Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-10
CARNEGIE A TRUSTEE
w. R. Smiths Will Provides for
Burns Collection.
TEN OTHERS ALSO NAMED
Books and Papers to Form Nucleus
of Scottish Memorial.
SECOND WILL NOT YET FOUND
instrument Disposing of Property
of Botanic Garden Superintend-.
ent Has Not Been Located.

William Robertson Smith, late superin-
tendent of the National Botanic Garden,
left special will referring TO his cele-
brated Burns collection Of books and
papers relating to the Scotch poet The
document is dated May 3, 1912, and
names eleven trustees who are to hold
the collection intact, with the purpose of
its forming the nucleus Of Scottish me-
mortal to be erected In the National
Capital.
Theodore W. Noyes, Blair Lee. James
Wilson. Secretary of Agriculture: ChamI
Clark. Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives: Albert Douglas of Chillicothe
Ohio; David Hutcherson, Thomas Nelson
Page. John Barrett, Oliver Ricketson and
DR.: Charles Marbury. all of this city.
Mr. Smith makes his grateful acknowl-
edgments to Andrew Carnegie and names
him president of the trustees. declaring
that Mr.. Carnegie occupies a special re-
latton to the Burns collection. 1t was
largely due to the aid of Mr. Carnegie,
the will states, that the collection has
attained it's present proportions.
Credit Given Mr.. Carnegie.
To the constant generosity of the
Laird Of Skibo" is attributed the acqui-
Angus sale and many recently added
editions of the poets works.
Mr.. Carnegie became interested in the
collection fifteen years ago, when Mr..
Smith had collected only LEGO volumes
then housed in three cases. The friendly
interest of Mr.. Carnegie and his financial
aid have made possible, Mr.. Smith states
In his will. the growth of the collection
to $500 volumes, filling ten large cases.
Mr.. Smith says the collection is believed
to be the largest and most complete of
the different editions of the poets writ
ings and of books relating to his life and
works in existence. 1t is almost a dupli-
cate of the library which Burns possessed
when he died. together with portraits and
other articles illustrating the life of the
poet.
The bequest of the collection to the
trustees and their successors provides
that the collection is to be kept and pre-
served by the trustees or majority of
them in such manner as to carry out
the wishes of Mr.. Smith as to the housing
of the collection. The main purpose OF
the preservation of the collection Is stated
to be the hope and belief of Mr.. Smith
that 1t may tend TO the educa sinnal ad-
vantage>o OF the public and assist not only
in perpetuating the memory Of the Scot
tish bard, but in creating wider knoWl-
edge of his gentle humanity and his
love for all that was true and beautiful"
Second Will Not Yet Found.
The will disposing of the collection re-
cites that 1t is not to conflict with an
other will relating to other personal prop
erty and real estate. Attorney George H.
Lamar, who was appointed by Justice
Anderson as collector Of the estate
stated to the court that he had not found
the other will referred 10. but thought 1t
might be IN the custody of the Scottish
Rite officials.
The petition for the appointment Of a
collector is made by Dr. Charles C. Mar
bury. the attending physician. He tells
the court of the need OF some person to
safeguard the estate during the delay
necessary to the probate of the will.
The property left by Mr.. Smith includes
premises 433 1st street southwest. a farm
Of 100 acres in Montgomery county, Md,
a general and scientific library in addi-
ton to the Burns collection, household
effects. and $1,000 in bank.
Mr. Smiths Masonic Will.
The Masonic will of William r. Smith,
spoken of by Attorney Lamar, was later
filed for record. This document was
executed March 2S, 1852, and d.sposes
of his estate in equal shares to the widow,
Anna NJ. Smith, and to his sister, Jane
Rennie, since deceased. and her daugh-
ter Agnes Renn.e. The name Of the
niece, called the only heir in the petition
Of DIR. Marbury, Is given as Mrs. jamie
Ritchie. No mention is made in this
paper of the Burns collection.