Hamilton Library Association: Annual Report for 1908

The year just closed has been characterized by the usual activity along the various lines of work of the Association, as the Historical Society of Cumberland County.

PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PAPERS.

The monthly public meetings have been held regularly, according to the printed program, sent to members not in arrears, at the beginning of the year, at which papers upon historical subjects have been read and discussed. The attendance upon these meetings and interest manifested in the discussions indicate a growing appreciation of the work of the Association. Some of these papers have been published by the Association. The publication of others has been in many cases delayed by the time required by their authors for their completion in details. Whilst the delay in publication is to be regretted, the reading of such uncompleted monographs, or rather preliminary notes to valuable monographs, is desired and encouraged, as tending to arouse peculiar interest by this discussion, by which also facts are frequently elicited that contribute to the accuracy and completeness of the publication. In this connection it is proper to mention the paper of unique historical value, prepared at the request of the Association and published under its auspices by Gen. R. H. Pratt, the "Suggester, and Superintendent from September 1879 to July 1904 of the Indian Industrial School" at Carlisle Pa., on the "Origin, Purposes. Progress and the Difficulties Surmounted" in connection with that institution.

MEMBERSHIP.

The membership remains substantially the same in numbers the inevitable losses being made up by new accessions. The distribution of the membership throughout the county is gratifying as indicating that the Association is not merely a local institution. The attendance on the public meetings is not restricted to members, and, as a matter of fact, of the attendance of those not members, women constitute a large proportion, and their interested presence and frequent participation in the discussions contribute greatly to the success of the meetings. A paper on the regular program for the present year, on a subject of great local interest, has been assigned to a woman. It is natural, under these circumstances, that the question as to the eligibility of women to membership in the Association should be asked with increasing frequency. The only reply that can be made is, that there is nothing prohibitive, in the charter or in the Constitution, of the election of women to full membership with all the priveleges and responsibilities that implies, but that at the time of the organization of the Association it seemed best to confine the election of members to males, and unvaring practice since then has almost grown into unwritten law. At the same time another restriction on membership was the large entrance fee required, and the exceeding care in the selection of members. A few years ago the entrance fee was reduced to two dollars. with an annual due of one dollar, and the chief qualification for membership was made an interest in the purposes of the Association, and an expressed desire to become a member. This change has not only led to increased membership, but has proved of advantage in every way. Whether the election of women to membership by relaxation of the practice, might not prove a corresponding advance is a question, the decision of which rests by the constitution, entirely with the Directors of the Association. It may be stated that as a rule, with few excertions, women are not only eligible to membership in other local historical societies of the State, but also as a fact, that in many of them women fill important offices and are active members of various committees, thus contributing in every way to the efficiency of the organizations. It should, however, be made perfectly clear that in according eligibility to membership in the Association to women it is not implied, or necessarily expected, that those interested in the meetings and participating in the discussions, and otherwise promoting the work of the Association should assume the responsibilities and duties of membership. That would be a matter entirely for the determination of each individual, and probably not many would desire to become members. These would not be as cordially welcome as at present to the meetings but would be expected to participate as freely in the discussions.

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