The Second Annual Report of the Associate Committee of Women

THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ASSOCIATE COMMITTEE OF WOMEN. READ AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH 6TH, 1922. To the Board of Directors of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania: This, the second year of your Associate Committee ’a existence has been one of sowing rather than reaping, though the harvest already garnered has not been insignificant. This year the Committee has assiduously planted the seeds of genealogical interest not only along the sunny high¬ ways of ceaseless contact, but also in shady unfamiliar by-ways, where so often flourish beautiful shrubs and ever-bearing fruit trees, and it knows that the Society it serves will, some day if not already, be broader and bigger because of this seed-time. Then, too, the Committee has become more familiar with the ideals and work of the Society. It has passed the period of thinking The Genea¬ logical Society of Pennsylvania a place, as a dear lady once expressed it, “in which to keep one’s genealogical tree ”1 It has come to know that, no better organization yet exists, for the preservation of Pennsylvania Antiquities. For, is not an ancient record-book, now of interest to hundreds and later on in the years to thousands, of as much value to the future, as a mansion house in which lived some one prominent man or family, or a building in which one fact of history, albeit great, had the accident to happen? Through the instrumentality of your Committee, at least two such record-books have been permitted to be copied, and thus insured against the ravages of time .those of the Episcopal churches of Gloria Dei, Old Swedes, and St. James’. Permission has also been obtained for the copying of St. Luke and the Epiphany registers. At each stated Committee meeting, nominations for membership have been acted upon, with an ever-increasing number of life-memberships. Due to the literary activity of Thomas Willing Baleh, Bsq. (a Coun¬ cillor of the Historical Society and member of this Society) that historic justice might be meted out to Johan Printz and his Swedish associates of 1642, for their part in the making of this great Commonwealth, your Committee has prepared a Memorial to his Excellency, William C. Sproul, the present Governor of the State, as well as to the Commissioner of Highways, praying that the highway between Philadelphia and Wilming¬ ton bo hereafter known as the Governor Printz Eighway, in honor of the first chief executive of the- territory now know as Pennsylvania. It is the intention of the Committee to still further emphasize, and at no distant date, the importance of the Swedish immigration to Pennsylvania. The collection of miniatures presented to the Historical Society of — (220) Second Annual Report of Associate Women. 221 Pennsylvania in November, 1921, by Miss Anna J. Magee, a member of this Committee commands particular mention. Tlhe miniatures are individually marked on the reverse side and are as follows : John Hart, 1711-1779; Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. Major John Polhemus, 1738-1833; Revolutionary officer; member of the New Jersey State Society of the Cincinnati. Christian Kneass, 1787-1845 (in young manhood) Christian Kneass (middle age) ; member Second Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, Wan of 1812; Common Councilman of Philadelphia, 1831. Caroline Axford, 1790-1865 (Mrs. Kneass). James Magee, 1802-1878 (in young manhood) James Magee (past middle age). Caroline Axford Kneass, 1810-1886 (young womanhood) Mrs. Magee. Caroline Axford Kneass (as widow of James Magee). Fannie Sarah Magee, 1832-1916. Caroline Lydia Magee, 1836-1861. Eliza Jane Magee, 1837-1906. James Ronaldson Magee, 1839-1914. Horace Magee, 1845-1912 (babyhood) Horace Magee (manhood). Frank Hamilton Magee, 1854-1905 (babyhood) Prank H. Magee (manhood). Anna Justina Magee (the donor). By the death of Mrs. Mifflin, May 27, 1921, your Committee sustained a most serious loss. She was the first woman bo serve on the Board of Directors of the Society, and, as such was made Chairman of the then newly appointed Associate Committee of Women. Mrs. Mifflin showed her appreciation of her relation to the Society and Committee in one of the last acts of her life a bequest of two thousand dollars to the Society. The Committee attended her funeral at the Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany and paid its last tribute to her in flowers, which were meant to express what words could not then do. In her own personality Mrs. Mifflin stood for the best in womanhood, was always alert yet conservative, firm though most generous, gracious with much dignity. By her marriage to James Mifflin, Esq., she represented a name of historic interest to Pennsylvania and one prominent in the social life of Phila¬ delphia, generation after generation, from the days of Governor Mifflin. At the first stated meeting after Mrs. Mifflin 's passing, it was, Resolved that the Committee record on its Minutes its appreciation of all that she meant to the Committee, and the privilege each and all its members enjoyed in serving with and under her direction.’ The close of 1921 found the personnel of the Committee somewhat changed by new appointments to fill old vacancies, but cemented by the same spirit of enthusiasm and endeavor that had marked the original group. Respectfully submitted, NINA LEA, Chairman. — ‘‘ ’ s23 222 Second Annual Report of Associate Women. The Associate Committee of Women: Mrs. Thomas Hand Ball Miss Helen Kirkbride Morton Mrs. Louis F. Benson Mrs. Alvin A. Parker Mrs. C. Howard Colket Mrs. Henry Pemberton, Jr. Mrs. Frederick R. Gerry Mrs. Harry Rogers Miss S. Elizabeth Gilpin Mrs. John Seott, Jr. Miss Margaret Ridgway Grundy Mrs. J. Madison Taylor Mrs. Francis B. Gummere Miss Anne Hollingsworth Wharton Miss Nina Lea, Chairman Miss Mary Couper Williams Miss Anna J. Magee MAY ATHERTON LEACH, Secretary.