EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The president, vice-presidents, corresponding and recording secretaries, treasurer, librarian, curators, the governor, the secretary of state, and the state treasurer, constitute the executive committee, and the following standing committees are sub-committees thereof: STANDING COMMITTEES. Library - Thwaites, Butler, Chapman, Durrie and Turner; ex-officioPeck, Cunningham and Hunner. Finance - Van Slyke, Chapman, Morris, Doyon and Ramsay. Auditing Accounts - Hastings, Mayers, Morris, Carpenter and Ramsay. Printing and Publication - Thwaites, Butler, Raymer, Turner and Anderson; ex-officio-Cunningham and Hunner. Draper Homestead - Chapman, Van Slyke and Thwaites. New Building Project - Thwaites, Van Slyke, Estabrook, Fairchild and Jones. Art Gallery and Museum - Hobbins, Thwaites, Durrie, Delaplaine and Estabrook. Biennial Address for 1893 - Thwaites, Stevens, Chapman, Chamberlin and Turner. Historical Monuments - Turner, Thwaites, Butler, Chamberlin and Wright. Contributions and Endowments - Durrie, Johnson, Keyes, Oakley and Wright. Literary Exchanges-Thwaites, Durrie, Freeman, Rosenstengel and Steensland. Natural History - Chamberlin, Parkinson, Bunn, Burdick and Dunning. Obituaries - Pinney, Parkinson, Hastings, Johnson and Burrows. LIBRARY SERVICE-1891-92 CHAIRMAN OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE. REUBEN G. THWAITES, Corresponding Secretary*, DANIEL S. DURRIE*. LIBRARIAN. MADISON MADISON SALMON H. TUTTLE (art gallery and museum).. WHITEWATER LIBRARY OPEN - From 9 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM OPEN- Morning 9 to 12:30; Afternoon, 1:30 to 5. * To whom communications may be addressed. STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN THIRTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING. The thirty-ninth annual meeting of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin was held in the senate chamber in the capitol, Thursday evening, December 10th, 1891. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. President Johnston, on taking the chair, spoke as follows: Ladies and Gentlemen: - This is the thirty-ninth annual meeting of the State Historical Society, and it is gratifying to know that the Society continues to prosper, that public interest is being more and more awakened in its behalf, and that the collections in its various departments are being steadily increased. Since we last met, one has passed away who has done, probably, more than any other man for the Society-Lyman C. Draper, LL.D. We find his name as corresponding secretary in its first annual report. He lived for the Society, and did not forget it in the hour of death, but set an example to wealthier men, by his benefactions. The language written about another, may with little change be applied to him: "Like some grey tower that steadfast long had stood, The landmark of a city, and suddenly Falling, the people mourn; so long stood he In sight of all men worn but unsubdued, Of honor serving Duty to the last, His lifelong mistress! to his rest hath passed, A kingly man: strong, gracious, wise and good! So mourn we, gazing on the vacant chair No doubt his worthy successor, Mr. Thwaites, will in due time do ample justice to Dr. Draper's memory. A century hence it will be conceded that our Society would have per formed an important work had it done nothing more than embalm in biography the lives of Wisconsin's leading men men like Dr. Draper. - I am not sure but the biographer occupies a higher plane than the historian. The historian may be regarded as one who, from a commanding eminence, shows us the prominent features of a country, its farms, its villages and cities, while the biographer takes us by the hand and leads us down along the highways, through the farms, and villages, along the streets of the cities and into the residences, churches and market places, introducing us to the people and explaining their habits and customs. The historian tells us of battles, great strokes of diplomacy, and parliamentary debates; while the biographer introduces us to the most minute details of the lives of the great actors in history, unfolds their motives and ambitions, and makes us familiar with their inmost thoughts. While the legislature at its last session did not as we hoped it would, make provision for the fire-proof building which the Society so much needs, it showed its desire to foster the intellectual growth of the state by enlarging its appropriation to the state university, and this may be regarded as an index that the day is not far distant when the claims of the State Historical Society shall also meet with favorable consideration from the intelligent representatives of the people. The vacation which our able corresponding secretary enjoyed in Europe last summer will, I am sure, prove of great benefit to the Society. I shall not detain you longer, for you will be more interested in the reports of the executive, finance and other committees than in anything I may say. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Corresponding Secretary Thwaites, in behalf of the executive committee, presented its annual report, which was adopted. [See Appendix — C. ] FINANCIAL REPORTS. Chairman Van Slyke, from the committee on finance, presented the report of his committee, approving the annual report of Treasurer Proudfit. both of which reports were duly adopted. [See Appendix — A. and B.] Chairman Morris, from the auditing committee, (Messrs. Morris, Carpenter, Mayers and Ramsay) reported that said committee had examined and approved the report of Corresponding Secretary Thwaites, of expenditures from the general fund for the eleven months ending November 30, 1891, the vouchers therefor having been deposited with the governor according to law. The committee also reported having favorably passed upon the report of expenditures from the income of the binding fund during 1891, presented to them by Mr. Thwaites as chairman of the library committee. The reports were adopted. OFFICERS ELECTED. The following officers were elected: Curator for the term ending the second Thursday in December, 1893. Hon. Burr W. Jones in place of Lyman C. Draper, LL. D., deceased. Curators for the term ending the second Thursday in December, 1894.— Gen. George P. Delaplaine, Hon. Romanzo Bunn, Hon. Silas U. Pinney, Joseph Hobbins, M. D., Hon. Elisha W. Keyes, Hon. Samuel D. Hastings, Hon. George Raymer, Hon. Jared C. Gregory, Hon. Philo Dunning, Hon. John B. Cassoday, Hon. Charles E. Estabrook, Hon. Halle Steensland. MEMBERS ELECTED. Members were elected as follows: Life -- Hon. William F. Vilas, Col. Albert H. Hollister, Col. John G. McMynn, William Habich, and William N. Merriam, all of Madison. Active Prof. F. L. VanCleef, S. A. Brant, Dr. Louis R. Head, Hon. Harry E. Briggs, Dr. C. H. Haskins, Prof. G. L. Hendrickson, Col. J. H. Knight, Prof. Joseph Jastrow, Prof. Charles R. Barnes, Rev. H. C. McDougall, Prof. H. C. Tolman, Rev. Eugene G. Updike, Hon. Joseph T. Dodge, Prof. Amos A. Knowlton and Prof. L. H. Clark, all of Madison. Corresponding - Prof. Hermann L. F. von Helmholz, and Prof. L. Gneist, Berlin, Germany; E. E. Ayer, Chicago; James Junius Goodwin, Hartford, Conn.; Wm. Frank Burroughs, Larchmont, Westchester Co., N. Y.; Rev. Philipp von Rohr, Winona, Minn.; Edward Denham, New Bedford, Mass.; Miss Ella C. Sabin, Fox Lake; President A. F. Ernst, and Dr. F. W. Notz, Watertown; Rev. B. Sievers, Rev. J. Schlerff, Prof. A. Honecke, Prof. A. Huth, Rev. Johannes Bading, and Chris. Koerner, of Milwaukee. THANKS TO PRESIDENT JOHNSTON. Hon. H. M. Lewis offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted amid applause: Resolved, That the earnest thanks of this Society be and they hereby are tendered to President John Johnston for his munificent gift of books to the library, made during the present year; and in general for the great interest which he has throughout his administration displayed in the affairs of the institution. |