Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-09
THE TROOST COLLECTION.
what Nashville Lost and Louisville
Gained.
Louisville Courier-Journal.

Gained.
Louisville COurier-JournaL
The Trustees Of the Public Library
having purchased, at a cost of twenty
thousand dollars cash, the Troost eabi-
net recently Of Nashville, it may be IN
teresting 10 present to the public full
information IN regard to this celebrated
and very valuable collection.
Prof. Gerard Troost, naturalist, was
horn in Bois le Due, Holland, March
Is, 1776. He was educated at Amster-
dam and Leyden, where he studied
medicine, chemistry and other branch
es Of science, and was especially dis
tinguished as a crystallogropher. In
1907 he was sent by Louis Bonaparte
to Paris to pursue his fayorite studies
in natural science. He there transla-
ted INTO Dutch, HumbOldt's Aspectsof
Nature. In 1909 he was sent - The
Dutch Government on a scientific ex-
petition to the East Indies; was cap
tu-ed by French privateer and con-
veyed to Dunkirk. In 1910 he en-
barked at Paris for America
Settling in Philadelphia, he
was one Of the founders and first
President Of the Academy of Natural
History, holding the position for five
years, from 1872 to lSl7. He estab-
lished the first alum factory in the
United States ar Cape Sable, IN Mary
land, in 1874. In 1921 he WIS appoint
ed Professor of MineralOgy N the Phil
adelphia Museum. In 1927 he was ap-
pointed Professor Of Chemistry, MIN
eralOgy and Geology in the University
Of Nashville, and died at his post Au-
gust 4, 1850. For eighteen years pre-
vious to bis death he was State GeOlo-
gist OF Tennessee. On commencement
day. October ,, 1850, DIR. Philip Linds-
ley. President of the University of
Nashville. delivered discourse upon
his life and character, from which We
have gathered the above facts.
The cabinet of DR.. TrOost has been
long recognized among the scientific
men Of Europe and America as one OF
the most extensive as well as valuable
private collections in the world. 1t
contains: l. Minerals-in number
1852; 2. Fossil organic remanS-
paleontology-2,S51; 3. Geology
rocks, etc, from GRANTEES to lavas, be-
tween 1000 and 5000; 4. Shells-nOt
numbered; 3. Indian relics from an
cient mounds-with dresses-Orna-
ments-war clubs and other weapons
arrow-heads-images, etc.
The catalogue Of the minerals con-
sits of two thick manuscript volumes
W th the following title page, all IN the
handwriting of DIR. TroOst:
''Catalogue Of a collection of min
erals formed by g. TrOost, commenced
1911, and arranged according to the
mineralogie of Prof. Cleayeland. The
crystalline forms are described and
nominated according 10 Abbe Hauy.
Traite de MineralOgie, lst and I'd edi-
tiun." Vol 1. contains the numbers
from l to 5,999. Vol III. contains the
numbers from 5000 to 1852, and the
title page states that the collection is
formed partly according TO the system
of c.. G.. Won Leonhard, contained IN
his Handbuch der OryktOgnosie, 2d
edition. and the latter part according
to the system Of j. Dana's 2d edition
Of a system Of mineralogy. The sec
ond volume is dated Nashville, Tenn,
1926.
The publication of this important
catalogue viii be commenced IN the
Public Library paper Immediately, and
continued from week to week until
finished.
In the appxopriatiOn of the large
sum Of money necessary 20 secure for
Louisville this vast treasure, the Board
of Trustees have been influenced by
the advice Of our eminent scientists.
DR.. J. Lawrence Smith, Drs. i. p.
Yandeil. Sr., James Knapp, Thomas +.
jenkins, 7. S. Bell, and others, who
have interested themselves IN a sue
cessful attempt to bring 70 Ken
tueky this result of the labor Of one
of the most busy and practical
scholars Of modern times; and as an
indueement to lay this solid foundation
for collection that shall meet all the
| requirements Of tie most exactlng
| students IN natural history, the three
former Of these gentlemen have gener-
ously placed at the disposal of the
trustees their fine collections Of miner
ais. archaeological specimens, etc,
which are known to be of great value.
The collection Of neteOric stones Of DIR.
Smith is probably the best IN this
country. as he has made these mes
sengers from other worlds" the subject
of his special study. The cabinets
Of Drs. Yandell and Knapp are
understood to be rich in our local treas
ures. These three cabinets together,
with tie already valuable collection OF
DR.. Graham, and that Of Margaretta
Bowles, viii in theaggregate constitute,
without question, the richest field OF
study in these departments of natural
science in the United States Scholars
from all parts of the world viii here
after visit Louisville TO examine both
our museum and library, which from
this year viii take rank with the most
important collections Of the world.
We may add here that the library has
recently received from London SIX cases
of books, the last Of the purchases made
bv Col. Durrett last year, and also from
Paris a consignment which includes th'
whole of the celebrated PrOdromus o.
| Candolle. and all the works Of Baro1
Won Humboldt, both among the pur
chases Of Col Durrett, President OF th'
I