66 GARDINER GREENE HUBBARD 



Mr. Ross : The honorable part has been assigned to me of 

 speaking of the late President of our societ}^ with regard to his 

 business activities and as a citizen of the District of Columbia. 



My last meeting with him was on an occasion when he was 

 serving this people in a most effective manner. In the month of 

 September, 1897, a committee of the National Educational Asso- 

 ciation came to Washington to consider its availability as the 

 city in which to hold their next annual gathering. Through the 

 courtesy of the proprietor of the Riggs house a banquet was given 

 to the visiting delegates and to the local committees, in order 

 that our citizens might confer with the representatives of the 

 National Association and explain to them the exceptional advan- 

 tages offered here in comparison with the other cities under con- 

 sideration. Mr Hubbard was one of Washington's most influ- 

 ential champions at that meeting. As I recall the enthusiasm 

 and earnestness with which he portrayed the great educational 

 features of the capital, it is difficult to realize the truth that he 

 was then about 75 years of age. To him and to the other re- 

 sourceful promoters of our cause is due the gratifying result that 

 Washington will, in July next, welcome the largest convention 

 of educators ever assembled in the United States. 



Amid all the cares and responsibilities which attended his 

 useful life, Mr Hubbard never evaded any municipal duty. 

 While he never sought preferment by the appointment of the 

 executive officers of the District, yet his practical ability and 

 his zeal were so generally recognized that successive boards of 

 District Commissioners appreciated the fact that they served and 

 promoted District interests by appointing him to positions of 

 trust and responsibility. In May, 1896, he was selected as^ a 

 member of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition Commission. 

 In June, 1896, he was chosen a member of the board of trustees 

 of the Free Public Library. In March, 1897, he was appointed 

 one of the commission for the Omaha Exposition of 1898. He 

 was also an active member of the board of directors of the Cen- 

 tral Dispensary and Emergency Hospital. The duties pertain- 

 ing to these positions were willingly assumed by him, notwith- 

 standing his exacting engagements to the scientific societies of 

 the District ; and in so far as any work could be done, it was per- 

 formed by him with fidelity and ability. 



Next to the great cause of scientific research, he loved his 

 adopted home. There was not a movement made having for its 

 end the prestige, the adornment, or the development of the Na- 



