Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-03

ryfng on the work in corresponding
style. Wisconsin has much more that
is of value in Iowa history than Iowa
has and the work is made possible by
liberal appropriations. But the work
for Iowa has always been hampered by
meaber funds. In fast 1t has been car
ried on largely by begging. and but for
the enthusiasm and earnestness of Mr..
Aldrich, and his willingness to engage
in the disagree cable task of asking for
things, ii would not have been possible.
For instance. an appropriation Of $4,000
was recommended a few years ago for
carrying on the work, and got thru
with half the amount. What is furnish
ed now is but a mere trife compared
with what is needed. But even with
the handicap. Mr. Aldrich has accom-
plished much. The people of Iowa ap-
preciate even the little we have aere,"
said Mr. Aldrich, anever they come
and see what we .Te. The number
of visitors is cons 8 Y increasing. es-
pecially those from = tant parts of the
state. They have : ned of this work
and generally ARA. 10 come here for
a visit. if they are. 2. le city,
This historical d, s ment now has
about sixty oil port = many OF them
very fine ones. All - he Yewell por
traits. nine in nun q. are splendid
pictures. General o.e paid George
Yewell $1,000 for h.s portrait which
hangs in the building. The Hoyt Sher-
man portrait by PeiXotto is also very
fine. In the matter iof collections for
the museum proper some fine specimens
are on hand. For instance. the largest
stone AK ever found, is in this collec-
ton. 1t weighs Six pounds. There is
a collection of broken pottery from the
mounds in northeastern Iowa that Is
valuable. But the museum department,
While it mas historical value, is a side
line for the department. The great
work has been in recent years In the
collection of Historical books and man.
uscripts and documents. The catalog
Of these collections Is quite extensive
Here are to be found valuable COM
missions OF Iowa soldiers, the letters
and corresp pondence OF Iowa men. the
originals of state papers Of various
kinds, valuable collection OF books on
Indians and travels In the northwest
in early days. In the matter of the
lnQlan DOCKS ME. <AluTIcll HOW ldS tIls
great work by Schoolcraft complete:
the complete and perfect McKenna and
Hall work which has hundreds of
portraits of Indians, among them thirty
that were from Iowa: three editions of
the work on Indians by Drake. and
two editions Of Catlin's work All
these are rare. The publication of the
Annals of Iowa which has engaged the
time and attention of Mr.. Aldrich for
several years is regarded by him as one
of the most valuable things done. Into
these volumes there has been placed
many original papers, and he is just
now securing a series on the early for
tifcations of Iowa, with the only pic
lures of these fortifcations extant.
The lack of facilities for caring for
hampers the work short
time ago Mr.. Aldrioh was offered
valuable library OF 5,00e volumes on
historical matters. but as he could not
place them Immediately the library
went elsewhere. He has just been of
fered a valuable collection of Indian
articles, but it will not be given him
until there Is provision made for its
care.
The historical work being carried on
now is at that stage where expansion to
the widest limits is now possible. Mr..
Aldrich, though IS years old, is devot-
ing himself earnestly to this work