LINKS WITH PAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 October 1942, Page 2

LINKS WITH PAST

A NELSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PURPOSE OF ITS FORMATION (Contributed) The Nelson Early Settlers’ Association and the Centennial Celebrations Committee have, by their thorough and comprehensive researches, provided us with a valuable and illuminating record of those interesting pages in the history of early Nelson, and their efforts have undoubtedly produced a twofold effect on the minds of many Nelsonians. With that vivid picture of what took place when those worthy men and women pioneered the settlement of the province, has also come the consciousness that such links with the past, the steps by which Nelson became established and developed, are likely to be lost in the haze of another age, a page of history will slowly turn over for good and all—except, fortunately, for the zealous interests of a few scholarly minds. And is the story of our past, so rich in its setting, so vivid in its incidents, so important in its political developments, and so noble in the ideals of its colonists to be kept alive only in an odd private library of an enthusiast or in the researches of students of history outside Nelson? Surely the interest of Nelsonians in this almost unique history and environment is too genuine to fail to provide future generations with a permanent and complete record of the story from conception right through successive decades. With this purpose in mind and realising its obligations to future generations. the Nelson Institute, that organisation first formed in London to advance in some measure the cultural and intellectual pursuits of the first settlers, gave due consideration to such practical steps to collect and preserve for all time in word picture and symbol the progressive story of Nelson province, and the following resolution was placed on its minute book at a recent meeting: ‘'That the Nelson Institute form the nucleus of a Nelson Historical Society, and that the Early Settlers' Association be informed of this intention.” Be it noted that the Institute, a public institution of Nelson, in forming the nucleus thus gives permanency to the proposed body; and moreover the Institute has also satisfactorily examined the question of the safe custody of historical records and exhibits. The Nelson Institute accordingly desires that full publicity be given to its action and purpose in order to secure the fullest co-operation of all who are likely to be interested in the objects of such an Historical Society. It is suggested that they should communicate with the secretary or communicate with any member of the committee. Furthermore the committee would welcome presentations to the proposed

, society of historical records such as documents, letters, photographs, pictures, illustrations and books—anything that will provide continuous links in the chain of historical data: and it is strongly urged that care be taken to see that nothing of such value be unwittingly lost or destroyed, or that it should leave Nelson and thus be lost to the researches of the Nelson Historical Society.