New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-03
Merchants Gift to Public
To Be Opened to View
in the Fall.
FUND OF S150,OO0
ALSO ESTABLISHED
Income to Pay Attendants and
Upkeep-Transfer of Title in
Letter to Trustees.

Robert W. DC Forest. president Of the
Metropolitan Museum OF Art. announced
Yesterday that the Altman art collection
had been delivered 10 the mtiseum by the
executors Of the estate. He said il would
be temporarily placed during the sum
n;er. and that IT was expected TO open the
collection to the public by reception
about Novcmbor !.
Michael Fricdsam. one Of the executors
OF the Altman estate, Yesterday sent
letter to the trustees Of the museum in
forming them Of the transfer OF title. II
reads. in part:
ION behalf or the executors OF the Alt
man estate il now becomes my duty to
comply with the one remaining instruc-
ton contained in that portion Of Mr.. Ait
mans will bcqucathng TO the Metropoli-
tan Museum Of Art his entire art collcc-
ton.
MIR Altman wanted 10 give to the
people OF the city OF New York that
which during his life was so cherished a
possession. and his judgment cannot he
challenged when he determined that a gift
to the metropolitan Museum OF Art best
served the purpose
ION January an agreement was signed
by Mr. de Forest, as president OF the
museum. and 10y myself and co-eXecutors
representing IN" eState-an agreement
that. while covering every suggestion and
request enumerated i'm Mr. Altman's will,
,T e., ion,
and its maintenance by the museum in
strict and fun accord with the expressed
desires of the donor To-day the museum
is in possession of the art treasures, all
having been removed from Mr.. Altman 3
house and safely transferred to their new
owners.
There is but one more obligation that
we have TO fulfil. that We may tender, and
YOU on behalf OF the museum trusteesl
may accept. this certified check for $loO'-
600. to be held by you as perpetual FUND,
the income Of which only shall be used
and applied TO the salaries OF Theodore \.
Hobby and Arthur j. Boston, whom YOU
have retained to care for the collection IN
conformity with the wish of the donor
and to the care, maintenance and preser-
walton of the collection. And any surplus
income may be applied to the general
uses OF the museum. in the discretion OF
it's trustees.
Thus we have completed our labors,
and. as executors, have fulfilled our con-
tract with you. You, representing the
trustees. and indirectly the real bene-
q. n
York-now have your part of the under
taking TO perform. and 1t is with feeling
of supreme confidence in your desire and
ability to carry out your part of the
agreement that we tender this maSnifi-
cent gift to your safe keeping"
Robert W. de Forest, on behalf of the
museum, in acknowledging this letter.
wrote to Michael Friedsam, Bernard
Sachs, George II. Head and Edwin j..
Steiner. executors Of the estate:
1T has been a pleasure 10 have met
with you in our mutual effort to carry
out Mr. Altmans public spirited and gen
erous intentions and to have taken part
with YOU in ali the arrangements incident
thereto, in which all of us have iound
ourselves so very sympathetic.
The museum, as you know, proposes 10
make an immediate temporary installation
OF this great gift, as we believe Mr.. Alt
man would have wished, and we trust
that the permanent installation to be
effected as soon as our new wing is COM
Melted. will meet the expectation of all OF
us. The museum will spare no effort TO
this end"