The Society's Birthday Party the rank of Major, receiving a notable citation; medical historian; former consulting surgeon to hospitals; past officer in medical organizations; skillful binder in rare leathers of his own rare books; distinguished son of a distinguished family who with his family has made our Museum and Library the recipient of cherished possessions; long a faithful member of this Society, serving effectively on numerous committees and in various offices, including the presidency for the past seven years. It is with pleasure that the Society now confers on Dr. Beekman its Distinguished Service Medal with all the appreciation it signifies. President Beekman's far-sighted address on "The Founding and Future of the Society" is printed in full immediately following this article. When he had concluded, the President reminded his audience that five times previously in our history the Society had felt impelled to make public recognition of impressive contributions to historical scholarship by awarding its Gold Medal for Achievement in History—first in 1925 to I. N. Phelps Stokes for his monumental Iconography of Manhattan Island; next in 1931 to Wilberforce Eames for his unequalled scholarship in American bibliography; then in 1933 to DeWitt M. Lockman, N. A., for his noble achievement, through portraiture, in history; again in 1942 to George C. D. Odell for his life-work on the multi-volumed Annals of the New York Stage; and finally in 1947 to Harry T. Peters for his outstanding contribution to the history of American graphic arts. Then, turning to the distinguished historian and biographer, Dr. Allan Nevins, DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History at Columbia University, President Beekman addressed the designated sixth recipient of this honor as follows: Professor Nevins, as president of The New-York Historical Society I have the privilege of presenting you with the Society's Gold Medal for Achievement in History as a recognition of attainments in American history. As an enthusiastic scholar and inspiring teacher, you have stimulated students of a new generation to follow you in the direction which you have so carefully laid the way by your research. As an author, your exact but charming presentations in history and biography have given their readers a rare knowledge of this great land 94