Three numbers of the Aukland Star, published at Duneden, New Zea land, June 17, 1886, containing full account of the volcanic eruption of Rotomahana, with illustrations. From Hon. S. D. Hastings. Madison. Pair of pattens worn by peasant women, at Boston, England. From Reuben G. Thwaites. Chinese newspaper, published at San Francisco, Cal., April 27, 1888. From C. G. Ermatinger, Chippewa Falls. Also one of above, from Earl Hunner, Madison. Sixteen newspapers of early dates, published at Milwaukee. From Miss Julia A. Lapham, Oconomowoc, The powder horn of Daniel Boone, of Kentucky-originally the property of his elder brother, Israel Boone, with his initials cut thereon; also, a silver coat-button of Daniel Boone, with the letters D. B. engraved on it; and the following relics of Daniel Boone: (1) a lock of his hair; (2) a portion of a plaster cast of his skull; (3) pieces of the hearth-stone of his cabin. From the collections of Dr. Lyman C. Draper. Gen. Henry Harnden's saddle, on which he rode in his famous pursuit and capture of Jefferson Davis. From Paul Findlay, Chicago. A piece of the "Blarney stone," taken from Blarney castle, near Cork, Ireland, summer of 1891. By Secretary Thwaites. Blackthorn shillelah, bought at Killarney fair, Ireland, summer of 1891. By the same. HISTORICAL RELICT OF THE WISCONSIN PRESS. At the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Press Association, held in Madison, February 17-19, 1891, there was appointed a committee to take measures to co-operate with this Society in furthering the accumulation and preservation of files and other relics of the newspaper craft in Wisconsin. The committee met in the Society's rooms in Madison, March 11, and decided urgently to request the newspaper men of the state to send to the Society, for permanent exhibition, all such historical relics of the press as would interest members of the craft and the general public. The following circular letter was therefore issued to Wisconsin editors: The State Historical Society has for thirty-seven years past been indus. triously making a collection of Wisconsin newspaper files, reaching back to the beginnings of our history. Its collection of Wisconsin papers is incomparably larger than any similar collection of state newspapers in America, and embraces not only continuous files of all the leading city and country papers since 1850, but reaches far back of this and includes most of the original pioneer journals from about 1836. Not only is the Society's collection of Wisconsin papers incomparable, but its bound files of other American journals number several thousands of volumes, and reach back in an almost continuous line to 1749, thus covering every important period of American history. This collection of miscellaneous American news. papers is only equaled by that in the Library of Congress at Washington. In addition, the Society already has in its museum one of the first handpresses in use in this state; on the walls of its portrait gallery it has several oil portraits of pioneer Wisconsin editors; and in its library, specimens of the first books, pamphlets, and miscellaneous job-printing ever turned off from Wisconsin presses. Here is alrealy at hand a splendil nucleus for a permanent Wisconsin press exhibit. To make worthy additions to it should be the laudable ambition of every member of the Press Association. It is suggested that these additions may properly include: 1. Specimens of early book and job work that have genuine historic merit. 2. Any newspaper files, old or recent, not already in the Society's collection. 3. Historic presses, or other tools of the craft. 4. Portraits (oil or crayon) and busts of noted editors and publishers. The officers of the State Historical Society are taking much interest in this movement of the Wisconsin Press Association, and promise their ac tive co-operation in furthering the worthy object sought. In the event of a new building being erected for the Society, the press exhibit is promised suitable accommodations in a separate hall. Correspondence regarding the exhibit may, at any time, be addressed either to the chairman of the committee, R. W. Cheever, Clinton, Wis., or the secretary of the State Historical Society, Reuben G. Thwaites, at Madison. R. W. CHEEVER, ELLIS B. USHER, SAMUEL SHAW, SAM RYAN, Historical Committee of Wisconsin Press Association. Approved April 6, 1891: JAMES E. HEG, President. F. W. COON, Secretary. AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. It is proper that the Society be creditably represented at the World's Fair in Chicago, in 1893. It is impossible for us to be at much expense in this matter, but the state board of World's Fair managers will no doubt bear the financial burden, and considerable correspondence has already been had with them in regard to the proposed exhibit. In case the directory of the exposition provide space in a central building for archæological and historical exhibits, our place in no doubt there, by the side of other states; otherwise the large room designed for our use in the state building can be profitably used. A NEW BUILDING NECESSARY. We must not remain blind to the fact that despite all improvements in our present quarters, they are only designed as a make-shift. We can never adequately house our priceless treasures in the rooms we now occupy. The south wing of the capitol is not only a mere fire-trap, but it is structurally weak; the state authorities are continually warning us that we are overloading the building, and look with well-grounded alarm upon the tons of matter which we annually add to our collections. It is, however, impossible for us to stop accumulating; it is no more practicable to curb our progress, under natural conditions, than that of the age in which we live. We are continually menaced by the possibility of a repetition of the disaster of 1884; and in case of a serious fire there would be little hope of saving much of our property from destruction. The growing demands of the state government are such as to cause us to believe that the time is not far distant when the room we occupy will be needed for legislative and administrative purposes. Our own growth is such that by that time, also, we shall need quarters more spacious and better adapted to our purposes. The question of a new and more appropriate building is one that presses for early solution. Our several special funds, the result of membership fees, sales of duplicates, and individual gifts, are having a fair growth, and we live in hope that the time may come when we shall be able to release the state from some of the burdens of our support. The expense of erecting a new building, however, would be far beyond our financial capacity; and our earnest appeals to Wisconsin's men of wealth, to erect in such a structure an enduring monument for them selves, have as yet elicited no response. There is no need of disguising the fact that the receipt of state aid is apt to deaden private interest in an institution of this character; yet without state aid it would, under existing conditions, certainly be impossible for the Society to prosper. It seems inevitable, then, that we must again present our claim to the legislature for official recognition in this regard. The commonwealth has made our Society its corporate trustee, and has taken unto itself the proprietorship of our collections. The duty of the commonwealth is clear. It must properly house its own possessions. We are commissioned to manage the trust, but cannot properly do so as it is at present situated. We fail of our duty as trustees, if we do not call public attention to the present unfortunate condition of affairs, and take active measures for their betterment. Thirteen months are before us in which to conduct an aggressive campaign for a new building. It is sincerely to be hoped that in this movement for legislative aid we may have the earnest co-operation of our members and friends throughout the state. If all do their duty in this regard, there can be little fear of the result. In behalf of the executive committee, REUBEN G. THWAITES, LYMAN COPELAND DRAPER-A MEMOIR. BY REUBEN GOLD THWAITES. On the night of the twenty sixth of August, 1891, there passed from life one who was practically the architect of this Society, and for a third of a century its guiding spirit. In our capacity as an historical association, it has often been our duty to hold exercises in memory of distinguished dead; but never were our funeral tributes more worthily bestowed than now, never was our line of duty nearer to heart. Although we all greatly admired Lyman Copeland Draper, were aware of his work in the building of this institution, which to-day is his chiefest monument, had some knowledge of his national reputation as a collector and editor of historical materials and as an oracle in the history of transAlleghany pioneering, not many of us knew what sort of man was this tireless worker, what his methods were or his personal characteristics. Of so retiring a disposition was he, of so modest a demeanor, of so shrinking a habit, that it was given to but few, even of his literary associates, to understand the man as an individual. It was my lot to be as near to him, possibly, as was any other man; and if I can succeed in lifting for you the veil which seemed to obscure his personality, perhaps the study of his character may interest you as it has me. Lyman C. Draper was born in the town of Hamburg (now Evans), Erie county, New York, on the fourth of September, 1815. Five generations back, his ancestors were Puritans in Roxbury, Massachusetts; his paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and his maternal grandfather fell in the defense of Buffalo against the British in 1813, while his 1 Address delivered before the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, at its annual meeting, December 10, 1891. |