Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-30

Visitors at the state mouse ma much
to admire and interest them in the fine
collection of oil paintings which adorn
its walls, notably in the rOtunda, por-
| traits Of many of Names illuStriouS
| sons, rs we'll as several who were close
! ~ identified with the interests Of the
state. in colonial times. Aside from the
historical interest which attaches to
! these portraits they ara Of value as a
! means of prrpctuating to future gener-
| atoms the memory of those whose
! features are shown upon the canvas,
the parts they have played in the vel
/ fare Of N" stat" and of the nation, and
| also to stir The ambition of those who
| viii son be men. and may ut some
| time have to do With the government
! of thu. State. by showing to them the
possibilities which may be attained by
4 good citizenship.
! The collection Of portraits is not an
old one. as it was but few years ago
whcr the state owned but six in all.
At that time the collection included a
/ life sized equestrian portrait of Wash
\ iugton, which had been purchased by
M All act Of the legislature. The others
Wcr" n painting Of Gov. Thomas
PnWnnl. prominent in the colonial his
tory of the State, Sir William Pepper
Ell. who was born in Kittery in 1896.
and who was prominent in the early
| French and Indian wars; Gen. Henry
| Knox. who was the first secretary of
| war Of the United states; of Abraham
! Lincoln. Gen. Ne.,! Dow and Associate
Justice Joshua W. Hathaway. who was
I ~.
| from 1872 to 1859
Tho large increase. which now consti
| tutrS Il fine collection, though as yet
| incomplete. is due almost wholly
to the efforts and energy of the
/ superintendent of public buildings. Col.
I r. G. Stevens. ana was brought about
/ in this way. Early in the year 1901,
COL. Stevens conceived the idea of max
ing collection Of the portraits of mel
notable in the history IF the state. AMI
in accordance with his desire presented
his views To Gov. Powers and council.
In rcrly. they gave him authority to
solicit the paintings. hut with the I'M
Outstanding that the state was to be
nut to no expense.
Acting under these directions. Col.
rrrasing the collection and the fact
that there are at present Sc portraits in
the collection shows how well he has
succeeded. The collection is not as yet
complete. by any means, as there are
vt 80 portraits needed. but the colonel
is in correspondence with the relatives
of th"s" who are deceased and with
th0S. who are living, and every effort
will IT, made to secure the desired pOr-
traits And of al those now hanging
on IN" State House walls, representing
as they do a money value of over S4O,-
600. tn" expenS" to the state has not,
out side. Of what money has been ex-
pended for postage and picture cord,
been one cent.
ri" plan is to include in the collec-
ton the governors of the state, tn"
members of the supreme bench, and
thny" who have rcrr"s, ntcd Maine in
either branch Of Congress. besides few
other notahI" men. among whom will
II" chief Justice Fuller Of the United
States supreme bench, native Of Au-
! g,iSta.
| Following is a list furnished to the
Journal by Col. Stevens, which gives
| tn" names of the governors of the state
since 1N"n. as we'll as those Of the
United States senators and the justices
Of the Supreme judicial court during
the same period. also giving the names
of those of whom portraits have been
| received. and of those who are wanted:
GOVERNORS SINCE 1870.
CTotal $40.
Received. William King. Albion *.
| r-..ot 7 ;pcnIp Nathan Cutler