New-York tribune., 1907-04-28
NATlONALPLAYMUSEUN
One Of the Projects of the Play-
ground association of .4merica.

a national museum OF play in which all that
- being done all over the world for the happi-
ness and health of children viii he permanently
on exhibition, is one Of the projects ~ the
Playground Association os Amerca This asso-
citation. OF which President Roosevelt and Jacob
l'iis are Honorary officers and Dr Luther II
! Gulick, OF New York Is president has bae,
formed to carry on an organized campaign TO in
duce municipalities 20 provide adequate play and
athletic facilities for their citizens. To aid i'm
this movement the association co-operates with
and brings concerted action among local socis-
ties working for play facilities. and also pur
poses 10 give number Of effective demonstra-
tions OF the value of play one oS these prof.
ects. for which the association is now endeavor-
ing 20 raise funds. Is the establishment OF a
model playground at~the jamestown exposition
and the holding OF play festival week with
the idea Of interesting municipal officers i'm the
play plan of making better citizens Another
project which will be carried OUT in June is
great play festival in Chicago. at which 1000
sChooi children VIII demonstrate the usefulness
or education play and the leaders OF the play
movement I'm this country will read papers on
various allied subjects
The third concrete plan of the associaf Inn IL
the establishment 0t great play museum in one
or the larger cities. Al present Washington or
New York is being discussed as the possible
home of this museum. though its location de-
pendS. I'm some measure the source of con
trihutlonS and endowments. In general. the
Idea or the museum viii be to gather for the
convenience OF the student a complete record of
all that iS being done In the form Of exhibits
and models. and also complete library OF
newspaper and magazine clippings. pamphlets
and hooks. carefully classified So as to give
specific information about progress in any given
locality.
There will also be complete collection Of
approved educational games for children sn that
n teacher can Immediately get the rules and
methods of playing new games as rapidly as
they discovered III apparatus
to play any games the paTapheTnalia will be on
exhibition, so that it can be copied or, II pat
ented so that the investigator can learn It's
cost and where II Is to be purchased
The most important feature ~ the proiected
museum, however. will be the section devoted to
the construction Of Fairgrounds. In this section
the association hopes to have complete models
Of the best municipal and private Fairgrounds
and complete sets of apparatus OF all kinds
needed for equipment II is believed that many
cities win furnish'uot only models of their play
grounds but will contribute sets of plans and
specifications for their construction. figures as
to cost of building and complete data as 20 eX-
peudtUTeS for maintenance In addition there
will be full data for those who wish to turn a
vacant lot into an effective playground at the
lowest possible cost. The underlying idea OF
the museum is that it will answer in practical.
deInlte way any question as To cost and advisa-
billty OF establishing play places in any given
neiShbOrhOOd. and ON any scale. great or small
is believed also that collection OF complete
Data OF this sort will prompt many writer's and
lecturers to take up the play idea and advocate
us extension through their articles or addresses
mott at jamestown. much of the material used
there would go to form a nucleus Of the perua-
hent exhibit in the museum
III oruef TO accomplish the several projects
now under consideration the association es
Wasins an active campaign TO get new members
1 Ino 10 raise funds. This work is in charge OF
IT, 1T, henry ). Curtis, supervisor OF pIaygrOunds
Dlstrict or Columbia, who is secretary of the
%ontriS,t, Applications for membership and
be seDt ~ 10 10 tne work Of the society should
sIIale eISISnlnet9n Memberships are OF Six kinds as
sS,stsini 1oSSIInaL 81; council 81; associate S5;
siVa pa'ron, 800; founders, $1,000,