NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.

Mrs. Nellie Stedman Cox.—Mrs. Cox was the daughter of Ebenezer Hiram Stedman and Mary Warner Steffee. She was born on March 24, 1855, at Stedmantown, Franklin County, Kentucky. In 1874 she was married to Cornelius C. Cox, a wealthy ranchman of Lagarto, Texas, who had served in the navy of the Republic of Texas, and in the army of the Confederate States during the war between the States. She donated to the Texas State Hïstorical Association a manuscript autobiography of her husband, in recognition of which, she was made one of the first life members of that Association. Mrs. Cox removed from Texas to Kentucky a few years ago, returning to Texas in the spring of last year. She died at the home of her sister in law, Mrs. Harmon Stedman, at Corpus Christi, July 7, 1908. Mrs. Cox was also a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, a charter member of the Texas Woman's Press Association, and a pioneer in free kindergarten work in Texas.

Adele B. Looscan.

The Lamar Papers.—The Thirty-first Legislature passed an act providing for the purchase of the Lamar Papers. Under this authority the Governor purchased these valuable historical manuscripts on July 20, 1909, and had them placed in the State Library. The Lamar Papers number between 2500 and 3000 pieces, which vary in size and extent from a mere slip to that of a volume containing several hundred pages. The collection includes data and manuscripts collected by Lamar, and letters and documents either written by or addressed to Lamar. The character of the contents of this collection and its voluminousness are explained by two facts: first, Lamar held important offices in the Republic of Texas, being secretary of war under Burnet, vice-president under Houston, and president from 1838 to 1841; secondly, Lamar planned to write “a faithful account of the origin and revolutionary struggles of the Republic, that the children of the patriots, while they are in the full enjoyment of the independence bequeathed to them, may the more watchfully guard and valiantly defend the precious boon purchased with the price of their father's blood.” ¹⁴⁸ The papers were purchased direct from the daughter of Ex-President Lamar, Mrs. Loretta Lamar Calder, of Beaumont, Texas.

E. W. Winkler.

The Texas Library and Historical Commission.—Among the laws passed by the Thirty-first Legislature is that creating the Texas Library and Historical Commission. Notwithstanding that this law is a conservative piece of legislation, it took much hard work to secure its final passage.

The Texas State Historical Association was organized in 1897. In 1899 a bill was introduced into the Legislature which provided for the creation of a Texas State Historical Commission. The commission was to be composed of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History, and two other persons, members of the Texas State Historical Association, to be appointed by the Governor. The Commission was to have control of the State Library. The law then governing the State Library was to continue in force under the Commission. This bill passed the Senate.

The Texas State Library Association was organized in 1902. This association, with the co-operation of the Federation of Women's Clubs and the State Teachers' Association, drafted a bill which was introduced into the Legislature in 1903. The bill provided for the creation of a State Library Commission, which was to be composed of five persons to be appointed by the Governor, and whose duties it was to establish traveling libraries and otherwise encourage free public libraries. It was to have no connection with the State Library. The bill passed to engrossment in the Senate.

A bill similar to that of 1903 was again introduced in 1905. The name of the commission was changed to Texas Library Commission and the commissioners were to have control of the State Library. This bill met with opposition, and made little progress.

Nothing daunted the Texas State Library Association with its allies introduced in 1907 the bill of the previous session in much amplified form. The principal changes being the continuation in force of the law governing the State Library and the provision for a legislative reference section in the State Library. This bill failed to pass.

The bill introduced in 1909 embodied the substance of the bills of 1899 and 1907. However, the clause relating to traveling libraries was eliminated during its passage. The bill as finally passed provides for the creation of the Texas Library and Historical Commission, to be composed of three members appointed by the Governor and two members ex-officio—the Professor of History in the University of Texas and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The duties of the Commission are as follows: (1) to control and administer the State Library, to collect materials relating to the history of Texas and the adjoining States, to preserve, classify and publish the manuscript archives, to encourage historical work and research; (2) to aid and encourage public libraries, and (3) to aid those who are studying the problems to be dealt with by legislation. The Commission held its first meeting on March 30, 1909, and is composed of Dr. George P. Garrison, Professor of History in the University of Texas, Chairman; Mrs. J. C. Terrel, Fort Worth, Vice-Chairman; Major George W. Littlefield, Austin; Hon. Richard Mays, Corsicana; Hon. R. B. Cousins, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and E. W. Winkler, State Librarian and Ex-officio Secretary.

E. W. Winkler.