Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/388

 HISTORICAL 372 HI8T0BI0AL

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cabinet; second, it has established and published a Souvay was elected editor-in-chief of the ''St. Louis Catholic historical magazine; third, it has en- Catholic Historical Review." The first number of couraged the foundation of similar societies by its the ''Review" appeared October, 1918. Each num- example; fourth, it has maintained the idea of ber devotes space* to some constructive historical American Catholic history in concrete form before essays on subjects appertaining to the special field the world; fifth, it has stimulated the production of the Society. Under the general caption of of Catholic literature. "Notes" historical news, current events of interest

The list of presidents of the American Catholic to readers, and the recent activities of the Society Historical Society, with their term of ofl&ce, follows : are chronicled. To this set of "Notes" another is

Very Rev. Thomas Cooke Middleton, D.D., added, strictly bibliographical, in the form of ati O.S.A., 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890; index of historical items and articles on subjects Rev. Ignatius F. Horstmann, D.D., 1891-1892; Dr. written within the Society's sphere, published in Lawrence F. Flick, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896. The Rt. current literature.

Rev. Mgr. Hugh T. Henry, Litt.D.. 1897-1898; Mr. "Documents" from the archives of the Society Walter George Smith, 189i9^1900 ; Mr. Samuel Cast- complete each number. These documents are given ner, Jr., 1901 ; The Rt. Rev. Mgr. H. T. Drumgoole, in their original text, with an English translation. 1902-1903; Mr. Francis A. Cunningham, 1904-1905; Volume I of the "Review" contains a catalogue Mr. William V. McGrath, Jr., 1906-1907; Mr. of the more important documents, petitions and Ignatius J. Dohan, 1908-1909; The Right Rev. letters in the historical archives of the Archdiocese of Philip R. McDevitt, D.D., 1910, 1911, 1912; Dr. St. Louis, which His Grace the Archbishop placed in Lawrence F. Flick, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896; The Rt. the care of the Society. The series of letters J. Lallou, 1915-1916; Mr. James M. Willcox, 1917- exchanged between Bishop Dubourg and the Con- 1918; Mr. Edward J. Galbally, 1919, 1920, 1921; gregation of Propaganda is published iA the first The Rev. John E. Flood, LL. D., 1922. ^ three volumes of the "Review." This series is

Catholic Historical Society op St. Louis. — ^The being followed by the publication of Bishop Rosati's Church of the Middle West, centering in St. Louis, "Diary," in which daily events in the prelate's life has an eventful history, but the whole story of are recorded for more than fourteen years, toil, sacrifice and glorious achievement has yet to Illinois Catholic Historical SoCTEnr. — ^This be told. The historical archives of the Archdiocese Society was ^tablished in Chicago 28 February, of St. Louis hold a rich and varied treasure of 1918, and was indirectly inspired by the celebration material for the making of that story. With these that year of the one hundredth anniversary of the things in mind, the Most Rev. John J. Glennon, on admission of the State of Illinois into the Union. February 7, 1917, suggested the foundation of an For this event the Ulinois Centennial Commission, historical society and invited the following clergy- appointed by the governor, prepared a series of men of the diocese to become charter members of celebrations and a six volume original history of the new association : Right Rev. Mgr. J. A. Con- the State. In this history, which was in preparation nolly, V. G., Right Rev. Mgr. J. J. Tannrath, Right for several years, the achievements of Catholics Rev. Mgr. Patrick W. Tallon, Very Rev. M, S. and the Church were conspicuous principally by Ryan, CM., Revs. Charles L. Souvay, CM., Francis their absence, although for the first hundred years Gilfillan, Joseph Wenker, F. G. Holweck, John of Illinois histoiy Catholics were pioneers and later Rothensteiner, F. X. Wilmes, E. J. Lemkes, Joseph played a prominent part in the development of Selinger, J. T. Shields, and Henry Hussman. The the State. Rev. Frederic Siedenburg, S.J., and proposition met with unanimous and enthusiastic Judge Thomas F. Scully, both of Chicago, were support. Within a few weeks the organization of members of this commission, and found that due to the Catholic Historical Society of St. Louis was the scarcity of Catholic historical material and the perfected, with Archbishop Glennon as president, inaccessibility of documents it was impossible to give and Revs. Dr. Charles L. Souvay and F. G. Hoi- adequate representation of Catholic achievement, week librarians and archivists. By accident it was learned that Mr. Joseph J.

The object of the Society is: "To collect and Thompson of Chicago had in preparation a "Cath- preserve materials of all kinds, such as books, olio History of Illmois,*' and after several con- pamphlets, papers, manuscripts, maps, documents, ferences with him it was proposed to organize an pictures, and other objects of historical interest historical society, with the chief purpose of publish- relating to the Catholic history of the Diocese of ing a quarterly review which would collect docu- St. Louis and of whatever territories and places ments and publish monographs and encourage Cath- were at any time associated with St. Louis m the olic Illinois history. With the approbation of the same ecclesiastical division* to institute, carry on Archbishop of Chicago and the suffragan bishops and foster historical research on subjects pertaining the Society was orgamzcd in the School of Sociology to the field of inquiry above described and dis- of Loyola University, and Mr. William J. Onakin seminate such information." Any person of good was elected the first president of the Society, and character, in sympathy with the work and aims of Mr. Joseph J. Thompson was chosen the first editor the Society, is eligible to membership on payment of the "Illinois Catholic. Historical Review.*'* of S5.00 annual dues, or $100 for life membership. The Society, although only in its fourth year. In its sixth year the Society has 94 members, of has over 600 members and has already made a whom 2 are life members. Regular meetings of permanent contribution in the historic field of the the Society are held in January, March, May, old Illinois country, inasmuch as it has stimulated September, and November. At these meetings original research and prompted the conser\'ation original papers on historical subjects are read and and publication of reliable historic data and records, discussed. As the Society has no building of its It has also begotten a new interest and appreciation own at present, the archives are kept at the diocesan among Catholics for their own history. Up to chancery, 209 Walnut Street, where a fire-proof April, 1922, the Society published four volumes of filing cabinet has been provided for the documents, 528 pages each, concerned primarily with the earlier letters, and other manuscripts. periods of the Illinois country. At the present

ixL order to promote the objects of the Society time Rev. Frederic Siedenburg, S.J., is president it was decided to issue an historical publication of the Society, with offices in the Ashland Block, quarterly, and in 1918 the Rev. Dr. Charles L. Chicago.