Annual Meeting

    November, 1934

    THE Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the Algonquin Club, No. 217 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, on Wednesday, November 21, 1934, at a quarter after seven o’clock in the evening, the President, Samuel Eliot Morison, in the chair.

    With the consent of those present, the reading of the records of the last Stated Meeting was omitted.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported the death, on August 25, 1934, of Emile Bourgeois, an Associate Member; and on November 9, 1934, of William Lawrence Clements, a Corresponding Member.

    Mr. Raymond Walker Stanley, of Boston, was elected a Resident Member; Mr. Wilfred Joseph Doyle, of Boston, was elected an Associate Member; and Mr. George Macaulay Trevelyan, of Cambridge, England, was elected an Honorary Member of the Society.

    The Annual Report of the Council was read by Dr. James L. Huntington on behalf of Mr. Robert Walcott.

    Report of the Council

    DURING the last year the Society has held three stated meetings: in December, at the house of Mr. Augustus P. Loring, Jr.; in February, at the house of the President; and in April, at the house of Mr. Alfred M. Tozzer, in Cambridge. The year has been rich in papers of interest and value, ranging in point of time from the early fishermen in the land of Baccalaos to the present-day restoration of colonial Williamsburg.

    During the past year the following members have been elected:

    Resident:

    • Joseph Henry Beale
    • Paul Birdsall
    • Jeffrey Richardson Brackett
    • Chandler Bullock
    • Hon. Fred Tarbell Field
    • Hermann Frederick. Clarke
    • Albert Harrison Hall
    • Clarence Eldon Walton
    • Alfred Vincent Kidder

    Corresponding:

    • Milton Ellis
    • John Farquhar Fulton

    Honorary:

    • Hon. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
    • Charles Franklin Thwing

    We have lost by death the following Members:

    Harold Murdock, Resident, 1909, died April 5, 1934; interested in the Society throughout his twenty-five years of membership, and constant in his attendance; brilliant and stimulating. After a successful career as a banker, he reverted in later life to those historical studies which were his first love, as evidenced in his Reconstruction of Europe, written during his residence abroad during his early twenties. His wide and accurate knowledge of history, especially that of the latter part of the eighteenth century in England and in this country, was enlivened by an incisive style and pungent wit. In 1919 and 1920, he was a member of a committee appointed by President Lowell to reorganize the finances of Harvard University, and from that time until his death he served as Director of the Harvard University Press.

    Hosea Ballou Morse, Corresponding, 1929, died February 13, 1934. His career was in the Chinese customs service. He was an authority on the history of China, writing many books and pamphlets on that subject, notably, International Relations of the Chinese Empire and The History of the British East India Company in China.

    William Lawrence Clements, Corresponding, 1928, died November 9, 1934; noted for his collection of colonial historical material, which he gave, with a building to house it, to the University of Michigan, of which he was a Regent.

    Emile Bourgeois, Associate, 1927, died August 25, 1934. His reputation was made in the field of foreign policy, but after the exigencies of war had given him an appointment as Conservateur of the National Porcelain Manufactory at Sèvres, he made himself an authority on the history of art. A beautiful writer, brilliant lecturer and teacher, he gave much of his time to helping young Americans studying in Paris.

    Volumes XXIX and XXX of our Publications, consisting of the Records of the Suffolk County Court for the years 1671–1680, were ready for distribution shortly after the last Annual Meeting, and have been extensively and favorably reviewed, as the following extracts show:

    The many striking features present in the legal history of Massachusetts amply justify the care which has been bestowed upon the text; and here, as in other lands and other periods, the critical moment when legal institutions are just taking form is of high significance not only to the specialist but also to the general historian … Legal historians will be grateful to the Colonial Society for its handsome contribution.… Theodore F. T. Plucknett, New England Quarterly, vii. 586–587.

    In editing the two volumes of records of the Suffolk County Court, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts has made a contribution of the first importance to the legal history of the seventeenth century. It is a joy to work with the careful index which has been provided. Richard B. Morris, American Historical Review, xl. 136–137.

    Abundant and valuable as are the facts gathered in these volumes, it is possible that a greater contribution may lie in the mere example of thoroughness and completeness in the work. In the reproduction of the old judicial records of the country it should be possible to maintain a high standard, such, for instance, as that of the Selden Society Publications, but it is possible to fall far short of it … here the editor and the writer of the introduction have started the project on a high level, and their work is an example of great price. Chief Justice Carroll T. Bond, Harvard Law Review, lxvii. 1291.

    All in all, the reviewer considers these volumes two of the most interesting books on American colonial history that it has ever been his pleasure to study. George E. Woodbine, Yale Law Journal, xliii. 1043.

    These two momentous volumes … keep to the highest plateau of skill and craftsmanship in form and content.… A group of stars have done a successful bit of teamwork. Sayre Macneil, California Law Review, xxii. 590.

    These two volumes are superbly bound, the paper is good, and the typography leaves little to be desired. The Colonial Society of Massachusetts in publishing these judicial records has made its debtor everyone who is interested in American legal history.… This reviewer ventures the fond hope and fervent prayer that the superb example set by this Society may prove immediately and effectively contagious. Armistead M. Dobie, Virginia Law Review, xx. 717.

    One serial of Volume XXVIII, continuing the Transactions of the Society, was issued during the spring, and Volume XXXI, containing various Harvard College documents, is in page proof.

    The Society continues to contribute to the expenses of publication of the New England Quarterly.

    The Treasurer submitted his Annual Report, as follows:

    Report of the Treasurer

    In accordance with the requirements of the By-laws, the Treasurer submits his Annual Report for the year ending November 14, 1934.

    Statement of Assets and Funds, November 14, 1934

    ASSETS

    Cash:

    Income

    $11,237.86

     

    Loan to Principal

    9,870.54

    $1,367.32

    Investments at Book Value:    

    Bonds (Market Value $97,443.75)

    $90,099.26

     

    Stocks (Market Value $30,802.50)

    44,907.94

     

    Mortgages

    10,500.00

     

    Savings Bank Deposits

    2,919.64

    148,426.84

    Total Assets

     

    $149,794.16

    FUNDS

    Funds

    $138,556.30

     

    Income

    11,237.86

     

    Total Funds

     

    $149,794.16

    Investments as of November 14, 1934

    BONDS Book Value  

    $3,000 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company General 4’s, 1995

    $2,542.50

     

    5,000 Bell Telephone Company of Canada First 5’s, Series B, 1957

    4,062.50

     

    5,000 Canadian Pacific Railway Equipment Trust 5’s, 1944

    3,872.50

     

    5,000 Cedars Rapids Manufacturing and Power Company First 5’s, 1953

    4,450.00

     

    5,000 Central New England Railway Company First 4’s, 1961

    3,512.50

     

    5,000 Central Pacific Railway Company First and Refunding 4’s, 1949

    3,762.50

     

    5,000 Chester Water Service Company First 4½’s, 1958

    3,375.00

     

    5,000 Chicago and Western Indiana Railway Company Consolidated 4’s, 1952

    3,640.00

     

    5,000 Chicago Junction Railways and Union Stock Yards Company Mortgage and Collateral Trust Refunding 5’s, 1940

    $3,762.50

     

    5,000 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company Refunding and Improvement 4½’s, Series E, 1977

    3,726.76

     

    5,000 Indianapolis Power and Light Company First 5’s, 1957

    4,593.75

     

    5,000 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company First Refunding 6’s, Series A, 1946

    5,000.00

     

    5,000 New England Telephone and Telegraph Company First 5’s, Series A, 1952

    4,875.00

     

    5,000 New York Water Service Company First 5’s, 1951

    3,650.00

     

    5,000 Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company First and Refunding 4’s, Series A, 1961

    4,105.00

     

    5,000 Public Service Company of New Hampshire First and Refunding 4½’s, Series B, 1957

    4,700.00

     

    5,000 Texas Corporation Convertible Debenture 5’s, 1944

    5,012.50

     

    5,000 Texas Electric Service Company First 5’s, 1960

    4,437.50

     

    5,000 Toledo Edison Company First 5’s, 1962

    4,881.25

     

    2,500 United States Cold Storage Company First Mortgage 6’s, 1946

    2,500.00

     

    4,000 United States Cold Storage Company First Mortgage 6’s, 1945

    4,000.00

     

    5,000 Western Union Telegraph Company 5’s, 1960

    5,137.50

     

    5,000 Wickwire Spencer Steel Company Prior Lien Collateral and Refunding 7’s, 1935, Certificate of Deposit

    500.00

     

    Total Bonds

     

    $90,099.26

    STOCKS    

    50 shares American Telephone and Telegraph Company

    $8,593.63

     

    50 shares Consolidated Gas Company of New York, Common

    3,077.50

     

    100 shares Electric Bond and Share Company Cumulative $6.00 Preferred

    10,600.00

     

    50 shares E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company

    2,683.75

     

    50 shares First National Bank of Boston

    1,750.00

     

    1 share First National Bank of the City of New York

    $1,544.81

     

    240 shares General Electric Company, Common

    5,719.50

     

    50 shares Insurance Company of North America

    1,963.75

     

    40 shares Radio Corporation of America, Common

    0.

     

    5 shares Travelers Insurance Company

    2,225.00

     

    50 shares United States Cold Storage Company, 7% Preferred “A”

    6,750.00

     

    50 shares United States Cold Storage Company, Common

     

    Total Stocks

     

    $44,907.94

    First mortgages on improved property in Greater Boston

     

    10,500.00

    Deposit in Warren Institution for Savings

    $2,877.81

     

    Deposit in Provident Institution for Savings

    41.83

    2,919.64

    Total Investments

     

    $148,426.84

    Composition of Funds, November 14, 1934

    Publication Fund, established in 1893 by gift of $100 from Quincy Adams Shaw: composed of sundry small gifts and portions of the Income which were added from year to year. Income only to be used for Publications

    $10,000.00

    General Fund, established in 1893: composed of Admission Fees and Commutations added to Principal, Gains on Sales of Securities, etc. Income only to be used for Current Expenses

    27,624.06

    Benjamin Apthorp Gould Memorial Fund, established in 1897 and 1898 by subscriptions in his memory. Income only to be used

    10,000.00

    Edward Wheelwright Fund, established in 1900 under his will without restriction as to use

    20,000.00

    Robert Charles Billings Fund, established in 1903 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    10,000.00

    Robert Noxon Toppan Fund, established in 1904 by a gift in his memory from his widow. Income only to be used

    5,000.00

    Robert Charles Winthrop, Jr., Fund, established in 1905 under his will. Increased by $2,000 in 1924 under the will of Elizabeth Winthrop. Income only to be used

    5,000.00

    Andrew McFarland Davis Fund, established in 1908 by a gift from him to be added to the permanent publication funds. Income only to be used

    2,000.00

    William Watson Fund, established in 1916 under his will without restriction as to use

    1,000.00

    George Vasmer Leverett Fund, established in 1920 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    $30,000.00

    Henry H. Edes Bequest, established in 1923 under his will. To accumulate until it reaches the sum of $3,000, when it shall be called the Martha Rebecca Hunt Fund. Income only to be used for special purposes

    2,877.81

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund, established by sundry subscriptions from 1923 to 1925. To accumulate until it reaches the sum of $10,000. Income only to be used for Publications

    5,054.43

    George Nixon Black Fund, established in 1929 under his will without restriction as to use

    10,000.00

    Total Funds

    $138,556.30

    Changes in Principal of Funds

    Total Funds, November 14, 1933

     

    $139,415.78

    Add—Additions to General Fund:    

    Gain on sale of $2,000 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company 4’s, 1995

    $217.28

     

    Savings Bank Interest transferred from Income

    1.21

     
    Additions to Special Funds:    

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund

    286.10

     

    Henry H. Edes Bequest

    84.43

    589.02

       

    $140,004.80

    Deduct—Charges to Special Funds:    

    Balance of Horace Everett Ware Fund transferred to First Church in Boston

     

    1,448.50

    Total Funds, November 14, 1934

     

    $138,556.30

    Income Cash Receipts and Disbursements

    Balance, November 14, 1933

     

    $11,983.02

    RECEIPTS:    

    Interest

    $5,214.53

     

    Dividends

    1,864.50

     

    Annual Assessments

    690.00

     

    Admission Fees

    90.00

     

    Sales of the Society’s Publications

    609.00

     

    Contributions

    23.50

     

    Refund of 1932 tax on Alum Mortgage (see contra)

    123.10

     

    Total Receipts of Income

     

    8,614.63

       

    $20,597.65

    DISBURSEMENTS:    

    Editor’s Salary

    $1,000.00

     

    Services to Editor

    175.00

     

    For Publications:

       

    Volume 28

    $1,069.17

       

    Volumes 29 and 30

    3,593.85

       

    Volume 31

    61.50

    4,724.52

     

    New England Quarterly

    2,000.00

     

    Annual Dinner

    444.40

     

    Notices and Other Expenses of Meetings

    187.95

     

    Stewart, Watts and Bollong, accounting services

    100.00

     

    Stenographic Services

    100.00

     

    Storage on Stock

    69.88

     

    Accrued Interest on Securities Purchased

    53.75

     

    1932 Tax on Alum Mortgage (see contra)

    123.10

     

    Fire Insurance

    21.60

     

    Rent of Union Safe Deposit Box

    22.00

     

    Contribution to Writings on American History

    50.00

     

    Postage and Insurance on Collecting Union Pacific Railroad Company Bonds

    .45

     

    Collection Charges

    .30

     

    Check Tax

    .74

     

    Interest on Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund added to Principal

    286.10

     

    Total Disbursements of Income

     

    $9,359.79

    Balance of Income Cash, November 14, 1934

     

    $11,237.86

    Principal Cash Receipts and Disbursements

    Loan to Principal, November 14, 1933

     

    $10,398.85

    RECEIPTS:

       

    $2,000 Union Pacific Railroad Company Equipment Trust 7’s, matured June 1, 1934

    $2,000.00

     

    2,000 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company General 4’s, 1995

    1,912.28

     

    First and Final Payment by the First National Bank of the City of New York in liquidation of First Security Company

    20.19

     

    Transferred from Income to Principal:

       

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund, Income

    286.10

     

    Interest on Warren Institution for Savings Account

    84.43

     

    Interest on Provident Institution for Savings Account

    1.21

     

    Total Receipts of Principal

     

    4,304.21

       

    $6,094.64

    DISBURSEMENTS:    

    $3,000 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company 4½’s Series E, 1977

    $2,241.76

     

    Horace Everett Ware Fund, Balance transferred to First Church in Boston

    1,448.50

     

    Interest on Warren Institution for Savings Account, added to Principal

    84.43

     

    Interest on Provident Institution for Savings Account, added to Principal

    1.21

     

    Total Disbursements of Principal

     

    $3,775.90

    Loan to Principal, November 14, 1934

     

    $9,870.54

    James M. Hunnewell

    Treasurer

    Report of the Auditing Committee

    The undersigned, a Committee appointed to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for the year which ended November 14, 1934, have attended to their duty by employing Messrs. Stewart, Watts and Bollong, Public Accountants and Auditors, who have made an audit of the accounts and examined the securities on deposit in Box 1052-E in the Union Safe Deposit Vaults.

    We herewith submit their report, which has been examined and accepted by the Committee.

    George P. Anderson

    Nathaniel T. Kidder

    Auditing Committee

    The several reports were accepted and referred to the Committee of Publication.

    On behalf of the committee appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year the following list was presented; and a ballot having been taken, these gentlemen were unanimously elected:

    • President Samuel Eliot Morison
    • Vice-Presidents Hon. Arthur Prentice Rugg
      • Chester Noyes Greenough
    • Recording Secretary Augustus Peabody Loring, Jr.
    • Corresponding Secretary Hon. Robert Walcott
    • Treasurer James Melville Hunnewell
    • Registrar Robert Dickson Weston
    • Member of the Council for Three Years Stephen Willard Phillips

    After the meeting was dissolved, dinner was served. The guests of the Society were: Dr. Reginald Fitz, Mr. Robert H. George, Mr. Jerome D. Green, Professor Frank W. C. Hersey, the Reverend Arthur L. Kinsolving, Mr. John D. Merrill, Professor Eugen Rosenstock, Professor Gaetano Salvemini, Mr. Raymond W. Stanley, and Mr. Albert Thorndike.

    After the dinner, Professor Salvemini addressed the Society and its guests.