THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 143 



Colors by Misses Emily P. Mann, Sarah S. Kimball and 

 Mary M. Brooks, and Messrs. Arthur W. Dow, Dwight 

 Blaney and Ross Turner, was held in the rooms of the 

 society. It was opened free to the public, the attendance 

 was very good, and the exhibit received much favorable 

 notice. I would suggest that during the summer months 

 it would perhaps be well to utilize Plummer Hall for a 

 water-color exhibition, so many people visit our town dur- 

 ing these months that it might be made an additional at- 

 traction. 



During last season the Institute entertained many par- 

 ties from kindred and other societies including the Rhode 

 Island Historical Society, the Massachusetts Library Club, 

 classes from Bradford and other schools, etc., and already 

 this season a desire to visit Salem is shown on the part of 

 one or two historical societies. These visits are very 

 helpful, not only in the way of getting our members ac- 

 quainted with those from other states who are engaged in 

 the same work, but also obliging us to keep somewhat 

 well posted in the history of our own town in order to 

 answer properly the questions that are asked in regard to 

 the different historical sites, etc. 



I have so often suggested that the Institute would like 

 to receive anything and everything of historical value, that 

 I am sure you would hardly consider my report complete 

 without again calling your attention to this matter. I 

 want to see this collection grow to such an extent that an 

 entire new building will be needed to display it properly, 

 and I wish we had the building now and the funds to sup- 

 port it, for we need a handsome endowment to carry on 

 the work of the society as it should be done. 



Respectfully submitted, 



HENRY M. BROOKS, 



Secretary. 



