 bound volumes of papers from neighboring states. One hundred and sixty-four volumes have been bound during the past year, and there are now on hand ready for binding 540 volumes. The next step will be to provide a card catalogue for these volumes. There is no more important or valuable feature of the Society's work, as is daily demonstrated, than the preservation of these newspaper files. These papers will be of the greatest value to the future historian, and are constantly in demand in court proceedings and for private use.
   This department, including the clipping bureau, is under the direction of Mr. William E. Hannan, who has organized the work in such systematic manner as to make it of the greatest possible benefit to the public.

   Under the law this Society is entitled to receive fifty copies of every publication put out by the state, except the Supreme Court reports. These public documents accumulate very rapidly, and it is important that they be exchanged with the libraries and historical societies of other states for such duplicate material as they may have that will be useful to us. The distribution of these departmental reports of the state is

important, as they convey authentic information regarding the history, institutions, resources, and possibilities of Nebraska. The idea of spending public money for the printing of these reports, and then allowing them to mould and decay by hundreds and thousands in dark, damp vaults, is poor economy, if not a criminal waste of public money. To handle these volumes, receive them, invoice them, box them, and ship them out requires an endless amount of labor, but it is profitable to the Society and to the state. 
   A complete list of all exchange material on hand is being prepared, and should be printed and sent to all libraries. Such a list has already been printed of our own publications with prices of same, and is appended to this report. This Society has reached a point where it can no longer continue to furnish all of its publications in even exchange for all the publications of younger and weaker societies which issue a small volume at rare intervals.

   A collection of portraits of prominent pioneers in crayon, pastel, and oil is made a special feature of the work of nearly every historical society. Little has been done by the Nebraska Society in this direction. Chiefly, it is supposed, on account of the lack of wall space. Now, however, with the prospect of a new building, in which a suitable portrait gallery may be provided for, it would seem a wise course to begin an active campaign to secure framed likenesses of such men and women as have left their impress upon the history of the state. Your Secretary has taken the matter up with the surviving relatives of pioneers who have had a prominent place in the history of the commonwealth, and some portraits have been secured and others are promised for the future. Upon the recommendation of the Secretary, endorsed by the Executive Board, your President has appointed a committee of three members, whose duty it shall be to select those who are

to be honored by a place in this collection. This committee is composed of Mrs. A. J. Sawyer, Lincoln; Hon. Melville R. Hopewell, Tekamah; Francis E. White, Omaha. 

   The Society has at this time framed portraits of the following:

   It is hoped that this number may be doubled during the coming year.
   An especial effort should be made to secure enlarged portraits of all the governors of the territory and state. Aside from the historical value of such pictures, there is no feature of the work which will attract more general attention and commendation than a collection of these portraits.
   The Society has many photographs of pioneers, lantern slides, and numerous views of historic scenes, and in many cases owns also the original negatives. These photographs, lantern slides, and negatives, to the number of 1,200, have been systematically arranged in filing cabinets and a card catalogue made of the whole.

   There is an endless amount of research work along historical and scientific lines that might, and perhaps ought to be, undertaken by this Society. Your present Secretary is not opposed to this line of work, but on the contrary is enthusiastically in favor of it. He believes that this work, when undertaken, should be done by members of the office

staff, for and in the name of the State Historical Society, and that the Society should publish the results of such research. He is not, however, in favor of members of the office staff devoting time which is paid for by the Historical Society to work of this character, for and in the name of other institutions, for a pecuniary consideration. While he believes in advertising the work of the State Historical Society and the scholarly ability of its corps of workers, he does not believe that salaried employees of the Society should devote any part of their time, during office hours, to work which is undertaken for their personal financial gain.

   The work of this organization is so closely allied with the work of the Nebraska State Historical Society that it has been the practice in the past to conduct its business from the office of the Historical Society, the necessary expenses of the Association being paid out of the funds of the Society. Your Secretary, as Secretary-Treasurer of the Territorial Pioneers' Association, has been able, through the accession of new members, to defray most of the expenses of the Pioneers' Association from the treasury of that organization, and the Association is in a fair way to become self-supporting.
   On August 30-31 the Territorial Pioneers' executive committee planned for and carried out a celebration, picnic, and banquet, which exceeded in point of interest and attendance any similar meeting ever held in Lincoln. There were 212 who partook of the banquet at Capital Beach; sixty-five members were added to the Pioneers' Association, and twenty seven to the State Historical Society. An engraved certificate of membership has been provided for the Territorial Pioneers' Association, which will be paid for out of the funds now in its treasury. It is recommended that there be published in the next volume of Proceedings and Collections the official proceedings of the Territorial Pioneers' Association with the constitution and roster of that organization,

   In this connection your attention is directed to the report of Mr. Robert Harvey, chairman of the special committee on marking historic sites, which is made a part of this report. The importance of erecting monuments to mark the Oregon Trail and other historic spots in Nebraska has frequently been discussed in the meetings of this Society, and much interest has been created in the subject throughout the state. But two monuments have been erected, one on the Platte river opposite Fremont, placed by the Historical Society to mark the site where the first council was held by representatives of the territorial government of Nebraska with the Pawnee tribe of Indians, in 1855. The other monument was erected at Ft. Calhoun by this Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution, to commemorate the council held by Lewis and Clark with the Indians at Council Bluff in 1804. There are several other points in Nebraska where monuments should be erected, such as the grave of Logan Fontenelle, the site of the Merrill mission building on the Platte river, the site of Manuel Lisa's trading post near the old village of Rockport, and the plat of ground formerly occupied by Ft. Kearny. Markers should also be placed all along the line of the Oregon Trail and the old Mormon Trail.
   New interest has been aroused in this subject by the recent activities along these lines in the state of Kansas. The people of Kansas have erected many monuments, but no work of this character which they have yet undertaken approaches in importance the marking of the Santa Fe trail across that state. This has been accomplished by the Daughters of the American Revolution working with the State Historical Society of Kansas. The Kansas legislature appropriated $1,000 to aid the work, and a penny collection taken among the school children netted $584.40. The markers were of Oklahoma red granite, and cost, including the lettering, $16 each; they were delivered free of cost by the Santa Fe railroad to

all points along its lines. The citizens of the twenty-one counties through which the trail lay undertook, at their own expense, to set these markers. With this assistance and the money received from the legislature and the school children, it was possible to erect ninety markers at a cost of about $17 each. There were also six special markers, paid for by local chapters of the D. A. R., making a total of ninety-six monuments erected along that historic trail.
   The result of these efforts led the President of this Society to open negotiations with the Daughters of the American Revolution in this state, with a view to arriving at some plan of cooperation for marking these important trails in Nebraska. The Nebraska conference of the D. A. R. adopted a resolution authorizing the state regent to "appoint a committee to cooperate with the State Historical Society in endeavoring to permanently mark the Oregon Trail through Nebraska." Mrs. A. H. Letton, state regent, appointed as such committee, Mrs. J. J. Stubbs, Omaha; Mrs. S. B. Pound, Lincoln; and Mrs. G. H. Brash, Beatrice. This committee will soon meet with representatives of the Historical Society to discuss plans for this important work.
   Your attention is called to a recommendation of President Miller, that this Society cooperate in the plan to establish a national park and reserve, embracing the site of historic Fort Kearny. This proposition has received the endorsement of your board of directors, and Mr. A. E. Sheldon was authorized to prepare the following memorial to Congress to be presented at this meeting, in the hope that some affirmative action might be taken at once.

 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
   Whereas, Fort Kearny, Nebraska, founded in 1848, was for many years the principal frontier defense of settlers and

 the great station upon the overland trail from the Missouri river to the mountains and to California and Oregon and, 
   Whereas, there still remain earthworks and fortifications upon the site of the fort marking its location, associated with these memories of the days when they were constructed and in use; and,
   Whereas, a movement is now on foot for the establishment of a United States reservation at this point, therefore,
   The Nebraska State Historical Society respectfully petition's Congress to permanently preserve and commemorate this spot around whose early military existence and achievements so many associations of the national life gather.

   There have of late years been organized many county historical societies, and numerous local associations of old settlers. Your Secretary believes that it should be the policy of this Society to encourage these local societies, establish and maintain the closest relations possible with them, and that some permanent form of affiliation should be planned. It is recommended also that officers of this Society and members of the office staff be sent to represent the Society at all public gatherings of pioneers; to deliver addresses whenever invitations may be received, and to do everything possible to bind these organizations to the state society.

   The following deaths have occurred among the members of the Nebraska State Historical Society since the date of the last report published:

66 deceased persons who have been elected to membership in the Society. Two hundred and four persons have been elected to active membership during the year just past, of whom 175 have paid their membership fee. During the early years the records were not very carefully kept, and it is no uncommon thing to find persons whom the records show to have been elected to membership, and who claim to have paid their fee to some one at some time. The names of many of these, however, never got on to the treasurer's books, and we have thought it best to accept their statements in the absence of any proof of their error. There are many, too, whose names appear upon the records as having been elected to membership who do not even claim to have paid their membership fee. These we have eliminated from the membership roll. Many who have been elected to active membership and have paid their fee have, by their removal from the state, forfeited their claim to active membership in the Society.
   The constitution makes it the duty of the Secretary to provide an engraved certificate of membership to be furnished to each life member. This made it necessary that such a certificate should be provided, and as the principal cost is in the engraving, it is recommended that a certificate of membership be furnished to all members of the Society.

   A complete system of financial records has been provided for the Society under the direction of Mr. Horace S. Wiggins. This will enable those in authority to keep a better check upon expenditures, to equalize the expenses of the various departments, and to prevent any overdrafts. It will enable the Board of Directors to have positive knowledge at all times of the exact financial condition of the Society.
   The last legislature made an appropriation of $15,000 for the work of the Society for the biennium. This was an increase of $2,500 over the appropriation of the last biennium. In addition to this there was also appropriated $25,000 for a

building fund, contingent upon a site being donated by the city of Lincoln. This latter appropriation will lapse August 1, 1909. 
   Of the general appropriation of 1907, there has been expended from April 1, 1907, to January 1, 1908, a total of $4,864.83, leaving a balance of $10,135.17 for the remaining fifteen months of the biennium.
   To obtain the amount of the actual expense of the year there should be deducted from the total expenditures, as shown in the following statement, the sum of $462.46, the amount of indebtedness against the Historical Society due and unpaid on January 1, 1907.

    Note. - The item "Historical Society $1,288.99" includes charges not properly chargeable to some particular department of the Historical Society. The item "Legislative Reference Bureau $2,577.98" includes salaries of A. E. Sheldon and W. E. Hannan, although their time has not been devoted exclusively to that department. The item "Library $1,104.28" includes the amount paid to an expert librarian for the cataloguing and indexing of books and pamphlets contained in the library, also the salary of the Librarian.

   Your Executive Board has held four regular meetings, and one special meeting during the year. Each meeting has been held at the appointed time, with a quorum present for the transaction of business. Your Secretary has had the most cordial cooperation of the Board and its officers in everything undertaken for the good of the Society. The promptness and business-like methods of your Treasurer have been very helpful to the Secretary in his work. In this connection it is recommended that the constitution be so amended as to relieve the Treasurer of the duty of collecting membership fees, which no treasurer can undertake to do without sufficient compensation. It should be the duty of the Secretary to collect these fees and turn them over to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor.
   A large part of the work of the Historical Society, such as the management of its business affairs, the disposal of its correspondence, the orderly direction of the work in the various departments, the entertainment of visitors, the examination of catalogues, and the purchase of books, and the daily care of rooms and collections, can not be measured in words. These things, of the first importance in the right conduct of any such institution, could easily occupy the whole time and thought of one person, and to these duties your Secretary has given his personal attention.

 Adopted January 14, 1908.

© 2000, 2001 Pam Rietsch, T&C Miller