Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association

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PROCEEDINGS OF THE

Sixth Annual Meeting OF

THE

NANTUCKET HlSTORICAL ASSOCIATION At Nantucket., Moss., July 19, 1900.

On the morning of July 19, 1900, once more the old rorth Ve try wel­ comed the members and friends of the Kantucket Historical As ociation. After a short time spent in greetings and cOJwersation, the President, Mr. William F. Barnard. called the meet­ ing to order. The Secretary read the minutes of the last Annual 11eeting and also of the Special :Meeting of July 14. 1900, which was called to consider and amend the Constitution of the As­ sociation. The most important amend­ ment adopted was the one relating to the election of officers. After the.e were approved, President Barnard, in a short address. congratulated the As­ sociation that it seemed to have a germ of life in it, a vitality which authorized the hope that its existence would be co-existent with the town itself. One of the most a. suring proofs of life was his statement that the Society is now free from debt. The Secretary ancl Cnrator' s reports for the year, were ne.·t pre,ented. These were encourag­ ing. e\·cn if the fireproof building is still far away, and even if one hears all through the report of the Curator the crv of Oliver Twist: "l\Iore, more!" ':l\fr. Charles Barnard. of New York, wa introduced by President Barnard, who was sure the former gentleman mu:t regret that his ancestors settled in \Ve tern Massachusetts, instead of on this barren .pit of sand. l\Ir. Bar­ nard urged his hearers to take photo­ graphs of every place on the island, which is of the least historical value; and also of the interior of the older houses. He aid that on beams and floors would be found traces of the adze, that wood man' tool which our grandfathers used with wonderful

skill. Mr. Barnard also hoped that when next he vi ited Nantucket he should find on the table of the His­ torical Room a "fat" book, bearing the title. "Humor of Nantucket." This suggested to others that there is no talk so racy and humorou , as that of seafaring folk and those living along shore, and numerous illustra­ tions were cited by Mr. M:o es Joy, Miss Elizabeth R. Coffin, Dr. Be,1jamin Sharp. l\fr. Allen Coffin, anJ the President. The A,;sociation next proceeded to elect the officers for the coming year, and true to the spirit of "rotation in office," there were some chanires. Miss Mary E. Starbuck, whose faithful work has had so much to do with mak­ ing the Historical Association known abroad and appreciated at home, de­ clined to be a candidate again for the office of Secretary, but was elected a member of the Council. The Society was glad to show its appreciation of her service by a vote of thanks. A most interesting paper was read by Mr. Dudley on "Recollections as a Source of Hi tory," in which he proved that what one has heard becomes hope­ lessly mixed with what one has seen. Thi paper will be found in full later in these proceedings. Mrs. W. D. Ballenger of Chicago read the "Vision of Capt. Franci:; Bar­ nard." This vision appeared to the worthy Captain, TO\'. 21, 1772, on a voyage between America and England. During his trance, the sailors, believing him dead. wanted to throw him over­ board, so he refrained from visions in the future. Capt. Barnard. who was an ance tor of Mrs. Ballenger, went from Nantucket to North Carolina,


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