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."