fifty daguerreotype and photograph likenesses of distinguished individuals of the State. The Society has likewise succeeded in laying the foundation, at least, for a cabinet of natural history. A few specimens in ornithology, quite an interesting collection in conchology, geology, and a few specimens in mineralogy, have been obtained. The two latter are placed, as a matter of convenience, in a separate case, in the cabinet of the University. The Society is very desirous of enlarging this department with specimens in each branch from various parts of the State, and persons residing in the vicinity of coal, lead, iron, or any mineral mine or bed, will confer a favor by sending fair specimens to the Society. Specimens of the different kinds of limestone, with the petrifactions contained therein, or taken therefrom; indeed, specimens of any natural or manufactured curiosities; everything relating to the manners, customs, or history of the Indians, incidents, adventures, and exploits of the early settlers of the several counties; accounts of the first schools, their progress, all go to make up the history of the State, and of course, will be gladly recieved. The donation of old books, pamphlets,, manuscripts, posters, etc., of bygone days, is solicited. Every township, every school district, can and should aid in furthering the objects of this Society. The committee would take great pleasure in naming the many societies, institutions, authors, publishers, and individuals, that have aided their efforts, and in specifying each donation, and certainly it would be doing an act of merited courtesy to do so; but such a list would add little to the interest or utility of this report, while it would demand a very undesirable length. The executive committee then, beg leave in general terms, to acknowledge obligations to the following, viz: To Rev. Albert Barnes, D. D., of Philadelphia; Rev. Alexander Campbell Bethany, Virginia; Chicago Historical Society, Illinois; New Jersey Historical Society; New Hampshire Historical Society; Wisconsin Historical Society; Minnesota Historical Society; Michigan Historical Society; Ohio Historical Society and State Library; New York Historical Society and State Library. To our representatives in Congress, Hon. James W. Grimea, Hon. James Harlan, Hon. William Vandever and Hon. S. R. Curtiss. To the Hon. C. Smith, Secretary of the Interior; Prof. J. Henry, J. C. McGuire, Esqr., and Wm. Renolds, Jr., of Washington, D. C. To Hon. W. C. Noyes, New York; J. Maxwell, S. H. Conger, New Jersey. To State of Iowa, State University; State Bank of Iowa, Iowa City Council; C. Childs, C. B. Smith, D. D., M. Northrop, Mr. Gilbert, C. L. D. Jones, of Dubuque, Iowa; R. M. Prettyman, Willard Barrows, Hon. James F. Grant and his lady, Hon J. F. Dillon, Rt. Rev. H. W. Lee, D. D., of Davenport; L. D. Campbell, W. F. Coolbaugh, Rev. W. Barris, of Burlington; W. A. Brownell, Dr. Thompson, Hon. E. H. Thayer, of Muscatine; Jesse Williams, of Fairfield; G. S. Reynolds, of Des Moines; Hon. - Kellogg of Newton; Milton Tabor, of Springdale; John Sthele, of Solon; John Tamplin, Rev. O. McLean, J. R. Hartsock, Rev. E. Francis, H. W. Lapthrop, Prof. T. S. Parvin, Jesse Higbee, J. M. Harris, R. H. Sylvester, George Shockey, David Shockey, F. L. Childs, S. Woodrow, Dr. M. B. Cochran, George Butts, D. P. Greeley, C. S. Laporte, Able Beach, Dr. W. Reynolds, Henry Winchu, Prof. D. F. Wells, Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., Gov. S. J. Kirkwood, of Iowa City; and Adjt. Gen. N. B. Baker, of Davenport; and John Gilinary, the author of several Western Exploration works of value, New York. Great as may be the obligations of the Society to those above named, and to many of them it is largely indebted for donations and services, yet the true interests of the Society are the better served by those who most contribute to the history of our own Iowa, by those who notice, collect and record past and passing incidents and transactions; in short by those who have engaged or will engage in collecting the materials and writing out the history of their respective counties. Such persons are conferring the greatest favor upon (not the Historical Society of Iowa, merely), but upon the whole State, upon the counties, upon their own and their children's children. In perusing the history of a State or county, no part is enlivened with so intense interest as the incidents of its early settle ments. A State like our own "Iowa," which for its rapid advancement probably stands unrivaled in the annals of history, which less than a quarter of a century ago was the home of the "Red Man," which already has a population of about three quarters of a million, and which has already sent into the service of her country nearly 20,000 soldiers to aid in suppressing the rebellion in her sister states, and stands ready to send as many more if need be, must necessarily have an early history well worthy of record. In a State thus rapidly advancing, interesting incidents, important transactions, all going to make up its history, must have crowded upon the foot-steps of each other with more than usual rapidity, and the very fact that they are thus crowding upon each other, and so rapidly passing away, renders the collection of the most remarkable and important items requisit to do justice to the early settlers of this State exceedingly difficult at this early day; and the difficulty is yearly becoming still greater as these early actors are slowly but surely passing from our midst. To collect and preserve the history and items of history, passed and passing, of Iowa will be acknowledged by all to be an object of great importance. This is as it should be the great object of the Society. With this view, aid has been and is still solicited from citizens of the various counties of the State. Men have been found who have taken active interest in the matter which has resulted in furnishing our library with histories, (in manuscript) of several of our counties, while several others are now engaged in collecting and arranging facts and writing the histories of other counties. It is by no means unusual to hear our public speakers and writers boast of the superior intelligence of the citizens of Iowa. If they speak the truth, and the committee are by no means disposed to question their veracity, it is just to assume that there is not a county in the State that does not contain individuals, who, if the matter was properly presented to them, would zealously set themselves at work to collect the necessary items and materials for the future history of the State, arrange them or cause them to be arranged in proper form, and forward them to be deposited in the archives of the Society for future use. If the com. mittee may be indulged in suggesting a starting medium they would present the county superintendents of schools; under him the school directors and teachers, and under these the pupils. Thus the whole matter may be made an interesting and intellectual employment for the young while it will inevitably produce a healthy reaction upon the community. The committee feel unwilling to close their report without respectfully appealing to your excellency, and through your excel lency to the several State officers, to the members of the State Legislature, to officers of the several counties, and finally, to the citizens of the State in behalf of the "Iowa State Historical Society," as an eminently essential element in the educational department of the State. Investigation of the cause itself, as well as the manner in which the Society conducts its interest, is earnestly solicited. Wherever such investigation is made there can be no doubt that the result will be as favorable to its interests as the most sanguine of its friends can desire. T. S. Parvin. M. L. Fisher. F. H. Lee. O. M. Spencer. George W. McCleary. |