Roy Franklin Nichols 1896-1973

Roy Franklin Nichols 1896-1973 T is with sorrow that the Society reports the death, on 11 January 1973, I of its Honorary President, Roy Franklin Nichols, in his 77th year. A Life Member since 15 October 1940, he was elected President of the Society 14 May 1946, filling the unexpired term of Harold E. Gillingham who had resigned because of ill health. Dr. Nichols served as President until 15 October 1957, when, because of his increased responsibilities as Vice-Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, he felt obliged to resign, whereupon he was elected Honorary President. Recent members of the Society are not generally aware that during Dr' Nichols' active association with our Society, its present policies and activities were initiated. His first recommendation for modernizing the Society was to urge the initiation of a microfilming program to increase the Society's Collections, a membership drive, and an increase in life membership. He encouraged the establishment of a group of Fellows to be elected on the basis of the excellence of their published genealogical works. He encouraged the establishment of a regular series of monthly genealogical programs, as well as the work of the Associate Committee of Women in arranging the vast collection of family material donated to the Society over the years- In 1956 he spon sored the Course in Genealogical Methods, the first of its kind offered in the Greater Philadelphia area. This was also the year the Society's collections were moved from Stille Hall on the first floor of the Historical Society to the second floor stacks where air-conditioning and new lighting were introduced. During his years as President, his greatest contribution was his emphasis on and belief in the application of scholarly methods to genealogical research. He insisted on the inter-dependence of history and genealogy as the surest way to portray the whole man (in contrast to the isolated man in a series of "begals") and provided the impetus for the upgrading of genealogical reporting. He presented his points of view of these programs in papers which appeared in the Society's Magazine: "Fellows of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania," in Volume XVIII (1950); "Milestones of the Society's Past versus Millstones on the Society's Path," delivered at the 61st Annual Meeting 36 Memorial Notice 37 of the Society, 9 March 1953, and published in the No. 1 issue of Volume XX (1955) as "The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1892-1952"; and "Training for a Profession," in the No. 2 issue of Volume XX (1956). After Dr. Nichols left the Presidency, his continuing interest in genealogy was evident. When he was guest speaker at a dinner given by the Associate Committee of Women on 30 September 1960, his subject was "Life Without Ancestors." He addressed the 74th Annual Meeting of the Society on 29 March 1966, speaking on "The Significance of Genealogy." Thus the Society today in large part is a reflection of the still continuing long-range programs first instituted by the Pulitzer Prize winning historian, Roy Franklin Nichols. To him the Society will be forever indebted. Announcement The resignation of HANNAH BENNER ROACH as Editor of The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine was accepted with regret by the Directors of The Genealogical Sociey of Pennsylvania at their regular meeting held 17 October 1972. Mn. Roach became a member of the Publication Committee of the Society in 1958 and has been recognized as the Editor of its magazine since 1962. In these fifteen years of devoted service she has continuously aimed at a standard of editorial policy and the presentation of scholarly genealogical material in a manner comparable to that exhibited in contemporary historical journals. Her success in this endeavor is well documented by the magazine. Mrs. Roach will continue as a vice president of the Society and as a member of its Publication Committee. The editorial functions of The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine will be performed by Mr. Conrad Wilson whose appointment was confirmed by the Board of Directors on 19 December 1972. Charles B. Barclay. President