New-York tribune., 1883-06-17
Tile HLS1ORlCAL SOCIETY.

AGITATION AMONG THE MEMBERS FOR NEW
BUILDING NEAR MADISON SQUARE.
An agitation has been started among the
members OF the New-York Historical Society which Is
expected TO result in important acIon Ine present
build,nr at SecoTd.avc aud Eevenihst. is so made
guate for the archaeological and artistic treasures which
belong to society that is regarded more as store
house than us museum II is 1elt by many members
that AS stand the society Is not DONG all the
good which capable Lether Is it really carrying
out the implied expressed contract with those from
whom it received bequesfs Tie society moved into It's
present quarters 1857 and at that time the accom-
modatons were sufficient. In the following year 1t be
came possessed by gift of the New-York Gallery or Reed
collection pictures purchased by pubic subscription
started by Jonathan sturgs. to which that gentleman
contributed more than huf It contains many pictures
by Old American artists Within another decade
came another great gfthe Bryan collection Of more
than three hundred pictures of old Such was
the enthusiasm felt over the society by public men on
this accession Of artistic treasures that IN APRIL 1868
the Legislature appropriated 10 the New York Histor
cal society portion OF the grounds IN CehIa fAFh
living between Fiflh-ave aud line parallel Herewith
bn not more than 300 feet OF the avenue and be-
tween Il norherly line OF Eighty hrsistand the south
ery IiBe of ofEghtyouth-st for the purpose Of establish
ing museum Of hi story, antiquities and art. The more
ardent members Of the society were greatly capiYated
by this gift and uf them began 90 agiiae for In
slant acceptance OF the Offer and for the erection OF
building the most pronounced and striking archiec
ture But tie wiser heads said emphaiicaily No" for
two reasons. The that 1t would be dangerous
and honorable TO contract any alliance with tie
Tamlnany politicians who were ia power at that date
and whose corruption was an open secret. Ihe
second reason was that IL would bo uuwse to erect
structure meant TO be permanent IN any locality unt
the city had crysiallizc1. to speak otherwise the
costly building might be placed In quarter where
might be of little real service to the community The
idea that the vicinity OF tne Central PARK going 10
be tie hrb York might be true or might be- only
an opinion. II better to wait a little untii time
should settle the matter The conservative view pre-
vailed and the society cav with equaninity the ste
which II had refused given to the Metropolitan Art Mu
scum when 1t was started some years afierwar'
But now It believed by many thai the time has
for action There many who declare that New
York has i,egun TO crystaiz3 unmstakaby, and that
from UEion Square 10 Madison Square. including few
blocks TO line OF the latter and 10 the south OF the
former is The uptown heart OF ire city II IL certain that
men engaged in art matters cOngrcgatlng in the
vicinity Of Madison square. The National Academy Of
Design building at Twenty-tbndst and Fourh.ave. is
far too small the wants of tie members but they
dread to go from distnctivcy artistic,
anu IL Is their purpose. they can get funds 10 enlarge
their present building, not TO lea5e IT,
although tney could obtain a very large
toward a new structure by migrating. Art
dealers are establishing themselves in every direction
round the sqrere and II IL not unlikely that in the
Dt
will be in this ocalty. The members Of the Historical
society recognizing tie importance OF the art trust
posed 10 by the propretors 81 the many collections
mai arc now III ir possession, think that their
structure should be in this neignborhood.
From tbe conversations which take place daily In the
socetys building and among members clsewherc, II ~
apparent that the locality which seems to tie majority
most tting is the Madson-ave end Of The block which
formerly the depot OF the No~-fork Cenirai Rail
road and recently under The name ~ the Madison
square Garden been alternately the scene Of JUMBO.
sullivan, Mitchell. snncrk pe1estrians dog shows and
otDcr entertainments. Tie prOprely Df seeing W. ii.
Vanderbilt aceItauing his views the SUBJECT
s beng considered. lie 10 not member OF the iiGtOri
ca society Du, lbe members think That his wealth aud
ms munihccnce In art matters make it npfoOabc that
be would drive "a hara Bargain with them espec-
is . In contemplation would increase the
value Of the Remainder q. @ o. the, the block M 1t
Whole frontage Madeon-aye. and CORE spOndng
deph. The number OF pictures owned by IL Is large
beiween seven and eight hundred-many OF them OF
great value and interest. and few old masters Of
siiOnabie genuinsness The example Of the Ma
| galleries are better upon the whole than small
| ones ana fairer TO ali pictures that are not
| of those members who agating the question 10
have a gallery two hundred feet long. Tie other re-
quireIneDts gallery for tho antqGitles which ln
clude the Abbott EgYpil ian collection, TIE Uneven
sculpture coins and medals and the collections OF
American antiquities illustrating the habits.
and customs OF the hborignes; gallery library room
for tie uBriyaled assembage Of AL books charts news
papers, pts, maps, etc, tnat can IN any way
lend 10 elucldate American history ana meellng fOOlb
rcfectoy for the members with offices for the Librarians
| and eustOdans. In sueh building there wOnd be
facilities for tie art student 70 copy The masterpieces OF
ancient and modern art, for the historian TO compile and
for archeoogist 10 scrunze ana compare for the
nun.smast la obtain gnpses OF rare CONS and medals
and the youth OF the country 70 expand Their minds
by contemplate Of the varied forms IN which the
human intellect has developed excellence The members
believe that the society under such conditions would he
oi great benefit 10 tie community and wodld exstcise
marked Influence upon educational IDEAS Should the
present agitation successful IL ia proposed that the
new building snail be OF red brick with teiacotta deco
! ration.