The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-28
NORTH CAROLINA'S NEW
HALL OF STATE HISTORY
Colonel Fred Ods Writes interestingly of the ColIec=
ton of Relics Already Placed in this
Noble Institution.

Inc HaH OF History Is q noble room in
the State Museum, 10Ox40 feet and 40 feet
high. with roof of polished pine is well
lighted and admirably adapted for the
display of articles which will along all
lines illustrate the history OF the State. For
fully 20 years the writer has hoped for
such hall, o place to show what the
State has done; to make an exhibit alike
pleasing and instructive, and which would
be susceptible of development only limit
ed by space. In 1883 the late Governor
Scales, writing TO me, said: 81 enclose
letter asking for some relics TO be sent
TO another State. | told the writer you
we're ahead of him, and that you wanted
all he had or could get for North Caro-
lima. | hope this will give you fresh
stimulus in perpetuating, by collecting
relics and otherwise, the name and fame
of the old State, which / know is so
dear to you
The collecting has gone on and the
+. State Museum has done well its part
along the line marked out The Hall of
History is a fact, these 20 days, as the
first work in it began December 1st 1t
is handsomely furnished. The cases are
of North Carolina oak, cherry and wal
nut. of fine design. and each has a triple
locking device. is dust and moth proof,
so there is perfect safety for all articles
no matter Of what material they may
be. SO far about 90 cases have been
filled. There is on hand material enough
10 FIJI few more. The work will be
pushed There is the promise of many
valuable articles, which will be not only
safe there. but as parts Of such col
lection will be of the most value TO every
person in the State. Now that the Hall
OF History is opened t will grow. no
doubt rapidly. so far as its collections
are concerned. All who see il are graft
lied ana pleased. 1t is the writer's plan
TO secure from England arms and arInor
Of the time OF Sir Walter Raleigh. For
Q sum which IS really small all tneso
InValHable relics of that grand period
can be secured. genuine beyond perad-
venture. L is 2n occasion FOR some public
spirited North Carolinian by gift OF
money 10 have these articles placed in
the Hall Of History as a personal me-
mortal OF tic donor. II is hoped that This
statement Viii attract The attention of
stfne &C among he nlcny in the state
who can easily make such q gift, ana WAC
VIII correspond with the writer.
The first eases in the collection are
blied with relics Of the Indians, illus
tratlng their war5 and their social life.
One case shows the Development Of the
stone exc and Tic tolaahavk from the
rndesi implement possible down TO the
iron tomahawk which tho Indian
h2nghi frc'a The White traders. ana
Nitl' which. i.y the way some OF his
fealijest work was done The Indian
Discarded rs soon as he could his@,own
manufactures fer those of the whites
and tnus armed fought tho pale faces.
Thee arc numbers cf the round and
diseoldal stones which the Indians used
IN their games, stones we'll polished ana
Aaared. which they used in dressins,
skins. and stone knives which they used
n skihning and cutting 10 animals.
mere are lcaf-shapcd inlpiemcnts. many
Oh which certainly appcar TO have been
spcar-2e9ds There are ceremonial
stones. enc very large. or soap-sionc.
in" axes and tomahawks are rot of very
ha' stone: the dscoilal stones are
mainly Of quartz or granite and no doubt
most of these We're found water-worn.
The collection Of arrow-hcaIs is very
complete, Illustrating all the vari
ties OF make and material from the
crystal quartz to the flint They are
white, red. brown aud slate colcrcd.
There are also spcar-points There are
"GF-affows as well rs those used in kill
lug animals birds and fish.
In ono case is the skeleton of an In
dian found IN mound IN Wilkes coan
~ and in the same case are articles in
great variety taken from an indian
mound near Raleigh There are arrow
points. tonlahaBks, beads, fragments of
pottery dog $ skull. dccr's horn points.
&c. There are beads from several
mounds. and these illustrate in ono ease
rade carving on shell or bone; while in
ahoihef Instance the beads are like
string OF white coral The potter is
o. TWO kinds, soap-stonc and clay. tha
latter stamped on The outside with corn
cobs' 50 as to give Il criss-cross effect.
Gae CT these Indian cases Is devoted
!" Implements used in social life, incIud-
ipg clay Jar eighteen inches in height
enc Fl the most perfect in existence.
n tl:'S care are soarstonc rots Of
iargo size a lamp of baked
clay with a rude neck ana
bead thereon; pipes, of all kinds.
nearly al OF soap-stone hammers
latter
wood; mortar used in boating corn for
hominy; ornaments OF bored stone. not q
feN Of which must have been worn at the
neck. There are also Implements used
IN making how-strings round and smooth
10 this cese by way OF contrast. are
shown i1edern articles made by the
North Caroline Cherokee Indians: wood
ca spoons, pots, vases Jars and pipes
some of which arc made aioGg thc lines
of ordinary American articles Of the
kind and show no rudcness of design or
workmanship.
here Is quite jump in the filled
cases ~ tho period when the whites ap-
reared ana, as is their wont, took charge
# affairs. The idea Is TO arrange ex-
hihits in q way chronologieally. though
this is necessarily difficult. and many
rc-arfaa"cnents viii be necessary In
fact. collection oil this kind is never
finished. Work onil has 30 be perpetual
IN case Is the eldest will known in
he state; that OF John 1rueblool, OF
the Province OF Albanarle," GATED
Was : 1G4e. It Is in quaint text and
equall" uuaint language. II begins
thu-. 4 iigsr,aarlr II, ,,.,r,., 81