6-26-29 19927 NOTE The reorganization of the Georgia Historical Society in this its eighty-second year is so radical and so important as to justify the conversion of this number of the Quarterly into an account of what has been done, with some information as to the Society, its present and its past. This number shows: I. The Society's charter of 1839, with the amendment of 1870 (pp. 41-44), and the new constitution adopted August 2, 1920 (pp. 45-49). 2. A short list of its publications beginning in 1840 (pp. 56-57). 3. A brief description of Hodgson Hall, its handsome home in Savannah, with the trust under which it is held (pp. 50-52); its Library of about 40,000 volumes and 40,000 pamphlets, and some of its valuable historical possessions (pp. 81-87). 4. A list of those who have been its officers (pp. 132-138). 5. Reports of Officers and Committees submitted at the Eightyfirst Annual Meeting February 17, 1920 (pp. 60-70). 6. The Society's resignation (pp. 108-109) as Trustee of Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, Savannah's beautiful Art Gallery founded and endowed by Mary Telfair, daughter of Edward Telfair (1735-1807), member of the Sons of Liberty, the Council of Safety, the Continental Congress, signer of the Articles of Confederation, and twice Governor of Georgia. Mary Telfair was last survivor of the name. An account of the institution of the Academy and the Society's administration of the trust will be found in the Georgia Historical Quarterly for March, 1917. The charter of the new corporation is included herein (pp. 116-118). 7. Accomplishment of the complete union and consolidation of Georgia Historical Association with Georgia Historical Society under the charter of the latter (pp. 109-114). 8. Radical changes in the personnel of the Curators and the Officers (pp. III-112) indicating the state-wide character of the reorganized society, with reports showing the terms of the consolidation (pp. 93-109). By this union and consolidation Georgia Historical Society has acquired many new members residing in all parts of the state. This number is sent to all members, including of course, all former members of Georgia Historical Association. By virtue of the consolidation they have ipso facto become members of Georgia Historical Society, which extends to them its most cordial greetings. At the Annual meeting of Georgia Historical Society, February 17, 1920, the recommendation of the Board of Curators embodied in the President's report (pp. 75-80) was approved and the Society appointed a committee to negotiate with Georgia Historical Association for union and consolidation and to report back to the Society. A like committee was appointed by the President of Georgia Historical Association and the two committees met in Hodgson Hall, Savannah, on March 6, 1920. Their joint action appears from the report of the Society's committee and the plan of union, included herein (pp. 109114). This report was presented to the Society at its quarterly meeting, May 3, 1920, and was unanimously approved and adopted as will appear by the resolutions included herein (p. 102). At its annual meeting in the State Library at Atlanta, May 22, 1920, the plan of union and consolidation was presented to Georgia Historical Association, and was unanimously approved, as will appear by the resolutions of the Association included herein (pp. 102-103). On July 28, 1920, the Board of Curators of the Society met in Savannah and, under the power conferred upon them by the Consituation, accepted the resignations of certain officers and curators, at the same time filling the vacancies thus created; as will appear by the list of officers included herein (p. III). On August 2, 1920, the Society's committee on union and consolidation with the approval of the Board of Curators submitted its final report, including the draft of a new constitution in the place of the former constitution and bylaws, which were unanimously adopted and which are included herein (pp. 96-101). This was the final step in the reorganization of the Society except the acceptance of its resignation as Trustee of Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences and the appointment of its successor by the Superior Court of Chatham County. This resignation has been filed and petition for charter of a new charitable corporation to be known as Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, which it is hoped will be appointed as the new trustee, is pending. (See circular to resident members of the Society, post page 114-116). Volume IV JUNE and SEPTEMBER, 1920 Numbers 2 and 3 A Note of Explanation to Our Readers While this is a regular number of the Georgia Historical Quarterly, it has been deemed advisable to depart from the usual form in which the periodical has regularly appeared, and, in place of the articles on subjects of historical interest, matter relating to the recently perfected amalgamation of the Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia Historical Association has been substituted, as indicated in the March number. In this shape, and with the material containing so much information as to the history and work of the now united bodies, it is hoped that this publication, in the nature of a hand-book, will prove acceptable to all of our readers. AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Whereas, The members of a society instituted in the City of Savannah for the purpose of collecting, preserving and diffusing information relating to the History of the State of Georgia in particular, and of American history generally, have applied for an Act of incorporation. SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That J. M. Berrien, James M. Wayne, M. H. McAllister, I. K. Tefft, William B. Stevens, George W. Hunter, H. K. Preston, William T. Williams, C. S. Henry, J. C. Nicoll, William Law, R. M. Charlton, R. D. Arnold, A. A. Smets, J. W. Anderson, William B. Bulloch, William H. Bulloch, J. H. Burroughs, J. Balfour, Joseph G. Binney, William P. Bowen, J. B. Bartow, James Barnard, Morgan Brown, G. B. Cumming, Solomon Cohen, Joseph Cumming, D. C. Campbell, J. H. Couper, W. A. Caruthers, W. H. Cuyler, Edward Coppee, William Crabtree, Jr., Archibald Clark, William Duncan, William C. Daniell, George M. Dudley, J. De La Motta, Jr., J. S. Fay, S. H. Fay W. B. Fleming, J. F. Griffin, Robert Habersham, W. Neyle |