THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 141 



an interest in historical and scientific pnrsnits throughout 

 the connty and has brought together within reach of the 

 student and investigator, an invakiable collection of mate- 

 rial otherwise unattainable. The value of such an institu- 

 tion to any community can hardly be overestimated. 



"In response to the appeal as herein set forih, it is 

 hoped that the friends of the Institute, whether inhabi- 

 tants of Essex County or belonging to that numerous class 

 fondly designated as 'the Salem people abroad,' will give 

 their aid to accomplish this end. A home of its own has 

 been secured and it now devolves upon its friends and well 

 wishers to fit it for occupancy, for the benefit of all. In the 

 new building can be gathered and preserved the records 

 and relics of the old families of the county, the portraits 

 that have been handed down from generation to generation, 

 the histories of cities and towns, — in fact all that pertains 

 to the old life and the new, of the county. Past experience 

 justifies the belief that, with a rallying centre so stable, 

 there will be a constant influx of books, manuscripts, works 

 of art, things new and old ; a collection that will please the 

 curious, delight the antiquarian, instruct the student and 

 historian, and benefit every class in the community." 



To this appeal, a prompt and generous response was 

 made as follows : 



DONORS TO THE DAL AND HOUSE FUND. 



From Mrs. Susan S. Kimball, . . . $ 200 00 



*' Mrs. Grace A. Oliver, ... 50 00 



♦' Col. T. W. Higginson, ... 5 00 



<* John C. Holmes, Detroit, . . 5 00 



«« Mrs. Nancy D. Cole, . . . 1,000 00 



«« Rev. E. B. Willson, ... 100 00 



«' George C. Lee, Boston, ... 100 00 



" James Davis, Gloucester, . . 1 00 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XX 10 



