MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL

SOCIETY.-1925.

The Board of Directors of the Illinois State Historical Society met in the office of the Secretary in the Illinois Centennial Building, May 7, 1925, at ten o'clock.

There were present: Dr. Otto L. Schmidt, who presided; Messrs. James, Clendenin, Allen, Hauberg, Colyer, Pease, Larson and Mrs. Weber.

The report of the Secretary was read and approved and it was directed that it be read to the business meeting of the Society.

Professor James spoke of the approaching meeting of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. That Association has accepted the invitation of the Illinois State Historical Society to hold its meeting in Springfield in May, 1926. He told of the plan of the meetings and suggested that Doctor Schmidt appoint a strong committee from the Illinois Historical Society to confer with a committee from the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Also that it would be necessary to appoint many local committees and said he believed that the attendance would be large, as many members of the visiting Association are anxious to visit Springfield and the various Lincoln shrines. He offered a resolution that these committees be appointed at the convenience of the Chairman. Doctor Schmidt said he would give the matter careful consideration and would appoint such committees.

The part of the Secretary's report which referred to the need of storage space and additional room in the Library was considered. The suggestions of the Secretary were approved and Mr. Hauberg moved that this matter be called to the attention of the Society. Mr. James seconded this motion and it was carried.

The Secretary reported that Mr. Ensley Moore, a Vice-President of the Society, who has always been faithful in his attendance on meetings is sick at his home in Jacksonville. She also stated that this day (May 7th) is the birthday of Honorable Joseph G. Cannon of Danville and suggested that some notice be taken of these two matters. They were referred to the business meeting of the Society.

Mr. Hauberg spoke of a bill before the General Assembly for the purchase of 175 acres of land near the city of Rock Island

known as Black Hawk's Watch Tower. He told of the important historical significance of this land and its great scenic beauty. He asked that the Historical Society express its interest in this project and its approval of the plan to purchase the land as a State Park. The Chairman asked Mr. Hauberg to put his motion in writing and present it at the business meeting of the Society. The Secretary stated that she had carefully gone over the list of members of the Society and had dropped the names of about 200 persons who had not been heard from for some time either by the payment of annual dues or in any other way. She said that the cards had been removed from the regular file but not destroyed and that already in some instances persons had inquired as publications are not being sent to them. The Board of Directors expressed their approval of this action of the Secretary in dropping from the list of members of the Historical Society such delinquent members.

Professor J. A. James spoke of the excellent paper of Mr. C. B. Coleman, Director of the Indiana Historical Commission, who had on Wednesday afternoon read an excellent paper calling attention to the 150th anniversary of the capture of the Illinois Country by George Rogers Clark; his campaign at Kaskaskia and the capture of that city July 4, 1778, and his later March to Vincennes in February, 1779.

Professor Coleman suggested a joint celebration or at least a joint interest of Illinois and Indiana in this approaching celebration.

Professor J. A. James thought this most important and said he considered it an excellent time to complete the publication of the George Rogers Clark Papers which are being published by the Illinois State Historical Library. The Library has already published the first volume of these papers and Professor James stated there would be at least three later volumes, one of which is now in press. He said that Professor Pease had given him the impression that it would be hardly possible to publish this material by the time of the Clark Centennial Celebration of 1928.

Professor Pease gave a brief account of the plans of the Library Board for the next biennium and thought it unlikely that the Clark papers could be completed. Professor James stated that some commercial or private interest had spoken to him about the publication of this material but that it is his preference for the Historical Library to complete this work as it had already published the first volume and it would be necessary for any other interest in order to make the Clark history complete to republish that much of the material contained in the volume published by the Illinois State Historical Library.

Doctor Schmidt said that at present the Historical Library Board is not in a position to make a definite statement on this point. He hoped that some satisfactory arrangement can be

made. Professor James referring to the celebration of the George Rogers Clark anniversary said it would be a difficult thing to have the joint celebration of the two States; he rather favored Illinois having a celebration of the anniversary of the capture of Kaskaskia on July 4, 1928, and Indiana doing as it pleased in the matter of its celebration on account of the fact that some months elapsed between the two events. The Secretary suggested that it might be arranged with some special exercises in commemoration of the anniversary of the capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes for the midwinter meeting of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association which comes in the Christmas vacation time and is between the two anniversaries. Professor James said that the midwinter meeting of the Mississippi Valley Association is always arranged in connection with the American Historical Association, but that he thought that the suggestion was an excellent one and saw no reason why it might not be carried out.

The Secretary suggested that the time for holding the annual business meeting of the Society was at hand and that Rev. J. T. Thomas was waiting to present his address on Mr. Stuart Brown. Mr. Pease then made a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Board of Directors and his motion carried and the meeting adjourned.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING OF THE ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

May 7, 1925-Lincoln Room, Centennial Building.

The annual business meeting of the Illinois State Historical Society was called to order by the President. The Report of the Secretary was called for and the Secretary asked that the order of business be dispensed with and that the memorial exercises for Mr. Stuart Brown be first in order. Professor James moved that this be done and Father Eschmann seconded the motion. The Secretary spoke briefly of the loss to the Society of Mr. Brown and Doctor Schmidt asked Rev. J. T. Thomas, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois, to present the memorial address on Mr. Stuart Brown, late a director of the Illinois State Historical Society. Mr. Thomas then read an excellent address which was accepted with thanks and placed on file. Doctor Schmidt spoke feelingly of Mrs. Stuart Brown, of her courtesy and interest in matters pertaining to the Historical Society. Of how it had always been a source of pleasure to him to meet Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Doctor Thomas told the Society of the beautiful stained glass window in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Brown which has been placed in the First Presbyterian Church by their children. He said that Mr. George of Tiffany's had said that it was the finest piece of ecclesiastical work that the firm of Tiffany has done in the Middle West. Mr. Thomas invited the members of the Historical Society to visit the church and see this window and also to see the pew occupied by the Lincoln family.

The report of the Secretary was then read. Relating to the report of the Secretary in regard to storage and other space in the proposed addition to the Centennial Building, Mrs. I. G. Miller offered a resolution that the attention of the Governor, the Secretary of State and the members of the General Assembly be called to the urgent need of the Society in this matter and asked that a letter be sent to them along the lines suggested in the secretary's report. Professor James brought up the matter of the proposed celebration of the 150th anniversary of the capture of Kaskaskia and Vincennes by George Rogers Clark. This will be the anniversary of the capture of Kaskaskia July 4, 1928, and of Vincennes February, 1929. Professor James moved that the President and Secretary be directed to correspond with the proper persons and make arrangements for such a celebration. This motion was carried.