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Page 2 On that eventful evening, high in the Barlum Tower, the follow- ing persons appeared: Roy M. Bates, Robert H. Larson, John M. O'Brien, William McDonald, Norbert Neff, Kenneth E. Smith, Capt, William J. Taylor and Aleistair Weir. Bates called the meeting to order and briefly announced what was intended to be done, and then turned the meeting over to Mr. O'Brien. A temporary organization was set up with Mr. Smith as Chairman and Mr. O'Brien as Secretary. A committee on Constitution and By-Laws was appointed, comprising Mr. Bates, Mr. McDonald and Mr. Neff. This group completed its work at a later meeting at the old Bob-Lo Club at the foot of Wood- ward Ave. The next meeting of the organization was held on July 27th, with Capt. William J. Taylor as the first speaker to appear on our pro- gram. His subject was "The Light House Service." At this meeting the organization was officially named "The Marine Historical Soci- ety of Detroit." The name was suggested by Capt. Taylor. At the August 3lst meeting the Constitution and By-Laws were discussed and adopted, and the charter membership closed with the addition of the following names; Miss Louise Butler, Rev. Edward J. Dowling,S.J., Gerald Holland, John G. Ivers, Lowell Johnson and Thomas Weber, making a total of 14 charter members. A permanent organization was perfected at the Sept. 28th meeting and permanent officers were elected as follows: President, Kenneth E. Smith; Vice President, Roy M. Bates; Secretary, John M. O'Brien; Treasurer, Robert H. Larson. At this meeting Mr. Smith led a brief discussion on "The History and Ships of the White Star Line." Meeting places for the new organization were always a problem. A few meetings were held in the Barlum Tower, and with the permission of Mr. William McDonald a few meetings were held in the Tower of the Guardian Building in Griswold Street. With the help of Mr. Kenneth Smith we used the Detroit Edison offices at 2000 Second Ave. and the Edison Boat Club at the foot of Lycaste St. Several meetings were held at the old Williams home at 441 Merrick St. Thomas Dancey persuaded The Detroit News for the use of its confer- ence room and meetings were held there for quite a period of time. Our Society has always been international in character, and begin- ning in September 1947, our June and September meetings were held at the Fort Malden National Historic Park at Amherstburg, Ontario, with our fellow member, David Botsford, as our host. Fort Malden was made the repository of any materials that our Society might ac- quire, Immediately after the closing of the Charter, 4 new names were added to the membership list, namely: Frank Barcus, John Poole, Fred Schehr and W. R. Wilson. A membership list was then published which contained 18 names. By October 9, 1945, our membership list had grown to 32 and by January 1, 1948, it had risen to 95. It is oft'times difficult for a new organization to obtain ree cognition in the Community. Our organization was no exception, and had it not been that we were fortunate in having dedicated men in office in those early years, we probably would not have survived. Our first President, Kenneth Smith, was confronted with many organ- izational problems. Then Thomas Dancey, whose many contributions have remained with us to this day. It was I who followed Mr. Dan- cey in office and who reaped the benefits of Mr. Dancey's efficient planning. It was Father Edward J. Dowling's vast knowledge of the Great Lakes, its vessels and operating companies, which when put to practical use did as much to increase our membership as any other single factor, Immediately after leaving the presidency, he found- ed and for eleven years edited "The Detroit Marine Historian."