I

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

The revision of the State Constitution in 1857 seems to have been the event which occasioned the first formal expression of the conviction that the history of Iowa was worthy of preservation. And so, in January, 1857, while the Third Constitutional Convention was revising the constitution of the state in the Old Stone Capitol at Iowa City, the Sixth General Assembly, which was then in session in the same historic building, voted a permanent annual appropriation "for the benefit of a State Historical Society."

To be sure, discussion of the importance and value of such a society had preceded and in a way called forth this action of the General Assembly; but the movement was not fully organized until February 7, 1857, when a constitution for the "State Historical Society of Iowa" was adopted.

According to its original constitution, The State Historical Society of Iowa consisted of members who were admitted upon election of the Society, or by the Board of Curators, and the payment of an "admittance fee" of three dollars. The members of the Society held regular annual meetings at which officers were elected and new members admitted.

The officers of the Society consisted of a "President, six Vice-Presidents, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, and eighteen Curators," who were chosen annually. Article 7, Chapter 4, of the constitution constituted the Curators "the Executive Department of this Association" with "full power to manage its affairs." In April, 1869, a series of "by-laws" was adopted, which, among other things, provided for officers and monthly meetings of the Board of Curators, fixed the quorum thereof, prescribed an order of business, and named six standing committees.

After a lapse of nearly half a century it is interesting to observe the aims and functions of The State Historical Society of Iowa as indicated in chapter three of its constitution of 1857.

This chapter, which is entitled "Object," reads as follows: "The object of this society shall be to collect, embody, arrange and preserve in authentic form a library of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary and other materials illustrative of the history of Iowa; to rescue from oblivion the memory of its early pioneers; to obtain and preserve narratives of their exploits, perils and hardy adventures; to secure facts and statements relative to the history, genius, progress or decay of our Indian tribes, to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and the past and present resources of the state; and to promote the study of history by lectures, and diffuse and publish information relating to the description and history of Iowa."

At the outset the State seems to have maintained no direct control over the organization and administration of the Society. As time went on, however, the feeling arose that The State Historical Society of Iowa should be brought into closer relations with the State. This was certainly a legitimate demand since the Society existed for public purposes and was supported by State appropriations. Accordingly, the Fourteenth General Assembly passed "An act to reorganize the State Historical Society," which was approved April 23, 1872.

The act of 1872 was for the most part compiled from the provisions of the constitution and by-laws which the Society had previously adopted. Some significant changes were, however, introduced. The Curators were thereafter to hold office for two years, and nine of the eighteen were to be appointed by the Governor of the State. The annual meeting of the Society was to be held "on the Monday preceding the last Wednesday in June of each year." Section five empowered the Board of Curators to "choose annually, or oftener, if need be, a corresponding secretary, recording secretary, a treasurer and a librarian from the members outside of their own number." These officers were to serve as officers both of the Society and of the Board of Curators. A President was likewise chosen by the Curators, but from their own number. He presumably held the same office in the Society. It was further provided by this act that "no officer of the society, or of the board, shall receive any compensation from the state appropriation to the society."

Whatever may have been its legal status prior to 1872, it is certain that by the act of April 23 of that year The State Historical Society of Iowa was made a State Institution in the fullest sense of the term. Since 1872 no change of any importance has been made in the organic law of the Society, so that today the Code provisions are substantially those of the

act of 1872.

It can hardly be said that The State Historical Society of Iowa was, in its earlier years, liberally supported by the State. The idea seems to have prevailed that the library and collection would somehow grow by voluntary contributions, and that with little or no expense the materials of history would find their way to the storerooms of the Society. By the act of January, 1857, the sum of $250 was appropriated as a permanent annual allowance. In 1860 this annual allowance was increased to $500. Twenty years latter it was fixed at $1,000. In 1902 the permanent annual support of the Society was raised to $2,500. And finally, in 1904, the permanent annual support was increased to $7,500. In the meantime several special appropriations were voted for the benefit of the Society. The first special appropriation was made in 1868 when, in "An Act in relation to The State Historical Society," $3,000 annually for two years was appropriated. In 1892 a second special appropriation of $1,000 for the biennial period was voted. Again, in 1900, the Society received a special appropriation of $2,000. The last of the special appropriations

was made in 1902, and amounted to $9,500.

In the original act of appropriation, as well as in subsequent statute and code provisions The State Historical Society is referred to as "in connection with and under the auspices of The State University." Precisely what was to be understood by these words was not clearly defined. The expression, however, has never been interpreted to mean that any organic connection existed between the two institutions. The State Historical Society of Iowa remains to this day an independent State institution, whose organization, support, and management are in no way connected with The State University. It is probable that the provisions of the act of 1857 aimed to secure the permanent location of the Society at Iowa City, where it would "be fostered

by the literary and scientific influences of the university." The only material assistance which has ever been rendered by the University consisted of providing rooms for the Society from 1857 to 1868, and again from 1901 to this day.

II.

ORGANIZATION AND LEGAL STATUS.

The present organization, authority, and legal status of The State Historical Society of Iowa, are based upon the provision of the Code of 1897 (Title XIII, chapter 18, sections 2882-2888, page 975), which reads as follows:

*

*

SECTION 2882. Appropriation-objects. There is annually appropriated for the support of the state historical society at Iowa City, to be expended by that society in collecting, embodying, arranging, and preserving in authentic form, a library of books, pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscrips, papers, paintings, statuary, and other materials illustrative of the state and its history, to save from oblivion the memory of its early pioneers, to obtain and preserve narratives of their exploits, perils and hardy adventures, to secure facts and state ments relative to the history, genius and progress or decay of our Indian tribes, to exhibit faithfully the antiquities and past and present resources of the state, and to aid in the publication of such of the collections of the society as it from time to time regards of value and interest, to aid in binding its books, pamphlets, manuscripts and papers, and in paying other necessary and incidental expenses of the society. [18 G. A., Chapter 71, C. '73, 1900; R. & 1959.]

SEC. 2883. Board of Curators meetings. The board of curators of the society shall consist of eighteen persons, nine of whom shall be appointed by the governor, and nine elected by the members of the society. Their term of office shall be two years, and they shall receive no compensation. The governor shall make his appointments on or before the last Wednesday in June in each even-numbered year, and the terms of the persons appointed shall commence on that day; and, at the annual meeting of the society in each oddnumbered year, the others shall be elected by ballot from the members of the society, for the term next ensuing, which annual meeting shall be held at Iowa City on the Monday preceding the last Wednesday in June. [C. '73, ?? 1901, 1903.]

* At a meeting of the Board of Curators in 1866, Col. S. C. Trowbridge said that he [Trowbridge], was at the first organization of this society, which was born after the politicians had swapped off all the public institutions that had been located at Iowa City, and arranged for their removal to other parts of the state, and the object of placing the kistorical society under the auspices of the university was to insure its permanent location at this point. If allowed to remain here it will be fostered by the literary and scientifie influences of the university "-From the records of the Board of Curators, March 2, 1866.

SEC. 2884. Members. Members may be admitted to the society at any time under such rules as may be adopted by the board of curators. [C. '73, 1902.]

SEC. 2885. Officers. The board shall appoint annually, or oftener if need be, a corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer and librarian from the members of the society outside of their own number, who shall hold office for one year, unless sooner removed by a majority vote of the board. Said officers shall hold the same position in the society as upon he board of curators, and their respective duties shall be determined by said board. No officer of the society or board shall receive any compensation from the state appropriation thereto. [C. '73, % 1904.]

SEC. 2886. President. It shall also appoint from its members a president, who shall be the executive head of the board, and hold office for or e year and until his successor is elected. [C. '73, 1905.]

SEC. 2887. Executive board. The curators, a majority of whom shall reside in the vicinity of the university, and five of whom shall constitute a quorum, shall be the executive board of the society, and have full power to manage its affairs. It shall keep a full and complete acccount of all its doings, and of the receipt and expenditure of all funds collected or granted for the purposes of the society, and shall annually report the same to the governor on or before the fifteenth day of August. [22 G. A., Ch. 82, 34 C. '73, 1906.]

SEC. 2888. Reports and documents furnished. Twenty copies of the reports of the supreme court and all other books and documents published by the state or upon its order shall be delivered to the society for the purpose of effecting exchanges with the similar societies in other states and countries, and for preservation in its library, or other purposes of the Society. [C. '73, 1907.]

III.

SUPPORT.

The support of The State Historical Society of Iowa is provided for by the following act of the Thirtieth General Assembly (Laws of the Thirtieth General Assembly, Ch. 117):

AN ACT making appropriations to the state historical society of Iowa. Amendatory of chapter eighteen (18) of title thirteen (XIII) of the code, relating to the state historical society.]

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa:

That there be and is

SECTION 1. Annual Appropriation-Purposes. hereby appropriated to the state historical society of Iowa, out of any money in the state treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of seven