The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-24
PROF.. MARSH,S COLLECTION.
Described by Himself When He Gave 1t
to Yale,

Described by Himself When He Gave II
to Yale.
| Following is Professor O. G. Marsh's
letter when he gave his valuable pale
ontological collection to Yale:
ITO the President and Fellows of Yale
University.
"Gentlemen-It is thirty years and
more since Mr. George Peabody estab-
llshed at Yale, by gift of $150,000, the
museum that now bears his name This
was in 1866, the year I began my work
as professor of Paleontology, and l Sc
cured this gift mainly with a view of
building up a department of paleontol-
ogy that should be a school of orig
inal research as well as one of instruc-
ton. The collections Of natural history
which had thus brought together were
subsequently deposited in the Peabody
museum and from that time l have en-
deavored in every way to increase these
collections, SO that at present they are
in many respects the most extensive
and valuable in this country.
1T has always been part of my plan
that these scientific collections should
eventually become the property of Yale
university and from the first / pro-
vided in my will for such a disposition
of them. AS it now seems probable
that I may not be able to carry out my
original intentions in regard to de-
partment of paleontology at Yale, I
decided to present these collections to
the university subject only to certain
conditions that appear necessary for
their permanent care and preservation.
The deed of gift, which l herewith en-
close, bears the date of January l. 1898.
These various collections now deposit
ed in the Peabody museum in New Ha-
ven include six of special Importance,
which may be briefly described as fol-
lows:
"G The collection of Vertebrate
Fosils-This is the most important and
valuable of all, as it is very extensive,
contains a very large number of type
specimens, many of them unique and
is widely known from the descriptions
already published In extinct mammals,
birds and reptiles of North America
this series stands pre-eminent.
This collection was pronounced by
who examined it with care in
1876, to be surpassed by no other in the
world Darwin, in 1878, expressed a
strong desire to visit America for the
sole purpose of seeing this collection.
Since then it has more than doubled in
size and value, and still holds first rank.
The bulk of this collection has been Sc
cured in my western explorations,
Oh nf
nearly thirty years, during which I
have crossed the Rocky Mountains
Lwenty-seven times.
"(2) Collection of Fossil Footprints
These specimens are mainly from the
Valley, and thus have a
special local interest. They also form
me of the most extensive and complete |
of the kind in this country, |
not the most valuable of all
CD The Collection of Invertebrate
includes a large number |
# interesting specimens from many
carnations and localities, both in this
and in Europe, Some of these /
ossils I collected myself, but the great
r number We're secured by purchase.
Among the series of specimens especial
Y valuable may be mentioned several
from the famous Macon Creek
ocality in Illinois, very extensive col
action of crinolds from Charlottesville
n Indiana; the largest collection Of
early entire trilobites yet discovered;
nd one of the rarest series of Silurar
known, including important
ype specimens.
80 The Collection of Recent Oste-
1gy-This is believed to be the most
omplete collection in this country for
imposes of study. I have made special
forts for many years to secure the
leletons of rare existing vertebrates
rom every part of the world, particu-
lrly of mammals, birds and reptiles.
he collection is especially rich in an
lropoid apes, the gorillas being repre-
anted by no less than thirteen individ-
ais, and the other genera by rare char
cteristic specimens.
"(5 The Collection of American !
and Ethnology-This col !
elton is the best in the country in sew
al branches of the science being par
cularly rich in Central American an
quties, several thousand specimens in
lmber and many of them unique.
l.
al America and among the others is :
lie famous de Zeitner collection, rich
gold ornaments, which L secured by
lrchase The specimens from Mexico @
e also of great interest and the series L
a representative one. 1t includes the
ell known Skilton collection. e
"(6) The Collection of Minerals-This S
a limited collection, but contains fl
any valuable specimens, among them t
obably the most interesting series n
Town of Nova Scotia ZeoliteS. These t
ere mainly collected by myself, before t.
graduated at Yale, during six expedi- il
ms to Nova Scotia.
Besides the six main collections il
med l have several others of less b
.lue, which include fossil plants, casts a
fossils, geological specimens, and re- a
mt geological material. These, also W
e deposited in the Peabody museum, Ii