Volume 17 Number 1 Article 2

Maine History

Maine History

Volume 17 Number 1 Article 2

7-1-1977

The Society

The Society

Maine Historical Society

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Maine Historical Society, . "The Society." Maine History 17, 1 (1977): 1-18. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mainehistoryjournal/vol17/iss1/2

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Maine Historical Society Quarterly

Volum e 17, N um ber one Sum m er, 1977

Published quarterly at 485 Congress Street Portland, Maine 04101

T H E S O C IE T Y

W e need your help! O ver th e past decade the Society has in c u rre d a cu m u lativ e deficit o f a p p ro x im a te ly $50,000, a n d a n o th e r deficit o f $12,500 is anticipated for the c u rre n t year. I f the long-term vitality an d solvency o f the Society are to be p reserv ed , efforts m ust obviously be m ade to bring incom e into balance with e x p e n d itu res. T h e solution to this p roblem is in d eed a difficult one fo r n o n -p ro fit in stitu tio n s such as th e M aine H isto ric al Society. Since every e ffo rt has been m ade to o p e ra te the Society w ith b o th p r u d e n c e a n d eco n o m y , w ith o u t cu rtailin g the essential services so m uch ap p rec iated by the people o f M aine, we are now com pelled to appeal to o u r frie n d s to assist us in solving o u r financial difficulties.

T o elim inate this y ea r’s an ticip ated o p eratin g deficit o f $12,500, Mr. an d Mrs. J . W eston W alch o f P o rtlan d have p re se n te d us with a g en ero u s an d challenging p roposition. T h e y have o ffe re d to d o n a te $5,000 tow ards elim inating the c u rre n t deficit p ro v id ed the M aine H istorical Society can raise th e rem ain in g $7,500 in gifts fro m private sources. Since the o ffe r will be w ithdraw n on D ecem ber 15, 1977, we now call u p o n o u r frien d s to help m ake it possible fo r us to take ad v a n tag e o f this u n iq u e o p p o r tu n ity o f f e r e d by M r. a n d M rs. W alch . All co n trib u tio n s to the M aine H istorical Society are tax deductible, and will do m uch to assist us in p ro m o tin g the historical an d cu ltu ral h eritag e o f Maine.

TH E 155th A N N U A L M E E T IN G

T h e 155th A n n u al M eeting o f th e M aine H istorical Society, a tte n d e d by 111 m em bers and guests, was held in F arm in g to n on J u n e 18, 1977. T h e F arm in g to n H istorical Society a n d the U niversity o f M aine at F arm in g to n acted as co-hosts.

T h e n am es o f th e new ly-elected m em b ers o f th e S tan d in g C om m ittee w ere an n o u n c e d at the business m e e tin g . E lected to serve th re e y ea r te rm s on th e C o m m itte e w ere: B e n ja m in B u tle r o f F a rm in g to n ; J o e l W. E astm an o f P o rtlan d ; Mrs. J o a n S. H ay d en o f

Y arm o u th ; W illiam C. Pierce o f W est Baldwin; D onald K. S au n d ers o f W estbrook; Miss Alice R. S tew art o f O ro n o ; a n d R oger C. T ay lo r o f R ockland. O fficers fo r the c u rre n t y ear are: Earle G. S hettlew o rth , P resident; H. D ra p e r H u n t, I I I , Vice P re s id e n t; W illiam B. J o r d a n , J r ., S ecretary; an d D onald L. Philbrick, T re a s u re r.

R o g e r C. T a y lo r , C h a ir m a n o f th e P u b lic a tio n s C om m ittee, p re se n te d th e Society’s eig h th an n u a l prize essay aw ard to Mr. Alan S. T ay lo r o f W est B uxton, M aine. Mr. T a y lo rs essay, “T h e Sm uggling C a re e r o f W illiam K ing,” a p p e ars in this issue o f the Quarterly.

A fte r a b u ffe t lu n ch eo n , Mrs. N atalie B utler, Gwilym R o b e rts , B en S tin c h fie ld , a n d D o n a ld W M cK een p ro v id e d an in tro d u c tio n to h isto ric a l F a rm in g to n , follow ed by to u rs o f the N ordica H om estead, th e U nion B aptist M eeting H ouse, an d the Uittle Red Schoolhouse M useum .

TH E P R E S ID E N T S R E P O R T

T h e first m a tte r o f in fo rm atio n , alth o u g h know n to m any o f you, is the change in o u r staff. O n May first, D irecto r M orris subm itted his resignation in o rd e r to accept a post at Mystic S eap o rt w here he h ad served e a rlie r in his career. Based on the sixty-day clause in o u r contract, J e rry will officially leave us at the en d o f this m o n th . Typically an d generously, he has o ffe re d to keep an eye on a few still unfinished m atters which will carry well into the p erio d in which he will be serving full tim e in his new to u r o f duty.

Mrs. Esta Astor, o u r well-loved referen ce librarian, also has subm itted h e r resignation, effective May thirty-first, in o r d e r to enjoy h e r new hom e in R aym ond an d , hopefully, a p erio d o f relaxation.

T h e S tanding C om m ittee m et these problem s by the follow ing actions:

Susan Jo n e s is now on the staff as R eference L ib rarian . T h o m as G affney, o u r C u ra to r o f M anuscripts, has been d esig n ate d as Acting D irector as o f J u n e first, while re ta in in g his fo rm e r position. T h e m o n th overlap, p rio r to te rm in atio n o f Mr. M orris’s tim e, is to provide the A cting D irecto r som e real insight into his new assignm ent.

D ue to the probable b u rd e n on M r. G affney, it has been a rra n g e d that Rae R om ano B row n will re tu rn to th e sta ff as clerical assistant fo r m anuscripts an d fo r ad m in is­ tratio n , partially lightening th e load o f Sigrid A ustin, w ho has h ad too m uch clerical w ork. Mrs. B row n is to sta rt on Ju ly first.

T o d ay , the S tan d in g C om m ittee will ex p e rien ce the largest tu rn o v e r in com position since the fo u n d in g o f the Society, I suspect. T h a t is d u e to the re q u ire m e n t o f th e Bylaws fo r ro tatio n in office as a d o p te d a few years ago.

I am heartily in favor o f this re q u ire m e n t, particularly in view o f som e o f th e c u rre n t tribulations facing the S ta n d in g C o m m ittee. T h e re tirin g m e m b e rs o f th e S tan d in g C om m ittee have n o t solved som e o f th e u rg e n t problem s. O u r h o p e is th a t o th e rs will b rin g fresh views a n d m eth o d s to these m atters.

T h e se m atters w hich I will call to your atten tio n a p p e a r to have a com m on d e n o m in a to r. T h a t is cold cash. T h e T re a s u re r s R e p o rt a n d th e p ro p o sed b u d g e t fo r the com ing year pro v id e som e details. I am told th a t at least 70 p e rc e n t o f budgets o f sim ilar organizations are allocated norm ally to salaries. T his refers to c u rre n t salaries a n d frin g e benefits, th e la tte r o f w hich we sadly lack. In 1970, it a p p e a rs fro m th e a u d ito r s r e p o rt th a t we paid close to 60 p e rc e n t o f ex p e n d itu re s in this category. F rom th e past y e a r’s re p o rt, as o f M arch 31, 1977, the p erce n tag e ap p e ars to have fallen to som e 54 p ercen t. G reat cred it is to be accorded to o u r d e p a rtin g D irector fo r m ain tain in g such a ch eerfu l, dedicated sta ff o f em ployees, in cluding him self, on which this b u rd e n fell, while we paid rising costs fo r utilities, supplies, a n d postage, to keep o u r doors o p en to o u r m em bers as well as to the public.

T h e loss o f J e rry M orris can be traced to this financial bind. H e is extrem ely know ledgeable an d has w orked tirelessly fo r th e Society. I can n o t speak too highly o f his abilities. T h ro u g h his e ffo rts, we em b a rk e d u p o n a publication p ro g ra m which has b ro u g h t o u r nam e well fo rw ard in th a t field. Publications is a p re fe rre d field for M r. M orris w ho, I u n d e rs ta n d , was u n in te re ste d in m oving back to Mystic S eap o rt unless he was allocated an im p o rta n t post in its publication p ro g ra m . T o my g reat re g re t, the M aine H istorical Society is unable to m atch the salary a n d benefits o ffe re d by Mystic an d th ereb y to have re ta in e d J e r r y ’s services fo r the State o f M aine a n d to co n tin u e grow th in o u r publications p ro g ra m .

U n d e r the g u id an ce o f o u r D irector, m o re accurately, follow ing his lead ersh ip , th e S tan d in g C om m ittee has a p p ro v e d an d in stitu ted som e very substantial im p ro v e ­ m ents in th e services r e n d e re d by th e Society, in ad d itio n to th e care a n d cataloging o f o u r ever-increasing — b o th in bulk a n d in value — collections. T h ro u g h o u t th e state, M r. M orris has travelled a n d w orked because we are the M aine H istorical Society. F o r m uch o f this travel a n d ex p en se, th e Society has n ev e r been ch a rg e d ; th e D irecto r c o n t r i b u t e d f ro m his s a la ry . H o w e v e r, all th e s e im p ro v em en ts are reflected in th e a n n u a l e x p e n d itu re s.

I rese arch ed o u r a u d ito r’s financial re p o rts since 1970 in an a tte m p t to see th e picture. I confined the search to u n re stric te d fu n d s, since only against those should o u r deficits fo r th e past fo u r years be ch arg ed . In 1970, u n re stric te d incom e was only som e 56 p e rc e n t o f th e 1977 incom e. T h a t seems to show 10 p erce n t a n n u a l increase fo r which the S tan d in g C om m ittee can claim only p artia l credit. You know th a t the ra te for dues increased as well as the n u m b e r o f m em bers. In 1970, dues b ro u g h t in a b o u t 12 p e rc e n t o f o u r total incom e, while in 1977 they p ro d u c e d ap p ro x im ately 18 p ercen t. In seeking state aid, the legislative com m ittee is always curious to know how m uch we do to help ourselves. F or both 1970 a n d 1977, o u r invested u n re stric te d fu n d s p ro v id ed 36 p e rc e n t o f incom e. Gifts an d bequests from individuals a n d g ran ts fro m the state an d a few tow ns in th e G re a te r P o rtlan d a re a m ake up the differen ce. T h ese gifts, bequests a n d g ran ts are all ra th e r “iffy”. T ow ns w axed a n d w aned d u r in g th e e ig h t y ears. M a in e in c re a s e d its g r a n t substantially, b u t th a t is now a p ro b lem with the b in d in w hich the state is c o n te n d in g . H ow ever, we on th e S tan d in g C om m ittee have believed th a t o u r state sh o u ld increase its c u rre n t 22 p e rc e n t s u p p o rt o f the Society. Since substantial state s u p p o rt is so problem atical, we m u st be p re p a re d to seek aid elsew here. T h e re have been

conflicting views about seeking fed eral aid. N o active e ffo rt has yet been m ade fo r o b tain in g substantial fed eral grants, w h e th e r o u trig h t o r m atching; you may p re fe r th a t we hold o ff on such a course, with its possible conditions a n d provisos.

T h e e n c o u ra g in g situation is reflected in my e a rlie r s ta te m e n t th a t in v e s te d u n r e s t r i c t e d in c o m e has m a in ta in ed its p erce n tag e o f total incom e on w hich o u r b u d g ets are based. We have received total bequests to the G en eral F u n d o f $58,865 against w hich the distressful deficits so fa r can be ch arg ed . In add itio n , $5,700 in Life M e m b e rs h ip s o v e r th e e ig h t y e a r p e r io d a n d an an o n y m o u s gift o f $2,500 last year a d d e d to the G eneral F u n d . O f course, it is o u tra g e o u s to eat u p so m uch o f these donations. We have k ep t o u r h ead above w ater, b u t are becom ing w ater-logged as you m ust agree.

F u rth e r, in th e past eight years, we have received two bequests creatin g n am ed fu n d s whose incom e is u n ­ restric ted in use. T h ese total $194,215.00. N o S tanding C om m ittee should invade principal o f such funds. It is fo r us all to e n su re th at the G en eral F u n d can absorb all invasions. I u rg e you to com e fo rw ard with m ental, physical an d financial aid: suggestions, v o lu n te er help at the L ibrary, solicitations for financial co ntributions from individuals an d co rp o ratio n s.

T h e re have been o th e r m atters which engaged the a tte n tio n o f th e S tan d in g C om m ittee. Last fall, we received an o ffe r to sell to us the M uscongus o r W aldo P aten t— a g ra n t o f lands by the G reat Council fo r New E ngland in 1630. T h e S tan d in g C om m ittee becam e enthusiastic, a n d se v e ra l m e m b e rs im m e d ia te ly p le d g e d to w a rd s th e p u rch ase. No use o f Society fu n d s was co n tem p lated as we felt assu red o f sufficient individual contributions.

W hen T h o m as G affney saw th e d o cu m en t, he d o u b te d its alleged age d u e to the h an d w ritin g . W ith som e f u rth e r

research by him an d M r. M orris, it was d e te rm in e d th at this d o cu m en t was a copy, m ade nearly a cen tu ry later, fo r use o f th e th e n landow ners. T h e d o cu m en t was re tu r n e d to its p re se n t ow ner, as n o t being o f th e caliber d esired by o u r Society.

In th e w inter, we sp e n t considerable tim e o n the question o f p e rm ittin g o u r D irector to be a p p o in te d as State H istorical R ecords C o o rd in ato r. T his jo b w ould be fu n d e d with fed eral m oney a n d entailed d e te rm in in g w hat institutions an d w hat d ocum ents w ithin o u r state ju s tif ie d re c e iv in g s u p p o r t a n d p r e s e r v a tio n . T h e S tanding C om m ittee ag re e d to let Mr. M orris take o n the c o o rd in a to r’s jo b to w hich he was only qualified so long as he was also o u r D irector. I, fo r one, was relieved w hen G o v ern o r Longley declined to becom e involved w ith the N ational H istorical Publications an d R ecords C om m ission w hich w o u ld have o v e rse e n th e sta te c o o rd in a to r's activities. T h e g o v ern o r m ade no ap p o in tm en t. A lth o u g h n o th in g cam e o f this, the backing o f the M aine State B icentennial Com m ission an d the approval o f the fed eral com m ission indicated th at M aine H istorical Society h ad a fully qualified D irector.

M artial D. M aling

TH E T R E A S U R E R ’S R E P O R T

T h e an n u a l a u d ited financial re p o rt fo r the year e n d e d M arch 31, 1977, shows an o p eratin g deficit o f $9,695, w hich in c lu d es a $6,313 loss in L ongfellow H o u se o perations. In addition, $9,317 was tra n sfe rre d to special p u rp o se accounts, m aking a total excess o f expenses and tran sfers o f $19,012.

Assets consisted of: Cash 17,891 Savings A ccounts 41,531 In v estm en ts 590,083 D ue fro m O p e ra tin g F u n d s 41,490 L an d , B uildings & E q u ip m e n t 1 D e fe rre d Debits— Bldg. A ddition 30,703

$721,699 C u r r e n t Liabilities w ere:

A ccounts Payable $ 6,478

F o u r th o u sa n d seven h u n d r e d dollars was paid on the N ichols H all b o rro w in g , so this d e b t is now re d u c e d fro m th e original $40,000 to $26,288. Som e savings w ere effect­ ed in salaries b u t u n u su a l Longfellow H ouse repairs, a n d larg e increases in utilities a n d p rin tin g a n d postage ac co u n ts p u s h e d th e e x p e n se side o f th e o p e ra tin g sta te m e n t som e $13,000 o v er th e previous year.

T h a t incom e was up $4,900 can be cred ited to an increase in in te re st a n d dividends, an d a small increase in d u es incom e. State an d local g ra n ts w ere dow n by nearly $4,000 as the two largest m unicipalities cancelled th e ir g ra n ts a n d the state held back 4 p ercen t.

T h e r e is no reason to ex p ect th at the inflationary tre n d will ease sufficiently, a n d the Finance C om m ittee, still re lu c ta n t to f u rth e r cut services, can see the probability o f a $12,5 0 0 deficit in 1977-78. I f this tre n d is to be reversed, th e Society m ust increase its o p e ra tin g incom e, probably th ro u g h increased fees, a b ro a d e r base o f m unicipal g ra n ts , a n d e n c o u ra g e m e n t o f g r e a te r p riv a te c o n ­ trib u tio n s. Do we have th e will to m eet this p ro b lem positively, while co n tin u in g to pro v id e those services fo r w hich the Society was fo u n d e d ? I h o p e so.

MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSE for the years ended March 31, 1977, 1976, and 1975

1977 1976 1975

Incom e:

In terest and dividends $ 38,230 $ 35,997 $ 36,663

Dues 18,990 17,100 13,999 Gifts 6,689 5,593 2,564 G rants 24,090 27,900 27,600 Longfellow House (including interest) 8,928 9,808 6.856 O th er 511 405 337 97,438 96,803 88,019 Expenses: Salaries 52,648 54,847 55,132

Pensions and annuities 5,680 5,850 5,760

Insurance 2,881 3,029 2,946 Utilities 5,375 3,983 2,974 Repairs 234 1,990 596 Supplies 2,341 2,622 3,091 Payroll taxes 4,453 3,844 3,486 T elep h o n e 1,421 1,369 1,300

N ewsletter and printing 10,286 7,157 6,663 Postage and mailing service 4,809 2,256 1,924

Professional services 2,509 2,443 3,440

C ustodian fee 2,584 2,394 2,174

E quipm ent rental — — 1,012

Interest 2,296 2,652 —

Travel 203 597 915

Miscellaneous 1,183 300 532

E quipm ent purchased 2,275 1,678 —

Longfellow House:

Salaries 7,693 5,276 4,462

Repairs 3,345 584 746

O th er 3,946 4,070 2,682

116,162 106,941 99,835

T ran sfers to principal 288 265 265

Excess (deficiency) o f income over

TH E D IR E C TO R 'S R E P O R T

By an o d d coincidence, th e e n d o f th e B icentennial y ear will b rin g le ad ersh ip changes at th e M aine H istorical Society alm ost as pervasive as in the fed eral g o v ern m en t. E n d in g n o t only th e ir term s o f office, b u t th e ir term s on th e g o v ern in g b o ard as well are th e P resident, M artial D. M aling, H a rry W. Rowe, S ecretary fo r nine years, an d A rth u r T . F orrestall, T re a s u r e r fo r seven years; a n d G erald E. M orris, D irecto r o f the Society fo r eight years, will be d e p a rtin g . In ad d itio n , th e m echanics set u p back in 1969 fo r autom atic ro ta tio n o f the b o a rd begins this year. By A n n u a l M eeting two years fro m now, th e m ajority o f th e S tan d in g C om m ittee will consist o f new m em bers. G iven this d ram a tic tu rn o v e r, th e Society will have an u n p re c e d e n te d o p p o rtu n ity to reassess an d revitalize its p ro g ra m s a n d activities.

E ven th o u g h we have in v a d ed p rin cip a l by a b o u t $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 sin c e th e b e g i n n in g o f th is d e c a d e , o u r e n d o w m e n t has m an ag ed to grow by $137,000 d u rin g the sam e p erio d . T h is is d u e to th e generosity o f th e m em bers a n d frie n d s o f th e Society, a n d th e long-range, persisten t e ffo rts o f key m em bers o f the S tan d in g C om m ittee. In ad d itio n , o u r a n n u a l a p p ro p ria tio n fro m th e State o f M aine, since 1974, has b een $24,000, w hereas a decade ago (1954-1964) it was b u t $2,500. So th e Society is not faced with th e en o rm o u s, panic situation p lag u in g m any p riv a te , n o n -p ro fit in stitu tio n s. N ev e rth e less, w ith a b u d g e t trim m e d to th e b o n e (one o f o u r b o a rd m em bers d escrib ed the b u d g e t as p en u rio u s), we are still d ep letin g o u r reserves at an un accep tab le rate. W hen th e D irecto r took over ad m in istra tio n o f this Society in 1969, he su g g ested th a t an a n n u a l b u d g e t o f $100,000 w ould be re q u ire d to achieve m inim al o p eratio n s fo r th e Society. E ight years has co n firm ed th e accuracy o f this initial assessm ent (one m ust also a d d in an inflation factor). F or

m in im al vitality, th e Society sim ply m u st achieve an incom e o f $100,000, an d at least 25 new m em b ers each m o n th . T h is seem s less o f an overw helm ing challenge now th a n it d id eig h t years ago.

The Bicentennial Hangover is w hat Time Magazine called it

in its J u n e 13, 1977 issue. C olonial W illiam sburg su ffe re d a $ 7 0 3 ,0 0 0 deficit last year, its first ev er, by o v e r­ estim atin g th e swell in a tte n d a n c e th e B icentennial w ould b rin g . V isitation d u rin g th e fall a n d w in ter was so p o o r th a t they laid o ff 3 p e rc e n t o f th e staff. C loser to h om e, O ld S tu rb rid g e Village ran in the re d by $350,000 a n d P lim o u th P lantation e n d e d th e year w ith a n $83,000 deficit (co m p ared with a $61,000 p ro fit in 1975). Mystic S eap o rt im posed a sta ff cutback o f 5 p e rc e n t to avoid a $75,000 deficit.

It was a w eird B icentennial celebration all a ro u n d , in clu d in g o u r own. A fter a series o f ghastly bom bings in th e New E n g lan d area, th e Society was notified to be on th e alert over th e F o u rth o f Ju ly w eekend by the P o rtla n d Police, who, in tu rn , h ad been notified by th e F B I. A p p a re n tly th e m ild, b u t visible security p reca u tio n s s u rro u n d in g the Society’s O p e n H ouse (plus th e co m p lete b lack o u t o n public an n o u n c em e n t) o n th e F o u rth o f Ju ly d id n o t u n d u ly u p s e t th e m e m b e rsh ip . S o m e w h e re b etw een 200 a n d 250 a tte n d e d .

A fte r th e local bom bers w ere p u t b e h in d bars, th e ten se a tm o sp h e re cooled considerably by th e tim e o f th e series o f B icentennial lectures sp o n so re d by th e M aine A cadem ic H isto rian s, th e M aine State B icentennial C om m ission, a n d th e Society. B e rn a rd Bailyn o f H a rv a rd fulfilled his re p u ta tio n as a sparkling, stim ulating speaker. By p la n ­ n in g th re e years in advance, how ever, we e n c o u n te re d som e u n u su a l conflicts. B ailyn’s first lectu re at P o rtla n d was played ag ain st th e final gam e o f th e W orld Series. His second lectu re at A u g u sta o c c u rre d at th e d ate a n d h o u r

o f th e p resid en tial debates; a n d he arriv ed fo r his final lectu re at O ro n o am idst the enthusiastic d isru p tio n o f H o m ec o m in g w eek en d . As a resu lt, a tte n d a n c e was d isap p o in tin g : 250 a t P o rtlan d , 65 at A ugusta, an d 100 at O ro n o . H ow ever, audiences w ere lively an d p artic ip ated w ith excellent q u estions a n d discussions. T h e Bailyn lectures w ere fu n d e d totally by the M aine B icentennial C om m ission, Dr. R onald F. Banks, C h airm an , D onna T. M undy, D irector.

Publications: T h e Society’s p rin cip al publication fo r

1976, The Maine Bicentennial Atlas: An Historical Survey, was also fully fu n d e d by th e M aine B icentennial C om m ission. W ith o u t th eir enthusiastic an d g en e ro u s su p p o rt, n o th in g w ould have left the d raw in g b o ard . In add itio n , th e M aine State B icentennial C om m ission voted in Ju ly o f 1976 th at all pro ceed s fro m th e Atlas w ould re tu rn to th e Society ra th e r th a n the C om m ission fo r th e p u rp o se o f fu tu re revisions, an d , if re tu rn s w ere sufficient, to fu n d sim ilar publications o f state-w ide significance a n d utility. In effect, the C om m ission has generously p ro v id ed th e Society with a revolving fu n d fo r f u tu re publications.

T h r e e years in p ro d u c tio n , th e idea fo r th e Atlas g e rm in a te d in the Society’s B icentennial C om m ittee, Joel W. E astm an, C h a irm an . Responsibility th e n passed to an Executive C o m m ittee fo r an H istorical Atlas, J o h n W. H akola, C h airm an . T h e n , with the Society’s D irector acting as overall ed ito r, an d R ichard D. Kelly, J r., as associate e d ito r, th e follow ing m e m b ers c o n trib u te d countless h o u rs o f research at no cost w hatsoever to the project: R onald F. B anks, B ruce J. B ou rq u e, Edw in A. C hurchill, R ichard F. Dole, R oger L. G rindle, Elizabeth R in g , E ld r e d R o lfe , W illia m F. R o y all, E a rle G. S h ettlew o rth , J r., H e rb e rt T. Silsby, II, David C. Sm ith, a n d Alice R. Stewart. T h e full story o f the Atlas's genesis is told in th e “In tro d u c tio n a n d A cknow ledgem ents’' o f that publication.

T h e Atlas cam e back fro m th e b in d e ry on N o v em b er 17, 1976, ju s t seventeen days b eyond its p ro jec ted publica­ tion d ate; an d G o v ern o r Longley was p re se n te d th e first copy o n D ecem ber first.

Also p u b lish ed by th e Society was Maine Composers and

Their Music by Dr. F rances T . W iggin. Dr. W iggin was

h o n o re d by an a u th o r ’s rece p tio n at th e W adsw orth- Longfellow H ouse on N ovem ber 7, 1976. D r. J o h n E. F ro st’s Maine Genealogy, n u m b e r eig h t in th e Society’s B ib lio g ra p h ic a l G u id e S eries cam e o f f th e p re ss in F eb ru a ry o f this year. O f u n u su a l b re a d th an d scope, this g u id e provides a significant co n trib u tio n to th e stu d y o f M aine genealogy. In tim e fo r th e B icentennial year, p a rt o f last su m m e r’s dou b le issue o f th e Quarterly was d ev o ted to a Reader s Guide to M aine in the Revolution. C om piled by Edw in A. C h u rch ill a n d Ja m es S. L eam on, it is a 46 page p relim in ary to a full-scale bibliography to be p u b lish ed in th e B ib lio g ra p h ic a l G u id e S eries, b u t is su fficien tly co m p reh en siv e to be sold as a sep arate publication (as a m a tte r o f fact it h ad to be re p rin te d recently).

W ith the to u rist tra d e specifically in m ind, Scenes and

Poems from the Wadsworth-Longfellow House was p u b lish ed

this spring, m aking available to visitors an alb u m o f p ictures o f the H o u se ’s in te rio r along with copies o f the n in e poem s know n to be com posed by Longfellow at 487 C ongress Street.

W ith the n u m b e r o f m o n o g ra p h s in th e w orks this year, th e D irecto r tu rn e d th e ed itin g chores o f th e Quarterly o v e r to th e C u r a to r o f M a n u scrip ts, T o m G affn ey , co m m en cin g w ith V olum e 16, n u m b e r one. At th e sam e tim e, J o e l W. E astm an , p ro fe sso r o f h isto ry at th e U niversity o f M aine, P o rtla n d , was a p p o in te d B ook Review E d ito r by th e Publications C om m ittee.

Manuscripts: In p re p a rin g fo r th e State A p p ro p ria tio n s

m easu rem e n ts w ere m ad e o f the m an u scrip t collections. Now th a t the collections are neatly boxed an d h o u se d in o u r new stacks, this was th e first tim e precise m e a su re m e n t h a d b een possible. T h e results w ere startling. W hereas we u s e d to s p e a k o f a b o u t a m illio n d o c u m e n ts ; re m e a su re m e n t revealed a collection o f nearly two m illion d o cu m en ts. We now hold 1,095 linear feet, w hich equals 1 ,7 5 2 ,0 0 0 d o c u m e n ts , p lu s 105 m a p d r a w e r s o f m an u scrip ts (m aps, arch itec tu ra l draw ings, engine plans, etc.) n u m b e rin g 15,000 pieces conservatively. T his m eans a grow th o f ap p ro x im ately 600,000 item s in the past six years. Also in the past six years, 18,200 catalog cards and 83 com plete inventories have been created. 90 p e rc e n t o f th e collection has been re h o u se d in acid-free d o cu m en t cases an d folders a n d placed in ideal archival conditions (60 d eg rees te m p e ra tu re at 50 p e rc e n t hum idity). T h is is a fine re c o rd o f accom plishm ent. It is im p o rta n t to realize th a t the acid-free reh o u sin g m aterials an d expense o f c a ta lo g in g was m a d e possible by state g ra n t, w hile e n la rg e m e n t o f the stacks, clim ate control, a n d the security system was p ro v id ed by Society fu n d in g .

T h e fifth biennial course in the ad m in istratio n and p rese rv a tio n o f historical d o cu m en ts, in co o p eratio n with P ro fesso r L eam on a n d Bates College, com m enced on A pril 25th this year an d e n d e d J u n e 3rd. U n d e r T o m G affn e y ’s direction, N ancy Carlisle o f Ridgew ood, New Je rse y , an d Susan C ro u se r o f Pittsfield, M assachusetts, B ates stu d e n ts, p artic ip ated in this im p o rta n t educational p ro g ra m .

Wadsworth-Longfellow House: T h e C h a irm a n o f th e

H o u se C om m ittee, Mrs. William J . M urphy, a n d the D irecto r felt th at th e g ro u p o f guides at th e H ouse last su m m e r w ere the best we have h ad so far. P articularly o u tsta n d in g was th e ir ability to gain instant ra p p o rt with all age g ro u p s. Ju lie Irving, house sup erv iso r fro m the Society, m an ag ed to keep h e r sta ff both alert an d happy.

T h e r e w ere guests fro m ten fo reig n countries a n d fro m all states in th e U n io n e x c e p t W yo m in g last su m m e r. A tte n d a n c e was dow n a bit fro m last year, but, as n o te d u n d e r the “B icen ten n ia l” section o f this re p o rt, this seem ed to be the n o rm . A p p aren tly all o f th e talk ab o u t h o a rd s o f visitors d u rin g th e B icentennial b o o m eran g ed .

T h e g a rd e n received unusually th o ro u g h a n d vigorous atten tio n fro m the Longfellow G ard en C lub ladies a n d looked splendid fo r the e n tire sum m er.

T h is past w inter played havoc with th e e x te rio r o f the W adsw orth-L ongfellow H ouse. A lth o u g h we w ere well aw are th a t p o in tin g w ould have to be d o n e in th e very n e a r fu tu re an d m any window sashes in th e fro n t o f th e H ouse w ould n eed to be re sto re d o r rep laced — th e w in ter d ealt a savage a n d highly visible blow to b o th bricks an d m o rtar. As a result, a complete survey o f th e physical needs o f the H ouse was co n tracted a n d ca rrie d o u t by David M. H art, D ir e c to r o f C o n s u ltin g S e rv ic e s, S o cie ty f o r th e P reservation o f New E n g lan d A ntiquities, B oston. Mr. H a r t’s re p o rt, co nverting needs into dollars a n d cents, p ro v id e d the basis fo r a m atching g ra n t application m ade in May by th e Society to th e M aine H istoric P reservation C om m ission. Results o f this application should be know n late this year fo r action in 1978. T his will m ean o n e m ore financial challenge to th e Society.

Acquisitions: T h re e large a n d im p o rta n t collections o f

books a n d p am p h lets w ere received d u rin g th e year. F rom Misses M ildred G. a n d M adeleine B u rrag e o f Wiscasset, 85 valuable books on th e Civil W ar w ere received, collected by th e ir fath e r, n o te d h isto rian H e n ry S. B u rra g e (one-tim e P re sid en t o f this Society).

In M arch, Mr. T h o m a s C. a n d R o b ert B. H osier o f E lm h u rst, Illinois, p re se n te d the library o f th e ir late uncle, A rth u r T . H arlow o f South P ortland. T his excellent collection o f 223 books greatly en ric h ed o u r holdings in

th e areas o f m aritim e, railro ad , an d New E n g lan d local history. Mr. Jim B u c h an a n o f Stow, O hio, fo rm erly o f P o rtla n d , p re se n te d 82 books on A m erican In d ian s, a n d is c o n tin u in g his d o n atio n s in this field, w hich has recently becom e one o f th e p rin cip al specialities o f this library, th ro u g h th e effo rts o f R oger B. Ray.

In th e m an u scrip ts division five boxes o f p ap e rs w ere received fro m th e M aine A u d u b o n Society, th e reco rd s o f th e P o rtla n d Society o f N a tu ra l H istory fro m 1850-1946. T h e collection contains, in ad d itio n to m em b ersh ip lists, t r e a s u r e r ’s re p o rts , etc., c o rre s p o n d e n c e fro m such notables as Elizabeth A kers A llen, Sylvester B. Beckett, A d m iral G eorge H en ry P reble, an d biographical d ata on Ja m e s P hinney B axter, Percival P ro cto r B axter, J o h n N eal, C harles C. H a rm o n , A ugustus F. M oulton, and m any o th e rs. Also with th e A u d u b o n gift cam e an im p o rta n t m an u scrip t m ap o f the Pejepscot Purchase, d a te d 1731, m easu rin g 59 by 150 centim eters.

F rom C harles F. A dam s o f A u b u rn , M aine, a long-tim e frie n d an d c o n trib u to r to this L ibrary, was received, in S e p te m b e r o f last year, five m a n u sc rip t volum es o f W illiam G arcelon, o f F re e p o rt a n d Lewiston, covering the p e rio d 1800-1854, a n d th r e e im p o rta n t m a n u s c rip t volum es o f A lonzo G arcelon o f Lew iston, covering the years 1813-1906.

As usual, the jo b o f D irector has been m ade pleasant an d relatively easy this year ow ing to a ch eerfu l, loyal staff; an in d u lg e n t g o v ern in g b o ard ; a n d an em barassing n u m b e r o f individuals a n d w orking com m ittees willing to drive m any miles to give so freely o f th e ir tim e. T o all, I ex te n d my sincere th an k s fo r a sp len d id year.

NEW MEMBERS

FRO M M A IN E Augusta: Mr. F ran k A. B eard Bath: Mrs.

H o p e S. H ersom Cape Elizabeth: Mr. C harles B. D rake

Cumberland Foreside: Ms. M ary B. H en riq u es Damariscotta:

Mr. & Mrs. E. W. F reem an East Holden: Mr. R o b ert F. F o rtie r Gorham: Mrs. David Je n k in s Hiram: Mr. H u b e rt W. C lem ons Limerick: Mrs. C ora M. C ushing Nobleboro: Miss R uth E. Dow Oakland: Mrs. A. C hristine H illm an

Old Orchard Beach: Mrs. L inda J. T ilto n Portland: Mr.

A ndrew C. Bell, Mr. J o h n David Erickson, Mr. L o m e R. G oodell, Mrs. Ju lie A. H o rr, Mr. J o h n E. W ilder, Ms. Susan Lee Yovic Rockland: Miss M adeline G. Philbrick

Southport: Mr. & Mrs. J. Philip W alker South Portland:

Rev. & Mrs. G. G a rd n e r M onks Thomaston: Mrs. Tacy F ren ch Waldoboro: Mrs. E sth er S. Gross Yarmouth: Mr.

8c Mrs. T J e re T o w n sen d York: Mr. & Mrs. G eorge

W oodm an.

Other States CALIFO RNIA San Diego: Mr. E dw ard G.

W elch FLORIDA Clearwater: Col. L eo n a rd H. Sm ith, J r .

M A R Y L A N D A n n a p o lis: M rs. L. C o r r in S tr o n g

M A SSA C H U SE T TS Amesbury: Ms. B arb ara M. T a y lo r N E W H A M P S H IR E D over: Mr. R o b e rt E. M a rsto n N E W Y O R K Poughkeepsie: M r. F o rr e s t L. C o u s e n s P E N N SY L V A N IA Lancaster: Mrs. E dith P Skinner.

LIFE M EM B E R

Mr. Russell E. B ryant

Cape Porpoise, Maine

N O T E S O N O T H E R S O C IE T IE S AND IN S T IT U T IO N S

T h e M aine L eague o f H istorical Societies an d M useum s will hold its an n u a l m eeting at the R ockport O p e ra H ouse

o n S e p te m b e r 17. T h e C a m d e n -R o c k p o rt H istorical S o c ie ty w ill h o s t th e o c c a s io n . R e g is tr a tio n a n d re fre sh m e n ts will be at 9:00 a m follow ed by the g reetings w hich will be o ffe re d by Mrs. A m brose C. C ra m e r an d M rs. Sewall B row n o f th e C am d en -R o c k p o rt H istorical Society a n d th e R ockport G a rd e n Club, respectively. T h e second an n u a l Book F air will also be p re se n te d . Mr. Ja m es H . M undy, A ssistant to th e S peaker o f th e H ouse o f R epresentatives, will be th e lu n ch eo n speaker, a n d will discuss the use o f local sources in illum inating A m erican history.

T h e a n n u a l m eeting o f th e M aine A cadem ic H istorians will be held on S aturday, O cto b er 22, 1977, at the A ugusta Civic C e n te r in th e wing utilized by the U niversity o f M aine at A ugusta. R egistration a n d coffee will be at 9:30 a m an d the m o rn in g session begins at 10:00 a m. Edw in A. C hurchill o f the M aine State M useum will p re se n t a p a p e r en titled “T h e F o u n d in g o f C olonial M aine, 1600-1640: A Revisionist In te rp re ta tio n ,” an d C harles E. C lark o f the U niversity o f New H a m p sh ire will com m ent. A b rief business session will follow lunch at th e nearby H ow ard J o h n s o n ’s re sta u ra n t.

Alan S. Taylor is a resident of West Buxton, Maine, and a recent graduate of Colby College with a b. a. in history. This essay is largely drawn from Mr. Taylor s Senior Scholar s thesis, “Maine and the Hartford Convention: The Impact of the War of 1812 on Maine and Massachusetts Politics