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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 1, Issue 4, December 1959

The Society's Search for Premises

The Society's Search for Premises

page Ten

The possibility of the Nelson Historical Society obtaining a suitable room in the present City Council Chambers when they were vacated by the council was mentioned by the president. Mr L. E. H. Baigent, at a meeting of the Nelson Historical Society.

Mr Baigent was discussing the question of obtaining suitable premises for a proposed Museum Trust Board in which could be housed valuable early records, including the Bett collection.

Mr Baigent stressed that there was nothing firm about the proposal. It depended on the council getting a suitable building on the Miller's Acre area which was being developed.

The committee was not satisfied with the progress that had been made towards obtaining a building for its records, Mr Baigent said, but it was not a financial institution and it was difficult to see a way out of the problem. The committee was constantly watching for an appropriate building, but without substantial success so far.

Proposals for the formation of a Museum Trust Board on a provincial basis to take over the responsibility of the museum and archives, and so free the Nelson Institute from the museum and leave the way open for a municipal library if so desired, are now in the hands of the Nelson City Council, according to the annual report of the historical society.

This was the outcome of a meeting between a committee from the society and the council, which was held with a view to providing accommodation in Nelson for the collection of Nelson historical records left under the will of the late patron, Dr F. A. Bett.

Terms of Will

The report said that under the terms of the will the four trustees had been instructed:

1."To place same in the care of the Alexander Turnbull Library for safe custody and display."
2."When they are satisfied that suitable permanent fireproof and earthquake proof accommodation is available in Nelson for the storage and display thereof, to place the same in such accommodation accordingly for safe custody and display."

"The trustees have made it clear that suitable accommodation means not only a suitable building but also an independent authority, with adequate funds assured for the purpose, to take full and permanent responsibility for the custody and display of the collection," the report said.

Work Outlined

The report continued.

"The membership of the society is 134. During the year nine new members joined and four resigned.

"While the total number of accessions, 183, is lower this year, it includes some very valuable material, one of which is 45 volumes of the F. G. Gibbs diary (1883–1952).

"The work of the records committee has made steady progress and the regular Monday evenings have been well maintained. Cataloguing and cross indexing occupies a great amount of time.

"Newspaper cuttings have all been mounted and are being indexed, and the compilation of an index to Broad's Jubilee History of Nelson has been started. This has been badly needed and should be of great value.

"Several steel filing cabinets have been purchased during the year and these have been of great assistance. Time consuming and tedious work falls on the shoulders of the members of the records committee in searching for information asked for by members of the public."