The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-08
The Santa Fe to Establish a
Historical Museum.
Mr.. Edward Wilder is Pushing
the Scheme Along.
ALL PIONEER RELICS
Will Be Eagerly Sought After
by the Road.
How Mr.. Wilder Will Arrange
His Photographs.

A historical museum is to be estab-
lished in connection with the headquar-
ters of the Santa Fe railway in this
city.
The idea of such a move suggested it.
self to Mr.. Edward Wilder, treasurer of
the road, when it was announced sew
eral months ago that the coming Santa
Fe anniversary celebration would be a
good time to exhibit all available relics
of the early days of the pioneer railroad
of Kansas, and he now proposes to
carry it out. 1t is needless to say that
any plan in connection with the Santa
Fe which is backed by Mr.. Wilder will
prove successful.
If arrangements can be made one of
the rooms in the general office building
will be set apart as a museum, and here
viii be stored all material which has
any historical connection with the
Santa Fe railway and can be secured.
If it is impossible to secure a room in
The general Office building the historical
collection will be stored in Library hall
as the Santa Fe collection until such
at the Santa F'e offices.
The nucleus from which the museum
will be built up will be the collection of
phot ographs of the officers and directors
of the Santa Fe railway since its in
corporal ton, which is now being az
ranged by Mr.. Wilder. 1t is also ex-
Fe relics will be sent to Topeka by
those who own them for exhibition at
the Santa F'e celebration, and the dona-
ton of such relics will be asked After
the celebration Mr.. Wilder will make
every effort to secure all possible ma
teriaI of one kind or another which has
any historical connection with the Santa
Fe road.
Mr. Wilder is greatly interested i'll
the plan of establishing a historical
museum. Il think that in Kansas" ,"
said he yesterday afternoon, there is
sufficient material to make very IN
teresting collection and onewhich would
be appreciated by visitors in this city" :"
In reference to the arrangement of
the photographs of the officers and di-
rectors of the Santa Fe, Mr.. Wilder
said:
1T is my intention to have the photo
graphs framed in groups, the presidents
in one group and the vice presidents in
another group. Then in one group [
will have placed the photographs of the
directors who composed what was
known as the ''NickersOn board which
was the board in charge of the affairs
of the road at the time it was extended
from Usage City to the west line of the
state. In another group photographs
of the present board of directors Will be
placed, and in exhibiting them at the
coming anniversary celebration the
board of directors of 25 years ago and
the board of directors of today will be
arranged side by side. The photo
graphs of the other directors will be ar
ranged in groups, either alphabetically
or in accordance with their period of
service.
II think the majority of people who
own anything of historical connection
with the Santa Fe will gladly aid by
it's donation in the esta blishment of
museum. If we are unable to arrange
for a room in the general office building
the relics can be kept in Library hall as
the Santa Fe collection The collec-
ton can be added to from time to time,
and I think it will make a very interest
ing feature in connection with the head
quarters of the road in this city"