F 116 .N315 Copy 2 ZU new Vork 6enealodical and Biograpbical ...Society..- REPORTS OF OFFICERS ; LIST OF MEMBERS, ACT OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. 1897. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, 226 W. 58TH St., New York City. 1898. Il I I □ K K ffi m W u n Cbe new Vork Genealogical and Biographical ...Society... REPORTS OF OFFICERS ; LIST OF MEMBERS, ACT OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. 1897. PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, 2j6 W. 58TH St., Nkw \<)kk City. 1898. N. 1 4ft. XOO. OFFICERS. President, .... First Vice President. Second Vice President, . Rkcouding Secretary, Corresponding Secretary , Treasukbr. LlHRARIAN, UE(iisTRAK OF Pedigrees. Necrologist, Gen. JAS. GRANT WILSON. D.C.L. SAMUEL S. PURPLE, iM.D CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, A.M. HENRY R. STILES. M.D. WILLIAM E. VER PLANCK. BOWEN WHITING PIERSON. HIRAM CALKINS. .Ir. Rev. MELETIAH EVERETT DWIGHT. HENRY R. STILES, M.D. trustees. Term Expires iSqq. Term Expires iqoo. Term Expires iqoi. SAMUEL BURH.ANS. R1CH,\RD H. GREENE. THOM.XS G. EV.ANS. J.AMES J. GOODWIN. Dr. S.AMUEL S PURPLE. BOWEN WHITING PIKRSON. EDMUND ABDY HURRY. Gen.J.AMRS GRANT WILSON. Dr. HENRY R. STILES. Executive Committee. THOMAS G. EVANS, Chairman. ISAAC TOWNSEND SMITH HERBERT DeNYSE LLOYD. FREDERICK DIODATI THOMP.SON. Publication Committee. Dr. SAMUEL S PURPLE. Rev. BEVERLY R. BETTS. RICHARD H. GREENE, Editor. THOMAS G. EVANS. TOBIAS A. WRIGHT. Che new VorH Genealogical and Biographical Society. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. We. the subscribers, hereby certify that we have associated ourselves, in pursuance of Title VII, Chapter XVIII, of Part I, of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York, for the purpose of promoting Genealogical and Biographical Science. The nanne by which the Society is to be known is "The New York Genealogicai, and Biographical Society." The particular business and objects of the Society are to discover, pro- cure, preserve and perpetuate, whatever may relate to Genealogy and Biography, and more particularly to the genealogies and biographies of families, persons and citizens, associated and identified with the State of New York. The number of Trustees to manage the same shall be nine; and the following are the names of the Trustees for the first year : Henry R. Stiles, M. D., David P. Holton, M. D., William Frederic Holcombe, M. D., Ed- ward Chauncey Marshall, Seth Hastings Grant, Samuel Edward Stiles, Seymour Augustus Baker, D. D., Samuel Smith Purple, iM. U., and Francis S. Hoffman. The business of this Society is to be conducted and its place of business located in the City of New York. HENRY R. STILES, M. D. [l. s.] UAVID PARSONS HOLTON, M. D. [l. s.] WILLIAM FREDERIC HOLCOMBE, M. D. [l. s.J EDWARD CHAUNCEY MARSHALL. [l. .s.J SETH HASTINGS GRANT. [l. .s.] SAMUEL EDWARD SITLES. [l. s.] SEYMOUR AUGUSTUS BAKER, D. D. |i.. s.| SAMUEL S.MITH PURPLE, ,M. D. |l. s.] City and County of New ^■oRK, ss. ; On this sixteenth day of .March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, before me personally appeared Henry R. Stiles, M. D., David P. Holton, M. D., William Frederic Holcombe, M. D., Edward Chauncey Marshall, Seth Hastings Grant, Samuel Edward Stiles, Seymour Augustus Baker, D. D., and -Samuel Smith Purple, M. D., to me known to be the persons described in and who executed the within certificate, and severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same. A. OLDRIN SALTER, A'o/ci/y Public, Ncut ) 'oilc City. I approve of the within anil allow the same to be recordeil, March 25th, '^^9- JOSIAH SUTHERLAND, Judge of Supreme Court. 4 The Nciv York Genealogical and Biographical Society. V State of New York, City and County of New York, I, Charles E. Loew, Clerk of the said City and County, and Clerk of the Supreme Court of said State for said County, do certify that I have compared the preceding with the origmal Certificate of Incorporation of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, on file in my office, and that the same is a correct transcript therefrom, and of the whole of such original. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and [seal.] affixed my official seal, this 20th day of March, 1869. CHARLES E. LOEW, Clerk. State of New York, j Office of the Secretary of State, \ This is to certify that the Certificate of Incorporation of the " New York Genealogical and Biographical Society," with acknowledgment thereto an- nexed, was received and filed in this office on the 26th day of March, 1869. Witness my hand and seal of office of the Secretary of State [.seal.] at the City of Albany, this twenty-sixth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine. D. WILLERS, Jr., Dep. Secretary of State. K3\' BY-LAWS OF the new Vork eenealogical and Biographical Society. As Amended October 12, 1897. I.— Name. The name of this Society shall be "The New \'okk GENE.\Ln(;i(Ai. AND BlOGKAPHICAL SOCIETY." II. — Objects. The objects of this Society shall be "to discover, procure, preserve and perpetuate whatever may relate to Genealogy and Biography, and more particularly to the genealogies and biographies of families, persons and citizens associated and identified with the State of New York." Fi?st. — By meetings for the transaction of business, the interchange of views, the reading of appropriate papers, and for discussion relative to genealogy, biography, and kindred subjects. Second.— ^y the formation of a Library of Reference of such works on History, Genealogy, Biography, and kindred subjects, both in printed and manuscript form, as may in any way contribute to the purposes of the Society. 77/?/v/.— By correspondence with other societies of similar character, as well as with genealogists and local historians in this and other States of the Union, and in foreign countries. Fourth. — By the publication and dissemination, in such form and manner, and at such times as the E.xecutive Committee of this Society may •deem best, of genealogical and biographical material and information. Ill — .Me.mbek^;. The Society shall consist of Resident, Corresponding, Honorary and Life Members: Resident Members shall be those paying annual dues as hereinafter provided. Every person elected a Resident .Member of the Society shall become such by signifying his acceptance to the Recording Secretary in writing, and paying his initiation fees and dues. No person residing within one hundred miles of the City of New Vork shall be elected a Corresponding Member, and all Corresponding Members upon coming to reside within the said limit of one hundred miles of the City of New York shall cease to be a Corresponding .Member and may be- come a Resident Member upon giving notice to the Recording Secretary and paying the initiation fee and dues as hereafter provided for Resident Members. 6 I'lu- Ncic Yorh (uncalof^ical and Biographical Socictv. When the number of Corresponding Members shall eqiial the number of Resident and Life Members, new Corresponding Members shall there- after only be elected to fill vacancies. Resident Members upon removal beyond the said limit of one hundred miles from the City of New York, whose dues shall have been fully paid, shall, on giving notice thereof to the Recording -Secretary, and expressing their desire in writing, become Corresponding Members — their claims taking precedence of all others — provided there exist any vacancies, other- wise they shall be Corresponding Members ex-officio, and shall succeed to the first vacancy among the Corresponding Members, in the order of their applications. Any Resident Member may withdraw at any time by certifying his intention of so doing to the Recording Secretary in writing, and paying all dues to the Treasurer. The Clerks of the several counties and townships of the State of New York shall be Corresponding Members ex-officio. IV. — Fees and Dues. Each Resident Member shall on admission pay to the Treasurer ten dollars as an initiation fee and dues for the current year, and five dollars annually thereafter in advance, as dues ; and if he neglect or refuse to pay said dues for two years successively, he shall forfeit his membership, unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise direct. The annual dues shall be payable on the first day of January. The payment of fifty dollars for that purpose, by himself or others, shall constitute any Resident, Corresponding or Honorary Member a Life Member of the Society, and said Life Member shall be free from assessments and entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Resident Member during his life. The fees for Life Membership shall constitute a perpetual fund to be invested for building purposes by the Trustees ; the annual interest of which may be used for current expenses. The principal of the fund to be appropriated for such building purposes only by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Trustees. V. — Election of Mkmisehs. Members shall be elected as follows ; The candidates shall be pro- posed publicly at a meeting of the Society, by a member thereof, and the nominations, together with the name of the member making them, shall be entered on the minutes, and be referred to the Executive Committee. The Reports of that Committee, recommending candidates for election, shall be openly read to the Society at a meeting subsequent to that at which the nominations were made ; and if any member demand a ballot, the election shall be by ballot, and five black balls shall exclude. If no ballot be demanded, the candidates so recommended shall be declared duly elected members of the Society. Corresponding or Honorary Members may, by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees, be elected without being proposed at a previous meeting. Life Members may be elected in the same manner, and admitted to all By - Laws. 7 the privileges of Resident Members, on the payment of the fee required by Article IV'. All certificates of membership shall be signed by the President and the Recording Secretary. VI. — Government. — Election of Tkhstebs. The government of the Society shall be vested in a Board of nine Trustees, to be chosen by the Society, as hereinafter provided, by ballot, on the second Friday of January in each year, of which election notice shall be given at least two days previous thereto in a newspaper published in the City of New York. The Board shall elect its own officers. None but Resident and Life Members who have paid their dues to the Society shall be allowed to vote at any meeting of the Society, or hold the office of Trustee. At the Annual Meetmg of the Society, held on the second Friday of January in each year, there shall be elected three Trustees to fill the places of the Trustees whose term shall then expire, and who shall hold office for three years or until their successors shall be elected. Any Trustee appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold his office for the balance of the term of the Trustee to whose place he shall be so appointed. In case any election for Trustees shall not be held at the time above appointed, such election may be held at the next regular meeting of the Society, or at any special meeting called for that purpose, in the manner hereinbefore mentioned ; and the Trustees elected at such meeting shall hold their offices for the same terms as if they had been elected at the meeting at which such election should have taken place. The Trustees shall have custody of all buildings, funds, securities, and collections belonging to the Society; shall fix all salaries to be paid to its officers ; and shall have in their hands the entire control and regulation of its affairs, in the intervals between the Annual Meetings. They shall fill vacancies occurring in the Board during the year ; and they shall meet for the election of officers and other business on the afternoon of the Tuesday immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Society and shall also meet on the afternoon of the second Tuesday of April, June and October in each year, and as much oftener as they shall deem necessary, or shall be called together by the President or any five members of the Board. The Trustees may declare the place of any member of the Board vacant who shall be absent from three successive meetings of the Board without sending a reasonable excuse therefor to the Recording Secretary. VII. — Officehs. The Officers and Standing Committees of the Society shall be elected annually, on the Tuesday immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Society, from the Resident and Life Members of the Society, by the Board of Trustees ; and may be from their own number. They shall be ; a Presi- dent, two Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secre- tary, a Treasurer, a Librarian, and a Registrar of Pedigrees; An Executive Committee of four members ; .A Publication Committee of five members ; and A Committee on Biographical Bibliography, of three members. S The Kc7v York Gciica/offira/ and /lioi^rap/iica/ Society. \M\. — Meetings. The Society shall meet in the City of New York, in the afternoon or evening of the second I'"riday in each month, except June, Jnly, August, and September, and at such other times as the Board of Trustees shall appoint. Special meetings may be called, under the direction of the President, or at the written request of seven members of the Society. IX. — Order of Business. The order of proceedings at the meetings, unless otherwise ordered, shall be : 1. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting. 2. Reports and communications from the officers of the Society ; from the E.\ecutive Committee ; Reports of Special Committees. 3. Election of members previously proposed. 4. Nomination of new members. 5. Transaction of miscellaneous business. 6. Papers read and addresses delivered. The latter, when previously appointed, or any other special order, shall take precedence of any topic involving debate. X. — Quorum. Seven members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Society. XI. — Presiding Officer. The President, or in his absence one of the Vice-Presidents, or in their absence a Chairman pro tempore, shall preside at all meetings of the Trustees and of the Society, and shall have a casting vote. He shall preserve order, and shall decide all questions of order, subject to an appeal. He shall also appoint all committees authorized by the Trustees or by the Society, unless otherwise specially ordered. XII.— COKRESPONDING SeCKKTART. The Correspondmg Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the Society. He shall, at every meeting of the Society, report such letters and communications as he may have received ; he shall prepare all letters to be written in connection with the business or objects of the Society^ and transmit the same ; but the E.-cecutive Committee may appoint a com- mittee to prepare a letter or letters, on any special occasion. He shall keep, in suitable books, to be provided for that purpose, true copies of all letters written on behalf of the Society, and shall carefully preserve said copies, with the originals of all letters and communications received, and shall deposit the same in the Library. XIII. — Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall have the charge of the Seal, Charter, By-Laws and Records of the Trustees and the Society. He, together with the presiding officer, shall certify all acts of the Trustees and of the Society. By - LaiL's. g He shall notify all members of their election, and of such other matters as shall be directed by the Society or Trustees, and shall transmit to them their proper diplomas or certificates of membership. He shall give due notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Trustees and of the Society, and shall attend the same. He shall keep fair and accurate records of all the proceedings and orders of the Trustees and of the Society ; and shall give notice to the several officers, and to the Executive and other Com- mittees, of all votes, orders, resolves, and proceedings of the Trustees and of the Society-, affecting them, or appertaining to their respective duties, and shall furnish a brief statement of the proceedings of the Society at its stated meetings to the Publication Committee to be printed in the periodical publication of the Society. XIV'. — Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to have the care and custody of all moneys and securities of the Society He shall deposit the moneys in such bank or banks or other places of deposit as the Board of Trustees shall appoint, and he shall have authority to sign cheques, drafts or orders for the withdrawal of all moneys and securities. He shall make such dis- bursements as shall be authorized by the Board by general or specific action. He shall sign receipts for all moneys or other property comino- into the hands of the Society, and shall keep or cause to be kept true and just accounts showing the receipts, disbursements and other financial affairs of the Society. He shall render a full and particular statement of his accounts, with vouchers, from time to time as the Board may request, and at each regular meeting of the Board he shall present a statement of his receipts and expenditures since the last meeting, and shall also make a report to the Society at the Annual Meeting. XV. — LlBR.\RI.4N. The Librarian, in connection with the Executive Committee, shall have the charge and superintendence of the Library, and the care and arrann-e- ment of the books, manuscripts and other articles belonging to the Society. He shall cause to be prepared and kept a proper catalogue and list of the same. He shall acknowledge the receipt of donations to the Society in his department. He shall expend in the purchase of books and other articles, and for their safe-keeping and preservation, at the direction of the said Committee, such sums of money as shall from time to time be appropriated for that purpose, and report thereon to the Executive Committee, and to the Board at each of its regular meetings. He shall, at least once in each year, in the month of December, render his accounts for such purchases and expenditures to the Treasurer for settlement; and shall further make to the Society, at each .Annual Meeting, a full report on the condition and progress of the Library and collections. XVI. — Library Regclatioks. The following shall be the regulations for the use of the Library : I. No book or manuscript shall at any time be lent to any person to be removed from the Library, except for review in the periodical publication of the Society. 10 The Nctv York Ccncaloi:;ical and lUoi^rafilncnl Society. 2. No iiiMiiuscript ill the Library, nor ally [laper read before the Society and deposited in its archives, shall be published, except by the order of the Trustees, or with the consent of the Executive Committee. 3. The hours during which the Library shall be open shall be de- termined from time to tiine by the Board of Trustees. 4. Duriiisj such hours any member of the Society may have free access to consult any book or manuscript, except such as may be designated by the Executive Committee, and to make extracts from the same, under the authority of the Librarian. Any person not a member may obtain the like privilege of consultation for one month from the President or Librarian, if known to them, or upon the recommendation of some other member to whom the applicant is known. But no person, not a member, shall be permitted to make extracts from the manuscripts of the Society, excepting the donors or depositors of the same, without special authority from the Executive Committee. 5. It shall be the duty of the Librarian, or his assistant, to report to the Executive Committee any injury done to any book or manuscript by any person consulting the same; and the said Committee may, at their dis- cretion, lay such reports before the Board. For any such injury, the person doing it shall make such pecuniary compensation as the said Committee shall judge proper ; and if he be not a member, the Committee shall have power to prohibit him from further access to the Library. 6. The Librarian shall allow the Publication Committee to take to their offices or residences such books as they shall desire to review, under such regulations as the Board of Trustees shall from time to time prescribe. 7. Members of the Society and persons having the privilege of using the books in the Library will, in all cases, call on the Librarian or his assistant for such book as they may wish to consult, such book to be re- turned to the Librarian before the closing of the Library. 8. The names and residences of all persons who may be introduced to the Library shall be entered in a book to be kept by the Librarian and his assistant for that purpose, on each visit, with the name of the member by whom he may be introduced. XVIL— Reoistr.m! op Pedigrees. The Registrar of Pedigrees shall have the custody of all pedigrees presented by the members of the Society, and of additions thereto. He shall cause a copy of all such pedigrees, when accepted by the Society, to be entered in a book to be called the Register of Pedigrees, and shall certify the same ; which Register shall be deposited with the Librarian, and shall be opened for the inspection of members only. The Registrar, with the President and Recording Secretary, shall sign all certificates of Pedigrees. He shall also certify all transcripts from the Register. XVin. — Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to collect and receive gifts for the Society; to provide for its literary or other exercises; to recommend plans, and make the necessary arrangements, for promoting By - Laws. 1 1 its objects; to digest and prepare business; to securely invest Life Mem- bership and other special funds; to authorize the disbursement and expenditure of moneys in the Treasury, out of the general appropriations made by the Board of Trustees, for the payment of salaries, current ex- penses, fitting up the Library, the ordinary purchase of books, binding, printing, and other necessary outlays. They shall, in connection with the Librarian, have charge of the arrangement and regulation of the Library and collections ; and shall have authority at any time to examine into the condition of the same, and into the state of the finances ; as also generally to superintend the interests of the Society, and execute all such duties as may from time to time be committed to them by the Board. They shall meet at least once in every month, excepting the months of June, July, August and .September, immediately before the meeting of the Society, and at the same place, if no other be appointed, and shall keep accurate minutes of all their transactions, and appoint their own chair- man and secretary. XIX — Publication Committee. It shall be th^duty of the Publication Committee to take charge of and manage the editing, printing and publishing of the quarterly magazine issued by the Society, known as the "New York Genealogical and Bio- graphical Record," and all matters connected therewith, and also all books, pamphlets, and other matter printed or published by the Society. XX. — C0M.V1ITTEE ON Biographical Bibliography. It shall be the duty of the Committee on Biographical Bibliography to prepare, and continue by additions thereto, a catalogue or list of books and pamphlets containing biographies or biographical sketches of citizens of the State of New York, and to give a brief description of each such book or pamphlet and number the same so that it can be easily referred to. XXI. — Alteration of By-Laws. No alteration in the By-Laws of the Society shall be made, unless such alteration shall have been openly proposed at a previous meeting of the Trustees, entered on the minutes, with the name of the Trustee or Trustees proposing the same, and shall be adopted by a majority of the members of the Board. And in case of such proposed amendment, the Recording Secretary shall be required to accompany the notice for the next meeting of the Board with a copy of the proposed amendment, and a notice that the same will be acted upon at the meeting for which the notice was given. 12 The New York Gciiealogieal and l^ioi^nipliieal Society. 1^ M X ^ u CO c«S m p u ■— • m S Q a z o a Oh -J X c w H fO (S >< « < D Z < w PS D s z w X a z < w u b' c H Z W s Ell < O O i^ C" Ooo OvOxOOO'OO — -^OO O _" „-a CO -a c ^- u a c J3 5 3 O c 3 x: u P 3 01 < [5 'tJ ■5 Q o " » i 8fl O LO Kl Kl' i2 rt 2 in - ^' -T3 •-.t: P S t;S « w — u c . x ^ O - be jn n E ^ u CI. b E 7 — CJ ■" 3 -^ ^- O c ^ '^ Vi (J ^ ^^ — ' o n a u c 3 3 or 3-C.-ii rt ■ xOOa.xK;u:^fcUJa^CL,JH — CU fnoooo-^i^o o coooOLi^r^t^q o r^ — — Lo ro o o - O — CO 6 6-6 O ri — — 00\O CJ 3S z o w d (4 (^ a> !>. OJ o "O E i i u ■j: > a 3 z ^ W X -J gw u & 4) L> o -s c < 3 < O c/) •a v a c rt X 00 ILI o- (A oo C 3 o O *" o >> u k- < 3 c rt Report of Treasurer. ij ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. January i, 1898. ASSETS. Value of Society House and Lot, based on cost, . - - - 325,500.00 Improvements on same, - . - - 297.22 \'alue of Library Building and Stacks, based on cost, - - - 3,809.00 Estimated Value of Books in Library, 5,000.00 Estimated Value of Furniture and Pictures, 616.26 Estimated Value of back numbers and volumes of Record, - 5,000.00 110 copies Memorial Volume, @ .50, 55-00 17 copies "Dutch Church Marriages," (R S15, . - - . 255.00 1 12 copies Pedigree Charts, @' .75, - 84.00 Members' Dues unpaid, - - - - 230.00 Loan on Bund and Mortgage, @ 5S, 12,000.00 Cash in Manhattan Savings Institution, 500.00 Cash in Bank of New Amsterdam, 265.72 553,612.20 LIABILITIES. Bond and Mortgage on Society House, (g' 5't, - $10,500.00 Unpaid Bills, -------- 314.97 510,814.97 Balance, being equity in all property owned by the Society, - 542,797.23 B. \V. PIERSON, Treasurer. 14 fill' A'rTi' York Gi'iicalogica/ and Bioi^rapliical Society. Report of Secmary. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, organized Fel)ruary 27, 1869, has had a strnggle in j-ears past, but is now established. This has been the work of no one man, or body of men, but the work of those who gave their time to' the Library day after day, and, together with the imjietus given to the study of family history by the Hereditary Societies, have materially aided in j^lacing this Society where it is ; but for these, our Society might have met in its little back room and read j^apers to itself forever, without influence or recognition. The Library of this Society is its feature of value. Gathered little by little, it has become one of tlie best of its kind in the land ; and we only need an officer or com- mittee, who can supplement the work of the Librarian, in soliciting books, to make it equal to any, for we can offer to authors a review in the Record and to others a place in our Catalogue, both of which are valual)le introductions to genealogical and historical students : for if such books are not on our shelves, one cannot escape the feeling, either that the book is valueless or that this Society is deficient in means or enterprise ; authors had better send their book than await the decision of the community on that dilemma. We did not add quite so many books this year as in some of its predecessors, since those who were able to be at the rooms have been occupied with other work of the Society. We hope next year to have more help, more shelf-room, and less sickness. We urge each member to obtain for the Librarj' what he can, not circulars and dio- cesan reports merely, but genealogies, histories, l)iographies — in fact, anything with information to aid genealogical students. It was easier to keep ahead of the masses, genealogically, thirty years ago than to-day, in this city. Then it was a subject some feared and others derided ; now the entire community are interested, and a large iiercentage are Report of Sccrctarv. /j absorbed in it. Seekers for niembersliip in any one of the fifteen or more Hereditary Societies come here to find out their pedigree, in order to establish their eligibility. Hav- ing satisfied their ambition, they often pay their fees into the other societies, purchase their badge, and are done with us. Their interest is personal to themselves: what we are after is the creation or cultivation of an interest in antiquarian subjects in general and universal genealogj' : unselfish as the sunshine and broad as creation. We may be aided liy the badge-winners, just as all genealogy is helped by seekers for coats of arms, but our support must be from the class who already know enough of their own family history to devote themselves to the subject as an interesting department of universal history. We have had eight meetings during the year, at wliich papers have been read by Wm. Nelson, Esq., Col. Fred. D. Grant, Capt. James Parker, T. Astley Atkins, Esq., Gen. Egbert L. Viele, Col. Woolsey R. Hopkins, Dr. Theo- dore L. Cuyler, Dr. John R. Bailey, and Dr. Newland Maynard. We liave 306 members, of whom 72 are Life members, and pay no dues ; some are behind, and every year our numbers are depleted by death and other causes. During the past year 3 have died and 17 resigned. It is undignified, and should be unnecessary, to weary people into joining or to propose friends without their authorization for membership. We suffered by this prac- tice in former years, but the last year only about half a dozen of those proposed failed to qualify. We have added 32, and they were introduced by fourteen members, to wit : Mr. Evans brought 3, Miss Akerly 2, Miss Fisher 2, Gen. Wilson 2, Dr. Eliot 1, Mr. Calkins 1, Mr. Codding- ton 1, Mr. Doty 1, Dr. Kalish 1, Mr. Lloyd 1, Mr. Lawrence 1, Mr. Mower 1, Mr. Pierson 1, and the Secretary 14. We are owners of our own home, and collected §829.10 from rents ; but at no time have all our rooms been rented, as our little hall is not adapted to the wants of many. The House Committee have considered the question of alterations, with a view to making it more roomy. This may be worth considering ; at all events, we recognize the i6 Tlic Nciv York Gniralogical and Bioo-rapliical Society. fact that very often we ourselves would be glad of a larger assembly-room. In fact, the ownership of the Imilding. besides being a satisfaction, has increased our receipts. The general financial condition of the Society is shown, by tlie Treasurer's balanceslieet, to l)e live hundred and sixty odd dollars better than one year ago. Most of this sum having been paid on account of our mortgage debt, our interest in the future is diminished thereby. Tile sale of Pedigree Charts has netted §64.75 ; but very few have been filed, although the offer still stands to replace wifli a new blank tliose wliich are filed, or, if preferred, to refund the cost upon filing. The necrology of the Society, as well as the other sub- jects before alluded to, will be treated of at length by the a])propriate officer. It is time that we had a biography of all deceased members at least. Lastly, our duplicates should be marked for sale and exchange. The list should be published in the Recokd, that they may be replaced in the Library hj genealogies and local histories which we lack. We have heretofore had a Building Fund. Tlie building- is an accomplished fact, and that fund miglit appro])riately be transferred to the Library. ^Ve need a fund for tlie purchase of books. Another society in this city has a fund, for the purchase of genealogies, which sliould have come here ; now, we should not be satisfied until we have the same. I propose that we begin to-night, and that the work go on forever. All of which is respectfully submitted. RICHARD H. GREENE, Secretary. Report of Publication Committee. The Publication Committee of the New York Genea- logical and Biographical Society would respectfully report that : The Record lias been published quarterly, as here- tofore ; and word comes to your Committee from many Rcporl of Piiblicaiion Covuiiittcc. IJ directions that it is increasingly called for at all the libraries, nntil no historical society or library can afford to be without it ; those who postpone its acquisition will regret their delay. We agree to give forty-eight pages per quarter of his- torical and genealogical matter, which is, in the main, new to print and of general interest. In our last volume we exceeded our promises by one hundred pages, making two hundred and ninety-two pages in the volume, of which the index (without which the book would be useless to many) covers forty-one pages. Our binder has found that the covers heretofore used are too small for the present volume. Perhaps soon we can issue a volume that will stand alone, and not need to be bound with the next year. For many years our pulilication was an expen.se, although both contributors and editors have always served the Society without pay, and the printing alone was a charge upon our funds ; yet the limited numl)er who are interested in owy subjects makes our total clientage small, and of these the percentage of those who can or will pay anything for the support of a publication they can see at the libraries makes our subscription - list still smaller. Nevertheless, recently the demand for full sets and back numbers have supplemented the largely increased sub- scriptions and materially raised the returns. The receipts from sales of back numbers this last year did not equal those of recent years, for the reason that certain numbers are out of print and the Society was not able to furnish complete sets ; yet the sales of back numbers brought $:^21.74 during the year, the payments by sub- scribers in the same period being $597.50. The publication of the Dutch Church marriages and baptisms — another part of our work, under the editorial management of Dr. Purple — brought from sales $45, against expense (additional to composition in the Rkcord) of $25. By the liberal contribution of Mr. Samuel Burhans, Jr., we have been enabled to increase the amount of these Dutch Church Records, which have always been a feature of our publication. The entire receipts have thus been $1,036.24 for the /cV /"//(■ .Wri' York (u-iicaloi^ica/ and Biograplucal Society. Coiiiniittee's work, and tlie expenses were $1,049.63, leaving a deliciency of !t;l3.39, witli i)art of one number unpaid. Your Committee think the time has come to rearrange the pi'ices of back numbers. Some are out of print and many are getting scarce. The reason of the difference is : some issues interest a hirge number outside of the reguhir subscribers ; their purchases from the reserve in the course of time often equals or exceeds the number of the sub- scribers, and then exorbitant prices are deTimnded of those who must have these numbers to make up sets. The time is not far distant when all the numbeis will command an in- creased price, and electrotype plates \^ould save the expense of composition where reproduction is necessary. Those of us who are conducting the correspondence of the Society and the Record have long felt that we are burdened with a name which might be shortened by two words without losing anything; for genealogy is but a succession of biographies, and every biography should give the parents and children of the subject— that is, three generations, which makes a genealogy. Therefore we sub- mit that New York Genealogical Record would be a change for the better, and could be made without causing any complications, though the name of an incorporated society should not be changed unless the reasons are shown to be good and the rights will be unaffected or improved. The "New England Historical and Genealogical Register" has been changed; it was formerly backed "Genealogical and Antiquarian Register," and has never borne the exact name of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Tn titles every word which can be spared without injury should l)e dispensed with. The Record is genealogical ; the other matter which appears in it is not mei-ely biog- rai)hy, it is more properly history— perhaps better desig- nated as antiquarian, but either word would be surplusage. Your Committee has increased the amount of family genealogy in the Record. There is some complaint that New England families appear more than New Y'ork families. Our answer is: we never refuse to jirint Dutch families when sent to us. The fact is, our membership is largely of New England extraction. But two of our nine Report of Publication Coviinittcc. /p officers and one of our Boai-d of Trustees can boast a Dutch pati-onymic; and of our Presidents, three have been of New England birth or ancestry, one of Huguenot descent, while the pi-esent incumbent is not a native of this country. Now is the time for tlie Knickerbockers to recruit the ranks of this Society, send their family histories to the Record, and actively assist in the work. We can assure them they will soon know that they are more than welcome. We have felt that our members have never supported the Rkcord as they should. The pi'oportion has been, about'twenty-five percent, of the members were stibscribers. In order to reach this class, vvjiere one would naturally look for supporters, a circular was sent (with a copy of the Janimry number of the current volume) to every member not on our subscription-list. Thus far the subscription-list has not been increased as much as we anticipated from this appeal. We should make an effort to secure proper paying advertisements for insertion in the Record. We think a Press and Printing Committee would be a useful addition to the work ; they might include this. A revenue could be derived from advertisements ; they are the main su])- port of other periodicals. We should not be the only exception. Your Committee would like to exchange with every publication desirable for our Library, and would recom- mend that the Executive Committee or a Special Committee be directed to accomplish this, or that a circular be prepared, that the Corresponding Secretary or this Committee might, with the least possible trouble, reach all such publications, both in our own land and beyond the sea. The Committee negotiated exchanges of old Records for genealogies and histories, valued at about one hundred dollars. This could be continued to advantage, for thereby we get books not otherwise obtainable, and place our Record with dealers in sufficient quantity to sell more and reach possible subscribers. All of which is respectfullv submitted. R. H. GREENE, Chairman. 20 The Nc'lV York Gcncaloi^ical and Biograpliical Society. Report of fiousc Committee. The House Coiiiniittee takes pleasure in reporting- tliat, so far as its jurisdiction is concerned, the Society is in a fairly prosperous condition. As will be seen by the Treas- urer's report — a copy of which has been mailed to each member— the sum of $829.10 has been received during the year for the rental of rooms in the upper stories of the building. This, however, is not as large as it might be ; we should get at least $1,000, if not $1,200, per annum. And it is hoped that the fourth floor— the whole of which is now unoccupied — may soon be rented. Some necessary repairs to the building have cost $41.68, and the sum of $53.26 has been exi)euded for furniture. A reproduction in bronze of the seal of the Society has been placed on the front of the building, and a memorial tablet to our generous benefactress, Mrs. Elisabeth Ihider- hill Coles, has been placed on the wall of the entrance hall at a cost of $1.50. Our rooms, however, are greatly lacking in ornament ; and the members are urged to contribute suitable pictures and works of art with which to beautify and adorn them. Respectfully submitted. THOMAS G. EVANS, Chairman of House Committee. Dated January 28, i8q8. Report of Cibrarian. The history of our Library for the year just drawn to its close is a history of reconstruction rather than of marked progress. We paused, as it were, in the onward march toward a larger growth to rehouse ourselves and to rearrange our books, a process which required both time and labor ; for, to gather up the scattered volumes which the movers had put down in any convenient place, then to Report of Librarian. 21 create order out of the chaos was not a small undertaking. So to-day we find our Library slowly but surely approach- ing a condition of perfect arrangement, and we pause again, but for a moment, to view with critical eye the Genealogical monument which we have erected. There are on our shelves to-day 3,;")97 bound volumes, 'besides nearly double that number of pamphlets of all sizes and on all subjects. Of these bound volumes 520 are Genealogical, 367 Biographical, and the remainder, 2,710, are Local Histories and Miscellaneoiis. These are bare facts and bald figures, but they represent the generosity of many donors and the personal efforts of former Librarians. Of this number 248 have been added during the past year, embracing 4o Genealogies, 41 Biographies, 33 Local His- tories and 129 Miscellaneous. These, too, are bare facts and bald figures, but they represent the donations of 83 generous people and of those who sent us books for review. These accessions, though not especially large in quantity, are valuable in quality, and include : "The Seton Family ; " "The Richmond Family;" The Parish and Ludlani Gene- alogies; "The Ten Broeck Genealogy;" Histories of Fitchburg, Mass., Montville, Ct., N. and S. Hempstead, L. I., and the Records of Coventry, Ct. — books ranging in value from |94 for the first to §6 for the last. These have all been obtained by contributions, either voluntary or solicited, with the exception of about 25 of the 248 which we have acquired by Recokd exchanges ; not a dollar has been expended in the purchase of books. Acquisitions by these methods alone are in the end unsatisfactory, for they bring not to our shelves some books which ours as a Genealogical Librarj' ought to number among its volumes, but probably never will unless they are purchased. Let us l)race up, then, these ways and means of exchange and donation with the support of a moderate fund specially designated for the purchase of books, and we shall then see our Genealogical monument grow to graceful and majestii' pro^iortions. Aside from this, a large number of good duplicates are waiting the time when, with proper management, they may become a source of acquisition. These include many very 22 The Ncii' York (icnrn/oi^irn/ and lUograpIiical Sociclv. (Icsirable works, and could be sold or exrhanged to ad- vantao;e ; and it' they were i)nblished in a list with prices extended, to be sent to all the libraries in the country, tliere is little doubt that they would cease to be a dusty pile on %o\) of the stacks, becoming instead valuable additions on the shelves. There is one other item which entails a regular expense that ought to be systematically met — book-binding. The method vvliich prevails at present is the somewhat irregular one of sending to the binder, at odd times, whatever it is deemed necessary to have bound, when instead there should be set aside, per annum, a stated amount large enough to include the cost of binding all completed Gene- alogical periodicals as well as the more important of the single publications. Concentrated energy and singleness of purpose are and should be the policy of the Lil)rary. We are a Genealogi- cal Society, and the purpose is mainly Genealogical, as is shown by the fact that visitors ask invariably for works on family history or town records ; for, strange as it may seem, there has not been a single demand during the past year for Biographical works of any kind. The concen- trated energy, then, should be directed toward the ac- quisition of such books as demand .calls for, even though "all is fish that comes to the net." The Library is unquestionably the main feature of the Society. We use our meeting-hall but once a month, while the Library we use every day. This at present is badly and insufficiently heated ; the approach over the iron bridge is a menace to health and a serious factor of dis- comfort. Let the singleness of purpose, then, for the present, be directed toward improving the Library ; in- crease the heating capacity ; cover the bridge a])proach ; purchase the necessary books ; tint the walls ; give to the room the appearance of secluded comfort more pronounced than at present obtains. These things cannot be done in a minute, but taken in hand one at a time, and carried out with an eye to the useful and the attractive, will place the Library at the end of the year far beyond its present use- fulness. Repent of Xccrnloi^ist. 2^ In conclusion let me add t]iat the Library is open every Monday evening, when members, and visitors intro- duced by them, are cordially welcome. Respectfully submitted. H. CALKINS, JR., Librarian. Dated Jainiary 28, i8q8. Report of necrologist. To THE President and Board of Trustees of the N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Society. Gentlemen : I herewith present my first annual report of duty per- formed, as your Necrologist, in the preparation for pub- lication, in the Record, of obituary notices of deceased members of this Society. Immediately upon my appointment to this office, June 8th, 1897, I prepared and had printed a circular letter (cojiy appended to this report) to be addressed to the surviving relatives of deceased memliers, and containing a series of questions of a biographical and genealogical nature calcu- lated to di'nw forth such information as would enable me to present, in the pages of the Record, a brief but satis- factory resume of the life, character, and life-work of the deceased. In the prosecution of this official duty I have already experienced some difficulty, due, partly, to the somewhat incomplete and confused state of our membership rolls, and also to the fact that, having been, for some years past, somewhat disassociated from the active work of the Society, I have not as intimate an acquaintance with its personnel as would keep me informed of deaths among our members. These disabilities, however, have been nuich lessened by a recent reconstruction of the membership lists, at the hands of our present Treasurer, as well as by the kindly assist- ance of individual members. The greatest difficulty, liow- 34 The Nciv \ 'ork Genealogical and Biographical Society. ever, which I have experienred lias been my inability to get any reply at all from the parties to whom my circulars have been addressed. The questions in the circular letter are certainly simple and explicit enough to call forth a prompt and proper response, and being addressed either to the surviving companion (husband or wife), or to the children, or to the business associates of the deceased, there seems to be no good reason why they should not be answered, espe