Ohio History Journal

EDITORIALANA.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. On September 19, 1904, a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Trustees of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society was held in the rooms of the society, Page Hall, O. S. U., with the follow- ing members present: Mr. George F. Bareis, Col. John W. Harper, Mr. W. H. Hunter, Prof. B. F. Prince, Secretary E. O. Randall, Hon. D. J. Ryan, Hon. S. S. Rickly, Prof. G. F. Wright and Mr. E. F. Wood. The Secretary presented the resignation of Professor J. P. MacLean as Trustee of the Society and also as a life member. Professor Mac- Lean since his connection with the Society dating back to the annual meeting of April 26, 1901, when although not even being a member of the Society, he was elected a Trustee, has taken great interest in the progress and success of the Society, having written several articles of historical value which have appeared from time to time in the Quarterly and having especially devoted himself to the gathering of material con- cerning the history and literature of the Shaker Societies particularly those in Ohio. He has made numerous donations to the Society of books published by or pertaining to the Shakers and has also collected for and delivered to the Society a considerable number of historical Shaker articles in the shape of household utensils, articles of dress, implements of farming, manufacture and so on. All this material the Society received, catalogued and prepared to properly arrange and pre- serve. On August 10th, during a visit to the museum and library of the Society, Professor MacLean requested one of the assistants in charge to send him a complete list of all articles and books delivered by him to the museum and that receipts of all donations be sent to the various donors. This was during the time when the curator of the museum and library was absent in Saint Louis having in charge the exhibit of the Society at the Louisiana Exposition and unusual duties devolved upon the assistants in charge. On September 1st, Professor MacLean wrote the Secretary, complaining that he had not received the requested list from the museum. In explanation of the delay the museum assistant wrote Professor Mac- Lean as follows: "COLUMBUS, OHIO, September 6, 1904. PROF. J. P. MACLEAN, Frankin, Ohio. My Dear Sir:- The list of Shaker pamphlets and books was forwarded to you some time ago. Mr. Mills has not been home in the meantime and I (89)

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have had other duties besides making the list and answering receipt of

the Shaker material so that the delay was unintentional. If you have

not received the list please let me know and I will make a duplicate at

once.

Very truly yours," etc.

 

 

To the expression in this letter, perfectly harmless and proper,

"Shaker material" Professor MacLean at once took offense and in the

face of attempted explanations by the Secretary to the effect that nothing

was farther from the intention of the writer than the casting of any

reflection upon the Shaker Society in the term "material," Professor Mac-

Lean insisted upon an immediate resignation of his Trusteeship and after

waiting only a few days for action upon it by the Executive Committee

which had not yet met, he followed up his resignation by returning his

life certificate and the peremptory demand that his name be erased from

the list of membership. His resignation was dated September 13 and

his demand for removal from the list of members was dated September 17.

Tile Executive Committee after making itself fully acquainted with

the facts in the premises unanimously accepted the resignation of Pro-

fessor MacLean as Trustee and also by the same formal vote ordered

the Secretary to remove the name of Professor MacLean from the list

of membership as per his request. In both of these actions the expres-

sions on the part of the Committee and the Secretary were general that

Professor MacLean had rendered admirable and valuable services to the

Society in his studies and investigations of the history and various phases

of Shakerism in Ohio and that they sincerely regretted that he felt com-

pelled to discontinue his relationship with the Society. A committee

consisting of three was appointed by the chair to present at the next

meeting of the Executive Committee a name or names of candidates

for the trusteeship to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Pro-

fessor MacLean.

Mr. W. H. Hunter presented to the Society a handsome framed pho-

tograph of the medallion of Ohio's first Governor, Edward Tiffin. The

medallion being the one which was placed in the Court House at Chilli-

cothe with fitting ceremonies at the time of the Ohio Centennial held in

May, 1903. The photograph was accepted by the Committee with thanks

to Mr. Hunter and with directions to the Curator that it be hung on the

walls of the Society's library.

Secretary Randall and Assistant Treasurer Wood on September 6-10

made a trip in behalf of the Society to the Saint Louis Exposition to

inspect the exhibit being made by the Society in the Anthropological

Building. They found the same in every respect highly creditable to the

Society and the management and efficiency of Curator W. C. Mills. It

was the favorite quarter of visitation for the thousands of spectators

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who daily sought entrance to the exposition. During their visit, in com-

pany with a party of archeologists including Curator Mills and Pro-

fessor Starr, the eminent archeological scholar of Chicago University,

Messrs Wood and Randall made a trip to the famous Cahokio Mound

located in Illinois on the Mississippi opposite Saint Louis. This is the

largest mound now remaining constructed by the mound builders. The

trip proved to be a most delightful and profitable one as the party were

the fortunate auditors of informal dissertations, by the various scholars

present, upon the antiquity and purpose of the great mound, and the

surrounding ones, of which there are more than one hundred in number.

On nomination of Colonel John W. Harper, the names of many

prominent gentlemen, resident in Cincinnati, were elected to active mem-

bership in the Society.

 

*      *     *      *     *

On November 28 a meeting of the Executive Committee was held

in the reference rooms of the Public Library, Columbus, with the follow-

ing members present: General R. Brinkerhoff, Mr. George F. Bareis,

Col. J. W. Harper, Prof. B. F. Prince, Secretary E. O. Randall, and Mr.

E. F. Wood.

Explanations of absence were received from Hon. M. S. Greenough,

Mr. W. H. Hunter, Hon. D. J. Ryan and Hon. S. S. Rickly.

The Secretary submitted for the consideration of the Committee

some letters which had passed since the last executive meeting between

the Secretary and Professor MacLean and also between Professor Mac-

Lean and General Brinkerhoff, President of the Society. The only por-

tion of this correspondence worthy of attention was the request by Pro-

fessor MacLean that the Society return to the Shakers any of the material

which it had received through Professor MacLean and which the Society

did not desire to retain. Without dissent it was decided by the committee

that the Society would return none of the Shaker gifts as these donations

had come properly into the possession and ownership of the Society and

there was no legitimate cause for the return of any. Indeed, the Society

had been at some expense in their reception; moreover these donations

were regarded as of great interest and value by the Society and their

acquisition had been duly appreciated. Indeed, the Secretary was re-

quested to inform the Shakers that the Society would be very much

pleased to receive further donations from them and would properly place

and care for such gifts in its museum.

The committee appointed at the previous meeting of the Executive

Committee to nominate a successor to Professor MacLean reported in

favor of Hon. R. E. Hills of Delaware and he was unanimously elected

to fill out the unexpired term which will terminate at the next annual

meeting of the Society to be held in the Spring of 1905.

The Secretary reported to the Committee that on October 11, he had

been invited as a representative of the Society to be present at the dedi-

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cation of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Hall now being erected

on East Broad Street, Columbus, under the auspices of a commission

appointed by the Governor. He had accepted the invitation and was

present at the open air exercises in the afternoon when the cornerstone

was laid with fitting ceremonies. Captain N. B. Abbott presided. Ad-

dresses were made by Governor Herrick, Ex-Governor Nash, both life

members of The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. Gen-

eral Eugene Powell on behalf of the commission made the chief address.

In the evening an open campfire was held under the auspices of the

Wells Post and McCoy Post, G. A. R. in the auditorium of the Board

of Trade, at which the speakers were General H. A. Axline, Hon. J. Y.

Bassell, Hon. D. C. Badger, E. 0. Randall, Col. W. L. Curry and others.

Col. John W. Harper reported to the Committee an account of a

visit made by Messrs. Harper, Martzolff and Randall of the Executive

Committee to Serpent Mound on Saturday, November 5, 1904. The

party met at the Pennsylvania Depot in Cincinnati on the morning in

question and proceeded by the Norfolk and Western train to Peebles

whence they were driven by private conveyance to Serpent Mound, arriv-

ing there about 11 A. M., and remaining till 2 P. M., dining at the custo-

dian's house in the park. They were received by Daniel Wallace and

conducted over the property of the Society. The inspection revealed

that the park and the serpent were in most excellent condition; Mr.

Daniel Wallace, the custodian, having continued in his faithful and

efficient care of the property. Various suggestions were made by the

members of the committee to the custodian in regard to details in the

method of his protecting the property and preventing any injury being

done by improper intruders. Mr. Wallace, the custodian, petitioned the

visiting committee for the privilege of erecting at the expense of the

Society a summer kitchen and a chicken coop, the cost of both not to

exceed $110.00. The visiting committee reported in favor of this request

to the Executive Committee and the Secretary of the Society was in-

structed to notify Mr. Wallace that he might proceed with the erection

of the buildings in question.

The Secretary reported that he had received from Professor Mills,

the curator, the following letter:

 

"SAINT Louis, U. S. A., October 19, 1904.

My Dear Mr. Mills:

This is to apprise you formally of the action of the International

Jury of Awards in voting The Ohio State Archaeological and Historical

Society a grand prize on the admirable exhibit in this building, with a

gold medal to yourself as collaborator. The certificates of award will

probably be issued in the course of the month, though the medal will

not be ready for delivery until some time later.

Yours cordially,  W. J. MCGEE, Chief."

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Editorialana.                         93

 

This is a great honor to our Society as it places it foremost among

the various competitors at the exposition. Several of the states and some

of the foreign countries, particularly of South America, having made very

elaborate archaeological exhibits. This award places the Ohio Society at

the head of the list in so far as its exhibit is to be compared with the

other exhibits. The Jury of Awards was as follows: Prof. M. H. Saville,

Columbia University, Chairman; Dr. De Lima, Brazil, Vice-Chairman;

Dr. George G. McCurdy, Yale University, Secretary; Madam Zelia Nuttall,

Mexico; Prof. F. W. Kelsey, University of Michigan; Prof. Mitchell

Corrall, Columbia University.

The exposition was closed at noon, December 1.

Professor W. C. Mills, curator of the Society has been the recipient

of many complimentary attentions during his stay at the exposition. He

was invited to address the Congress of Arts and Sciences, The National

meeting of Anthropologists, The Missouri Historical Society, Central

High School of Saint Louis and other bodies.

Prof. Mills was also made honorary Superintendent of Exhibits,

as the following letter will testify:

 

ST. Louis, U. S. A., November 15, 1904.

DR. WM. C. MILLS, Ohio State Exhibit, Anthropology Building.

MY DEAR SIR:-With the approval of the Director of Exhibits

under authority vested in him by the President of the Louisiana Pur-

chase Exposition Company, and in recognition of the confidence reposed

in your abilities and training, I have the honor to designate you Hon-

orary Superintendent of Archaeology in this department. This action is

inspired largely by the desire to convey to you some token of apprecia-

tion not merely of the high value of your special exhibit in the An-

thropology Building but of the scientific and scholarly character you

have constantly aided in giving to this Department.

In case you find it consistent with your duties toward the institu-

tion and state you have so efficiently represented to prepare a general

report on the archaeologic exhibits of the Department, I should greatly

appreciate the favor and should take much pleasure in incorporating the

same in the general report of the Department for publication by the

Exposition Company.

With assurances of consideration, I remain,

Yous respectfully,

W. J. MCGEE, Chief.

 

Mr. Mills has also been made Consulting Editor of the Records of

the Past, of which Prof. George F. Wright is editor-in-chief.

The Secretary announced that he had received a communication

from Reuben Gold Thwaites, Secretary of the Wisconsin Historical

Society, and a member of the Executive Committee of the National

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American Historical Association, requesting that our Society be repre-

sented at the forthcoming annual meeting of the American Historical

Association to be held in Chicago, December 28-30. The Executive

Committee selected Secretary Randall and Mr. A. J. Baughman, life

member of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society and

Secretary of the Richland County Historical Society, as representatives

of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society at said meeting

in Chicago.

The Secretary reported that on the evening of Friday, November

18, the famous Liberty Bell passed through Columbus on its return trip

from Saint Louis to Philadelphia. It was on a special train accompanied

by the Mayor of Philadelphia and a committee of fifty citizens as its

escort. It stopped at the Columbus Union Depot from 7:00 to 7:30 P. M.

Arrangements had been made by Mayor Jeffrey and Superintendent

Shawan of the public schools to receive the bell with fitting ceremonies.

At the request of the Mayor a committee of thirteen each was selected

to represent the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the

American Revolution, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society,

Grand Army of the Republic, Ladies' Auxilliary to the Grand Army of

the Republic and the Schools and Universities of the city. The follow-

ing committee from the Society had been chosen as its representatives

on that occasion: lion. C. B. Galbreath, Mr. O. C. Hooper, Mr. W. A.

Mahony, Mr. F. B. Pearson, Mr. A. H. Smythe, Hon. H. C. Taylor,

Gen. J. L. Vance, Dr. D. H. Gard, Rev. I. F. King, Hon. O. A. Miller,

Dr. G. S. Stein, Miss Anna E. Riordan, and Mr. E. O. Randall.

This committee met at the Chittenden Hotel at 6:00 P. M. on the

evening in question and with the other committees proceeded to the

depot to await the arrival of the bell train. Thousands of school children

and citizens were present. There were appropriate exercises consisting

of music by the Columbus Glee Club, patriotic tunes by the G. A. R.

drum corps and a speech by Mayor Jeffrey on behalf of the Columbus

welcoming committees.

Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, Pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn,

was elected an honorary member of the Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society in recognition of his being the author of a book just

published by the Macmillan Company, being a story founded upon the

career of John Chapman known as "Johnny Appleseed," one of the unique

and original characters in early Ohio history. Dr. Hillis in his preface

to this book acknowledged his indebtedness to the Secretary of the Society

for valuable assistance in securing the historical material upon which his

book was founded. There were elected to life membership in the Society,

Hon. Jeptha Garrard, Cincinnati; Hon. E. V. Hale, Cleveland; Prof.

G. A. Hubbell, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky; Prof. John D. H. Mc-

Kinley of Columbus; Judge James B. Swing, Cincinnati; Dr. C. E.

Slocum, Defiance; Miss Martha J. Maltby, Columbus, and Mr. Stephen

B. Cone, Hamilton.

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