Select Organizations in the United States

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS—WISCONSIN-Continued.

except during college vacation-July and August. Each active member may bring one guest; thus the attendence is usually somewhat over a hundred.

Although entering upon its eighteenth year, with few of its charter members now on the rolls, the club appears to gain vitality with age, and is regarded as one of the strongest literary organizations in the northwest, as well as a powerful factor in the society in the Wisconsin capital. To its democratic influence may largely be attributed the fact that in Madison society there is discernible no antagonism between town and gown, or between the wealthy and the professional classes.

The present officers are: Pres, John W. Stearns, LL.D.; Vice-Pres., Mrs. Sarah Fairchild Conover; Sec., Reuben G. Thwaites; Treas., Charles N. Brown.

STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN

BY REUBEN Goldthwaites, secretarY

The State Historical Society of Wisconsin was originally organized in October, 1846, with A. Hyatt Smith as President, and Thos. W. Sutherland, as Secretary. In January, 1849, there was a reorganization, with Governor Nelson Dewey as President, a list of Vice-Presidents covering all the counties of the State, and I. A. Lapham as Corresponding Secretary. But for various reasons the society did not prosper during its early years, and a second reorganization was effected under an act of Legislature approved March 1853. This charter the society still works under, and since the annual meeting on the first Thursday in January, 1854, the growth of its influence and importance has been steady and rapid. At this meeting Lyman C. Draper, LL.D., was chosen Corresponding Secretary. When he took direction of the society's for tunes its library consisted of but fifty volumes and pamphlets; there was neither museum nor art gallery, and the institution was quartered in a corner of the Secretary of State's office. To-day the society, as the Trustee of the Commonwealth, is comfortably domiciled in the south wing of the capitol, two floors being devoted to its magnificent library, and another-partitioned into three spacious halls-to its splendid museum of historic, pre-historic and scientific curiosities and its art gallery, in which are displayed oil portraits of over 200 distinguished Wisconsin pioneers and Indian chiefs. About 50,000 persons visit the museum and art gallery annually, while the library attracts scholars and specialists from all parts of the West and South.

The library additions number some 7,000 titles per year. At present the shelves contain about 180,000 books and pamphlets covering every department of American history, as well as taking a general sweep of foreign history and most departments of research. It is of particular value as an aid to the 1400 students of the State University, who daily throng the reading rooms and deem the ample facilities for original research there given them as one of the most important advantages of student life at the Wisconsin capital.

As a whole, the institution ranks not lower than third among American historical societies, and certainly is the most important west of the Alleghanies; in some respects, it is recognized by experts as the best of them all. It has done and is doing

LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS-WISCONSIN-Continued.

a noble work for Wisconsin-indeed for the entire West-by resurrecting and perpetuating the records of the State's development in its now famous volumes of Wisconsin Historical Collections, which contain practically all the materials now obtainable for the varied and romantic early history of that commonwealth; by collecting and keeping up, abreast of the times, a library of Americana, which, as to size and scope, has but one or two rivals in this country, and they on the Atlantic coast; and by maintaining a museum and an art gallery which are of growing interest and educational value to the citizens of the State.

At the annual meeting on the 6th of January 1887, Lyman C. Draper, who died in 1891, declined a re-election as Corresponding Secretary, after thirty-three years of persistent and highly successful labors in behalf of the society and the State-he being desirous of devoting his remaining days to individual literary work. Reuben G. Thwaites, formerly managing editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, was chosen his successor, having been the assistant to Dr. Draper for two years previous. Daniel S. Durrie became identified with the society in 1856, as librarian, assuming active duties in 1858, and remaining constantly in service until his death in 1892; he was succeeded by Isaac S. Bradley, who had been chief assistant librarian for seventeen years.

CAPT. JAMES C. SUMMERS.

James Colling Summers was born at Southgate, England, in 1854. He is the only son of the late Rev. James Summers, of Litchfield, a clergyman of the Church of England, a graduate of Oxford University, and Professor of Chinese at the British Museum, London. He died at Tokio, Japan, in 1892. Mrs. Summers, who survives him, still lives in England. By his father, the classics were drummed into the boy before he had reached the age of nine. For a year he studied at King's College School in the Strand, and then by reason of delicate health he was apprenticed to a ship owning firm in London. Then began a life of constant travel. Going to sea in 1864, he served in the East India trade and visited every important seaport in the world. In 1871, Mr. Summers left "deep water sailing" for good. He had acquired a thorough knowledge of navigation and seamanship. After a brief period in the Revenue Marine service, he was employed as master and licensed pilot of steamers plying between New York, Newport and Providence, R. I. In 1878 he left the sea, and married Emily, the youngest daughter of Capt. David Simms, of Alpine, N. J. Their children are three boys and a girl. After three years' experience in the theatrical field, he commenced newspaper work in New York City. As Yachting Editor, successively of the Morning Journal, the Sun and the World he demonstrated that a sailor who can write is best equipped to describe a yacht race. He made friends fast, and his reports of the great international yacht races, of the Cape May and Brenton's Reef Cup races, of the great Naval Review at Hampton Roads, and of other important marine events, have been read and accepted all over the country as faithful pen pictures of the events. In 1886 Captain Summers established the Official Yacht Record "Who Won?" which has become a standard work, and in August, 1894, he founded the Burgee and Pennant," the Naval Militia and Yachtsman's Journal - the first paper devoted exclusively to these subjects in America.

The paper is now (April, 1895) on the high road to success. He severed his connection with the World last year and is now the sole editor of "Burgee and Pennant" and of the book "Who Won?" Captain Summers is a member of the Atlantic Yacht Club, the Manhattan Athletic and Press Clubs. He is a 32d degree Mason a member of Palestine Commandery, Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a petty officer in the First Batallion Naval Militia, N. Y., and Ex-Commodore of the Cherry Diamond Yacht Club.

INDEX.

PAGE

Adams, John Quincy, on the Sons of the American Revolution,

Adams, John Quincy, Portrait and Biography,

266

Adirondack League Club,

Albany Local Organizations,

Alexander, James W., Portrait,

Alexander, Robert C., Portrait and Biography of,

Allegheny Local Organizations,

Allen, Orrin Peer, Portrait and Biography,

295