Hamilton Library Association: Annual Report for 1907

The usual work of the  Association has been carried on during the year, and the interest in all lines has been fully maintained.

PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PAPERS

The regular monthly meetings of the Association, to which the public is invited, at which papers on local historical subjects are read and discussed, have been punctually held, beginning in the Fall, according to a printed program mailed to each member. The increasing interest manifested in these meetings by the public at large indicates that they are accomplishing a work of their own in creating greater interest in our local history, and in promoting its investigation and preservation. Many of the papers read contain interesting and valuable information, and  authentic original data in regard to our local history, the result of painstaking research, involving much time and labor, and frequently expense in their preparation. The work of “elucidation and preservation of the history” of the County, set forth as one of the objects of this Association, is promoted by encouraging the preparation of such papers, and by giving them permanence and wider circulation, by publication. The value of these would be greatly enhanced, in many cases, by the addition of diagrams and maps, or other suitable illustrations, as far as the limited means of the Association may permit. Frequently very valuable papers are not complete for publication at the time of their presentation at the meeting of the Association. Every encouragement is given for as early completion of such papers as may be convenient to the authors. Many other papers of more distinctly popular character, upon local subjects, although of great interest and value, can not be published by the Association by reason of its limited resources, without curtailing expenditures in other important directions. As editions of the papers published are necessarily limited, copies are not supplied to members, as they might not be desired by every one in all cases; but a nominal price is placed upon the several publications, after reserving a sufficient number for exchanges. On this plan it is believed the publications will go into the hands of those especially interested in them, and will be more likely to be preserved. The number published of any particular paper is conditioned somewhat upon the probable demand for it, dependent, in each case to great extent, upon the subject and the treatment of it.

HISTORICAL COLLECTION AND LIBRARY.

Under the care and active efforts of Capt. Wm. E. Miller, Chairman of the Historical Committee, numerous accessions have been made to the collection of historical objects, many of great local interest and value, that would soon have been be-yond the power of the Association to obtain. These have been for the must part presented to the Association, or plated on de-posit with it; but in a few cases it has been necessary to acquire by purchase some very desirable articles. Among the objects of particular interest may be mentioned an old plough with a wooden mold board, and a wooden shovel. Both are in a good state of preservation, and were used in the County more than a century and a quarter ago. Among other additions is a letter from Gen. Washington to Gen. John Armstrong, from Gen. William Armstrong, a lineal descendant of Gen. John Armstrong; and also a Masonic Apron of Gen. Washington's from Mr.Rankin Houston.

Besides keeping up and binding the files of newspapers of the County, and the historical periodicals, little could be ex-pended for additions to the library. It is a pleasure to announce among the gifts made, one by Dr. I. H. Betz, of York, of the two volumes of the recent History of York County, by Professor Geo. E. Prowell, of York, Pa.