Essays In Appreciation


Leslie A. Elam was Executive Director of the American Numismatic Society in New York.




A Life of Learning

Leslie A. Elam

The death of ANS Councillor and Past President Harry W. Bass Jr., on April 4, 1998, ended an era in the history of the American Numismatic Society largely defined by his ideas and influence. He knew the ANS more intimately, more intensely, more personally than most career employees of the ANS; but not unlike those few other individuals whose marks are indelibly impressed upon the annals of this venerable organization.

From almost the moment he joined the ANS in 1966, Harry Bass adopted the Society as an institution he respected for its heritage, the quality of its holdings, and its people. From the earliest days, he was an avid learner for whom answers begot further questions. Those who thought he asked the obvious only betrayed their inability to understand the nuances of his thinking. And when he decided on a course of action, those who would disagree found a well-informed, perhaps even stubborn defender of a position based on a rare combination of logic and humanity.

EARLY INTERESTS

His first contact at the ANS was with Society Librarian Geoffrey North. Bass was not yet the advanced collector in his chosen area of interest, the specialized series of United States federal gold coinage, but he knew well the challenging rigors required to gain expertise in a sophisticated field of study. North exposed him to the broad spectrum of research tools available in this extraordinary numismatic library; in turn Bass prowled the aisles, then the nooks and crannies, in the course of which discovering a section of the library devoted to lesser-used materials that were housed on wood shelves. His recommendations for improving the appearance


and safety of the area, coupled with his offer to help finance the renovation, were accepted with pleasure, and henceforth the converted east library workroom was affectionately deemed the "Bass Room."

ANS COUNCILLOR

Elected a Fellow in 1971, the following year his interest and support of the Society and its mission were certified by election to the governing Council, and shortly thereafter by appointment to the Executive Committee. In 1974 he was elected First Vice-President of the ANS and was named to the Finance Committee, which oversees the Society's investment portfolio as well as current accounts. In 1978 he succeeded Samuel R. Milbank as the President of the ANS, a position he was to hold until 1984.
In 1979 he joined the Library Committee, formalizing his deep interest in this, the world's most developed numismatic research library. The previous fall, he invited ANS Director Leslie A. Elam, Librarian Francis D. Campbell, and then Deputy Chief Curator William E. Metcalf to join him at a computer exposition in his home city of Dallas, thus inaugurating the serious, ongoing dedication by the Society to the use of computer technology for all aspects of our work. It was what Harry Bass characterized as "bringing the ANS into the twentieth century."

Progress was rapid under Bass's watchful eye. He funded the acquisition and development of the minicomputer system for creating the COINS database, the eventual success of which is seen in the over 550,000 coin records now mounted on the Society's Website. By 1984, he correctly deduced that the future lay in personal computers networked to share information. He was also an early advocate of relational databases and, for this reason, taught himself how to program in Microrim's R:Base software package; in turn he committed ANS staff members, particularly Elam, to this regimen.

The advent of the Society's first major endowment campaign in 1985 provided the impetus to develop a computerized database for the ANS, incorporating files for membership, fundraising, and finances. Bass worked closely with Elam to define the database structures and relationships. Untutored in fund accounting, Bass nevertheless made valuable contributions to the Society's sophisticated chart of accounts and the related budget and financial reporting systems under which the ANS has operated since 1990.

ANS PRESIDENT
ANS 125th Anniversary Medal

Bass's tenure as President was marked by many significant events, not the least of which was overseeing the planning for, and celebration of, the Society's 125th anniversary in 1983, a potpourri of events that culminated in a whirlwind of activity in September of that year. The ANS opened a gala new exhibition, "The World of Money" for which over $200,000 was raised; convened a two-day conference in New York which attracted an international gathering of scholars and serious students in all aspects of numismatics; and hosted, with his wife Doris, a grand celebratory dinner-dance at Windows on the World, high atop New York's World Trade Center.

In his Presidential address marking the anniversary, Bass outlined a vision of far-reaching proportions - an annual "Coinage of the Americas Conference" to bring together at the ANS the full range of those interested in the preannounced theme, to hear talks, enjoy exhibitions of public and private collections, and engage in the discourse that marks true information sharing in our discipline. Lastly, the sum of this experience should be reported in a Proceedings volume to guarantee that a lasting benefit would result. Thus began the annual COAC, now deeply ingrained in the fabric of Society life and a proven contribution to the vibrancy of Western Hemisphere numismatic research.


ANS INTERNET PRESENCE

Harry Bass's vision for the ANS sharpened considerably as he contemplated "bringing the ANS into the twenty-first century." In late 1991, he established the Harry Bass Foundation and set about to make his uniquely significant collection of U.S. gold coins available on the Internet. He was soon sidetracked to contemplate the needs of the ANS for a Website presence. The result is a highly symbiotic relationship between the HBRF and the ANS; each of us has an active, ongoing Website, both maintained by the HBRF, with transparent links between the two and with additions and updates occurring regularly to enhance the value of each site.

With Bass's death, the HBRF has inherited substantial collections and responsibilities. The ANS is a happy partner in promoting the enhancement of the HBRF site and in benefiting from the continuing cooperation of the HBRF. Harry Bass characterized himself as a learner. Those who knew him add innovator, pragmatist, challenger, mentor, humanist.

ANS COUNCIL RESOLUTION

Perhaps the singular statement of Harry Bass's place in the Society's conscience is that of the ANS Council, spread upon its Minutes of April 18, 1998, recording his death:

"The Council of the American Numismatic Society expresses its profound sorrow on the death of Harry W. Bass Jr. A Member of the Society's Council since 1972, he served as President of the ANS during the years 1978-1984; at his death he remained a contributing member of the Council, and its Executive and Governance Committees.

"He cared deeply about the Society, and its place in the world of numismatic scholarship and education. His was the vision of an ANS that not only should aspire to greatness, but also strive to share its resources over the spectrum of numismatic studies through development of online capabilities.

"He was intimate with the affairs of the Society, provided thoughtful counsel on its mission and direction, and gave generously of his talents and means in support of all aspects of this organization. He will be sorely missed.

"To his widow. Doris, and his family, the Council and Membership express their deep condolences and offer sincere sympathy. A man of singular stature has gone from our midst."