BUFFALO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Foremost among institutions of its kind west of New England and the older Atlantic sea board cities is the Historical Society of Buf falo, N. Y. Founded in the spring of 1862, Millard Fillmore was its first president, and it was at his suggestion that 50 citizens of Buffalo agreed to pay $20 each per year for five years, thus founding the first maintenance fund in the institution. In President Fill more's inaugural address, 2 July 1862, the principal objects were stated to be to cover, procure and preserve whatever may relate to the history of western New York in general and the city of Buffalo in par ticular.s For many years the Society occupied various leased quarters, with its small museum and -library; its progress was slow, but throughout its more than 40 years of existence it has always included among its members the most substantial and representative families of Buffalo. Grover Cleveland was a member, and Wilson S. Bissell, afterward Postmaster-General in President Cleveland's Cabinet, was one of its managers. From 1887 to 1902, the society occupied rooms in the Buffalo Public Library building. The nucleus of a building fund has been formed by a gift of $5,000 from Hon. James M. Smith, and various building projects had been under consideration when, in 1900, legislation inn dent to the construction at Buffalo of a build ing for New York State at the Pan-American Exposition opened the way for securing a permanent and worthy home for the Mr. Andrew Langdon, president of the Society 1894-1910, was the first to suggest an historical building on park lands and was tireless in his well-directed efforts to secure it. Assisted by the Hon. Wilson S. Bissell, he prevailed upon Governor Roosevelt to per mit the employment of a local architect to design the New York State building at the Pan-American Exposition and supervise its construction. George Cary of Buffalo was engaged for that purpose and designed the beautiful building of Doric architectural style, that was used at the Pan-American Exposi tion as the New York State building, and now houses the possessions of the Buffalo Histori cal Society. Through the efforts of Senator Henry W. Hill, aided by Hon. Wilson S. Bissell, Andrew Langdon and others, a bill was enacted which enabled the State to ex pend $100,000 out of its Exposition appropria tion of $300,000 toward the erection of a permanent building and also provided for adding thereto $25,000 from the city of Buf falo and funds from the Historical Society, said building to be placed on park lands and at the close of the Exposition to become the property of the Historical Society, the city being bound to make an annual appropriation toward its maintenance. Under this agree
ment a building was erected in Delaware Park at a cost of some $200,000. The only per manent building connected with the Pan American Exposition, it has the added interest of being the scene of President McKinley's last public reception, 5 Sept. 1901, prior to that held the next day in the Temple of Music at which he received the wound from which he died 14 September.
The Historical Building stands in a beauti ful and easily accessible site in Delaware Park, the principal park of Buffalo. It is 130 by 80 feet in dimensions, 50 feet high, per haps the most notable example in America of the Doric order of architecture. It is of white marble, the northern facade faced with three quarter columns, the south side having a portico 61 by 17 feet, embellished. by 10 Doric columns and approached by marble steps 40 feet in width. The columns are of the same proportions as those of the Parthenon, three feet six inches in diameter at base. Within the chief structural material is black marble. Standing on sloping ground, the edifice has three available floors, the basement being for the most part but little below the ground level. In the middle of the main floor is the grand hall, two stories high and lighted, as is the upper floor, by side windows and skylights. The library, lecture-hall and administrative offices arc on the main floor, the museum and portrait galleries above. A notable feature of the building is the massive bronze doors, presented by Andrew Langdon, the design of J. Woodley Gosling, the sculptural work by 12. Hinton Perry, the principal panels bearing female figures typifying "History" and °Eth nology"; the bronze transom contains a group showing "Science" and "Art." In the central hall is a bronze steue of Lincoln, Charles H. Niehaus, sculptor, a gift to the Society from the Lincoln Birthday Association of Buffalo, now affiliated with it. Here also have been erected bronze tablets, in memory of two resi dents of Buffalo who became Presidents of the United States, Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland.