First New York State Historian http://www.albanyruralcemetery.org/albrurcem/Public_Officials.htm
"Keep a cool head, + don't let anything worry or disturb you." - Hugh Hastings, August 16, 1900.
"'Speaking about these handwriting experts of which we are hearing so much nowadays,' remarked a man who was familiar with both handwriting—at the bottom of checks—and with politicians, as he chewed his toothpick after luncheon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday, 'I know a man whose handwriting would fool them all. That is the State Historian, Hugh Hastings. There isn't an expert on earth who would go on the witness stand and swear that a letter written by him and the signature attached to it were ever penned by the same person. The general run of Hugh's handwriting is about as rotund as is the body of the popular historian, but his signature is thoroughly different, as angular and picket-fency as any man ever wrote. If a fellow didn't know what that signature was he never in the world would guess that it was "Hugh Hastings," or was in any way related to him or his ordinary handwriting.'"
"Heard About Town." N.Y. Times. December 16, 1899.
"OUR STATE HISTORIAN.
"IDEA HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL SICKLES.
"HUGH HASTINGS GETS IT.
"The Appointment Has Been Made by Governor Morton and It is a Nice Place, But The Modest Mr. Hastings is Very Positive That the Position is Not a Sinecure—Some Facts First Published by the Buffalo Express
"Of all the great states New York has been most careless and indifferent to the glories of her historical achievements. Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut have been most particular in preserving every episode, incident and fact that would tend to keep alive and to foster among their people an interest in their history. Years before his death George William Curtis deplored in his writings and public utterances the neglect of New York in not bringing together an official history of the state.
"The proposition for creating the office of state historian, however, originated with General Daniel E. Sickles, of New York city. At a gathering of a number of senators and members of the legislature at the Kenmore hotel one night in the middle of February, General Sickles suggested the introduction of a bill to create this office. At that meeting, which was of a purely informal character, General Sickles said: "I wonder how many there are in this party who know that the first British army to surrender in several centuries surrendered in New York state, and that the first British navy that ever surrendered struck its colors to American prowess in the waters of this state?" In the course of the discussion that followed General Sickles declared that all the official records of a diplomatic, naval or military character relating to the state should be compiled. The idea was at once taken up by Senators [Edmund] O'Connor, [Clarence] Lexow and [Jacob Aaron] Cantor, who approved of General Sickle's suggestion. Senator Cantor drafted the bill and introduced it.
"The bill as passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, says the Buffalo Express, provides for the appointment of a state historian, who shall gather all official records, memoranda and data relating to the colonial wars, the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion, together with all official correspondence of a diplomatic character between this commonwealth and other colonies, between this state and other states, other countries and the United States. General Sickles first proposed the name of Hugh Hastings, of New York, for the place, saying that Mr. Hastings knew more of American history than any other man he had ever met and was better informed as to the war of the rebellion than any authority he had ever come across. Thirty-one of the thirty-two senators and the leaders of both parties in the assembly signed the petition that was presented to the governor in his behalf. Governor [Levi Parsons] Morton selected Mr. Hastings from twenty-six candidates for the position. Mr. Hastings fully realizes the contract that he has undertaken and that he has no sinecure. He has already started in to organize the department, in itself a herculean undertaking. Speaking of his plans he says: 'I can see that a great deal of good can be brought out of this work beyond the mere purpose of the law. There are many records of the most interesting and valuable nature, buried among the archives of this state and other states and in public libraries. The practical part of the work, of course, will require that these records, many of which are now inaccessible to the general reader and more particularly to the student of history, shall be whipped into shape so as to be within the reach of all. Two good results will follow. The general reader will obtain them readily and the preservation of the original records will thus be guaranteed. Every one familiar with our big libraries knows how constant handling destroys old records.'
"Mr. Hastings stated that it was his purpose to make the record of the state of New York in the war of the rebellion more complete than that of any other state. He is to put himself in communication with officers now living and the families of deceased officers of every regiment or battery that went to the front in order to obtain if possible reports of engagements in which new York state troops participated that may have been overlooked and that do not appear in the official records now in course of publication by the war department. There is no doubt of the existence to-day of many such reports, particularly of battles that took place during the last year of the war. Mr. Hastings was practically born into the profession of journalism. While a schoolboy in Albany he learned the trade of a printer in the office of the old Albany Knickerbocker, which his uncle, Hugh J. Hastings, founded in September, 1843. Early in 1873 he went to New York as a reporter on the Commercial Advertiser, and for the next ten years he filled the offices of city editor, financial editor and political correspondent. In October, 1895, Joseph Pulitzer gave him a billet on the New York World. He was the Albany correspondent of the World up to 1889 with the exception of the winters of 1887 and 1888, when he was transferred to Washington and placed in charge of the World bureau there. In 1889 George Spinney, who had become managing editor, took Mr. Hastings over to the Times, placing him in charge of the New York state political department. All of Mr. Hasting's reading and study from childhood has been on American history, and his library is built up largely on America and especially on works relating to the war of the rebellion. Although a comparatively young man Mr. Hastings for fifteen years has enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of both parties of this state and numbers among his best friends the leading public men of the country. He has a large circle of acquaintances and his appointment to this position has been warmly commended. Mr. Hastings was Governor Morton's personal choice."
"Our State Historian; Idea Has Been Attributed to General Sickles." Elmira Telegram 17(4). May 26, 1895: 14 col 3.
"Keep a cool head, + don't let anything worry or disturb you." - Hugh Hastings, August 16, 1900.
"'Speaking about these handwriting experts of which we are hearing so much nowadays,' remarked a man who was familiar with both handwriting—at the bottom of checks—and with politicians, as he chewed his toothpick after luncheon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday, 'I know a man whose handwriting would fool them all. That is the State Historian, Hugh Hastings. There isn't an expert on earth who would go on the witness stand and swear that a letter written by him and the signature attached to it were ever penned by the same person. The general run of Hugh's handwriting is about as rotund as is the body of the popular historian, but his signature is thoroughly different, as angular and picket-fency as any man ever wrote. If a fellow didn't know what that signature was he never in the world would guess that it was "Hugh Hastings," or was in any way related to him or his ordinary handwriting.'"
"Heard About Town." N.Y. Times. December 16, 1899.
"OUR STATE HISTORIAN.
"IDEA HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL SICKLES.
"HUGH HASTINGS GETS IT.
"The Appointment Has Been Made by Governor Morton and It is a Nice Place, But The Modest Mr. Hastings is Very Positive That the Position is Not a Sinecure—Some Facts First Published by the Buffalo Express
"Of all the great states New York has been most careless and indifferent to the glories of her historical achievements. Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut have been most particular in preserving every episode, incident and fact that would tend to keep alive and to foster among their people an interest in their history. Years before his death George William Curtis deplored in his writings and public utterances the neglect of New York in not bringing together an official history of the state.
"The proposition for creating the office of state historian, however, originated with General Daniel E. Sickles, of New York city. At a gathering of a number of senators and members of the legislature at the Kenmore hotel one night in the middle of February, General Sickles suggested the introduction of a bill to create this office. At that meeting, which was of a purely informal character, General Sickles said: "I wonder how many there are in this party who know that the first British army to surrender in several centuries surrendered in New York state, and that the first British navy that ever surrendered struck its colors to American prowess in the waters of this state?" In the course of the discussion that followed General Sickles declared that all the official records of a diplomatic, naval or military character relating to the state should be compiled. The idea was at once taken up by Senators [Edmund] O'Connor, [Clarence] Lexow and [Jacob Aaron] Cantor, who approved of General Sickle's suggestion. Senator Cantor drafted the bill and introduced it.
"The bill as passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, says the Buffalo Express, provides for the appointment of a state historian, who shall gather all official records, memoranda and data relating to the colonial wars, the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion, together with all official correspondence of a diplomatic character between this commonwealth and other colonies, between this state and other states, other countries and the United States. General Sickles first proposed the name of Hugh Hastings, of New York, for the place, saying that Mr. Hastings knew more of American history than any other man he had ever met and was better informed as to the war of the rebellion than any authority he had ever come across. Thirty-one of the thirty-two senators and the leaders of both parties in the assembly signed the petition that was presented to the governor in his behalf. Governor [Levi Parsons] Morton selected Mr. Hastings from twenty-six candidates for the position. Mr. Hastings fully realizes the contract that he has undertaken and that he has no sinecure. He has already started in to organize the department, in itself a herculean undertaking. Speaking of his plans he says: 'I can see that a great deal of good can be brought out of this work beyond the mere purpose of the law. There are many records of the most interesting and valuable nature, buried among the archives of this state and other states and in public libraries. The practical part of the work, of course, will require that these records, many of which are now inaccessible to the general reader and more particularly to the student of history, shall be whipped into shape so as to be within the reach of all. Two good results will follow. The general reader will obtain them readily and the preservation of the original records will thus be guaranteed. Every one familiar with our big libraries knows how constant handling destroys old records.'
"Mr. Hastings stated that it was his purpose to make the record of the state of New York in the war of the rebellion more complete than that of any other state. He is to put himself in communication with officers now living and the families of deceased officers of every regiment or battery that went to the front in order to obtain if possible reports of engagements in which new York state troops participated that may have been overlooked and that do not appear in the official records now in course of publication by the war department. There is no doubt of the existence to-day of many such reports, particularly of battles that took place during the last year of the war. Mr. Hastings was practically born into the profession of journalism. While a schoolboy in Albany he learned the trade of a printer in the office of the old Albany Knickerbocker, which his uncle, Hugh J. Hastings, founded in September, 1843. Early in 1873 he went to New York as a reporter on the Commercial Advertiser, and for the next ten years he filled the offices of city editor, financial editor and political correspondent. In October, 1895, Joseph Pulitzer gave him a billet on the New York World. He was the Albany correspondent of the World up to 1889 with the exception of the winters of 1887 and 1888, when he was transferred to Washington and placed in charge of the World bureau there. In 1889 George Spinney, who had become managing editor, took Mr. Hastings over to the Times, placing him in charge of the New York state political department. All of Mr. Hasting's reading and study from childhood has been on American history, and his library is built up largely on America and especially on works relating to the war of the rebellion. Although a comparatively young man Mr. Hastings for fifteen years has enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of both parties of this state and numbers among his best friends the leading public men of the country. He has a large circle of acquaintances and his appointment to this position has been warmly commended. Mr. Hastings was Governor Morton's personal choice."
"Our State Historian; Idea Has Been Attributed to General Sickles." Elmira Telegram 17(4). May 26, 1895: 14 col 3.
First New York State Historian http://www.albanyruralcemetery.org/albrurcem/Public_Officials.htm
"Keep a cool head, + don't let anything worry or disturb you." - Hugh Hastings, August 16, 1900.
"'Speaking about these handwriting experts of which we are hearing so much nowadays,' remarked a man who was familiar with both handwriting—at the bottom of checks—and with politicians, as he chewed his toothpick after luncheon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday, 'I know a man whose handwriting would fool them all. That is the State Historian, Hugh Hastings. There isn't an expert on earth who would go on the witness stand and swear that a letter written by him and the signature attached to it were ever penned by the same person. The general run of Hugh's handwriting is about as rotund as is the body of the popular historian, but his signature is thoroughly different, as angular and picket-fency as any man ever wrote. If a fellow didn't know what that signature was he never in the world would guess that it was "Hugh Hastings," or was in any way related to him or his ordinary handwriting.'"
"Heard About Town." N.Y. Times. December 16, 1899.
"OUR STATE HISTORIAN.
"IDEA HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL SICKLES.
"HUGH HASTINGS GETS IT.
"The Appointment Has Been Made by Governor Morton and It is a Nice Place, But The Modest Mr. Hastings is Very Positive That the Position is Not a Sinecure—Some Facts First Published by the Buffalo Express
"Of all the great states New York has been most careless and indifferent to the glories of her historical achievements. Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut have been most particular in preserving every episode, incident and fact that would tend to keep alive and to foster among their people an interest in their history. Years before his death George William Curtis deplored in his writings and public utterances the neglect of New York in not bringing together an official history of the state.
"The proposition for creating the office of state historian, however, originated with General Daniel E. Sickles, of New York city. At a gathering of a number of senators and members of the legislature at the Kenmore hotel one night in the middle of February, General Sickles suggested the introduction of a bill to create this office. At that meeting, which was of a purely informal character, General Sickles said: "I wonder how many there are in this party who know that the first British army to surrender in several centuries surrendered in New York state, and that the first British navy that ever surrendered struck its colors to American prowess in the waters of this state?" In the course of the discussion that followed General Sickles declared that all the official records of a diplomatic, naval or military character relating to the state should be compiled. The idea was at once taken up by Senators [Edmund] O'Connor, [Clarence] Lexow and [Jacob Aaron] Cantor, who approved of General Sickle's suggestion. Senator Cantor drafted the bill and introduced it.
"The bill as passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, says the Buffalo Express, provides for the appointment of a state historian, who shall gather all official records, memoranda and data relating to the colonial wars, the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion, together with all official correspondence of a diplomatic character between this commonwealth and other colonies, between this state and other states, other countries and the United States. General Sickles first proposed the name of Hugh Hastings, of New York, for the place, saying that Mr. Hastings knew more of American history than any other man he had ever met and was better informed as to the war of the rebellion than any authority he had ever come across. Thirty-one of the thirty-two senators and the leaders of both parties in the assembly signed the petition that was presented to the governor in his behalf. Governor [Levi Parsons] Morton selected Mr. Hastings from twenty-six candidates for the position. Mr. Hastings fully realizes the contract that he has undertaken and that he has no sinecure. He has already started in to organize the department, in itself a herculean undertaking. Speaking of his plans he says: 'I can see that a great deal of good can be brought out of this work beyond the mere purpose of the law. There are many records of the most interesting and valuable nature, buried among the archives of this state and other states and in public libraries. The practical part of the work, of course, will require that these records, many of which are now inaccessible to the general reader and more particularly to the student of history, shall be whipped into shape so as to be within the reach of all. Two good results will follow. The general reader will obtain them readily and the preservation of the original records will thus be guaranteed. Every one familiar with our big libraries knows how constant handling destroys old records.'
"Mr. Hastings stated that it was his purpose to make the record of the state of New York in the war of the rebellion more complete than that of any other state. He is to put himself in communication with officers now living and the families of deceased officers of every regiment or battery that went to the front in order to obtain if possible reports of engagements in which new York state troops participated that may have been overlooked and that do not appear in the official records now in course of publication by the war department. There is no doubt of the existence to-day of many such reports, particularly of battles that took place during the last year of the war. Mr. Hastings was practically born into the profession of journalism. While a schoolboy in Albany he learned the trade of a printer in the office of the old Albany Knickerbocker, which his uncle, Hugh J. Hastings, founded in September, 1843. Early in 1873 he went to New York as a reporter on the Commercial Advertiser, and for the next ten years he filled the offices of city editor, financial editor and political correspondent. In October, 1895, Joseph Pulitzer gave him a billet on the New York World. He was the Albany correspondent of the World up to 1889 with the exception of the winters of 1887 and 1888, when he was transferred to Washington and placed in charge of the World bureau there. In 1889 George Spinney, who had become managing editor, took Mr. Hastings over to the Times, placing him in charge of the New York state political department. All of Mr. Hasting's reading and study from childhood has been on American history, and his library is built up largely on America and especially on works relating to the war of the rebellion. Although a comparatively young man Mr. Hastings for fifteen years has enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of both parties of this state and numbers among his best friends the leading public men of the country. He has a large circle of acquaintances and his appointment to this position has been warmly commended. Mr. Hastings was Governor Morton's personal choice."
"Our State Historian; Idea Has Been Attributed to General Sickles." Elmira Telegram 17(4). May 26, 1895: 14 col 3.
"Keep a cool head, + don't let anything worry or disturb you." - Hugh Hastings, August 16, 1900.
"'Speaking about these handwriting experts of which we are hearing so much nowadays,' remarked a man who was familiar with both handwriting—at the bottom of checks—and with politicians, as he chewed his toothpick after luncheon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday, 'I know a man whose handwriting would fool them all. That is the State Historian, Hugh Hastings. There isn't an expert on earth who would go on the witness stand and swear that a letter written by him and the signature attached to it were ever penned by the same person. The general run of Hugh's handwriting is about as rotund as is the body of the popular historian, but his signature is thoroughly different, as angular and picket-fency as any man ever wrote. If a fellow didn't know what that signature was he never in the world would guess that it was "Hugh Hastings," or was in any way related to him or his ordinary handwriting.'"
"Heard About Town." N.Y. Times. December 16, 1899.
"OUR STATE HISTORIAN.
"IDEA HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL SICKLES.
"HUGH HASTINGS GETS IT.
"The Appointment Has Been Made by Governor Morton and It is a Nice Place, But The Modest Mr. Hastings is Very Positive That the Position is Not a Sinecure—Some Facts First Published by the Buffalo Express
"Of all the great states New York has been most careless and indifferent to the glories of her historical achievements. Massachusetts, Virginia and Connecticut have been most particular in preserving every episode, incident and fact that would tend to keep alive and to foster among their people an interest in their history. Years before his death George William Curtis deplored in his writings and public utterances the neglect of New York in not bringing together an official history of the state.
"The proposition for creating the office of state historian, however, originated with General Daniel E. Sickles, of New York city. At a gathering of a number of senators and members of the legislature at the Kenmore hotel one night in the middle of February, General Sickles suggested the introduction of a bill to create this office. At that meeting, which was of a purely informal character, General Sickles said: "I wonder how many there are in this party who know that the first British army to surrender in several centuries surrendered in New York state, and that the first British navy that ever surrendered struck its colors to American prowess in the waters of this state?" In the course of the discussion that followed General Sickles declared that all the official records of a diplomatic, naval or military character relating to the state should be compiled. The idea was at once taken up by Senators [Edmund] O'Connor, [Clarence] Lexow and [Jacob Aaron] Cantor, who approved of General Sickle's suggestion. Senator Cantor drafted the bill and introduced it.
"The bill as passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, says the Buffalo Express, provides for the appointment of a state historian, who shall gather all official records, memoranda and data relating to the colonial wars, the war of the revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion, together with all official correspondence of a diplomatic character between this commonwealth and other colonies, between this state and other states, other countries and the United States. General Sickles first proposed the name of Hugh Hastings, of New York, for the place, saying that Mr. Hastings knew more of American history than any other man he had ever met and was better informed as to the war of the rebellion than any authority he had ever come across. Thirty-one of the thirty-two senators and the leaders of both parties in the assembly signed the petition that was presented to the governor in his behalf. Governor [Levi Parsons] Morton selected Mr. Hastings from twenty-six candidates for the position. Mr. Hastings fully realizes the contract that he has undertaken and that he has no sinecure. He has already started in to organize the department, in itself a herculean undertaking. Speaking of his plans he says: 'I can see that a great deal of good can be brought out of this work beyond the mere purpose of the law. There are many records of the most interesting and valuable nature, buried among the archives of this state and other states and in public libraries. The practical part of the work, of course, will require that these records, many of which are now inaccessible to the general reader and more particularly to the student of history, shall be whipped into shape so as to be within the reach of all. Two good results will follow. The general reader will obtain them readily and the preservation of the original records will thus be guaranteed. Every one familiar with our big libraries knows how constant handling destroys old records.'
"Mr. Hastings stated that it was his purpose to make the record of the state of New York in the war of the rebellion more complete than that of any other state. He is to put himself in communication with officers now living and the families of deceased officers of every regiment or battery that went to the front in order to obtain if possible reports of engagements in which new York state troops participated that may have been overlooked and that do not appear in the official records now in course of publication by the war department. There is no doubt of the existence to-day of many such reports, particularly of battles that took place during the last year of the war. Mr. Hastings was practically born into the profession of journalism. While a schoolboy in Albany he learned the trade of a printer in the office of the old Albany Knickerbocker, which his uncle, Hugh J. Hastings, founded in September, 1843. Early in 1873 he went to New York as a reporter on the Commercial Advertiser, and for the next ten years he filled the offices of city editor, financial editor and political correspondent. In October, 1895, Joseph Pulitzer gave him a billet on the New York World. He was the Albany correspondent of the World up to 1889 with the exception of the winters of 1887 and 1888, when he was transferred to Washington and placed in charge of the World bureau there. In 1889 George Spinney, who had become managing editor, took Mr. Hastings over to the Times, placing him in charge of the New York state political department. All of Mr. Hasting's reading and study from childhood has been on American history, and his library is built up largely on America and especially on works relating to the war of the rebellion. Although a comparatively young man Mr. Hastings for fifteen years has enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of both parties of this state and numbers among his best friends the leading public men of the country. He has a large circle of acquaintances and his appointment to this position has been warmly commended. Mr. Hastings was Governor Morton's personal choice."
"Our State Historian; Idea Has Been Attributed to General Sickles." Elmira Telegram 17(4). May 26, 1895: 14 col 3.
