Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-16
MUSEUM OF INDIAN RELICS
Project for Distinctive Feature of 0maha's
Municipal Collection,
START ALREADY MADE FOR TN: EXHIBIT
Feasibiiity of Plan Conceded, hut
Chief Dihlculty Consists OF De-
Nisinp ways and Means for
Carrying u Out

The Omaha Public Library board has under
consideration the question Of developing the
museum which has been established in the
public library building along the line OF
Indian relics and handiwork and building up
that department TO make 1t the distinctive
feature Of the collection.
The proposition is pending before the board
for the acquisition of the Indian collection
which was exhibited at the exposition last
summer by Pat Ryan and which attracted
much interest and favorable notice from all
visitors. Mr.. Ryan has been accorded per-
mission to store his property in the base
ment of the library building temporarily.
pending negotiations for its purchase or do
nation. AS he is Nebraska man he is
anxious to have the collection remain in
Omaha, the chief difficulty being one OF
ways and means.
The subject of making the Indian collec-
tion the chief feature of the museum was up
before a recent meeting of the board, at
which favorable views were drawn out from
most of the members although the proposi-
tion was referred to the committee on art
and museum.
Speaking of the question, one OF the library
directors says:
II believe 1t would be great thing for
Omaha II we could acquire the Ryan collec-
ton as a nucleus for a large exhibit of In
dian relics and examples of Indian industry.
Omaha is so situated that it could add to
such a collection from year to year until 1t
became great attraction, not only for resi-
dents, but also for visitors
European cities which maintain municipal
museums usually have some one feature in
which they take special pride and for which
they are particularly noted. Sometimes this
may consist of costly works Of art. as in
Brussels, Munich and Dresden. Each tries
to make itself famous for having the best
collection in one particular branch Dres-
den, for example, has the finest collection OF
porcelans and pottery. Amsterdam has an un-
eXcellcd aquarium, Nuremberg an industrial
museum sought by strangers far and wide.
If Omaha could establish the reputation for
possessing the best Indian collection in it's
municipal museum TO be found anywhere
outside, possibly, of the national museum at
Washington, every stranger who reached the
city would ask about it and take time to
visit it and inspect it.
Plan Entirely Feasible.
This plan is entirely feasible Senator
Henderson has a small but quite valuable
collection of Indian relics which he says
he will gladly deposit in the library build
ing If the Indian exhibit is developed, and
a number of other public-spirited citizens
who have few articles whicn would fit in
would be glad to follow suit The library
has just been presented by the exposition
board with a complete collection of the In
dian photographs taken for the government
at the Transmississipp Exposition. These
photographs illustrate all the different
aboriginal types and are not to be surpassed
anywhere. The library board will see to it
that they are properly mounted and eX-
hibited and they would be studied by every
one interested in the subject.
Omaha cannot hope to build up a museum
covering all branches of industry, art and
history to compete with great institutions
like the National museum, but 1t can make
speciality in certain lines and do itself
credit. The Byron Reed collection of coins
and autographs and paper currency is one
feature which cannot be matched elsewhere,
and If the Indian exhibit can be added the
two together would make our museum stand
out as one of the distinctive institutions
of the city"