190 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



6. The matter of greatest interest and significance in relation to the future 

 development of the cottage is the cooperation that has been effected between 

 the Association and the local chapters of the Daughters of the American Rev- 

 olution. It began unexpectedly, in a request from Mersereau Chapter for 

 permission to hold a meeting at the cottage on Tuesday afternoon, November 

 9, 1915. The committee was favorably disposed; the meeting was held and 

 the chapter suggested that it would be pleased to instal a loan collection ot 

 suitable objects and articles of furniture if a room could be assigned for the 

 purpose. 



The committee decided that the suggestion was of sufficient importance 

 not only to warrant favorable action in connection with Mersereau Chapter 

 but also to broaden it, if feasible, and enlist a similar interest on the part oi 

 other chapters. With this end in view the committee, on Monday evening, 

 November 15, arranged a conference at the Museum, on which occasion rep- 

 resentatives trom all of the local chapters were present. The matter of 

 cooperation in. the furnishing and use ot the cottage was informally discussed. 

 Each chapter expressed a desire to assist in the furnishing, and the committee 

 expressed its intention of recommending to the Board of Trustees that in 

 return for such assistance in making the cottage attractive the chaptefs be 

 allowed the free use of the premises as a meeting place. Another conference 

 was arranged on Saturday, December 11, at the cottage, on which occasion a 

 tentative agreement was arrived at in regard to the part which each chapter 

 would take in connection with the furnishing of certain rooms, viz. : 



Abraham Cole Chapter, the hallway. 



Richmond County Chapter, the parlor or living room. 



Staten Island Chapter, the dining room. 



Mersereau Chapter, one of the bedrooms and the kitchen. 



The Board of Trustees approved of the plan and authorized the committee 

 to confer further with the chapters and determine any details that might be 

 mutually agreed upon. 



On Tuesday afternoon, December 28, Richmond County Chapter held its 

 regular monthly meeting at the cottage, and an agreement was entered into 

 between the chapter and the committee in regard to the proportion of expense 

 for which each party would be responsible in connection with any permanent 

 improvements such as painting, etc., which might be deemed necessary for the 

 proper renovation of the living room, preparatory to the installation of fur- 

 niture; and subsequently a similar agreement was entered into with x'Vbraham 

 Cole' Chapter in connection with the hallway. The latter chapter was the 

 first one to move in the matter, and its allotted work is already well under way. 



The Board of Trustees approved the action of the committee and authorized 

 it to enter into formal terms of agreement with the several chapters. These 

 terms are being formulated; and in the near future it is confidently expected 

 that not only the care and maintenance of the cottage, but also its develop- 

 ment as an old colonial museum, will be systematically and comprehensively 

 carried on, in accordance with definite plans and under carefully considered 

 terms and conditions, and suitable rules and regulations. 



