To: MISSAR COMPATRIOTS

FROM: Wes McMichael, State Historian

January 25, 2008

While reviewing some old minutes of our organization I found a reference to some material being given to Michigan State University some time in 1952. I contacted the University and they found the material. It was donated by the estate of Past President Jackson Towne and who also served as our Historian for several years.

Recently I visited the History Center at MSU and found many things of interest which are now included in our historical files compiled by my self.

Two of the items found was a banquet held on February 6, 1907 which was “In Celebration of the French Alliance, Februay 6, 1778” and the second “A Tribute to Compatriot R. Stores Wills On his 80^th Birthday”. This tribute was held on February 10^th 1899.

These follow the theme of many references to the purpose of our organization as stated in our constitution as being “ patriotic, historical and educational…”. I found this material to meet the objective very nicely.

There is a recurring theme in all of the material that I read and compiled that we should constantly remember this in all we do and say at our meetings. Not to follow these principles can cause a loss in membership and reflect negative on the Patriots we honor as being members of the SAR.