The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-20
A PORTRAIT HAS
BEEN PRESENTED
State Receives Likeness of Dr.,
J. |. M. Curry
is GIVEN BY MRS. CURRY
Was One of Alabama's Most Dlstin-
gulshed Citizens and Did Much
for the Cause of Edu-
cation.
is GIVEN BY MRS. CURRY

Montgomery. May 19-(Special)-T
department of archives and history Of
which Mr.. Thomas NJ. Owen is director
has received a splendid bust picture of
the late DR.. J. L. NJ. Curry, a gift from
Mrs Curry to the people of Alabama
The painter Is Mr.. c. A. Warrall of
Washington, and the portrait ranks with
the best in the states gallery. The pic
ture of DIR. Curry is accompanied by the
following letter from Congressman S. j.
Bowie of Admission, nephew of DR..
Curry's first wife:
Admission, Ala, May IL, 1904.
Hon. Thomas M. owen, Montgomery,
Ala.
My Dear Mr.. Owen--On the 10th of
this month. Mrs. Connally will have
shipped to you, as gift to the people of
Alabama, a portrait Of Hon. j. L. Nj.
Curry, that was left for that purpose
by his wife, Mary w. Curry. l have
been requested to present it to you for
the state, In the name of his wife The
most active years of his life were spent
in this state, and to the gay or his death
1t enlisted his deepest affections. Hav-
ing lived long life of singular usefull-
ness to the state of his adoption. and to
the entire south, | feel that no gift would
be more appropriate than this.
With best wishes, / remain sincerely
yours, SYDNEY j. BOWIE.
Sketch of DR.. Curry.
DR.. Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry died
February r. 1909 at Ashvlle, N c.,
where he was soiourning for his health,
and passed to where beyond these voices
there is peace He was inferred at Rich
mond, Va, where he had lived for many
years prior to his removal to Washing
ton City, his home at the time of his
death.
DR.. Curry was born in Lincoln county,
Georgia. June 5. 1926. of distinguished rev.
dictionary ancestry. In 1887 he came with
his father to Taladega county, Alabama,
where he was reared and from where he
entered upon his long and useful career,
and in consequence of which he always re-
garded Alabama as his home state. lie
was a graduate of the University of Geor-
gia and of the Harvard law school. He
served in the Mexican war, and was sue
cessivey member of the Alabama legis
lature, a presidential elector, member Of
the United States congress, a member of
the Confederate congress- a lieutenant
colonel of cavalry in the Confederate
states army, a Baptist minister, an educa-
tor, a diplomatist and an author.
In 1891 he became the general agent of
the Peabody fund, a position he held
until his death, excepting the years of his
residence abroad as the United States
representative in Spain, 1SS5-1SSS. 1t was
while in this station that he arranged
the preliminary steps for the quadri-cen-
tennial of the discovery of America, and
he was also of much assistance to stu
dents in procuring access to documents.
archives, etc. In 1902 he again returned
to Spain as our special envoy at the coro-
nation of the young Spanish king.
Work Was Notable.
DIR. curry's work as agent of the Pea
body and Slater funds (being chosen to
the management of the latter in 1891 was
notable He stood for educational ad-
vancement in its higher, fuller and broad
er aspects and in this ministry he con-
tinued persistently as long as he lived.
Dr. Curry was a prolific writer ana pos
sessed versatile genius His work TO
1897 listed in owens "Bibllography OF
Alabama in the Report OF the American
Historical Association for 1897, embraces
six pages. He manifested at all times
the keenest interest in history and histori-
cal effort and his example ana sympathy
were always helpful He participated IN
the preliminary conference ana was pres
ent at the organization OF the southern
History association in Washington CITY
April "a 1896. He was chosen 10 pc the
erst vice president of the organization,
and on the death of the first president Dr.
William l. Wilson, he was elected ms
successor 1t was in his library at WASH
Ington that the first meeting of the ad-
ministrative council of the new assocla-
tion was held. In mis- death good cltizen-
shin. the forces of education, historical
enterprise and all forms of philanthropy
lost a friend, a sympathizer ana CO.
lahOrer