Thirty-Fourth Annual Report

. OF THE.

BUFFALO HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the Buffalo Historical Society was held in the Assembly room of the Society in the Buffalo Library building on the evening of Tuesday, January 14, 1896. President Andrew Langdon called the meeting to order and the Secretary read the minutes of the Thirty-third Annual Meeting, held in 1895. The minutes were approved as read.

The Corresponding Secretary presented the report of the Board of Managers. The Treasurer read a report of the financial condition of the Society. These were received, approved and ordered on file. President Langdon delivered the annual address, a retrospect and an outlook into the work of the Society.

Upon its conclusion, on motion of Hon. James M. Smith, the reports of the Corresponding Secretary and the Treasurer, together with the President's address, were ordered to be published in the Annual Report.

After referring to the reason for the non-passage of the Act for the relief of the Society, introduced last year, the Hon. James M. Smith read copy of an Act to be

introduced by the Hon. Henry W. Hill, which was approved by the Society.

Dr. Joseph C. Greene, for the Nominating Committee, reported the following ticket:

President-Andrew Langdon.

Vice-President-George Alfred Stringer. Recording Secretary-Hon. Henry W. Hill. Corresponding Secretary and Librarian-Edward D. Strickland.

Treasurer-George W. Townsend.

Councillors-Hon. James M. Smith, James Tillinghast, Dr. F. H. James, Dr. Joseph C. Greene, George S. Hazard, Frank H. Severance, Cyrus K. Remington, Dr. A. H. Briggs, J. N. Larned, Rev. Thomas R. Slicer, Hon. H. A. Richmond, J. N. Adam, Charles J. North, Edmond W. Granger, Hamilton Ward, Jr.

The Corresponding Secretary, upon instruction, cast the ballot of the Society for the regular nominees and they were declared duly elected.

Dr. J. C. Greene, Chairman of the Committee on Club Meetings, reported the arrangement of the following course of lectures:

January 27, Mr. Daniel E. Mahoney "The Fenian Invasion of Canada."

February 10, Mr. George Alfred Stringer: "The Empire State; A Retrospect."

February 24, Hon. Ernest Cruikshank: "The Value of Canadian Archives in the Study of American History."

March 9, Hon. Henry W. Hill: Convention of 1894."

"Constitutional

March 23, Very Rev. Wm. R. Harris: "The Flint Workers; A Forgotten People."

April 6, Mr. William T. Hornaday: "The Lowest Class or Order of Men."

April 20, Col. C. O. Shepard: "Japan; Twenty Years Ago and Today."

REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Buffalo Historical Society:

The custom of this Society makes it my duty and my pleasure at this time to present to you, on behalf of the Board of Managers, an Annual Report of the work.

THE LIBRARY.

The year has been marked by steady growth in all departments of the work. The growth of our library is a subject of pride. From this department the people of this and other cities testify that they have received a considerable direct benefit. This work has proved a satisfaction to your librarians, because of the tangible evidence of the fruits of labor on their part in assisting those who seek information on special topics.

At the 33d Annual Meeting of the Buffalo Historical Society, held on Tuesday, January 8, 1895, the report of your Corresponding Secretary and Librarian showed

that there were on the shelves of the library, at the close of the year 1894, 8,497 volumes and 6,134 historical pamphlets. At the close of the year, 1895, we would respectfully report 8,823 volumes and 6,685 pamphlets.

The accessions to the library during 1895 include 344 volumes and 551 pamphlets, periodicals and papers. There have also been placed among the indexed historical pamphlets about 100 very valuable accessions. It is often found that in these pamphlets, of few pages, the most important and interesting historical or statistical information is concentrated. This collection has been freely consulted during the last twelve months and we often find, as we make use of these indexed cases, that it is the little things that tell.

In connection with this subject, let me quote a few words regarding the value of pamphlets, which are too often consigned to the waste basket. It has been justly said of pamphlets, "that though they often require more time and labor to collect than the same number of volumes, and cost more than they are worth, yet they contain information not elsewhere to be found. They reflect the spirits and sentiments of the age better than the elaborate treatises, and are indispensable treasuries in a good library, where eminent historians, biographers, statisticians, and men of letters in general, naturally look for whatever may shed light on the subjects of their investigation. They are so small, that they are likely to be destroyed, and every copy of entire editions to disappear.

"It is, therefore, desirable at once, so far as practicable, to secure at least for a few public libraries, copies of everything which is printed, for in the mysterious diversity of human investigations, there is nothing which may not at some time be important.

You, who are members of this Society; you, also, who read the printed report, do not think anything of too little value to be worthy of our consideration. Flood us, if you will, with what may seem to you absolutely worthless material; let us be the judge, let us weigh the merits of the gifts on our scales which are balanced and adjusted to the interests of all.

The foregoing figures are encouraging. They show steady progress, and that the Society is enjoying its share of the great prosperity of our city. The growth of our library is but one indication of the fact that our usefulness is increasing. Another potent mark is the increase of the number of our patrons. Not a day passes when your librarians are not called to assist some patron in finding data on various subjects. Many letters have been received from those seeking information upon questions covering an ever-widening field of investigation, and it is with genuine satisfaction that we are able to report the success which has crowned our efforts to render such service. Your Secretary has even been consulted, and agreed upon, as authority and arbitrator in questions where wagers have been laid. One, not thoroughly in touch with the work of the Society, cannot realize how varied are the interests and