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I.
ANNALS
OF THE
CINCINNATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
To gather from still living witnesses, and preserve for the future annalist,
the important records of the teeming and romantic PAST; to seize while yet
warm and glowing, and inscribe upon the page, which shall be sought hereafter,
the bright visions of song, and fair images of story, that gild the gloom and
lighten the sorrows of the ever-fleeting PRESENT; to search all history with
a steady eye, sound all philosophy with a careful hand, question all experience
with a fearless tongue, and thence draw lessons to fit us for, and light to guide
us through, the shadowed but unknown future."
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY.
Cincinnati:
PRINTED BY R. P. DONOGH & CO., MAIN STREET, ABOVE THIRD.
1845.
498
C5
CS2

Cincinnati,
1845
The officers of the Cincinnati Historical
Society, constituting its Executive Council, for the purpose of
advancing the welfare of the society, have prepared the fol-
lowing circulars to historical societies, and individuals.
Associations and gentlemen that receive this pamphlet will
please give their more particular attention to the circular which
may be addressed to them.
JAMES H. PERKINS,
JOHN P. FOOTE,
WM. D. GALLAGHER,
E. P. NORTON,
HARVEY HALL,
C. WHITTLESEY,
A. RANDALL,
Executive Council.
#
CIRCULAR TO HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.
The Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Historical So
ciety address you for the purpose of producing between your
society and that for which they act, that interchange of reci-
procities by which the usefulness of institutions of this nature
is essentially advanced.
To gather the memorials of the past and preserve them in
proper repositories is the object of historical societies. The im-
portance of organizing and giving efficiency to institutions of
this kind, must be evident to all who are conscious of the value
of history as an element of human knowledge. It is by such
employment of the present that the future is most enriched by
contributions from the past, and posterity enabled to rely, in its
efforts to obtain information of the deeds of men and the provi-
dences of God, upon something more than obscure traditions
or unauthenticated mementos.
With a conviction that institutions of this character are
singularly adapted to the cultivation of one of the most noble
of all sciences, the members of the Cincinnati Historical Socie-
ty have associated themselves together. From the position of
their city they feel that they can be of service in their attempt
to collect materials for western history, and thus save from
destruction the records of an interesting portion of our com-
mon country.
While it will be their desire to obtain as many works on
general history as can be procured, it will be their more par-
ticular endeavor to amass those historical facts which will serve
to illustrate the history of a region upon whose soil the savage
so recently trod.
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ANNALS, ETC.
Our society is in its infancy, and will require the exertions
of its members and the support of friends to give it a vigorous
growth. At present it has no building, but we hope one will
soon be erected adequate to an extensive library. About three
hundred volumes have been already collected, which we trust
will be a nucleus for a larger collection of historical works of
every kind; both those referring to our own country, and those
which relate to the history of the various portions of the world.
Whatever assistance you may give us in our enterprise by
the donation of books, antiquities, and manuscripts, we will be
grateful for, and a reciprocation of your kindnesses shall be
made as soon as we acquire the ability. We have about one
hundred and fifty sets, five volumes in each set, of the Transac-
tions of the Western College of Teachers, containing near-
ly two thousand pages, presenting a history of the progress
of education in the West, and containing a number of valuable
essays, which we will forward in exchange, for any Trans-
actions of historical societies, or other works that kindred As-
sociations may present to us.
Sir:
CIRCULAR TO INDIVIDUALS.
THE Executive Committee of this As-
sociation address you personally upon a subject of unusual in-
terest, believing it to be in your power and in accordance with
your inclination to assist us in gathering up the fugitive his-
torical records of the West.
You will observe, by our Constitution and Laws, that we
shall not only collect and preserve this kind of information, but
intend to disseminate the same, whenever it is appropriate and
interesting.
OUR PUBLICATIONS.
We expect to be able to publish the most valuable manu-
scripts that come into our possession, and to reprint many of
those rare and ancient historical works and pamphlets no
longer to be found in book stores.
Those who forward us documents, books, maps, descrip-
tions of antiquities, antique implements, manuscripts, original
or copied, letters of interest or any other valuable paper or
article will receive, in such manner as they may direct, equiva-
lent publications of our own.
DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING BOOKS, ETC.
To accomplish our object we very much need individual
assistance. The written and published matter relating to
western history, though respectable, is not voluminous; but
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ANNALS OF THE
it is scattered so widely, and has, most of it been so long out
ofſprint that the great difficulty is in searching it out. For
this purpose we invite the attention of all those who look
with pride upon the doings of our pioneer fathers and the
civil dominion which they established here.
If you cannot furnish anything of importance will you not
inform us of the existence of such materials as are within your
knowledge.
NECESSITY OF SUCH A COLLECTION.
There is not, so far as we know, a single library in the West
where all the works relating to its early occupation by civil-
ized man may be found. They are scattered throughout the
world, but perhaps nowhere collected in one library. Many
of them are to be found upon the shelves of private libraries
one volume in a place, not valued in itself, because too meagre
and imperfect, and are thus suffered to remain in obscurity
until finally dispersed or lost. We wish to arrest this process;
although a single pamhplet or book is not an object of much
importance, but when a thousand books are united in a cabinet
they derive value from each other, forming a complete depart-
ment of history.
KIND OF MATERIALS WANTED.
It is not in printed books alone that history is to be found;
all manuscripts or copies of manuscripts of a historical or
biographical character; newspapers or scraps of newspapers
containing striking personal incidents or narrations; letters, or
copies of letters of the same kind; the stories of the pioneers
reduced to writing; the first settlement of your town, city, or
county; when it took place; whence came the emigrants; what
peculiar circumitance attended the location; your first churches,
schools, mills, court house; notices of prominent settlers de-
ceased; of the hardships and dangers they underwent. Every
thing of this nature will be within the scope of our designs,
because valuable not only to ourselves and our fellow-citizens,
but to all posterity.
CINCINNATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY,
THE INDIAN RACE.
7
We are particularly desirous to do justice to our predecessors,
the Indians, and, for that purpose, shall endeavor to snatch the
few fragments concerning them, still in existence among the
whites, before they are irretrievably lost. We wish you to
give us what you may personally know or can collect of
others respecting their prominent chiefs, sachems, and orators,
their songs and civil regulations, their wars, ancient residences,
numbers, ancestry, alliances, and present condition.
RACE OF THE MOUNDS.
Are there within your knowledge ancient mounds, walls,
ditches, pyramids, or excavations, which you can describe, with
the implements or utensils found in them? If you are unable
to give a drawing and description in detail, will you inform us
where they are situated and who would be likely to give us an
account of them?
EDITORS OF NEWSPAPERS.
You may do us much good with little labor by forwarding
to our address all papers that contain articles of the kind
above alluded to, to be preserved and arranged in our Library;
and for such favors you will be remembered in our distributions.
HOW TO FORWARD.
Communications, when sent by mail, may be directed to the
Society, care of A. RANDALL, Librarian; packages, the same,
care of R. BUCHANAN, Columbia Street, between Main and
Sycamore: or, when more convenient, they may be left with
the Receiving Officers.
}
1
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
CINCINNATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I.
THIS Society shall be known by the name of the "CINCIN-
NATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY," and its primary object shall be the
collection, preservation, and diffusion of Historical, Biographical,
and Antiquarian matter; more particularly such as relates to
the western country.
ARTICLE II.
The officers of this Society shall be a President, two
Vice-Presidents, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding
Secretary, and Librarian, who shall severally perform the usual
duties pertaining to their respective offices. Together they shall
constitute an Executive Council, having charge of the affairs of
the society and regulating the grades and admission of members.
ARTICLE III.
The election of officers to be held at the annual meeting
on the Second Monday in January in every year, to serve till
their successors are chosen.
ARTICLE IV.
All members to be approved by the Exetutive Council.
Resident members to pay an admission fee of three dollars,
subject thereafter to an annual assesment of one dollar. The
payment of fifteen dollars shall entitle a person to the privileges
of a life-member; and fifty dollars to constitute a perpetual
member, transferable on the payment of three dollars.
ARTICLE V.
The Executive Council may, at their pleasure, receive books,
manuscripts, specimens, etc., in lieu of the admission fee or
annual assessment, at a fair estimate of their value.
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ANNALS, ETC.
ARTICLE VI.
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The Library and other property of the Society shall be
kept in the city of Cincinnati, subject to such regulations as
way from time to time be adopted.
ARTICLE VII.
To simplify the accounts of the Society, the date of each
person's admission shall be referred to the last annual meeting
previous to the time of his reception as a member.
ARTICLE VIII.
In case the society is ever dissolved, the books and other
property shall be deposited or given to such public institution
in the city of Cincinnati, as a majority of the members may
determine, after six months' notice being first given in the City
newspapers stating the causes of the same. The Library to be
kept by itself, separate and distinct. Furthermore, all such vol-
umes as shall be given with the 'condition, that they were to be
returned to the donors in case the Society should be dissolved
within the space of twenty years, are to be given to the original
possessors.
ARTICLE IX.
This Constitution may be altered and amended only at an
annual meeting; notice of each proposed alteration having
been given to the Executive Council, in writing, at least three
months previously.
BY-LAWS.
ARTICLE I.
The officers of the Society shall be elected by hallot : a
majority of the votes being necessary to constitute a choice.
ARTICLE II.
Five members shall be necessary to form a quorum for
the transaction of business; but a less number may adjourn a
meeting.
ARTICLE III.
The President shall preside at every meeting of the Society,
when present; call meetings of the Executive Council when-
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ever he may deem it advisable, by notifying the members of
the time and place of meeting; and discharge the duties per
taining to his office generally.
ARTICLE IV.
The duties of the Vice Presidents are, in the absence of
the President, to perform the duties assigned to him, in the or-
der of their standing.
ARTICLE V.
The Recording Secretary shall keep a faithful record of the
transactions of each meeting of the Society and Executive
Council. On being advised of the death of any member, he
shall record it, with the time and place of his death, and report
the same at the next meeting, and perform such other duties
as pertain to his office.
ARTICLE VI.
The Treasurer shall receive and collect, or appoint a per-
son to collect all the moneys belonging to the society, and shall
disburse the same by order of the Executive Council; a tran-
script of such order from the Records signed by the Recording
Secretary shall be a sufficient voucher for the Treasurer. He
shall keep a true account of the receipts and expenditures and
report the same in writing at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VII.
The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct the correspond-
ence of the society-of which he shall keep a full and fair
record in a book provided for that purpose; he shall notify
members of their election, at the same time forwarding each
person elected with a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE VIII.
The Librarian shall receive and preserve all books, maps,
manuscripts, antiquities, and all other articles intended for or
belong to the Library or Cabinet. He shall keep a register
of each donation, stating from whom obtained, on what condi-
tions, and other items of interest connected therewith; and,
shall report the condition of the Library and Cabinet at each
Annual Meeting.
CINCINNATI HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ARTICLE IX.
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The duties of the Receiving Officers shall be to receive and
preserve articles presented to the Society, and communicate to
the Corresponding Secretary such information concerning them
as they shall obtain, with the names of the persons presenting
them, and to execute the orders of the Society respecting the
same.
ARTICLE X.
The duties of the Executive Council shall be to propose
appropriate subjects of inquiry, and suggest the best means
of promoting the objects of the Society; to appoint a Com-
mittee to edit and superintend the publication of any works
authorized by the Society; also to appoint from the members
of the Society, persons residing in different sections of the
country, as RECEIVING OFFICERS; to call special meetings of
she Society; to direct the correspondence of the Correspond-
ing Secretary; to order the disbursement, by the Treasurer, of
such sums of money as may be necessary; to audit all accounts
presented; to fill vacancies occasioned by death, removal or
resignation of officers; to procure suitable persons to deliver
annually two or more addresses before the Society upon sub-
jects connected with the objects of the Association, one to be
delivered upon the day of the Annual Meeting, another on the
7th day of April unless when it comes on Sunday, and then on
on the succeeding day; and such other business as may not be
specially delegated by the society to any other person or persons.
Three shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
by the Executive Committee, and a vote of two-thirds of the
members present shall be necessary to admit a member.
ARTICLE XI.
The members of this Society shall be distinguished as
Resident and Corresponding: all of whom shall be entitled
to a copy of its publications.
ARTICLE XII.
Resident Members shall pay their Initiation Fee and sign
the Constitution, or authorize it to be done, before participa-
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ting in the business of any meeting. If said signing be neglected
longer than six months they shall be considered as declining the
clection.
ARTICLE XIII.
Corresponding Members are required to signify their accept-
ance, in writing, on receiving notice of their election. They
will be expected to represent the Society in their vicinity, and
to furnish annually something valuable for the Library or
Cabinet.