iiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliilllllll 00141139058 « pH8.5 X 116 749 py 1 REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF Cf)e ^t\x)^Wiotk Historiral ^octetp Unanimously Approved and Adopted AT A Stated Meeting Held February 6, 1917 Printed by order of the Executive Committee 1917 REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF Ct)E JtEto'^ork historical ^ocittp Unanimously Approved and Adopted AT A Stated Meeting Held February 6, 1917 Printed by order of the Executive Committee 1917 Gift I a 3 ^{ OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. Elected January 2, 1917, for Three Years ending 1920. PRESIDENT, JOHN ABEEL WEEKES, FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT, WILLIAM MILLIGAN SLOANE. SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT, WALTER LISPENARD SUYDAM. THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT, GERARD BEEKMAN. FOURTH VICR-PRESIDENT, FRANCIS ROBERT SCHELL. FOREIGN CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, ARCHER MILTON HUNTINGTON. DOMESTIC CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, JAMES BENEDICT. RECORDING SECRETARY, FANCHER NICOLL. TREASURER, FREDERIC DELANO WEEKES. LIBRARIAN, ROBERT HENDRE KELBY. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. FIRST GLASS — FOR ONE YEAR, ENDING 1918. JAMES BENEDICT, RICHARD HENRY GREENE, ARCHER M. HUNTINGTON. SECOND Gl.ASS — FOR TWO YEARS, ENDING, 1919. J. ARCHIBALD MURRAY, B. W. B. BROWN, EDWIN W. ORVIS THIRD CLASS — FOR THREE YEARS, ENDING 1920. STANLEY W. DEXTER, HENRY F. DE PUY, FREDERICK TREVOR HILL. FOURTH CLASS — FOR FOUR YEARS, ENDING 1921. PAUL R. TOWNE, LANGDON GREENWOOD, R. HORACE GALLATIN. JAMES BENEDICT, Chairman. ROBERT H. KELBY, Secretary, [The President, Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Librarian are members of the Executive Committee.! At the animal meeting of The New York Historical Society, held on Tuesday, January 2, 1917, the following preambles and resolution were offered : "Whereas, it is the sense of this meeting that com- mittees be appointed to look after the interests of strangers and offer to them and the members cordial receptions with a view of interesting citizens and members and others in the history of New York; "And Whereas, The rooms and the collections of the Society require rearrangement so that they can be avail- able for students and visitors. "Be It Resolved, That the President be and hereby is empowered to nominate two committees to act, and the Treasurer is authorized to advance sums not exceeding $3CX) to each committee, to be expended for the purposes designated." It was claimed in presenting the above, and as a pre- sumable argument for its adoption, that the Society was dead and unknown, the building a deformed monstrosity and the management incapable; to which, additional criti- cisms were added reflecting in a general way on the Society and the arrangement and neglect of the Society's collections. On motion, the resolution was referred to the Executive Committee, and the following report is now very respect- fully submitted. It may be first stated that in the special committee of three selected to investigate this matter only one actually serves' on the Executive Board ; and the two others take no active part whatever in the management of the Society's affairs, as provided under Section XXI. of our By-Laws: it seemed expedient that at least two cx- officio members of the executive should be placed on this com- mittee— in other words, so to constitute it that a majority might be composed of those who could, without prejudice and using their best judgment, reach a just conclusion, and one only to be arrived at after a thorough and conscientious consideration of all the facts. This might have been diffi- cult, or the findings and restdt not entirely satisfactory, to the general members of our Society had any other course been pursued. The committee selected, therefore, for this reason was composed of the Third \'ice-President. the Treasurer of your Society and one active member of the Executive Board. This committee, however, did not deem it expedient to assume alone the full responsibility of pass- ing upon all of the important questions that it would be called upon to consider and which seemed to include not only what might be contained in the resolution referred to them, but also the investigation of such criticism as had been directed against the Society and appeared to reflect on the management ; as well as an examination whether we were performing as far as possible such service as the public might reasonably expect and believe it was entitled to re- ceive. Your committee, therefore, concluded that it would be greatly aided could some arrangement be made whereby the opinions and criticism of those who were entirely dis- interested and in no way connected with our Society or even acquainted with the members of your committee might be obtained. The problem seemed a difficult one, as, in the opinion of your committee, those whose advice was required in the present instance must not only be experts, but fuUy qualified by long experience and reputation to act and be also entirely cai)able to pass on all matters pertaining to such an institution as our own. To this end your committee, was most fortunate in obtaining the chief representatives of three well-known societies — The Massachusetts Historical Society of Boston, The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and The American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass. The ability of those in charge of these three societies is well known, while their high standing, knowledge and experi- ence peculiarly fitted them in every way, at least in the opinion of your committee, to judge concerning the questions that might properly be referred to them to decide. On in- vitation these gentlemen attended in this city and spent an entire day in a most thorough and conscientious examina- tion of the Society's building and its contents. There was no obligation on their part to show any favoritism or omit any criticism or suggestion. I^Ir Worthington C. Ford and Dr. John W. Jordan, rep- resentatives of The Alassachnsetts Historical Society of Boston and The Historical Society of ^Pennsylvania, both spoke most enthusiastically of the work of The New York Historical Society, the arrangement of its art objects and the value and merit of its service, and expressed also entire satisfaction as to the present method of exhibiting its col- lections which, so far as available space was concerned, were shown to the best advantage possible under the cir- cumstances. Mr Clarence S. Brigham of The American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass., in a communication dated January 30, said in part : "The New York Historical Society has one of the most notable historical collections in the country. Ex- cept for manuscripts, I believe that it has the most valuable single collection of any historical society m the country. Together with the New York Public Library, it possesses the best collection of books relat- ing to New York State and City. * * * "in certain lines, not generally known, it ranks among the foremost libraries of the country. * * * "There is hardly a library in the country where one can obtain a quicker service than at the New York Historical Society, very largely because most of the books can be immediately found without recourse to the card catalogue. Moreover, it is one of the few libraries in the country which has its newspapers, maps most of its manuscripts and other similar classes of material catalogued. A new arrangement of some o these catalogues on cards, rather than in books, would be preferable, but this is not a matter of great urgency * * "The Historical Society has had a long and enviable record of publication, having brought out in its early series of collections much valuable material upon the beginnings of New York history, and published m its Fund Series the Gen. Charles Lee Papers, the Colden Papers, the Montresor Journals, the Kemble Papers, the vSilas Deane Papers, the Revolutionary Muster Rolls and a large amount of other important papers. * * * "The Society has many long files of papers of vari- ous American cities which are cOnsultahle at no other library in the North. * * * "I have been visiting the New York Historical So- ciety to consult historical material with considerable frequency for about twenty years, and can claim a certain amount of familiarity with its work. Nowhere, in any library in the country, have I been treated with greater courtesy, or served more intelligently and expeditiously. What faults are chargeable to the So- ciety — and these are sins of omission rather than of commission- — are imperfections due chiefly to lack of Uieans. If certain work has not been done, if certain publications have not been compiled, if certain kinds of assistance have not been furnished, it is because the officers have not been provided with the necessary means to fulfil these obligations. And this has always been the besetting sin of the »^ociety from the begin- ning, llow it has accomplished so nuich with so little has always been a source of wonder to those most familiar with its workings. It seems to me that in a community which boasts of the greatest wealth of any city on the continent there should be little trouble in persuading the possesors of riches to support ade- quately an institution which has done so nuicli, and could do so much more, to give New York its proper place in the history of the nation." Meetings have been held at the Society's building and elsewhere by your committee, which has, it believes, used every effort in obtaining such information as would serve to aid them in their investigations. These investigations a])])eared to include: First — The advisability of an api)ropriation in comiectiou with the appointment of a committee to attend at the So- ciety's building and there to offer "cordial receptions" for the purpose of arousing interest in citizens and members and others regarding the history of New York. Second — The advisability of an appropriation in connec- tion with a further committee, to consider the rearrange- ment of the rooms and collections of the Society with a view to making the latter more available for students and visitors. Under this head it appeared necessary fully to set forth what opportunity existed, if any, for such rearrangement of space in our building as might be found at the disposal of the committee. Also, if any action had been previously taken in making our collections more available, and, further- more, whether steps were under consideration or already decided upon for the better care, improvement and exhibi- tion of our collections or any part of them ; and finally, the consideration of the recommendation that the Treasurer of our Society be authorized to apply the sum of $600 for the use of said committees and for the purpose of enabling them to take such action as might be deemed, in their opinion, advisable. It seemed also to your committee that it was in addition called upon fully to investigate and make some reply to the charge reflecting in a general way on the condition and management of the Society, and whether there was any neglect or lack of interest on the part of those to whom its affairs had been, or were now, intrusted ; and to come to some conclusion, if these charges, made either in good faith or under a misapprehension as to the actual facts, were justified. Concerning the first recommendation — as to oft'ering a cordial reception to strangers. It does not appear that re- ception committees of this nature exist in other institutions similar in some respects to our own ; or that they are ever appointed except to extend a welcome or receive visitors on some special occasion. We therefore doubt the ex- pediency of appointing such a committee to serve continu- ously. If any members of our Society desire to attend at onr building during the tlay for the ])urpose of welcoming strangers, and with a view of interesting them in the his- tory of New York, there surely can be no objection to the j)lan. lUit to carry it out should not mean any expense that would be justifiable for the Society to incur as in.dicated in the suggested appropriation. Concerning the second recommendation covering the re- arrangement of the rooms and the collections : The lack of space in our present imcompleted building presents, in the opinion of your committee, a very serious problem and probably renders it impossible to show lo any real advantage many of the works of art now in the So- ciety's possession. We believe, moreover, that this crowded condition is likely to exist until means may be forthcoming to carry out the original plans of construction and thus afford adequate room properly to exhibit all the works of art and various treasures of interest now at the Society's disposal ; additional space would undoubtedly result in addi- tional gifts and thus add greatly to the Society's influence and prestige. We have, for instance, a collection of paint- ings numbering in all l,Oril ; of these but 712 are exhibited, the rest remaining, unfortunately, in our storerooms with other articles, including the almost priceless collection of the original water-color drawings of Audubon, numbering some 460 in all — the only set in existence and from which his series of books were made. Of these but 20 are framed for exhibition ; they may be found in the basement of our building, the only place where even so limited a number can be shown. It seems to your committee that no substitution is at this time expedient, because already our finest paintings, those in which the public are likely to take the most interest, have been selected for exhibition. As it is, many of our pictures now exhibited are badly hung in a position where the light is poor, so that satisfactory study is, in conse- quence, difficult, if not impossible. We believe that lack of space proves an insurmountable obstacle in any rearrange- ment, and consider the present exhibit the best obtainable under the circumstances. We have examined our present building in each and every part, and find every foot of space apparently utilized; we cannot, therefore, conclude that any different arrangement could be carried out or space found luiless a considerable number of interesting art objects are re- moved to the storeroom. Those on view are placed as they are in preference to the only other alternative, that of keeping them in storage. Books are shelved even in the Engineer's Department. Our Map Room is indescribably crowded. It may be said, however, that the best system, under the circum- stances, exists in spite of these difficulties. Every book has its place, and each article or picture is carefully numbered and described in manuscript catalogue. But much addi- tional space is necessary to create a more perfect order. As to any previous action in making our collections more available for students and visitors : We find that every picture is carefully and conspicu- ously numbered and to most of them a tablet is affixed. Care has also been taken by our Art Committee to indicate by an initial letter placed before the number the collection to which the work belongs. In this way the Bryan or Diirr paintings can be easily identified even without the catalogue. Bound copies of this, including our art and Egyptian col- lections, are always, however, loaned for the free use and convenience of any visitor. It does not appear that this custom is in vogue in most institutions, but it has long been so in ours. The objects in the New York Room, opposite the picture gallery, have descriptive cards annexed and are arranged, the committee believes, in a satisfactory manner. A sum of over $5,000 has been expended within the past few years in having our paintings cleaned and re- stored by experts, and this work is still going on. Upwards of $800 has also been spent in affixing tablets. This part of our Art Committee's work is not entirely completed, but has continued during the past year and is now progressing as rapidly as possible. Our cases containing silver and miniatures appear to the committee to give any observer full opportunity of identify- ing each article, except in the De Peyster Room, where arrangements are under way to obtain larger cases in order that the silver can be seen to better advantage. All these articles, however, were put in place by the late donor, with a special injunction that no change was to be made, and the Art Committee have, therefore, felt no little hesita- tion in disregarding her last wishes. In view of the atten- tion that has been given to enable all our paintings to be easily identified, and taking also into consideration the facility offered by means of the catalogues that, as stated, can be used by the visitor free of charge, it would seem as if our Art Committee could not be censured for not making this part at least of our collections more available. Again necessary space is lacking, but that, at the present time, cannot be secured. As to the better care, improvement and exhibition of our collections or any part of them : The committee feels that this may particularly refer to the Abbott Collection of Egyptian Antiquities — the most valuable of its kind that probably exists. As stated in the report of the Executive Committee presented and read at the animal meeting, new cases, after a long and careful examination and untiring work on the part of a committee appointed to look into this matter, have been ordered and are now vmder construction. These are to be located in the Dexter Room, fronting the park on the second story, in a most favorable light, and will be recatalogued and arranged by an Egyptologist with whom your committee is now in correspondence. It may be said that this most necessary improvement has long been under consideration, but only recently has the income of the Society enabled it to carry out an earnestly desired plan that cannot fail to result in great benefit to the student interested in the art and history of ancient Egypt and its people. It would seem to your committee that the Society had not neglected, therefore, the first opportunity to do justice to an important duty by putting in the best possible condition for exhibi- tion purposes this most interesting part of its art treasures. During the past summer, in fact, work was commenced, and, under the direction of an expert, much was accomplished in the renovation and repair of certain art objects that needed Mtention. So far as this part of your committee's report may be concerned, therefore, it cannot see that any apparent necessity exists for its approval of the resolutions that were presented at the annual meeting either for the appointment of the two committees or the appropriation of $600. Your committee now feels it a duty to refer briefly to the criticisms directed against the Society and apparently reflecting on the lack of interest and management of those officially in charge of its affairs, and it seems expedient to your committee that some reference should first be made to the financial difiiculties presented to those actively inter- ested in furthering the scope and influence of our Society. Its members should, therefore, clearly understand how, owing to the lack of available funds at the disposal of the Executive and Managing Boards, often needed, it may be added, in order to carry out such changes and improvements as they had in view and which are now perhaps in the minds of those disposed to offer suggestions — ^that the utmost economy was obligatory upon them in order not to involve the Society in debt. The committee need not remind those connected with this time-honored institution that the first and most important ■duty of any Board of Trustees to whom the care and man- agement of a Society such as ours may be intrusted is, while conducting its affairs to the very best advantage, not to permit, under any circumstances, the yearly expenses to exceed the actual income. As was explained in the report of our executive, presented and read at the annual meeting, every effort has been made to observe this rule. It would appear, therefore, to your committee that any remarks indi- cating neglect or lack of interest on the part of our Alan- aging Board in not extending our work when means to do so were not forthcoming, must refer to a principle and to a custom that were established, and so far as possible have been maintained, by this Society for a long period of time; in fact, from the year 1804, when it was founded. Our actual resources in 1854 amounted to only $6,500, the expenses being practically met from membership fees and voluntary contributions. The early historv' of the Society, from 1804 to 1904, is clearly set forth in an interesting account compiled by our Librarian, which, owing to its many difficuUies might well l)e entitled: "The Distress and A'icissitudes of the Xew^ York Historical Society." In 1857 the Society occupied its first liome, the building located on Second Avenue at 11th Street. To construct this and purchase the necessary site the sum of $85,000 was contributed by its members and their friends. The total invested funds for general purposes, however, as late as 1908. only amounted to $122,900, yielding in that year a return of $5,013.47. This, together witli our Hfe member- ship fees and annual dues, both being of a somewhat uncer- tain quantity, gave the Society but little opportunity, as it may be imagined, for attempting such work as it could have performed with more means at its disposal. The above year, 1908, was an eventful one, but brought with it additional problems and anxiety as to the Society's afl:'airs. owing to the increased exjjenses in the occupation of its recently erected building on Central Park West, for which no en- dowment existed. The cost of our site amounted to $286.- 500, and that of the building to $519,150. making a total ex- penditure of $805,650. This was contributed by members' subscriptions, by donations and by part of the proceeds from the sale of the old site ; our late benefactor, Henry Dexter, having first furnished $213,000 in cash and then, in addition, a sum of $55,000 to cover the cost of the granite. These facts may serve to indicate the earnest efiforts of the So- ciety's ofiicials and Governing IJoard, which had the matter in charge. By the generous financial assistance of the late Mr. Dexter was made possible even a partial realization of what had been a long expressed hope : that the Society might own a fireproof building measurably suitable to its actual needs. It is difticult to belie\e that any executive ever confronted greater financial difficulties than were presented during the next few years. In 1912, although our income from in- vested funds secured by gifts and legacies had increased to $10,218.67, we were obliged in the year following to pay out over $18,000 in general improvements that included the sum of $8,711 for installing a freight and passenger ele- vator, and various other sums to complete a building that had been occupied long before it was ready for actual use. Later, so much complaint was made owing to lack of air and the general overheating of our auditorium and library that a ventilating system was introduced to correct the trouble ; this put the Society to an additional expense of over $5,000 more. Other necessary improvements have since followed, and it has only recently been possible for our executive to undertake such important matters as were to some extent referred to in the last report of our Man- aging Board : to decide, for instance, on the purchase of new cases to house the Sacred Bulls and other valuable treasures of the Abbott Collection of Egyptian Antiquities, and to consider the engagement of an Egyptologist, plans that have long been in view, as well as the provision of an additional clerical force for our library, which will now be provided. It would seem as if our Executive Board should receive the credit of a most faithful service, not only in the perfomiance of all in their power to obtain the greatest possible return, but in the considera- tion of such results as would be most advantageous in the expenditure of the Society's income. In this connection It may be well to state that the generous legacy devised under the wills of the late Misses De Peyster consists of real estate largely unimproved, which, although assessed for a considerable sum, returns less than two and one-half per cent, on the present valuation. The condition of our real estate market, however, does not offer at present any favorable opportunity to dispose of any part of the So- ciety's holdings, and in consequence some misapprehension may exist as to its resources and income in this particular. And if, with its means and administrative staff of only ten, any comparison is made with other institutions it would seem that our Managing Board may deserve great credit, not only for preventing a deficit, but also for endeavoring to meet expenses in a way that would best serve the So- ciety's interests. To blame our Society, therefore, for not doing: as much as largfer and better endowed institutions is. we think, unjust, unless it can be shown that sufficient effort was not attempted to better tlie Society's condition. At tlie risk of re[jetition let us see what has been done in that (h recti on. Ten years ago the collections of this Society were housed in a building where they were in constant danger from fire. Since then this Society has raised over .$890,000 for the purchase of a desirable site and the erection of a building which, if not yet finished or adequate to our needs, is at least, we believe, safe; and we are therefore confideni that the lr(,'asures which have l)een entrusted to our care will not be destroyed as were those at Albany five or six years ago. What the great State of New York then, with all its re- sources, neglected to provide, we. with our limited means. did secure. Since 1912 we have had our income increased from the De Peyster and Warner legacies sufficiently to enable the Society to do some things wliich were before imjjossible. lUit before expending anything along adminis- trative lines we were compelled to take from our income v^i^Jv^OOO to pro\ide such impro\ements as were absolutely necessary to carry on our work. Since then we ha\e been able to add to a still inadequate staff and thus better to suj)- ply the wants of the public. We have had our valualjle col- lection of paintings cleaned and cared for by an expert and brass tablets put on them. This work is still unfinished, but is being rapidly pushed. We ha\e Ijound and made avail- able our priceless collection of early newspapers, thus making them accessible to students. The work of cata- loguing our manuscripts and library has been nnich ad- vanced and the library has been opened on more days and longer hours than was before possible. The volumes of the Publication lAuid Series, which were years behind, have been brought up to date. A contract has been made for new and api)ropriate cases for the Aljbott Collection of Egyptian Antiquities, so that we hope the objects will soon be better displayed. This, however, can only be done cor- rectly when we are able to finish the building. For nearly a year the officers have l)een in correspondence with Egypt- ologists throughout this counlr}- and abroad to ol)lai!i an ex- pert to catalogue and arrange the Egyptian collection, and only in the past few weeks have we, through helpful atten- tion from the Field Museum in Chicago, been put in touch with an expert whom we hope to be able to secure. Finally, at its last meeting the Executive Committee authorized the publication of a quarterly journal, to be conducted along the lines of those issued by the Metropolitan Museum and Natural History Museum and similar institutions. All this work has been accomplished in four years with great difficulty, owing to a scarcity of funds, which neces- sitated the utmost economy in every particular. To compare our activities, therefore, with those of institutions that have not only millions of endowment, but which receive also gen- erous municipal assistance, does not, in the opinion of your committee, seem fair or just. Possibly this Society should have appealed to the municipality for aid, but we have existed for 113 years without it, and we hope not only to exist but to grow older and continue to do good work in the future without it ; and we believe further that when the people of this great and wealthy city understand our aims and our needs that it will not be necessary to call on our taxpayers for compulsory contributions. We also feel that if any accusation can be brought against our officials and Executive Board on the ground that they have been remiss, it is perhaps only because they have not furnished our members, the press and the public with information as to what they were accomplishing. To that charge your committee feels they should plead guilty. We consider, in conclusion, that any who have criticised the Society would not have done so if they had under- stood and realized what the Society has accomplished with its almost insignificant income; to its President and Executive P.oard, in the opinion of your committee, belongs all praise for what their interest and faithful efforts have produced. And now just one word more to the members of this Society who arc assembled in this building, and who, we believe, are all united in one common purpose : to stand together in every matter pertaining to the Society's welfare, well-being and advancement. That word is a recommenda- tion of the following matters for the consideration of our executive as means permit: First — The continuation of work already commenced in caring for and displaying our collections. Second — The increase of our staff by experts in the vari- ous departments. Third — The means by which our library collections may be added to and gaps in our files of newspapers and manu- scripts filled up by gift or purchase. Fourth — A reorganization of our lecture course, probably by adding to the present course one or two additional courses ; as. for instance, one for such as are interested in the history of New York meetings, where papers of more serious import can be read and discussed ; possibly also a course for children, suggested by several members. Last — And most important, that our united membership should devise and energetically carry out a plan whereby we can secure funds to complete our building and obtain a proper endowment. All of which is very respectfully submitted. Gerard Beekman, Henry F. De Puy, Frederic Delano Weekes, Special Committee of The New York Historical Society. Dated New York, P'ebruary 6, 1917. LIBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 014 113 905 8 %