The Detroit times., 1913-10-27
Three MEMBERS
OF ART MUSEUM
BOARD RESIGN
X. p. Joy, Joseph Boyer and Mar
vim Preston Say They Haven't
Time Required for Work
w. C. WEBER HEADS NEW
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Appointment Significant Because
of His Vigorous Opposition to
Donaldson Plans

Members OF the board OF trustees
of the Detroit Museum OF Art are
hoping to avert a shakeup that threat
ems to change materially the COM
plexion OF the board just at time
when the most serious problems in
the history OF the institution must
be solved.
Three designations have been hand
cd in by trustees OF the museum. Rich
ard P. Joy, whose term expires next
year, has sent in letter OF resigna'
ton. Joseph Boyer and Marvin Pres
ton. whose terms do not end until
1916, have also written letters OF
resignation. Mr.. Joy said relative to
his resignation Il have SO very
many things TO attend to that | am
forced to drop some OF my work.
He has not attended a meeting OF
the board since sending his letter,
though the board has not accepted his
resignation. In fact, the tbard has laid
all the resigne tions on the table.
Mr.. Boyer explained that he has so
much to do that he cannot devote the
necessary time to the art museum
He expressed his willingness TO at.
tend meetings OF the board. but said
that he could not find time for numer-
Gus committee sessions.
Mr.. Preston said that he intends TO
do considerable travelling in the next
few years and did not feel that he
would be of much value to the mu-
scum board on that account.
President d. NJ. Ferry. Jr, in the
last meeting of the board, said that
he hoped an arrangement might be
made by which the three trustees
could be induced TO remain members
Of the board. The matter will be con-
sidered thoroughly before action Is
taken on the designations.
Meanwhile, President Ferry, in NAM
ing his committees. has not placed
any of the three trustees who wish
to resign. However. he has named
but two members Of each committee,
and will probably add a third when
the board passes on the designations.
Vacancies caused by resignation
may be filled by the board Of trus-
tees from among the incorporators
of the museum. There are about GO
names from which to choose. None
Of the three Is city appointe. 80 the
mayor will have no hand in choosing
q successor.
A significant move is the appoint
ment by President Ferry of William
G. Weber as chairman of the COM
mittee on site and building. II was
Mr.. Weber who knocked the plans OF
the trustees into a cooked hat, a year
ago, when Architect Donaldsons
Finding himself in a min.
ority of one In opposition to Mr.. Don
aldson's plan for single monumen-
tai building. to house the museum,
music hall and the Detroit School Of
Design, Mr.. Weber began a newspaper
campaign which resulted In the en-
tire overthrow Of the plan. the resig-
nation OF Mr.. Donaldson as architect
Of the board. and a complete new
start.
In naming Mr.. Weber chairman OF
the committee, President Ferry said
that the appointment was due him be,
cause OF the great and exceptional
interest which he has shown In the
for the new art center
Mr.. Weber was the chief worker In
favor Of the one-ffth mill tax for
of the art museum
which the charter commission has in
in the proposed new char
ter.
Richard II. Weber is the second
member of the committee on ate and
new building.
The lecture and exhibition commit