Mr. Barrett called attention to the fact that in the resolution on the deaths of members the name of Hon. G. M. Lambertson had been omitted. His name was ordered inserted.

"This Society records with a deep sense of irretrievable loss the death during the past year of J. Sterling Morton, author of Arbor Day and honored President of this Society the past eleven years; of H. A. Longsdorf, one of the pioneers of Bellevue; of James E. Lamaster, of Tecumseh; and G. M. Lambertson, of Lincoln. In public and private life each of these pioneers has been a worthy son of this state. Ordered that this resolution be spread upon the records and copies thereof be sent to the families of the deceased."

Mr. J. H. Broady gave an estimate of the lives and works of Stephen B. Miles, J. C. Lincoln, and E. W. Thomas, early and valuable men in Nebraska's history.

Adjourned.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Lincoln, Nebraska, April 14, 1903.

Present: C. H. Gere, C. J. Bowlby, C. S. Lobingier, the Professor of American History, and the Secretary, H. W. Caldwell.

The Secretary reported that the legislature had made an appropriation of $10,000 for the biennium, and recommended that the expenditures for the years 1903-4 be as follows:

1. Salaries:

J. A. Barrett, curator and librarian..

A. E. Sheldon, superintendent of field work..

E. E. Blackman, archeologist.

Newspaper clerk

Secretary

Treasurer

...

.$1,400

900

800

300

100

25

2. For labor in various fields-approximate amounts:
Cataloguing books
Day labor

Carpentering

3. For other expenses-approximate amounts:

Publishing volume reports...

Freight and expenses..

Binding newspapers

Sundries

Buying books

Traveling expenses

Supplies, photography, etc...

Total

$

$ 600

145

100

100

120

200

50

.$5,000

It was moved and carried that the Secretary be authorized to make out and sign vouchers for salaries on above estimates, and if necessary to conform to law, to make the computation by the day to equal the salary schedule fixed in former resolutions.

The President and the Secretary were authorized to secure, if possible, an appropriation for the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition to aid the Historical Society in making its display. Also to secure for J. A. Barrett a clerkship, under pay of the Nebraska exposition board, at St. Louis during the summer of 1904. The resolution was also passed, to be sent to Mr. Chamberlain, of St. Louis, asking the national board of managers to make an appropriation to aid in preparing a proper and suitable historical exhibit for the exposition.

PLANS FOR A BUILDING FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Mr. Barrett presented plans to raise the money by private subscription. After a discussion the following resolution was adopted. On motion of Mr. Gere, seconded by Professor Caldwell, Mr. Barrett was authorized to proceed to raise the money to construct a building and to secure suitable grounds on which to erect the same. The Treasurer and Secretary

were appointed as consulting members to aid Mr. Barrett in devising plans to carry out the undertaking.

Mr. Bowlby then moved that two hundred dollars from the Society's funds in the bank be appropriated to pay preliminary expenses in the attempt to raise money for the historical building.

Carried.

In order to give Mr. Barrett a better recognition for his work, and to enable him to carry out his plans more successfully, his title was made to read "Curator and Librarian of the Nebraska State Historical Society."

There being no other business to come before the board it adjourned.

C. S. LOBINGIER, Vice-President.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE BOARD.

Lincoln, Nebraska, May 20, 1903.

Present: Governor Furnas, Vice-President Clarke, C. H. Gere, H. W. Caldwell. Moved, seconded, and carried that the salary and expense list, passed on at the meeting of April 14, 1903, be ratified:

In regard to display at St. Louis, the meeting felt that the Secretary and Treasurer might carry out the plans outlined at the meeting, April 14, or secure a lump sum as they find most feasible, after consultation with Mr. Morrill.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING, 1904.

Lincoln, Nebraska, January 12, 1904.

The Society was called to order by President R. W. Furnas at 8:10 P.M. The President, after making a few general remarks in regard to the condition and prosperity of the So

ciety, announced the program of the evening, "The Constitutional Conventions of the State." In the absence of Judge Lake, the first paper of the evening was presented by Judge Wakeley on "The Defeated Constitution of 1871." Other papers were presented on the convention of 1875. The first, by Judge Broady, considered especially "The One-Night Constitution"; the second, by Judge W. M. Robertson, discussed the debate on the "Separate Propositions," that were submitted to the vote of the people, in regard to the election of senators by popular vote and location of the capital.

Judge Wakeley then gave a brief discussion of the reasons for the defeat of the Constitution of 1871. There being no other business, an adjournment to 8:00 o'clock on Wednesday evening, January 13, 1904, was taken.

H. W. CALDWELL, Secretary.

R. W. FURNAS, President.

Lincoln, January 13, 1904. The adjourned meeting of the Historical Society was called to order at 8:25 P.M. by President Hon. R. W. Furnas.

The program of the evening consisted of a round table on the Convention of 1875, under the guidance of Hon. J. L. Webster, of Omaha, who was president of the Convention of 1875. Mr. Webster opened the discussion by noting the conditions in the state in 1875, and the effects on the character of the constitution formed. He then called on various persons who were members of the convention to give their recollections of the various movements in and the decisions of the convention.

Judge J. H. Broady was first called on, but he asked to be excused as his paper of the previous evening contained his contribution, and now he preferred to hear from others. Hon. C. H. Gere was then called on. Mr. Gere discussed the reasons for the incorporation of various features peculiar to the Constitution of 1875, and found them in the conditions of the state at the time. Judge S. B. Pound then gave an

account of his experiences in the convention of 1875 and especially discussed the struggle over salaries for state and judicial officers. After Mr. J. A. Barrett had made a statement in regard to letters received from members of the convention who found it impossible to be present, Hon. M. B. Reese made a very interesting talk on the personnel and discussions of the convention. After a few remarks by various members of the Society Mr. Webster made a few additional observations and brought a very successful discussion to a close.

BUSINESS MEETING.

Mr. A. E. Sheldon called attention to certain documents of very peculiar origin and interest, but found no one who could throw additional light on their meaning.

On motion roll call was then dispensed with, the minutes were read, corrected in one item by Mr. C. S. Lobingier, and were approved.

Mr. Barrett's annual report as curator and librarian was then presented, and on motion placed on file. The Treas urer's report was read, received, and adopted. The Secretary then made a report as chairman of the publication committee and asked the desire of the Society in regard to publishing the material on the constitutional conventions of the state. After some discussion and several motions, the committee was instructed to edit and publish the material in full, subject to its judgment, to omit any immaterial matter.

Mr. A. E. Sheldon moved resolutions on the deaths of Gen.. Victor Vifquain and L. B. Treeman, which were read and adopted.

The Secretary was instructed, on motion of Mr. Broady, to formulate plans for keeping a record of the deaths of members of the Society, to be reported on at the annual meeting each year.

The Treasurer called attention to the fact that many persons whose names were proposed from time to time failed for