New-York tribune., 1899-06-19
BROOKLYN'S OPPORTUNITY
VALUE OF AN INDUSTRIAL ARTS MU-
scum
HOW THE SOUTH KENsINGToN INSTITUTION
MIGHT BE REPRODUCED HERE-vIEws OF
PROFESSOR HOOPER, EX MAYOR BooDY
AND GENERAL DI CEsNoLA

AMI StNEhAis ID CESNOlsA.
The officials and trustees OF the Brooklyn In
stitute OF Arts and Sciences are much interest
ed In the suggestion made in a. editorial article
in The Tribune recently that 1t should take
up a work similar to that OF the Victoria and
Albert Museum at South Kensngton. London.
England. and pay particular attention TO ex-
hibits along the line of the development OF the
industrial arts. Professor Franklin w. Hooper.
the director of the institute. who has made 1t
his life work, said:
MY attention has been called by several
members OF the institute to The Tribune edi-
torial OF June II on An Industrial Arts Mu-
scum and pleased to note that interest is
being taken In q branch Of the institute work
that is to be incorporated in our museum COL
lection The original plan Of the Museum OF
Arts and Sciences. as adopted by the city, on
the recommendation OF the Board OF Trustees OF
the institute included suites of gallery designed
10 exhibit the industrial arts The completed
museum building will cover area Of approx
lmately eight acres 1t is four stories in height.
and will have ample room for the display of
such exhibits mentioned in your article
and are referred to as existing In the South
Kensington Museum.
FIELDS TO BE COVERED.
Public museums are great public educators
and they should exist in every large community.
The Brooklyn Museum OF Arts and Sciences is
designed especially educational museum.
It's collections should be brought together and
arranged for the purpose OF aiding and supple
menting the work of the higher institutions Of
learning, the technical schools and industries
and the public schools of Brooklyn There
certain collections of such supreme educational
value that they should be in every great mu-
fnr st
the history OF sculpture and architecture,
geograp phcal and geological models and appa
ra.us There are other collections that may be
called special and that may be either OF local
interest or Of exceptional value. The collections
OF the Brooklyn museum should contain all that
pertains TO local history. natural history and
human history OF Long Island. 1t may contain
special collections that not TO be found in
other museums. Every great museum should
contain noble works OF art, but 1t should also
contain collections in the form Of etchings. car
bon photographs, photographers or ordinary
photographs Of all works Of art that have
recognized standing
"Inasmuch as the plan of the institute is so
broad and liberal as to include ell OF the arts
and sciences and their application to human
Industries. 1t would naturally be expected that
It will develop Industrial art collections from
ed by the addition Of one section after another
TO the museum building. 1t is true. as you say.
that we are in the heart OF a great manufactur-
ing and industrial community. and for that rea-
son It Will be easier TO make an industrial art
collection AS receiving every week
valuable additions TO our art collections and to
our natural science collection. so In time shall
we receive abundant material 10 illustrate those
industries which make use of the artistic ee-
ment 1t may not be generally recognized that
the museum building Is located very near 10
the geographical centre Of Brooklyn and also
near the centre Of population on Long Island
of one and one-half million people. This popu-
lation is increasing by the addition OF between
fifty thousand and one hundred thousand per-
sons annually, and the value Of Brooklyn as
place of residence and educational centre
is to be very greatly enhanced by the develop
ment Of the museum along the broad lines laid
down In its charter and form of organization"
FEATURES THAT MUST BE RETAINED
In regard TO The Tribune's suggestion that
the Metropolitan Museum in Manhattan and
the Brooklyn Museum divide their attention be-
tween the various antiquities, as has been done
by the South Kensington and British museums,
and that the Brooklyn Museum devote It's at
tention more exclusively TO the industrial arts
as has the South Kensington Museum, Professor
Hooper said:
'You see It would never be possible for our
museum to give UP its educational features
That was our primary aim. to furnish place
whore the students OF Brooklyn could receive
knowledge. The Metropolitan Museum In Man
haitian is too far remote for that 1t would be
impracticable for teacher TO take class OF
pupils away over to the Metropolitan, not only
ON account of the distance. but also on account
of the expense entailed. 1t Is a fact that few
Brooklyn people visit the Manhattan museum
7 do not care to raise the question or the scope
of our museum at this time. as we are yet in
our infancy, but one thing Is certain ana that
10 that we can never abandon our educational
features"
VIEWS OF EX-MAYOR BOODY.
David A. Boody, former Mayor Of Brooklyn
and a member Of the Board of Trustees OF the
BROOKLYN Institute OF Arts and Sciences, said
,bat he had read with great interest The
Tribune's article on an Industrial arts museum.
Mr. Boody. who has always interested himself
IN ALI educational movements in Brooklyn, be-
leves that the industrial arts should be fos-
.ored developed and applied in the most practi-
"a, manner possible to individual craftsman
shtr and that technical education should be I'M
nroved all along the line. He is OF the opinion
that tho complex Industrial life and civilization
IN all of their various branches. need education
IN the highest forms Of specialization.
"1t ,s better" said Mr.. Boody to Tribune re-
porter. ito be master Of one thng than 10 oe
moor. indifferent jack-of- all-trades believe
that this country Is great enough Dig enough
and rich enough to give to all or her sons
,horough education in every branch of human
o.. Machinery has done a great deal for US.
bmt behind every machine is the genius of man.
We have technical schools, such as those noted noted
In The Tribune's editorial-the Cooper, the Pratt
and other institutions Public spirit maintains
49,, hecause we are beginning day by day TO
realize more and more their great importance
raail, "a no better way In which to raise the
standard of our workers than to instruct, en-,
tighten and broaden them In their own especial
.esdas mr. nrofessions The application OF the