old Gen. Taylor, who died within a few months, and Mr. Fillmore became President of the United States. Mr. Fillmore was a man of rare integrity and of decided opinions, and once his mind was made up as to his duty, no power on earth could swerve him from it, and whatever the wisdom of his course as President may have been, no one has ever doubted his patriotism or that he did his full duty, faithfully as he saw it. Very truly yours, NELSON K. HOPKINS. FROM MISS LUCY LORD. President Fillmore was one of the founders of the Buffalo Society for the Protection of Animals, and contributed generously to its support. I now recall an incident of President Fillmore's boyhood days as related by himself once at one of the meetings of our society. "When I was a thoughtless boy," said Mr. Fillmore, "I took the life of a mother bird. I remember my father was greatly grieved, and said, 'Millard, do you realize what you have done? You have taken the life of a mother, and have left her children to die of starvation in the nest. How would you like to have a great giant come along and kill your father and mother and leave you alone without food or care?' My father's rebuke sank so deeply into my heart that since that day I never have taken the life of a living creature." APPENDIX B PROCEEDINGS OF THE BUFFALO HISTORICAL SOCIETY FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING The forty-fifth annual meeting of the Buffalo Historical Society was held in its rooms on the evening of January 8th, 1907. Andrew Langdon, President, in the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved. On motion, Mr. Stringer was appointed Secretary pro-tem. On motion, Andrew Langdon, Frank H. Severance, George Alfred Stringer, James Sweeney and O. P. Letchworth were nominated as Trustees for the ensuing four years. There being no other nominations, the secretary was instructed to cast the ballot, which he did, declaring the above-named persons to be unanimously elected for the term specified. The report of the treasurer was read, and on motion, ordered received and placed on record. In the enforced absence of Secretary Severance, caused by illness, a preliminary report of the work of the Society during the past year was prepared by Mrs. Anna A. Andrews and Miss Helen F. Moffat, of the Society's staff, and presented to the meeting. Informal and interesting remarks were made by President Langdon, Senator Hill, Mr. George D. Emerson and William G. Justice. On motion, adjourned. GEORGE ALFRED STRINGER, Sec'y pro-tem. ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Pursuant to statute, a meeting of the Board of Managers, Buffalo Historical Society, was held on the 10th of January, 1907, at the office of Wilson & Smith, Mutual Life Building. Members present-Andrew Langdon, J. J. McWilliams, J. N. Larned, G. Barrett Rich, James Sweeney, George A. Stringer, Charles R. Wilson, Robert W. Day and Dr. A. H. Briggs. On motion, Mr. J. N. Larned was called to the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved. Mr. McWilliams moved that the entire proceedings of the last monthly board meeting be ratified, there not being a quorum present on that occasion. Seconded by Mr. Rich, and carried. Mr. McWilliams moved that Andrew Langdon be nominated for President, and that the secretary cast the ballot. Seconded. The secretary announced that the ballot was cast as directed, and Mr. Langdon was declared elected President. On motion of Mr. Rich, the secretary was instructed to cast one ballot for Hon. Henry W. Hill as Vice-President. Ballot cast and Mr. Hill declared elected. Mr. Rich then moved that one ballot be cast by the secretary for Frank H. Severance as Secretary and Treasurer. Ballot cast and Mr. Severance duly elected. On motion, adjourned. GEORGE ALFRED STRINGER, Sec'y pro-tem. THE SECRETARY'S REPORT For the year ending January 8, 1907. The officers and members of the Buffalo Historical Society may be assured at the outset that, all things considered, this institution was never in a more flourishing_condition. Slowly but certainly its field of usefulness is more clearly seen, and its equipment for work that is worth while, improves. Building. Last February, the Board of Managers felt that the need of repairs and betterments on the building warranted them in asking from the City of Buffalo a specific appropriation for such work. A portion of the sum asked for-all the items being based on contractors' estimates for the work-was allowed in the annual estimates and approved by the Common Council and Mayor. As soon as these funds were available, some contracts were let. Most of the work to be undertaken relates to the basement. For the greater protection of the building the secretary was authorized to contract for suitable iron grill-work as a protection for all basement windows and doors. The contract was let in July, but the year has closed before the work is accomplished; the contractors allege that the long-continued strike of iron-workers makes its completion even now a matter of uncertainty. In August the secretary went abroad, and further repair-work and improvements were deferred until his return. An illness of some weeks' duration, still further prevented him from taking up the matter. At the close of the year, however, contracts are let and work under way for finishing a large room at the west end of the basement. This room was left by the New York State Commission, when they turned the building over to the Historical Society, in an unfinished condition, without woodwork or even plaster on the walls and columns. It is one of the best-lighted and pleasantest rooms in the building; it is to be shelved and provided with suitable racks for bound newspapers and for the society's valuable collection of maps. Other work contemplated, and to be undertaken, it is expected, early in 1907, includes the replacing of cement and plaster baseboards, mouldings, etc., with marble or other durable material; the improvement of the drains and toilet-rooms; and the resetting of marble in the piers, platform and approaches of the south portico, with necessary modification of the rooms beneath. This portion of the building is not structurally adapted to the needs and purposes of the society. Whether or no it can be utilized, is uncertain; but for the preservation of the building, an extensive overhauling is imperative. The immediate attention of the Board is most urgently directed to this matter. Still another part of the building which sooner or later must receive attention-and the sooner the better-is the cornice. The present metal construction should be replaced by marble. An estimate secured on this work put its cost at $7000, and this amount was included in the requisition made on the city; but the item was not allowed. It is work that must be done, and the longer it is postponed the more it will cost, and the greater the liability of the building to irreparable injury. The lecture-hall has been cleaned and redecorated. The decoration of the ceilings of the middle court and museums, recommended in my report a year ago, has not been undertaken. While not urgent, the beauty of the interior will be enhanced if this work is judiciously done. Membership. The total membership of the society is 757, divided as follows: Patron, 1; honorary, 7; life, 130; resident (or annual), 491; corresponding, 128. There has been a good increase in the number of paying members. The list of corresponding members tends constantly to shorten, by the death of members. The present policy is to make the relation of corresponding member a real and substantial honor, implying mutual profit both to the member and the society; and not, as in many cases heretofore, the emptiest of all honors, names having in some instances been carried on the society's list for years, unknown to the person himself, or perhaps retained for years after his death. The society desires corresponding members, but it desires to sustain active and real "corresponding" relations with them. Even a few, in this sense, are a greater source of strength to the society than a long list of names with no actual existing relations to the society. The list of life members should be much longer. Many Buffalo familes, not now represented, should hold at least one life membership. The income which the society receives from such memberships goes into its permanent fund, which cannot be drawn on for current |