tive committee, the same being lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, block No. 124, fronting capitol park on the east, offers the most available site for the proposed building of the State Historical Society, and that we therefore instruct the special committee, who are to go before the city council, that they use all honorable means to secure the adoption of this site, and its purchase by the city for the purpose named. On motion, the committee adjourned to meet at the call of the chairman. CLARENCE S. PAINE, Secretary. REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A regular meeting was held at the rooms of the Society, April 14, 1908. Present, Dr. George L. Miller, president, Governor George L. Sheldon, Professor H. W. Caldwell, Lorin A. Varner, James E. North, and the secretary. The meeting was called to order by the president and the minutes of the last meeting of the board were read and approved. The report of the secretary for the first quarter of the year was submitted, accepted, and ordered placed on file. At this point Dr. Miller spoke briefly with reference to the plan of establishing a permanent reserve, embracing the site of Fort Kearny, and the location there of a state military institute. The following communication from George A. Berlinghof, with reference to the selection of an architect for the proposed Historical Society building was then presented. Honorable Members of the Board of Directors of the State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska: The undersigned herewith submits the following proposal to your honorable board for your consideration, to wit: Agrees to prepare and furnish as many tentative floor plans, elevations and sectional drawings for the entire and complete new Historical Building until the same meet with your approval, after which approval will prepare complete detail plans, including working drawings (drawn to a scale of 1/4" to 1 ft.), all complete 34" scale diagram and all full size detail drawings inclusive, separate plans, elevations, sections and diagrams showing the entire installation of the heating and ventilating system, the electric wiring, sanitary and sewage system, together with complete specifications for all of the different kinds of work entering into or that may be needed in the erection and construction of your entire and complete new Historical Building for the sum of 32%, and will superintend the erection and construction of the building as customary to architects, for the sum of 12%, making a total of 5% on the cost of the complete building, under the following conditions: 1. Will prepare and furnish detail plans and specifications for the entire building and prepare the same in such manner as to enable your honorable board to erect and construct your building from time to time in sections or wings. 2. Agrees to furnish three complete sets of detail plans and specifications of the entire building, also three complete sets of detail plans and specifications for the various wings, these to be filed with the secretary for future reference. 3. As a guaranty of of good faith, (assuring the faithful performance of my services as architect and superintendent and the safe and sound construction of the building), agree to leave the entire fee due me from time to time on the wing or section under construction in the possession of your honorable board until said wing and section has been completed and accepted. 4. As a further guaranty of good faith will furnish to your honorable board a good and valid surety company bond, in a sum later agreed upon, this also guaranteeing my services as architect and superintendent and the safe and sound construction of the building. 5. I will furnish a duplicate set of plans on tracing linen, and deposit the same with board for permanent use. Respectfully submitted, GEO. A. BERLINGHOF, Architect and Superintendent. Mr. Berlinghof was invited to appear before the board to speak upon the question. Moved by the secretary that the president be author ized to appoint a building committee of three, with Mr. Geisthardt as chairman, to have prepared, and to submit, plans for the construction of the building, subject to the approval of the board. Seconded by Mr. North. After some discussion, it was moved by Mr. North to amend the motion so as to instruct the committee to select Mr. Berlinghof as architect. After the amendment was discussed it was withdrawn. The vote then recurring on the original motion, it carried unanimously. The president appointed as such building committee, S. L. Geisthardt, Professor H. W. Caldwell, and C. S. Paine. Motion by Professor Caldwell that we now proceed to the election of an architect. Seconded by Governor Sheldon. Carried. After various names had been suggested, the secretary placed in nomination George A. Berlinghof, the nomination being seconded by Mr. North. There being no other nominations, Mr. Berlinghof was unanimously elected. The secretary then presented the following resolution and moved its adoption. Resolved, That the secretary be directed to convey to Hon. Charles H. Morrill the thanks of this board for his active interest in the work of this Society, and especially for his valuable contributions to the museum of the Society. Carried. The following resolution presented by the secretary was adopted. Resolved, That, in consideration of the valuable donation made to this Society by the late William B. Lambert and family, the following members of Mr. Lambert's family be elected life members of the Society, without payment of fee: Mrs. William B. Lambert, Schuyler C. Lambert, Mrs. Grace Lambert Spencer, all of Neligh, Nebr., and be it further Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be conveyed to Mrs. Lambert and the members of her family for this valuable collection of newspapers, books, maps, pamphlets, etc., and be it further Resolved, That the secretary of this Society be directed to convey to Mrs. Lambert and her family a copy of these resolutions, and furnish the same to the press for publication. On motion of the secretary the following resolution was adopted. Resolved, That the secretary be directed to convey to Mr. T. A. Stratton the thanks of the Nebraska State Historical Society for the valuable collection of relics placed with this Society as a permanent loan. The secretary presented the following resolution and moved its adoption. I respectfully recommend that all of the newspaper collections of the Society and all the work in connection with such newspapers be placed under the direction of Mr. William E. Hannan, who has for the past year had practically entire control of this department of the work and has handled it in a manner highly creditable to himself and with profit to the Society. Professor Caldwell objected to consideration of the resolution, and it was thereupon withdrawn. The following resolution, presented by the secretary, was adopted. WHEREAS, Believing that the best interests of the Nebraska State Historical Society demand, and that right business principles approve, that the responsibility for the expenditure of the finances of the Society should be centralized, therefore be it Resolved, That no bills or expenses shall be contracted or incurred, or money expended by any head of department or member of the office staff, unless on or by the advice and approval of the secretary of the Society, or a majority vote of the board of directors of the Society. Resolved, That it be declared to be the sense of this board that every proper effort should be made to induce the next Nebraska state legislature to create the office of state historian and place the same under the direction of the Nebraska State Historical Society. Mr. North moved that there be appropriated out of the funds of the Society and paid to the secretary the sum of $500 in recognition of his services to the Society from April 1, 1907, to January 1, 1908. The motion was seconded by Mr. Varner and carried unanimously. The following resolution, moved by the secretary and seconded by Mr. North, was adopted. Resolved, That it is the sense of this board that whenever the city of Lincoln shall tender to the Nebraska State Historical Society the west half of block 124, Capitol Addition, the city of Lincoln, absolutely free of all incumbrances, that this board. will then accept said one half block in lieu of block 29, or Market Square, as a site for the proposed Historical Society building, as provided in H. R. No. 431, legislature of 1907; and we further express our willingness to lease to the purchasers of the three houses at the corner of J and Sixteenth streets the two lots (lots 4 and 5, block 124) upon which they stand, for a term of five years at an annual rental of one dollar. The secretary moved that the following named persons be elected to membership. ACTIVE. Margaret Davis, Lincoln. D. Webster Baker, Benedict. Carson Hildreth, Franklin. Silas L. Wright, Bethany. Daniel C. Heffernan, Hub- William H. Harrison, Grand Emmet H. McCreary, Omaha. Orlando Tefft, Avoca. sion Hill, South Dakota. Andrew J. Durland, Norfolk. |