The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-27
RARE. OLD OIL PAINTINGS
 OF FAMOUS ALABAMIANS
Director of Historical Department Will Throw Open the Doors Of Museum and Gallery
 to the Public.


 ment of Archives and History. has been faithfully at work arranging pictures, relics. rare books and Alabama curios In the Museum and Gallery which is to be made an interesting feature of the new department created by the last Leg !, islature. The doors of the museum and gallery will be thrown open to the public within few days. at least by the time the Confederate Veterans have their re- union here in November. and the place will no doubt atti act the attention of the entire State.
 The office ot the department was To- cated in the cloak room of the Senate when 1t was first created, and it will probably remain there until more ade- quate provision is made by the State government. MT. Owen has utilized the Senate Chamlysr as a Museum and Gal iery and the historic oid room. in which the Provisional Congress of the Confed- crate States was trst held, has been greatly improved thereby. It is particL- larly adapted for gallery. The walls ventilation and an abundance of room. The chamber will not be used again until the Senate meets in January, l9u3 At that time the relics may be removed and the pictures left hanging upon the walls. In the meantime the Senate Chamber is made of the greatest use to the pupilc; It is well kept and the Museum ana Gallery is the most interesting place about the Capitol.
 Since his early manhood MT. Owen has taken 8 deep interest in the history of his native State and many of the pictures, relics and curios in the de- partment are the result of the personal interest he felt in them before he be- came DireC tor of the Department. Since the Department Was created, however, many citizens of the State have mani fested their interest in the work by Tor books and eurios. These have been giv- en a place in tine collection,
 Many Oil Paintings.
 As a result of this interest, MT. Owen has now hanging upon the walls Of the William wndes Yancey. Judge Oliver Fitts, William Crawford. John Mckee, Gen. William Wirt Allen, Gen. Braxton Bragg, and Col. Tennent Lomax. There are also numerous lfe-s.zed crayons and photographs of distinguished Alabam- lans as well as group pictures or onicers of the Confederate Army. members of Alabama legislatures and other notable photographs. The central picture in the gallery, and the one naturally given the most con. crayon of Jefferson Davis, which was already hanging in the Senate Chamber when Mir. Owen began his work o trans forming the chamber into a Mu' scum and Gallery. This crayon portrait was presented to the Alabama Senate several years ago by Hon. J. ". A. san was made of MT. Davis during the las years of his life and represents mn about as he was when he visited Mont gomery to participate in the laying O the corner stone of the Confederat monument in the Capitol grounds Th crayon is handsomely framed and % cupies a position upon the wall immedi stely ovefhang!ng the chair of the Pres ident of the Senate.
 Pictures of MT. Yancey.
 Underneath the picture of MT. Davi has reen hung handsome oil paintinl of William Lowndes Yancey. It is rGre painting and is probably the onl! picture of Mir. Yanoey representing hin in the early fifttes before he became famous as a statesman and a leader The painting is the work of Billng. ar artist who lived in Montgomery befor' the war between the States. Later h' tained considt rable fame. The work O. BirinS is In many of the older Mont gomery homes. This Billing painting shows MT. Yancey with full lower beart which he wore at that time on accoun of a severe throat affection caused b! excessive campaigning; The pa1ntln9 II surro Ib6ed by a handsome 41, goid i,a1 trdna' 1n partment by Mrs. Mary Yancey HarreI of Birmingham. the only daughter or MT Yancey. . l., smaller oil painting of MT. Yancey rep rese ating him as he was best known U the public-a. Southern ststesman; & ThI' painting is about one-third life size. l was originally photograph but hal been painted over for preservation. l Is neatly framed. This picture was org sides sides in New York City. MT. Fabel gave the picture to Capt. 5. Il; screw Holtzciaw, who had read law in the of flee of MT. Yancey At the death O Gen. Holtzclaw tte picture became tn' property of his daughter, Mrs. John A Kirkpatrick of Montgomery, who pre- sented it to the Historical Department.
 Ancestors of Hon. J. H. Fits.
 The oldest and probably the most in teresting painting in the entire cGllec ton is a life-sized portrait of Judg Oliver Fitts, who was Territoria Judge of Mississippi when Alabama wa a part of that territory: His c4mmls native of Warren County, North Car oItna, who came to this section of tn country when it was beginning its strug gIes with the, Indians. Judge Fftts wa Grandfather of Hon. James Harris Fit of Tuscaloosa. a distinguished citize of Alabama. and great-grandfather member of the late Constitutional Con The picture bears a marked resemb lance to Napoleon. It represents Judg FItts sitting with a volume of law re ports in his hand. He was fashionabl S-essed. It was painted some time afte 9. The WOrK was uOne Dy Heale
 shington, and it is said that tn n Iting cost $500. It is in heavy gol a ne. The painting was secured by MI d en from Dr. Julian Sawyer of Me bl :. who is a great-Grandson of Judg
 tompanion pictures to that of Judg Fitts are those of Judge William Craw ford and his wife, Temperance Craw ford. who was a daughter of Judg Fitts. These portraits are done in O and are said to have been the work 0 SiIIv who painted them in Washington They are excellent works of art an give a splendid idea of the culture an Tct,nsment of the pioneer citizens Alabama Judge Crawford was hand some man and Ms. Crawford was
 teautifuI and stylish woman.
 Judge Crawford was native or Louis County, Va. and came to Alabama prlo to 1Slf, in which year he was Ierrito i7rited States District Attorney and wa fbe seccnd Federal District Judge ( Aiabama filling the latter place froI is26 to Is4s, ir which year he died. H held courts in Huntsville. Mobile. fus caioosa and Cahaba. which were tn nrincipal cities of th9 State in thos Savs. Mrs. Leila M Cobb. wife of D' Jesse M Cobb of Grove Hill. Clark ,,nunty. is great at-rranddaughter ( Judge and Mrs. Crawford. and thes hf ndsome paintings were presented | the Department by her.
 Portrait of John Mckee.
 A ufe-size portrait of John McKe, which Is the only one in existence, very valuable ard will be Of interes to all Alabamians. It is said to hay