(Private and Personal)
177 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL
Dec 4 1871
My Dear Draper:
While at home a few weeks since, I was spoken to by Mr. Tullis, who inquired if I was located in Chicago; and said that at one time in conversation with Mr. Durrie, he was asked to take the office of Recording Secretary of the State Historical Society. I judge by this, that it would be discretion on my part to decline a reelection to that office unconditionally. I now regret that the record of Proceedings was not promptly made up in my own handwriting. Of course it is too late now. Have you found time to put the minutes made at the meetings, in form, to go on the Record Book? It would be shameful in the eyes of some of our Curators for me to fail to have the Record complete by the time of the Annual Meeting. Will you help me out of the difficulty, by giving to Mr. Durrie that which you desire to be recorded?
Business comes in here quite as fast as we can attend to it, and I have no reason to doubt the entire success of the enterprise. There are five of us at work on Plans at the present time, and still a little behind hand.
With kind remembrance to Mrs. D. I remain
Sincerely your friend
S. V. Shipman