Letter, Robert Wolcott to Frank H. Shoemaker,1904, Jan. 19
January 19, 1904
1904
Omaha, January 19, 1904.
Dear Wolcott:
If present plans are carried out, I shall be somewhere on the
Pacific Coast by January 30th; if matters are deferred for any reason,
the probability is that the date named will find me too busy getting
ready for the business of the trip to attend the annual meeting. This
is not to my liking, as I hope you can imagine without difficulty.
However, as I know of no remedy for the condition, I must make up my
mind to be absent, and for that reason I desire to express my views
regarding the proposed amendments which are to be brought up at the
session for consideration.
I favor an amendment increasing the dues of active members to $2
per annum, and dues of associate members to $1. A great proportion
of our members are associates, and it is simply good business sense
to make their dues sufficient to cover the expense of the Proceedings.
Possibly a compromise of $1.50 for active members and 75 cents for
associates might be worth considering, but there are disadvantages
about the matter of such fractions. We should endeavor to increase
our revenue at least 50%, and while the $1.50 and 75¢ rates would do
this if the membership remained at the present figures, there will
doubtless be considerable falling off, caused partly by loss of inter-
est and partly by any increase which is named, however reasonable.
Both classes should of course be increased proportionately.
[1904, Jan. 19]
2
It seems to me that the weak place in our whole organization is
in the office of Treasurer. I do not know what to suggest as a remedy,
unless something in the way of compensation could be arranged to make
it worth while to the Treasurer to do his duty. It is hardly reason-
able to expect members or associates to keep up their dues unless re-
quests are systematically made, and it is my impression that from the
start our Treasurers have been very indifferent and inactive. I would
be glad to have this considered at the meeting, if you think it ex-
pedient, or that anything could be gained by it, as I believe it to
be our weakest point.
The plan of making a quorum for the transaction of business con-
sist of the members present, while it may be the only means of making
certain the holding of meetings with our scattered membership, is un-
like anything of which I have ever heard, and I am afraid will appear
ridiculous; for if we can not scare up enough enthusiasm over our
meetings to insure the attendance once a year of say one-sixth of our
active members, it will appear to critical persons that there is little
excuse for meetings being held. This does not come gracefully from one
who is to be absent, but I regard mine as an exceptional case; for if
I were in this section of the country I would surely attend, as I think
my past record will prove. I would suggest that instead of "those
present" constituting a quorum, some definite number or proportion be
named, as the idea of one man holding a business session, which would
be possible under the sweeping terms of the suggested amendment, is
exceedingly funny.
[1904, Jan. 19]
3
As to the proposition to make the active membership open to non-
residents, I am radically opposed to it, once and always. This is one
of the jagged edges of the rock upon which the Iowa association went
to pieces. I take it to be simply a revenue measure, and it appears
to me that if we have not sufficient material in the State to work
upon and sufficient members within our borders to work upon it and
support the organization, it is time to quit. I do not see what we
could gain by admitting outsiders, excepting possibly in a financial
way, as our work should be local to be of the greatest value. Our in-
dividuality is worth a great deal to us as an association--a great deal
more, I think, than the haul we could get by working a drag-net across
the continent; half of the catch would spoil before we could use it.
There are many who jump at the idea of going into anything new, and
there is no doubt we would get many members--of the one-year class,
which I do not think we want. I am thoroughly in earnest about this,
and my chief regret in being away from the meeting is in the fact
that this question is to be brought up. I shall be deeply disappointed
if it carries, for I firmly believe it would be the beginning of the
end of our best usefulness. Individuality is the point.
Very truly yours,
Letter, Robert Wolcott to Frank H. Shoemaker, ?, Jan. 25
January 25, ????
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
LINCOLN
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
HENRY B. WARD, PROFESSOR
ZOOLOGIST STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
ROBERT H. WOLCOTT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
WILLIAM A. WILLARD, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
RALPH S. LILLIE, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR
FRANKLIN D. BARKER, INSTRUCTOR
CAROLINE E. STRINGER
S. FRED PRINCE, ARTIST
Lincoln, Janry. 25 -
My dear Shoemaker -
I have been trying to get a let-
ter off to you ever since Friday, yours came to-
day. Am very sorry you cannot be here as I hoped
to have you at our home. We look for Mr. Van Sant
and Miss Van Sant, and others - expect, among us, to
entertain all the Omaha people who come down -
I enclose a list of Omaha members - it makes
quite a showing - and hoped you would have time
to make a call on certain ones.
When do you return from your trip? Shall probably
be in Omaha Febry. 19 & 20 -
If you cannot come can you not use telephone a
little and be sure of a good delegation from the others
up there. Have a lot of things which should be
very carefully discussed at this meeting & a big at-
tendance ought to be secured if possible. Wanted so
much to talk with you over other things - How about
some Cherry Co. photos? Any ready for the meeting?
Yours very sincerely,
Robt. H. Wolcott.
Letter, Robert Wolcott to Frank H. Shoemaker, 1904, Jan. 28
January 28, 1904
Omaha, Jan. 28, 1904.
My dear Wolcott:
As you know the circumstances which cause my absence from the
annual meeting, I shall be obliged if you will explain to the members
just how it happens, and express my regret. I have looked forward
hopefully to the occasion, but it has come a week too late or a month
too early for me to be present. I have a deep interest in our associ-
ation and its work, as I believe you are convinced, and if you will
endeavor to clear me of any suspicion of losing interest I shall ap-
preciate it.
A sorry combination of circumstances has prevented the completion
of my plans for the presentation of a paper on the bird life of Childs'
Point, so I must bear the humiliation of a failure in that direction
also. It is a big subject, and I have done a good deal of work upon
it, but as the only interesting way to present it is by the use of
lantern slides--for which I have chosen about sixty subjects--the paper
without that aid would be very dull, and is best omitted. When we get
around to the Proceedings, if it is decided to give it space, I shall
furnish a goodly number of plates, without expense to the association.
This is a letter of regrets from start to finish, and it is now
necessary for me to state that I have never found time to make prints
from our Cherry County plates, so closely have my duties pressed me.
I hope you will be able to get a little satisfaction, as I do, from
[1904, Jan. 28]
the fact that almost all of the nest pictures are from fair to good,
with a few excellent; but the views-- There are enough good nest
pictures to help out with a first-class paper, and I shall be glad
when I can to either furnish you prints of the lot or send you the
plates for the University photographer to print from. You are welcome
to use them without reservation in any paper you desire to write.
I shall probably not get away before Monday, (for Pacific Coast) but there is a great
deal of work to do in getting ready, and I am quite as firmly tied up
as though I were much farther from Lincoln.
Earnestly wishing you a pleasant session, and hoping to see you
before the winter is over--though I fear I shall be absent during all
of February--I remain, with best wishes to yourself and Mrs. Wolcott,
and my other Lincoln friends, I remain
Very truly yours,