New-York tribune., 1911-11-05

tent and the manner -, its growth
have an interest which has led the di-
rector 10 contribute TO the current "Bul-
leun' two or three pages outlining the
salient facts. From this survey Of Mr..
Robinson's we quote the following brief
history Of the collection:
It owed its beginning 10 the interest
taken in the subject bN a former trustee
Of the museum. the late Joseph W. Drexel
Who I'm lS19-'S0 presented certain casts Of
rs! ptian sculpture which he had purchased
Of Lieutenant H n. GOrringc. and i'm the
following years he added from time TO
time small original objects, such vases,
amulcts, terra COttas and ItOlemaic coins,
some as gifts, others rs loans. After his
oedth iu lSSs his widow. in 1889. presented
81 the Egyptian antiquities which he had
deposited on loan. i'm conformity with his
vlslts. Lieutenant Commander GOrIiuge
WI be remembered as the one who brought
thc ouelisk known AS CLEOPATRA Needle
IRON Alexandria 10 New York, and in 1881
after its formal presentation 10 the city,
ne gave the museum two OF the four bronze
crabs which had been placed under IL by
the Romans when they had transferred il
from Hciopolis 20 Alexandria In the same
year Samuel l.. VI. Barlow gave some spec
linens Of Egyptian pottery. I'm 1884 James
douglas, jr, deposited his large and in
t'Tesung collection of Egyptian antiquities
IN the museum as a loan. and hYe years
later presented IT, Subsequently he made
extensive additions 10 his gift
Meantime. ia 1856. the museum made its
'fst purchase of Egyptian works Of art,
purchase which Is memorable not only for
the Importance Of the objects acquired. but
because II was the beginning of the friendly
relations between the museum and NJ Gas
Ton Ma spcro. the director general Of an
equiues In Egypt. by which We have benc-
,,ed so largely I'm recent years Through
". MasperO's interest the museum was able
70 purchase part Of the contents OF tomb
OF the NN dynasty which had recently been
opened, consisting Of mummies and painted
Sarcophagi. together with rich assort-
ment ~ tomb furniture and paraphernalia,
III line state Of preservation. In the
same year a valuable collection Of Copuc
NNOlcs was purchased. and this was
greatly enriched I'm 1890 through the gener-
oSity Of George +. Baker. with the result
that our collection Of these textiles became
one of the largest I'm any museum.
ln 1885, began the series Of annual gifts
rom the Egypt Exploration Fund, to
winch the museum owes much important
material. Other notable gifts received IN
me Years Immediately following were forty
lhfcc scarabs and amulets from John L.
Nadawaiader 09J3). the Farnam collection
OF small antiquities-chiefiy brOnzes. ush-
abus, and the large series Of Ptolemaic
coins in the Gold ROOm-which was given
ny the late -. O. Mills $50, and the Ward
collection Of scaTabs, given by j. Plerpont
Morgan O905l.
This brings ms 10 the most important
event iH the history Of the collection. and
ne one 10 which its recent rapid growth
J almost entirely due-nancly. the organ
HailOn by the trustees in 1906, Of the De-
gaTtment Of Egyptian Art with Albert
", LythROo as its curator Wishing
I" take advantage Of the present CNtraOrdi-
nary opportunities 10 obtain material from
original sources. and to secure ~ under
conditions, which permitted a scientific
s,ndv Of the data attending it, discovery,
NJ Lythgor obtained FOR the museum from
the Egyptian authorities concessions 10