Papers in Illinois History and Transactions

appointed a committee of the following members: Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, chairman; Jesse A. Baldwin, Chicago; Francis G. Blair, Springfield; E. J. James, Urbana; Mrs. Margaret M. Bangs, Pontiac ; Alfred Orendorff, ex-officio.

Mr. Snively, from the Nominating committee, stated that the committee was ready to make a report, and upon being directed to report, the following named persons were recommended to the society as its officers for the year, January 1907-08.

President, Gen. Alfred Orendorff, Springfield.

First Vice President, Hon. Clark E. Carr, Galesburg.
Second Vice President, Gen. Smith D. Atkins, Freeport.
Third Vice President, Hon. William Vocke, Chicago.

Board of Directors, Edmund Janes James, Ph. D., LL. D., president of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Hon. George N. Black, Springfield; J. H. Burnham, Bloomington; M. H. Chamberlin, LL. D., president of McKendree College, Lebanon; Hon. L. Y. Sherman, Macomb; Hon. David McCulloch, Peoria; Evarts B. Greene, Ph. D., University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign; Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber, Springfield; Edwin Erle Sparks, Ph. D., University of Chicago, Chicago; Hon. William H. Collins, Quincy; Hon. J. O. Cunningham, Urbana; Hon. Andrew Russell, Jacksonville; Prof. Geo. W. Smith, Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbondale; Rev. C. J. Eschmann, Prairie du Rocher; J. W. Clinton, Polo.

The report of this committee was received and Mr. Snively moved that the secretary be directed to cast the ballot for the officers as recommended by the Nominating committee. This motion was seconded by Dr. M. H. Chamberlin, and was carried. The secretary accordingly cast the ballot and the persons recommended by the Nominating committee were duly declared elected officers of the society, for the ensuing year.

The secretary reported that the society had lost by death during the past year, five of its honored members. Brief biographical notices of each of these members was read by the secretary and on a motion, which was adopted by a rising vote, the secretary was directed to spread upon the records of the society these resolutions. The members deceased are: J. M. Bush, Pittsfield; James H. Raymond, Chicago; Dr. Jacob Schneck, Mt. Carmel; Judge Samuel P. Wheeler, Springfield; and Major Geo. W. Wightman, Lacon.

The hour being late, the business meeting of the society adjourned with the understanding that at any convenient time during the annual session, matters of business might be presented.

On Friday morning, at 9:00 o'clock, a symposium on the teaching of State history, was called to order with President Orendorff in the chair.

In the absence of Prof. J. A. James, of Evanston, who had expected to be in charge of the discussion, Prof. Geo. W. Smith, of Carbondale, acted as leader, and addressed the society at some length on the subject of the real meaning of history. This was followed by a discussion of the subject in which Mr. Henry McCormick, State Superintendent Francis G. Blair, Mr. J. Nick Perrin, Prof. W. H. Brydges and Prof. J. H. Collins, each took part.

The secretary reported that the Board of Directors recommended the following persons for honorary membership in the society:

Paul Selby, Chicago; Hon. Chas. S. Deneen, Springfield; Prof. B. F. Shambaugh, Iowa; Hon. J. P. Dunn, Indiana.

and on motion, the recommendation of the board of directors was adopted, and the above named persons were elected honorary members of the society.

At the close of the Friday evening session, it was moved that the thanks of the society be extended to Hon. James A. Rose, Secretary of State; to the officials of the Supreme Court; to Capt. R. J. Beck, Superintendent of the Capitol Building; to Miss Mary Billsbury, Chicago; to Mrs. Albert Myers, of Springfield; and to the other ladies and gentlemen, musicians of Springfield; and to the ladies of the local committee on arrangements, for their kind and untiring efforts to add to the pleasure and comfort of the State Historical Society at its annual meeting; and also to the press of Springfield for the full and satisfactory reports of the sessions of this annual meeting. This motion. was unanimously adopted.

The literary sessions were carried out in accordance with the printed program, and the eighth annual session of the society closed with a reception in the Illinois State Library, at which the officers and members of the society received their friends.

DIRECTORS' MEETINGS.

The Board of Directors of the Illinois State Historical Society met in the librarian's room of the State Historical Library, Thursday morning, at 9:00 o'clock, January 24th, 1907.

There were present:

President Alfred Orendorff, who presided; E. B. Greene, J. W. Clinton, J. H. Burnham, Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber.

The secretary's report was read and approved. The treasurer's report was read and approved.

Capt. J. H. Burnham moved that a committee be appointed to revise the mailing list for the distribution of the publications of the society. He made as a part of his motion, that the secretary be made chairman of the committee. This motion was carried, and the president was requested to appoint the committee. The secretary asked for instructions as to sending the publications to members of the society whose dues are unpaid. The president was requested to appoint a temporary committee for the purpose of considering this matter. was also moved that the secretary be made chairman of this committee, There was a general discussion of the various bills in the interest of historical research now pending before the General Assembly of the State. It was the sense of the board that these various bills and the interests which they represent receive careful consideration and the committee on legislation be asked to aid in the passage of such of them as are deemed favorable to the interests of the society.

Capt. J. H. Burnham suggested that the year 1908 would be the semi-centennial of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and he moved that the program committee be directed to take this fact into consideration in preparing the program for the annual meeting of the year 1908, and that the Program committee confer with the committee on the celebration of the semi-centennial of the Debates.

Mr. Burnham spoke of the proposed change in the Constitution of the Society in regard to the time for holding the annual meetings. This was discussed at some length and was referred to the Program committee for action.

There being no further business, the Board of Directors adjourned to meet at some time during the sessions of the annual meeting at the call of the president.

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Illinois State Historical Society, held in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court,

at 11:15 Friday morning, January 25, 1907, there were present: President Alfred Orendorff (who presided), Messrs. E. B. Greene, Geo. W. Smith, J. W. Clinton, J. H. Burnham, and Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber.

On motion of Mr. E. B. Greene, Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber was elected secretary and treasurer of the society for the year 1907-1908. On motion of Mr. E. B. Greene, Alfred Orendorff, the president of the society, was elected chairman of the Board of Directors. The following committees were appointed:

COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP.

Judge J. Otis Humphrey, Springfield, Chairman.

Charles L. Capen, Bloomington.
J. W. Clinton, Polo.

Daniel Berry, M. D., Carmi.
John M. Rapp, Fairfield.
Mrs. Thomas Worthington,
Jacksonville.

Miss May Latham, Lincoln.
J. Nick Perrin, Belleville.
Wm. Jayne, M. D., Springfield.
George E. Dawson, Chicago.
E. M. Bowman, Alton.
Dr. A. W. French, Springfield.

Alfred Orendorff, ex officio.

COMMITTEE ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF THE LINCOLN