Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-23
THE GERM ANIC M USEUM
ADDRESS BY PROF. FRANCKE BE-
FORE HARVARD CLUB.
Objects Of the Institution Explained
Representatives Of the German
Embassy Present.

| An interesting and instructive address on
| the GeEmanic Museum at Harvard was
| given under the auspices of the Harvard
Club at the Columbian University Hall last
night by Prof. Kuno Francke, head of the
| German department of Harvard University.
| At the conclusion of the lecture Professor
| Francke held short reception. There was
| a large audience present, including num-
| Der of prominent Harvard graduates and
| representatives Of the German embassy. A
| letter of regret from President Roosevelt
was read, in which the writer expressed his
| deep interest in the Germanic Museum AS
! socia tion, of which he is an officer, and ex-
pressed the belief that it would doubtless
| result in binding more closely the friendly
relations which exist between the United
| States and Germany.
Professor Francke was introduced to ms
| audience by Mr. Frank Hackett, former
assistant secretary of the navy. The pro-
| fessor explained that the purpose of the
| Germanic Museum was to collect reproduc-
| tons of industrial, artistic and literary
| works which would tend to show the de-
velopment of German civilization through
| out Europe and England from the earliest
| recorded time to the present. The primary
object of the museum is to thoroughly IN
struct people with the ideas OF German cul-
ture and thus destroy race prejudiceS Profess
sor Francke showed a plan OF the future
museum building, but said no funds have
yet been secured for its erection.
Organization Of the Association.
The Germanic Museum Association was
formed in May, 1901 in part, as the result
of the activity of the Germanic department
of Harvard University but more immediate
ly in response to general interest taken
by students of German civilization through
out the country. The officers of the associa-
ton We're directed to make such arrange
TO r,ln Tlrn
jected Germanic Museum under the care of
Harvard University. In this they secured
the cordial support of the Harvard corpora
tion which placed at the disposal OF the
association the Rogers building, In the
triangle between the main college quad
rangle and memorial hall, and also assumed
the entire cost of fitting it up for museum
purposes The university also provides the
service of Prof. Francke.
= German Emperor's Donation.
Prince Henry OF Prussia, i'll behalf of his
brother, the German emperor, rendered to
the museum on the occasion of a reception
given to him by the association a magnif
cent gift of reproductions of German works
of art. Many q the objects comprised in
this gift are of great size, and all of
the highest Importance in the development
of such museum, comprising as they do a
representative selection of the real master
pieces of German architectural sculpture,
SuCn as the Golden cate OF fTelDeTS Cdtne-
dral, the ReredoS of Naumburg Cathedral,
ST. Sebaids Tomb, Schluter's Statue of the
Great Elector, and many other pieces of
equal interest to American students. The
collection is expected soon to arrive in this
country and will be Immediately set up.
From a committee of leading citizens of
Berlin, also, comes a collection of galvano-
plastic reproductions of exquisite eXactness |
and beauty. of representative pieces of
German gold and Silverware from the be- |
ginning of the fifteenth to the end of the |
eighteenth centuries, including the table |
service of thirty-five pieces of the city of |
Luxembourg. Moreover the Swiss govern |
ment has notified the association of it's in |
tention to send the museum a collection of |
casts of medieval German art in Switzer- |
land. |
Barthold Schlesinger's Bequest.
The funds of the association have received |
a welcome addition from the bequest of |
the late Barthold Schlesinger of Brookline, |
Mass, which was put at our disposal by the |
Harvard corporation in recognition of Mr.. |
Schesinger's well-known interest in Ger |
manic studies.
Prof. Francke made trip abroad in 1901 |
1t is mainly through this visit that Emperor |
William learned of the extent of the mu- |
sc UNI. In his address last night Prof |
Francke referred to his visit to Europe and |
tod what he hoped the museum would be. |
After the address he was entertained at the |
Cosmos Club by the Harvard members.