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Page 106

The annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society met in regular session January 29, 1931, in the auditorium of the Historical Building, Oklahoma City, Okla., at 10:00 a. m., with Charles F. Colcord, President, presiding, and a large attendance of members.

The Secretary read the minutes of the last annual meeting held January 23, 1930, and same were approved as read.

Judge Phil D. Brewer, Vice-President, made the report on the election of the five members of the Board of Directors as follows: (Briefed)

We, your committee, beg leave to report as follows:

We find that a majority of the total votes cast would be 179 and that the five persons receiving more than a majority of the total vote cast are as follows:

Judge Williams moved that the report be approved and that the five candidates receiving the highest number of votes, each receiving a majority of all votes cast, namely: Judge Thomas A. Edwards, Judge Wm. P. Thompson, Mrs. Emma Estill-Harbour, Mrs. Jessie D. Moore, and Roy M. Johnson be declared as elected directors to serve for the next ensuing five years. Motion was seconded and unanimously carried.

Judge Williams moved that the action of the Board of Directors in filling the unexpired term of Dr. J. S. Buchanan by the election of Dr. E.E. Dale, the unexpired term of Dan W. Peery by the election of Judge Harry Campbell and the unexpired term of Mrs. J. R. Frazier by the election of Mrs. Eugene B. Lawson be ratified and approved by this Society. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that the Society take up the consideration of the amendments to the constitution and by-laws heretofore proposed by him and published in the September (1930) issue of the Chronicles. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Section 3, Article VI-b as follows: "The official organ of the Oklahoma Historical Society shall be published quarterly as the Chronicles of Oklahoma, and until the Society at an annual meeting or through its Board of Directors provides for and designates an editor, a committee of three, consisting of two members of the Board of Directors and the Secretary, shall be charged with the publication and editing, and copies of same distributed as directed by the Board of Directors"; and moved its adoption. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Article 6 of Section 1 as follows: "The annual meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society, after the year 1931, shall be held at such place or places and on such date or dates as may be determined by said Society, or its Board of Directors when the Society at an annual meeting or adjourned meeting thereof has failed to designate such place or time"; and moved its adoption. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Section 2, Article 3, of the

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Constitution, as follows: "Five members of the board of directors to serve for a term of five years, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified, shall be elected annually by ballot from members of the Society in the following manner: Between the 1st and 10th of January of each year the Secretary and the Treasurer shall prepare and have printed, at the expense of the Society, ballots containing under appropriate heading, names of the five directors whose terms will expire during that year, unless otherwise directed in writing by such directors, and also all names of such other members of the Society as may be petitioned thereto in writing to be filed with the Secretary by the first day of each year by twenty-five of its members who at said time are entitled to vote on such matter. Such ballot shall be by the Secretary duly mailed to the address of each member of the Society, who shall cross or mark out all names on such ballot except such as he or she may desire to vote for, not to exceed five, and write his or her name on such ballot on the opposite side and then duly mail same to the Secretary of the Oklahoma Historical Society, at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Provided, that any member duly qualified to vote may vote for any member of said Society, who is qualified to vote, by writing the name of such member on the ballot but in such manner as not to vote for more than five directors. On the Fourth Tuesday in January, or as soon thereafter as practical, the President, a Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall meet and open said ballots, counting same and retaining the envelopes and ballots in a safe place until the next regular quarterly meeting of said board of directors, when said ballots, together with the envelopes and the result of said canvass shall be delivered with proper certificate to said board and said board of directors at said meeting, or an adjourned session thereof, shall declare the five receiving the highest vote as elected directors of said society; and moved its adoption. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Section 2-a, Article 3, as follows: "Only members who have paid the annual membership fee, and life members, shall be entitled to vote for the election of members of the board of directors";

Judge Ledbetter moved that the amendment be referred to a committee of three to be appointed by the Chair, to re-draft this amendment. Motion was seconded and carried and the Chair appointed Judge Ledbetter, Judge Williams and Judge Doyle to act in this capacity.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Section 4, Article 3, as follows: "In event of a vacancy in the membership of the board of directors, the same shall be filled by the Board of Directors until the next regular election, when the name of the party appointed ad interim shall be placed on the ballot under an appropriate heading in the same manner and under the same conditions as is provided for the election of other members"; and moved its adoption. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams read the amendment to Section 3 of the by-laws by substitution, as follows: "A clerk from the employees of the Society shall be designated as property clerk who shall keep a record in which shall be entered all donations or loans of property, when such loans shall have been authorized by the board in writing to be received, and also all purchases for the society's collections, identifying same consecutively by number, title, date of receipt, name and address of donor or bailor, and other pertinent matter; also to prepare requisitions for signatures of proper officers of the society for supplies for library and museum, and keep a record of all such purchases showing cost of each item and date

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of receipt, and shall have charge of all collections and property of the society not committed specifically to the custody or charge of any other employee or officer or committee or commission of said society, and perform such other duties as the board of directors may prescribe. Said clerk shall execute a bond payable to the state of Oklahoma in an amount to be fixed by the board of directors conditioned to faithfully discharge the duties of said position, and faithfully and reasonably account for all property committed to his or her care and custody"; and moved its adoption. Motion was seconded and carried.

The Secretary read his annual report, and Judge Brewer moved that it be received and ordered filed, which was seconded and carried.

The Secretary read the report of Laura M. Messenbaugh, the file clerk; the report of Ruth Woodman, the librarian and Czarina C. Conlan, the field collector, all of which upon motion was ordered received and filed.

Mr. Joseph B. Thoburn, the research director, gave a verbal report of his work in archaeology and ethnology.

Mr. Grant foreman read the report of Rella Watts, who is calendaring material in the Indian Office at Muskogee.

Miss Muriel H. Wright read a report of her research work particularly in regard to the Choctaws and Chickasaws, and Mrs. Korn moved that the report be received and filed, and it was so ordered.

Mrs. Jessie E. Moore, the Treasurer, submitted her report for the fourth quarter and also her annual report. Colonel Leecraft moved that they be received and filed. Motion was seconded and carried.

Mr. Thoburn moved that the President and Secretary be requested to send a letter of appreciation to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for co-operation this Society has received at the hands of that institution, also that copies of this letter be sent to each of the members of the Oklahoma delegation in Congress, requesting them to see that it is continued. Motion was seconded and carried.

Mr. Thoburn moved that the President and Secretary be requested to send a letter to the State Department expressing the hope that the publication of Territorial Records shall be continued, and that copies of this letter be sent to the Oklahoma members in Congress. Motion was seconded and carried.

Mr. Thoburn moved that the President and Secretary, in the name of the Society, be requested to extend to the various agencies and the public in general thanks for their co-operation in designating historic spots and seeking to erect suitable markers. Motion was seconded by Colonel Leecraft which was carried.

Mrs. Czarina C. Conlan moved that a letter of thanks be written to Mrs. Ruth Hoxie for the splendid collection she sent to the Historical Society last September. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that we recess until 2 :00 p. m., and it was so ordered.

The President called the meeting to order at 2:00 p. m.

The Secretary read the following list of applicants for membership:

Life: Lawrence S. Holmboe, Oklahoma City; Sam P. Ridings, Medford.

Annual: M. E. Asfahl, Earlsboro; J. H. Bash, Oklahoma City; Vivian Bethel, Edmond; Mrs. Julia Black, Bristow; Mrs. Gertrude M. Bowman, Spiro; B. A. Branch, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Phil D. Brewer, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Fred Brockmire, Atoka; Paul Bryant, Edmond; C. M. Bryce,

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Tulsa; Mrs. Annie M. Canton, Oklahoma City; A. B. Carmichael, Oklahoma City; Mrs. N. M. Carter, Guthrie; Lillian Casler, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Chas. F. Colcord, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Daisy L. Coldiron, Perry; Rev. E. N. Comfort, Norman; O. L. Cordell, Tulsa; Anna Cottingham, Ada; Russell R. Covey, Edmond; Mrs. Jennie Y. Cozart, Woodward; H. P. Cuthbertson, Oklahoma City; James A. Davis, Tulsa; Mrs. W. Y. Dilley, Waurika; Mrs. Mary Harper Draper, Oklahoma City; C. C. Dunlap, Durant; Mrs. J. Hale Edwards, Lawton; Frank B. Fisk, Wynnewood; E. W. Foehl, Dallas, Texas; H. D. Fowler, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Harry Garrett, Oklahoma City; Finis C. Gillespie, Hobart; Mrs. T. F. Goss, Lindsay; Mrs. Andy Gravitt, McAlester; Miss Edna Smith Grove, Oklahoma City; Mrs. L. M. Hersman, Wagoner; Mrs. A. C. High, Lindsay; Mrs. Pauline C. Hicks, Oklahoma City; J. F. Hinton, Beggs; Mrs. Mattie Hite, Oklahoma City; E. H. Homberger, Woodward; Mrs. P. E. Hopper, Elk City; E. H. Hubbard, Muskogee; Charles Keith, Oklahoma City; Mrs. J. S. Kerfoot, Oklahoma City; A. Martin Kingkade, Oklahoma City; J. J. Kirkpatrick, Oklahoma City; S. R. Ledbetter, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Josh Lee, Norman; Louis Loeffler, Bristow; Mrs. Frank D. Lucas, Weatherford; T. J. McConville, Wilburton; Mrs. D. V. Monroe, Lindsay; George D. Moss, Lawton; Mrs. R. S. Neblit, McAlester; Madlyn Newell, Oklahoma City; H. H. Ogden, Muskogee; Mrs. Cornelia M. Park, Tulsa; P. G. Phelps, Edmond; C. T. Rice, Purcell; Rev. E. B. Ringland, Oklahoma City; Prof. Leon F. Sensabaugh, Oklahoma City; Mrs. Mabel Sherin, Walters; Mrs. B. H. Smith, Hickory; Mrs. Mollie Smith, Smithville, Ky.; Miss Opal Smith, Elmer; Mrs. J. C. Stephenson, Oklahoma City; Mrs. W. G. Turnage, Waurika; C. C. Williams, Poteau; I. W. Williams, Purcell; Mrs. P. R. Williamson, Lindsay; Mrs. Annie Willis, Durant; James L. Wyatt, Oklahoma City; Mrs. James L. Wyatt, Oklahoma City; J. Urbansky, Oklahoma City; and Mrs. James Yarbrough.

Judge Doyle moved that we accept these applicants for membership in the Society. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that the annual meeting adjourn and that the Board of Directors now convene. Motion was seconded and carried and they annual meeting stood adjourned.

Charles F. Colcord, President, Presiding.

Dan W. Peery, Secretary.

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society was called to order at 2:30 p. m., January 29, 1931, with Charles F. Colcord, President, presiding, and the roll call showed the following other members present: Judge Thos. A. Edwards, Judge Wm. P. Thompson, Mrs. Emma Estill-Harbour, Mrs. Jessie E. Moore, Gen. Charles F. Barrett, Mr. Jasper Sipes, Mrs. Frank Korn, Judge W. A. Ledbetter, Judge Thos. H. Doyle, Col. A. N. Leecraft, Mrs. W. A. Roblin, Judge R. L. Williams, Mrs. Frank Lucas, Judge Phil D. Brewer, Mrs. John R. Williams, Dr. E. E. Dale, Judge Harry Campbell, Mrs. Eugene B. Lawson, and Dan W. Peery, the Secretary.

The Secretary read the minutes of the last quarterly meeting, held October 23, 1930, an adjourned meeting of the Board held November 15,

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1930, a called meeting of the Board held November 29, 1930 and a called meeting of the Board held December 22, 1930 all of which were approved as read on motion of Colonel Leecraft.

The Secretary read a resolution prepared by Committee on Resolutions, appointed by the Board at the meeting held November 15, 1930, as follows:

"It is hereby resolved that it is the sense of the Historical Society of Oklahoma as expressed herein through its Board of Directors:

1. That the Society thank the Building Committee for the discharge of its duties in the manifold phases of the erection of the Historical Building. They exercised an intelligence that shall ever be gratifying in their selection of the style and character of building that was constructed; they discharged, with the utmost intelligence, their duties of supervision of the construction work. Every dollar appropriated was honestly and with commendable business judgment expended. This noble edifice in its stability and eternal beauty attests how well the Building Committee did its work.

2. That the Historical Society thank Mr. Edward P. Boyd, the supervising architect, for his good and faithful service. He wrought with an understanding and ever vigilant care, and, so to speak, was the eyes of the Building Committee. His inflexible honesty, his ripe experience and learning were here exemplified in the building of this temple.

3. That to the Holmboe Construction Company, who did the building work, we express our very keen appreciation and our thanks. This company did in very truth a work of excellence in every detail. It shall be an enduring testimonial of master craftsmanship.

4. The architects of the Historical Building were Layton, Hicks & Forsyth. This firm drew the plans and specifications and supervised all construction work. It was they who worked out the plans, both as to utility and to the general and detailed arrangements of each column and arch and balustrade and lintel. In its noble design, its gracefulness of proportions, its simple stateliness, it is a work of the beautiful. To its architects full credit is given for a work faithfully and gloriously executed.

Committee: Judge Baxter Taylor, Chairman,
Mrs. Frank Korn,
Gen. Chas. F. Barrett,
Mrs. Frank Lucas,
Judge Thomas. A. Edwards,
Charles F. Colcord.

General Barrett moved that the State Board of Affairs be included in the expression of appreciation for their co-operation in the completion of the Historical Building. The motion was seconded and carried, and with this addition or amendment to the resolution it was approved.

Judge Williams moved that Mr. Grant Foreman and Judge Harry Campbell be appointed and designated as the two members of the Board of Directors to serve with the Secretary in an editorial capacity for Chronicles of Oklahoma. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that the actual and necessary traveling and hotel expenses of Mr. Foreman and Judge Campbell be paid out of any funds available. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Brewer moved that all business be co-ordinated and come

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through the Secretary's desk to the Board. Motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that Judge Doyle's motion on page 2, paragraph 8, Board meeting October 23, 1930, be changed to read as follows:

"Judge Doyle moved that Mrs. J. R. Fraizer be elected research worker at a salary of $125.00 per month, for compiling biographical data as to the early settlement of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory by white people under the direction of the Secretary."

The motion was seconded and carried.

Judge Williams moved that all letters that go out of the Historical Society be signed "Oklahoma Historical Society by Secretary"; and when dictated by others to be so stated, but to carry the signature of the Secretary. Motion was seconded and carried.

Prof. L. Howell Lewis read a letter, offering certain pictures to the Society, asking that they be hung in the basement of the Historical Building, which he was asked to file with the Secretary for future consideration.

The meeting stood adjourned.

Charles F. Colcord, President, Presiding.

Dan W. Peery, Secretary.

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