ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 11

adoption of the Federal Constitution." The building was to be
equipped with the best desks, tables, chairs, etc. Finally every such
act of the Commission was made subject to the approval of the
Board of Public Works (Acts 1931, Ch. 487).

The sum of $200,000 suggested by the Governor was appropri-
ated. The name of the new building later became involved in some
controversy but the Governor, who disliked the use of "Memorial"
and wanted it omitted, finally won the point although, as some mem-
bers of the Tercentenary Commission pointed out, the name had
been fixed by law. The Board of Public Works exercised its authority
in disapproving a contest of architects which had been recommended
by the Commission. There was, however, no disagreement as to the
qualifications of Laurence Hall Fowler of Baltimore who was finally
selected as architect by the Board of Public Works shortly before
March 9, 1932. By September 15 of that year Mr. Fowler had com-
pleted his plans and the memorials committee reported to the ex-
ecutive committee that it had made three suggestions: 1) an elevator
be installed; 2) a room on the third floor be finished and used
for assemblies and conferences; 3) the inscription read "Memorial
Hall of Records." The first and second suggestions were carried out
although later the Hall of Records Commission was to limit strictly
the uses to which the Hall of Records might be put. As we have
already seen, in the end the architect had nothing to do with the
wording of the memorial.

Meanwhile the search for a site continued. As late as Decem-
ber 5, 1932 it was reported that this matter was still unsettled. Two
weeks later, however, the Commission was informed by Governor
Ritchie that the Board of Public Works had chosen the site on the
St. John's campus offered by the College and that Mr. Fowler had
been instructed to request bids. Apparently the Tercentenary Com-
mission and its various committees had proved to be too unwieldly
and had been clothed with too little authority to conclude so com-
plicated and so expensive a task. As the time for the celebration
approached the Commission concentrated its attention more and
more on the other features of the program. Its Minutes reveal only
a few more references to the Hall of Records. On January 11, 1933,
it was resolved that the Hall of Records be dedicated on March 25,
1934. On January 30, it was announced that the completed design