18 FIRST TO FOURTH ANNUAL REPORTS

Historical Society transfer to the Hall of Records the archives of the
State which had for many years been in the custody of the Society.

The last meeting of the Hall of Records Commission held dur-
ing the lifetime of the first archivist was that of February 15, 1937.
It was moved and carried at this time that the Chairman, in consul-
tation with the Archivist, be authorized to complete the staff of the
Hall as funds became available. It was decided against permitting
the building to be used except for such purposes as came within the
meaning of the Act establishing it. Two fine gifts were made to the
Hall of Records at this time. Mr. B. Howell Griswold and Mr. John
W. Garrett presented an original letter of George Washington ad-
dressed to George Plater, President of the Senate of Maryland, and
dated November 21, 1781. Dr. Gordon Claude then presented a let-
ter of Lieutenant John D. Jacob, dated August 29, 1780.

The Hall of Records Commission met next on April 20, 1939.
At that time "The death of the archivist, Dr. James A. Robertson,
was noted with great regret. The deep appreciation by the members
of the commission of his work in organizing and upbuilding the Hall
and its collection of materials was ordered to be noted on the min-
utes."

Miss Elizabeth Meade, Archival Assistant, was asked to act in
the place of the Archivist and the Chairman was authorized to ex-
ercise the full authority of the Commission. Consideration was then
given to the appointment of an Archivist. Further thought was given
to this matter at the subsequent meeting, May 9, 1939. Also some
attention was paid to a plan for an increase of salaries which was
proposed by Miss Meade. Following this meeting the Commission
decided to appoint Morris L. Radoff Archivist. This decision was
announced by the Chairman on June 6, the appointment to take ef-
fect on June 16.

The fiscal year 1939, ending on September 30 of that year, saw
the end of the terms of office of Governor Harry W. Nice and Wil-
liam S. Gordy, Jr., Comptroller of the Treasury. They were suc-
ceeded in January by Herbert R. O'Conor, the new Governor, and
J. Millard Tawes, Jr., Comptroller. When Dr. Robertson died, on
March 20, 1939, of the Hall of Records Commission which had ap-
pointed him Archivist, only three and a half years earlier, the Chair-
man, Judge Bond, was the only member still serving. At the end of