IN BRIEF The year's events are amply reported in various sections of this Year Book. However, we would like to report some matters of particular consequence. Mrs. Albert E. Powers was Curator of the Society from 1966 until this past Fall when she retired from her positions at Adriance Memorial Library, from being Dutchess County Historian, and from her association with us. The Society always benefited from her cheerful enthusiasm, from her organization and maintenance of the collection in the history rooms, and from her helpfulness to geneology and history researchers who approached her in person, by telephone or by mail from all over the United States as well as from many other parts of the world. Mrs. Powers will be missed by all of us, and New Mexico will surely be a bit sunnier thanks to its new resident. However, the Society is not lacking in curatorial strength. We are pleased by Eunice Hatfield Smith's acceptance of the role of Curator. She has long been a member of the Society as well as a trustee, a member of the Research Library Committee and a contributor of a number of interesting articles in the Year Book. President Butts has made a good appointment and we welcome Mrs. Smith to her new and we hope satisfying responsibility. The Society has been honored by the appointment of our member Radford Curdy as Dutchess County Historian. This was done by Lucille Pattison the newly-elected, first woman to become County Executive. Mr. Curdy is well known for his activity with rare books and documents, and his historic research, and writing -- he has several excellent articles in this Year Book. We offer him congratulations and good wishes as he assumes this position for the county. To continue on a congratulatory note, we are pleased to report that Clifford Buck, Salt Point, a past trustee, and Elizabeth I. Carter, Historian for the City of Poughkeepsie, have been made Honorary Members of the Society in recognition of their many contributions to research and historical affairs in and about the county and Poughkeepsie. You will recall that Louise Tompkins, Historian for the Town of Washington, and prolific writer of historic articles, became an Honorary Member in 1977. We owe much to such people for their efforts in bringing to us all a broadened sense of historic perspective and heritage. In 1978 and the first weeks of 1979 we were saddened to lose three long-time friends and valued associates. We regret to inform you of the deaths of Frank Mylod, Helena Van Vliet and Ralph Van Kleeck. Each had done much of signifi^ cance for the Society and you will read more about them on following pages. We extend to their families our sympathy and respect.
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