New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
JP. MORGAN THE GIVER.
PRESENTED THE BEMENT COLLECTION
OF MINERALS TO THE NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM

It came to light yesterday that J. Pierpoht
Morgan was the giver TO the American MUSEUM
~ Natural History. this city, OF a collection of
minerals the finest in this country. y is
valued at nearly 100000 and has been known
in the past as the Bement collection. The gift
Of the specimens announced last Deem
her At the time the identity Of the giver was
kept secret. at the request of Mr.. Morgan 1t
was not until yesterday, when Abram 5 Hewitt.
one Of the members of the Board of Trustees
of the museum. made his report, that the name
of Mr.. Morgan. who is also trustee Of The
museum, was made public. In his report MIR.
Hewitt says:
The trustees rejoice that the museum begins the
new century with the acquisition of two very re-
s6ded 20 tbn ,rT 5 oi - ite ons ,
session, raise its position among the museums OF
Museum, heretofore. Icy common consent regarded
rich beyond, , comparison IN. in rare specimens
Bement collection consisting of ten thousand speci-
mems Of minerals gathered without regard TO
pense in order TO illustrate the mineral world with
a perfection, elegance and crystalographic beauty
comprehensveness in this or any other country.
il represents many years of painstakng and ex-
throughout the world. In American minerals il is
Rafst ii ine Gonnu anf mihG and el s
latng view Of the greater part of the mineral king
dom In IL is included a collection of meteorites
uneaualed in this country and. through their rela-
tions 10 the great realm OF space beyond world.
other treasures of the museum.
known as The Tiffany exhibit of gems and pearls.
shown by Tlfany ooo So at me intsrpational IN
divisions. One is known the foreign collection.
containing the choicest examples of and natural
gems in the form OF crystals fractured pieces and
rolled pebbles. IL the result of Years of coll
IN yyx1o Is tbe highest antborit1 ON tba s1,b-
iect in this country and of the leading experts
twenty ~ crystals of diamonds Of various forms.
TuhieS and SapDhlreS Of great variety of
color including blue sapphire larger than that in
sxanGre shs chrys6bery and great variety of ofher %
gems-topazes. emeralds beryls amethysts; gar
tains, Japan and China; gems set in gold rings,
cylinders dating from 1000 3. c. TO 4O00 B. c. and
hundreds Of rich and costly jewels.
found in the United States gathered since the col
lection Of lSsS vas presented to the museum by
scientific men in every land. and has been espe-
United States Geological Survey.
The third portion is pearl collection. consisting
Of over nine hundred pearls. taken from shells
found in the brooks and rivers or along the coasts
OF North America. Many of these are of great
beauty, and show wonderful range Of COLOR
These combined collections obtained the highest
award given the French International EXPOSE
fion Of 1890. Grand Prix and attracted the ad-
ternationai Congress convened at that exposition
The addition Of these collections places the gem
collection of the American museum in the fore
most rank. No other museum shows so large or
comprehensive coiectlon oI gems & ana precious
thus not only exalted but 10 ordinary visitor il
becomes the revelation of a world OF beauty with
which heretofore scientists alone have been
familiar
These inestinable acquisitions the museum owes
10 the liberality Of our associate trustee, John
Pierpont MORGAN whose conttibunons 70 me emu rna-
scum have Deen ALREADY upon q HuhlICeiIt scGIe-
The present gifts however, far surpass IN value
received from him.
A description Of the Bement collection was
rrinted in The Tribune of December 30. 1900.
at the time the collection became the property
Of the Museum of Natural History. 1t is val
ued at from S1JOO00 TO 100000 and was
called after Clarence s. Benent, of Philadelphia,
who began the collection thrty-five years ago.
and kept adding to il until it passed from his
possession Neither time nor money was spared
IN gathering desirable specimens. and in 1854
the Bement collection was looked upon as so
important as TO call for special report in the
interest of the National Museum, Washington.
IT was expected at one time that the collection
would become the property of the government.
A curator Of a foreign museum, after seeing
the Bement collection went to Europe He
cabled that he would purchase the specimens.
but did not succeed in raising the necessary
money Since 1884 the Bement collection has
increased over 20 per cent. and is much finer
than the American collection in the British
Museum Quartz crystals fuor spar. garnets.
sulphures aZurites, tourmalines and topaZes
are among the finest specimens.
In the collection Of minerals there are be
tween four hundred and five hundred large
pieces including species from mines. railroad
cuttings. crevasses Of mountains and volcanoes.
One piece Of smoky quartz crystal weighs sixty
five pounds. 1t was found twenty years ago IN
TYefen Glacier near the Furca Pass. NJ. Burke,
OF Rerne obtained il with other minerals. The
big piece was called president" II became the
property Of Mr.. Bemert when he got the Burke
collection Some OF the gypsum crystals are as
clear plate glass. The largest is forty by
eight inches. An emerald eight and one-half
inches long found in North Carolina, is valued
at 81 000 In the collection Of meteorites there
are between five hundred and six hundred
specimens. The smallest weighs one gramme
and the largest 100 pounds AT dealers prices.
the meteorite collection is valued at S5OoOo
One small specimen weighing seventeen
grammes is valued at SlO0. The Bement col
lection was received by the museum officials
last January. and the specimens are being in
stalled rapidly possible. Owing to the
collection being such extensive one, its ar
rangement has not been completed, and it may
he some time before il will be possible for the
public to il to the best advantage.