No. 68.

IN ASSEMBLY,

APRIL 18, 1903.

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE

STATE HISTORIAN.

STATE CAPITOL,

ALBANY, N. Y., April 17, 1903.

Hon. S. FRED. NIXON, Speaker of the Assembly, State of New

York:

SIR. I have the honor herewith to enclose the Annual Report

of the State Historian.

Respectfully yours,

HUGH HASTINGS,

State Historian.

PRESERVATION OF RECORDS.

The matter of preservation of local records has lately been extensively considered by persons and societies interested in this important subject. The neglect with which priceless records have been treated and abused in certain towns and counties has long been a notorious disgrace. Many custodians have shown utter indifference to the sacred character of the trust reposed in them while others without a shadow of right have wantonly destroyed documents of the most valuable character. A systematic investigation lately pursued under private sources has brought to light a condition of affairs that calls for legislative cooperation and legislative remedy. A bill has been introduced into your honorable body which proposes to change the title of the office of State Historian to that of State Record Commissioner. In the preparation of the bill or in the proposed change of title, the head of this department was not consulted. The bill was submitted and with the exception of two minor details was approved by this department under the general policy to cooperate in the development of any plan or proposition that tended to promote greater care in in the preservation of official records, State, county, city or town. Considered in committee of General Laws of the Assembly and Finance of the Senate, opposition developed against the bill mainly because of the radical determination to change the title of a State department that had been in existence for eight years and because of the apprehension that the bill, if not in principle, in intention at least, infringed upon the doctrine of home rule by permitting a

State officer to invade the rights of local authorities. The matter will no doubt be renewed next year. It is recommended that the Record Commissioner should be attached to the office of Secretary of State, the constitutional keeper of State archives, rather than to this department, which is not an office of record, and which was originally created for purposes radically different from those suggested by the Record Commission bill.

OUR STATE FLAGS.

The preservation of our State battle flags for all time to come should appeal to the patriotism of every citizen. A battle ag is a sacred part of the history of a State and represents all that is noble and self-sacrificing in human nature. European coun tries preserve their battle scarred standards by mounting each on wire to insure their preservation as long as the county endures. We have been satisfied to herd our flags together in a conglomerate mass in air tight compartments which time has shown to be most fatal to the life of emblems of this character, instead of arranging each flag by itself with a distinct and suitable inscription underneath, detailing its history and the battles in which it took part. Again, standards that should have been placed in the Capitol are permitted to remain in the hands of private individuals and societies, until it has been discovered that a number of regimental organizations that served during the war of the Rebellion are not represented in the collection of flags in the State Capitol. This would seem to be not only an act of injustice to the organizations themselves, but to the men who fought under the colors, living and dead. The time has come when this matter should receive the careful attention of every surviving soldier of the war of the Rebellion who is at all interested in the

preservation of the standards which belonged to the regiment or organization with which he was connected during the trying days from 1861 to 1865. The decimation among the veterans of the war between the States is sorrowfully increasing from year to year. The youngest man capable of bearing arms when hostilities ceased, long ago passed his half century birthday. The suggestion should not be ignored or delayed, but prompt and vigorous investigation should be prosecuted for the purpose of collecting all outstanding battle flags except those that have been disposed of by legislative enactment, bringing them together under the roof of the Capitol where they will remain undisturbed and as an object lesson for future generations.

More generous provision should be ordered by the Legislature for the care of the flags already possessed. Year by year under the system with which they are cared for by the State, these precious relics are disintegrating and slowly crumbling to pieces.

PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL STRUCTURES. Nearly every year the Legislature is requested to make an appropriation for the purchase of an historical landmark. Sometimes these propositions contain merit, often are open to criticism. The question of historical importance is in many cases rendered subservient to the influence of the legislator having the bill in charge. In consequence the State is exposed to the injustice of purchasing and maintaining structures whose value is insignificant compared with others that for reasons that are well understood never appear in the market. The possibilities of abuses developing out of methods so ragged and unbusiness like, are apparent at a glance. Options on property are easily obtained but the price the State pays for the investment is rarely

the price of the option. Public sentiment in support of so praiseworthy a purpose as the preservation of an historical structure can be manufactured as a rule for the asking. Careful investigation is regarded as superfluous. This threatened abuse can be overcome in a simple manner through the medium of a State Board of Historical Commissioners — two state officers and the president of the local historical society of the town or city in which the property under consideration is situated who shall serve without compensation. All bills introduced into the legis lature for the purchase of historical dwellings or structures shall be referred to this Commission, who shall make a report on the advisability of buying or rejecting to the legislative committee having charge of the bill.

THE SWORD OF WASHINGTON IN THE STATE LIBRARY AND ITS HISTORY.

For years more or less discussion has occurred over the history of the sword in the State Library in Albany that' originally was bequeathed by will by General Washington, to a relative. legend has drifted along from source unknown in effect that Baron Steuben brought the sword from Frederick the Great and presented it to George Washington with a message from the "oldest general in the world to the greatest." In the winter of 1902 when Prince Henry of Prussia, brother of Emperor William, visited Albany the sword was placed on exhibition in the Executive Chamber and was handed by Governor Odell to the distinguished caller. Prince Henry drew the sword from the scabbard and vainly scrutinized it for a mark of identification to establish the place where the weapon was manufactured. It is needless to say that all marks had been obliterated by constant polishing;