64 GARDINER GREENE HUBBARD 



upon the sphere of the Memorial Association of the District of 

 Columbia, of which he was himself an active and earnest mem- 

 ber. But, upon discussion of this suggestion by gentlemen pres- 

 ent who were affiliated with both societies, it was the concur- 

 rent judgment of the meeting that the objects proposed for the 

 Historical Society were of a much more comprehensive scope, 

 embracing the wide field of investigation of the annals of Wash- 

 ington and the District of Columbia, its foundation, history (civil, 

 literary, political, and ecclesiastical), biography, statistics, public 

 works, education, and development general^. The special aim 

 of the Memorial Association, on the other hand, was to preserve 

 and commemorate historic buildings, marking by tablets or oth- 

 erwise ancient landmarks, and endeavoring to perpetuate an in- 

 terest in the past of Washington city by fitting memorials. 



At the meeting following the preliminary conference referred ■ 

 to, namely, on the 12th of April, 1894, the Historical Society was 

 fully organized. Gardiner G. Hubbard was one of the original 

 charter members, signed the constitution, and was elected first 

 vice-president of the society. His great preoccupation, how- 

 ever, with the work of other societies, and especially that of the 

 National Geographic Society, over which he presided with such ' 

 signal ability, prevented his attendance at the monthly meetings 

 of the Historical Society, and for this he frequently expressed 

 his regret. On May 29, 1894, feeling his inability longer to hold 

 himself ready to discharge the duties of vice-president, he tend- 

 ered his resignation of that office in a letter, assigning as a ground 

 for his action that he was unable to give to its duties his per- 

 sonal attention. The resignation was accepted, and Hon. John 

 A. Kasson was chosen vice-president in place of Mr Hubbard, 

 and succeeded to the presidency, by election, after the death of 

 Dr Joseph M. Toner, the first president of the society. 



At a later day Mr Hubbard, continuing his membership, rec- 

 ommended to the society, in a letter of November 29, 1895, 

 through the secretary, a lecture by Professor Lewis on "Lafayette 

 and the Historians," which, however, was not delivered. 



Regarding Mr Hubbard's life-long interest in historical* sub- 

 jects, those who knew him the best can best testify. An earnest 

 student and a wide reader from early years, he was also a busy 

 and intelligent collector of books. Upon the history of countries 

 he read much and was unusually well informed. His many 

 addresses and articles contributed to the Geographic Society 

 evinced the breadth of his culture and the wealth of his knowl- 



