ERA OF PEACE, PART 29
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| KANSAS COLLECTION BOOKS |
STATE SOCIETIES.
KANSAS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.The first incorporated society in Kansas was a historical society. At the first session of the Territorial Legislature an act was passed incorporating the "Historical and Philosophical Society of Kansas." William Walker, of Wyandotte, was the founder of the society, which had for its object "the collection and preservation of a library, mineralogical and geological specimens, historical matter relating to the history of the territory, Indian curiosities and antiquities, and other matters connected with and calculated to illustrate and perpetuate the history and settlement of Kansas." By the act, the incorporators were to organize by a meeting at the capitol within one year from the passage of the act, which time was afterward extended to three years. The incorporators were William Walker, chairman; D. A. N. Grover, David Lykins, John Donaldson, James Kuydenhall, Thomas Johnson, William A. H. Vaughn, L. J. Easton and A. J. Isacks. The times were not propitious for historic work. Much history was to be made before it could be written. At the annual meeting of the Editors and Publisher's Association, held at Manhattan, April 7, 1875, Hon. D. W. Wilder offered a resolution, which was adopted, providing for a committee to organize a State Historical Society, "for the purpose of saving the present and past records of our twenty-one years of eventful history." The following members were appointed as the committee: F. P. Baker, D. R. Anthony, John A. Martin, Solomon Miller and George A. Crawford. A quorum of the committee, with other gentlemen, met in Topeka, December 13, 1875, and organized the society. The following directors were elected for the first year: Samuel A. Kingman, Floyd P. Baker, John A. Martin, Daniel R. Anthony, Solomon Miller, Daniel W. Wiler, R. B. Taylor, Milton W. Reynolds, George A. Crawford and S. S. Prouty. The following officers were chosen: President, Samuel A. Kingman; Vice President, George A. Crawford; Treasurer, John A. Martin; Secretary. F. P. Baker. At a meeting of the Board of Directors, February 4, 1876, Mr. Baker resigned the office of Secretary, and F. G. Adams was appointed in his place. The following have been the Directors and officers since: Directors for 1877: F. P. Baker, John A. Martin, John Francis, George A. Crawford, Solomon Miller, T. D. Thacher and Thomas H. Cavanaugh. Officers for 1877: President, George A. Crawford; Vice President, John A. Martin; Treasurer, John Francis; Secretary, F. G. Adams. Directors elected at the annual meeting January 21, 1879, to hold their office for one year: P. I. Bonebrake, P. B. Plumb, T. D. Thacher, George Graham, C. K. Holliday, George A. Crawford, Samuel N. Wood, Jacob Stotler, C. W. Leonhardt, M. W. Reynolds, A. G. Barrett, Robert Crozier, J. L. McDowell, John J. Ingalls, F. G. Adams, J. M. Harvey, J. C. Hebbard. Directors elected for two years: D. W. Wilder, James F. Legate, Benjamin F. Simpson, D. R. Anthony, John Speer, E. N. Morrill, D. E. Ballard, F. P. Baker, Edward R. Smith, James Blood, Albert H. Horton, Charles Robinson, Samuel A. Kingman, W. A. Phillips, J. P. St. John, Solomon Miller, John Francis, John A. Martin. Officers elected January 23, 1879, for a term of two years: President, Charles Robinson; Vice President, D. R. Anthony and C. K. Holliday; Treasurer, John Francis; Secretary F. G. Adams. Directors elected January 21, 1880, for term of two years: P. I. Bonebrake, C. K. Holliday, George Graham, George A. Crawford, F. G. Adams, J. C. Hebbard, T. D. Thacher, Thomas W. Waterson, Henry Booth, M. M. Murdock, S. N. Wood, John S. Gilmore, J. S. Emery, B. F. Stringfellow, J. M. Harvey, George W. Martin, John A. Halderman, Joseph P. Root. Directors elected January, 1882: P. I. Bonebrake, C. K. Holiday, J. S. Waters, F. G. Adams, C. W. Blair, J. Slotter, T. D. Thacher, James Smith, Henry Booth, M. M. Murdock, S. N. Wood, N. S. Goss, J. S. Emery, B. F. Simpson, J. M. Harvey, George W. Martin, E. G. Ross and John C. McCoy.
CONSTITUTION.(AS ADOPTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 21,1879)
This association shall be styled the Kansas State Historical Society. The object of the society shall be to collect, embody, arrange, and preserve books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary and other materials, illustrative of the history of Kansas in particular, and of the country generally; to procure from the early pioneers narratives of the events relative to the early settlement of Kansas, and of the early explorations, the Indian occupancy, overland travel and emigration to the Territory and the West; to gather all information calculated to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and the past and present resources and progress of the State, and to take steps to promote the study of history by lectures and other available means. The society has already in its work far surpassed the expectations of its organizers, as expressed in the resolution which gave it birth. Its collection is already the most valuable and voluminous in the West, and covers not only the period since the Territorial history of Kansas began, but comprises nearly everything accessible concerning the early history of the vast domain of the Louisiana purchase, of which Kansas formed a part. It comprises, also, the historic material, much of which is contained in manuscripts and letters of early Indian missionaries, sufficient for a more complete history of the Indian tribes who formerly inhabited Kansas than has ever been written. With relics and trophies of past times and men, innumerable manuscripts and compete files of nearly every paper ever published in the Territory or State, it has come to be one of the most valuable sources of historic information in the country. These grand results, the inestimable value of which will come to be appreciated more and more as the years go by, are attributable in full measure to the rare ability and indefatigable labors of the present Secretary, Hon. F. G. Adams, who has, from small beginnings, brought this, one of the youngest societies of its kind in the country, to the first rank in the estimation of all students or others who have had the ability or opportunity to come to appreciate through examination the value of the historic treasures which he has gathered and is still gathering, collating, classifying and setting in order for the future use and benefit of the commonwealth and the country. The collection is now kept in ample and elegant rooms in the west wing of the Capitol, just completed (1882). It has been, considering the uncertainty which pertains to the experimental period of infancy, liberally endowed and cared for by the State. An experiment no longer under its present management, the State owes it to itself and sister States to still extend its fostering care, even to the bounds of munificence.
STATE LIBRARY.An act regulating the State Library took effect March 24, 1870. Its Board of Directors consists of the Governor, and the Judges of the Supreme Court. The library was made up of the books, pamphlets, maps and charts belonging to the State then in the State Library, or what should be thereafter added to the same. This act made it the duty of the Governor to appoint a State Librarian who should hold his office for four years, unless sooner removed, at an annual salary of $500. By an act of the Legislature, going into effect March 16, 1871, the librarian's salary was raised to $1,000; two years later, it was raised to $1,500. Annual Reports. - On or before the 20th of December of each year, a report from the librarian is due to the Governor. The report states the number of volumes contained in the library; the number purchased during the year and the cost of the same; the number received by donation and further information or suggestions that may be deemed desirable. There is an annual appropriation of $300 to the librarian to be expended in the purchase of miscellaneous books for the library. By the act of 1873, the Justices of the Supreme Court, by virtue of their office, shall be the directors of the library. The office hours are from 9 A. M. to 12 M., and from 2 to 5 P. M., and during the session of the Legislature from 7 to 9 in the evening. David Dickinson was the first State Librarian. December 27, 1870, he reported 6,306 volumes in the library, 577 having been added during the year. He recommended that the librarian have the whole matter of exchange of public documents with the several States committed to him. December 13, 1871, the librarian reported: There are now 7,341 volumes in the library, and some hundreds of small pamphlets and thirty volumes of unbound newspapers. The library is in good condition. The following exhibit was made of the receipts for the year ending December 15, 1871:
Law books purchased by Justices Supreme Court. 460
Law books purchased by exchange of duplicates. 62
Regular exchanges and donations............... 543
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Whole number received.................... 1065
Deduct duplicates exchanged.............. 30
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Net increase............................. 1035
December 12, 1872, the librarian report 8,473 volumes in the library. His report showed a perfect library set of Laws of Kansas, from the organization of the Territory. He stated:
I have sent our Documents, Laws and Supreme Court Reports to the librarians of all the States and Territories, and to the library of Parliament in Canada. The number of books sent from the library during the year is 246. The report of 1873, stated that there were 9,241 volumes in the library; that of 1874, shows 10,297 volumes; that of 1875, 11,717 volumes. The librarian said:
Among the few donations, there is one of the Journals and Debates of the Kansas Constitutional Convention at Wyandotte, which had been long sought for. It was presented by Gen. John Ritchie, of Topeka, one of the members of the convention, and a life-long and unfaltering advocate of freedom and equal rights. It has been durably bound, and will be watchfully guarded. Of Supreme Court Reports, there were 6,743 volumes, valued at $26,972. Dr. Dickinson's first biennial report embraced a period of time extending from December 1, 1876, to June 30, 1878. He reported 14,574 volumes in the library, 6,311 of Supreme Court Reports. This, the last report of Dr. Dickinson, states:
When the librarian took charge of the library, eight years ago, there was not a half-dozen full sets of law reports, and a very meager assortment of text-books; the completion of the law library was, therefore, an indispensable necessity. Since it has been completed, or nearly so, more attention has been paid to the miscellaneous library. Changes in the Office. - Dr. Dickinson died October 5, 1879. His successor was Hon. Samuel A. Kingman, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who resigned both the offices of Chief Justice and librarian on account of ill-health. Hamilton J. Dennis was commissioned as librarian February 5, 1881, and he took charge of the office March 1, 1881. August 10, 1882, Librarian Dennis submitted the second biennial report, in fact - Librarian Kingman having failed to make any - and Mr. Dennis called it the third biennial report, to correspond with the reports of other State officers covering the same period of time, so as to avoid confusion. He made the estimate 18,736 volumes in the library, as near as may be. He says:
As I have no data of reports sold, or of additions to the library by purchase or exchange between June 30, 1878, and March 1, 1881, the present report covers only transactions concerning the library from March 1, 1881, to June 30, 1882. Catalogue. - Under this heading, Librarian Dennis presents the following:
The last catalogue of the law and miscellaneous books of the library was made and printed in 1873. This did not include the Federal and State documents and pamphlets, which in fact have never been catalogued at all. In 1876, there was a brief catalogue of the law books of the library made and printed. The catalogue of 1873 was only by authors, gave titles very briefly, and no attempt was made at classification or making cross-references. Regard for the Producers. - Though the matter of Herd Books was considered by the Librarian, a novel subject to be mentioned in the report of a State Librarian, yet having had frequent calls for the "American Herd Book," which is the standard register of Short-horn pedigrees, and for books giving pedigrees of horses and other stock, he learned from reliable sources that there is not in the State a complete set of the "American Herd Book." Noticing that the value of cattle, horses, sheep and swine in Kansas for the year 1881 aggregated $65,119,242, he concludes that much of the profit of any investment will depend upon its being intelligently made, and reasons upon the matter in the following matter:
To me there is as much food for thought in the above figures as could be found in a complete set of Cooper's novels, bound in full Russia with gilt tops. During the autumn of 1882, the State Library was removed from the central portion of the south part of the basement to more spacious apartments. Receipts from Reports and Statues. - The following is a statement of amounts collected for book sales and paid over to the Treasurer from March 1, 1881, to June 30, 1882:
March, 1881...... $449 50
April, 1881...... 714 50
May, 1881........ 617 50
June, 1881....... 521 50
July, 1881....... 336 50
August, 1881..... 211 00
September, 1881.. 354 50
October, 1881.... 482 50
November, 1881... 482 00
December, 1881... 348 50
January, 1882.... 611 50
February, 1882... 254 50
March, 1882...... 424 50
April, 1882...... 306 50
May, 1882........ 190 00
June, 1882....... 400 50
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Total......... $6,705 50
Abstract of volumes received from March, 1881, to June 30, 1882:
Law books purchased.................... 320
Law books from Schedule "F"............ 43
Miscellaneous books purchased.......... 113
Miscellaneous books from Schedule "F".. 49
Exchanges from States and Territories.. 554
Donations.............................. 83
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Whole number received............. 1,162
Whole number reported in library
to June 30, 1878..... 14,574
Estimated number received from June
30, 1878, to March 1, 1881 -
two years and eight months............. 3,000
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Total............................ 18,736
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