Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-13
A NEW MEXICAN HonoRED.
The State Of Iowa Requests the Por.
trait Of Of Her Distinguish
ed Sons for Her Historical
Building.

o0iI0tf3s
The portrait Of Frank Springer is
to be given al honorable place among
the distinguished sons OF the state Of
Iowa. The request was officially made
last April by the Curator Of the his
torical department. Hon. Charles Aid.
rich, and was seconded BY the gov.
ernor of the state, and other disting-
uished citizens OF Iowa, After months
Of hesitation, during which the re-
quest was repi- tedly renewed and its
propriety urged, this modest man Of
science has consented to have an oil
painting Of himself take its place
among those whom his native state
delights to honor. This he may well
consider the greatest distinction
which he has yet received In recogni-
tion Of his labors for the advancement
81 science, and the presager Of great
er hon0rs yet TO come. That Iowa Is
coming to value the work of her sehol-
airs, as she does that of her warriors
and statesmen, Is shown by the fol.
lowing comment Of one OF her citizens
upon the place Mr.. Springer's portrait
Will hold in the historical gallery ut
will add to the character and quality
Of the collection, because II IL not
placed there because of civil or mill.
tary distinction, hnt on account Of
those nor enduring elements Of study
and research Which add to the sum
total of Knowledge. N looking over
the list Of celebrities | have been i'm.
pressed with the fact that our cOllec.
tion Or portraits at Des Moines repre-.
scented the active element In politics
and military life, and paid compare
lively little attention to the student,
investigator and d%iscDyerer. We hard.
" realize how much our greatness and
prosperity Is due 10 these traits OF
character. They do not fill the pub
Tic eye 70 the same extent that the pop
ular man OF action does, but these in.
fluences In working out the problems
Of life probably have q greater in
fiuence upon the lives and character of
the people than any other
In commenting on the historical
building Of the state of Iowa,the nature
or Its collections and It's future value
To the state, William Il. Curtis, writ.
ing for the Chicago Record-Herald
says:
1T Is really the most attractive
place for visitors in Des Moines, and
the public IL beginning 10 take a deep
interest In the collections, which have
grown rapidly In size and Importance.
The chief aim Of the institution Is
70 collect and preserve the perishing
materials Of territorial and state his
tory. and II has been remarkably sue
cessful.
THE most interesting section OF the
historical department is a collection
Of autograph letters. manuscripts and
portraits presented to the state In
1884 by Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Aldrich.
II contains over 1000 papers Or great
historical and personal interest.
Among them are autograph originals
Of the letters or Lincoln and Grant
accepting their elections to the pres.
idency.
There are portraits and autograph
letters of all the governors, United
States senators and chief Justices OF
Iowa, and OF the famous soldiers states.
men and officials OF the state. One
or the unique objects Is a written docu.
ment signed In two places by Julien
Dubuque. the only signature or writing
Of that celebrated pioneer ever
brought TO light. Beside II Is the first