Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/95



A few years ago the State of Kansas provided for the mark* ing of the course of the old Santa Fe Trail across that State; last year a commission created by act of the legislature of Nebraska undertook the marking of the old Oregon Trail throughout its course in that state. Would it not be seemly for the State of Oregon to take cognizance of its wealth historical prestige?

The legislature of Indiana at its last session provided for the initial steps toward erecting a building which shall house the state library and museum. This building is designed to be a "permanent memorial for the centennial of Indiana's statehood." The state and local archives of that commonwealth have been examined as to their safety and the need is seen for the permanent and proper housing of these records. It is being strongly urged that all documents, both state and local, which are not in current use, be placed under the care of the department of archives and history.

At the eighth annual conference of historical societies held at Buffalo in December one of the two principal subjects of discussion was historical society buildings. The speakers emphasized the need of clear and definite ideas of the purposes to be served by such a building. Among these were that it should be useful to as many people in a community as possible; that it should contain an auditorium of ample size, thoroughly equipped for entertainments and especially for illustrated lectures; the offices should be adapted to the sort of work to be carried on and that the building should contain some place where the quiet essential to historical and literary work may be found.

At the third annual conference of archivists, also held in conjunction with the meeting of the American Historical Association at Buffalo, the problem of protecting archives from fire was the main topic of discussion. This was suggested by the recent catastrophes at Albany and at Jefferson City. Constant supervision, with fire-fighting apparatus in readiness, was counted indispensable even in a building structurally fireproof.