Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-07-17
DIRECTOR DANA
IS BACKED UP BY
\ NEW COMMITTEE
Industrial Art Project Which
Caused Dispute to Be Mu-
i scum Feature.
EXHIBITION AUTHORIZED;
APPROPRIATION ORDERED
Famous Prime Collection Has
Been Sent to Museum as
! Permanent Loan.

The ideas Of John Cotton Dana, dl-
rector of the Newark Museum, which
met with opposition in the board of
trustees of the museum association
during the past months, were
stamped with the approval of the
newly appointed executive commit
tee of the association yesterday. Mr..
Dana's contention that Industrial art
should be featured in the museum
was backed up by the committee to
the extent of decision to prepare
an industrial exhibit in the museum
and an appropriation of 5000 for pre-
liminary work
The step is regarded as the final
word in the museum difficulties.
Opposition to Mr.. Dana's continu-
ance as director, which brought on
sehism among the trustees which
prompted Mr.. Dana to submit res
ignation that failed of acceptance,
was said to be based entirely on Mr..
Dana's stand in favor Of the indus
trial arts as against the fine arts.
Yesterdays decision was taken as
an indication that the association
has firmly settled on its policy,
which puts the industrial arts first.
An exhibit of textiles and
along the lines of the clay products
exhibit last year was authorized by
the new executive committee. The
exhibit will be prepared by Mr.. Dana
end will be as thorough as the one
which won so much favorable COM
ment during the pest year.
An exhibition of leather and
leather products of Newark had been
planned by the director but as this
will be included in the industrial ex-
position during the 250th anniversary
celebration next year the exhibit will
probably be of textiles instead.
The members of the executive COM
fnittee to attend yesterdays meeting
were President James S. Higbie, of
the association, who succeeded for
mer Governor Franklin Murphy when
the latter resigned during the dis
pute over the museums policy;
Mayor Thomas L. Raymond, who
was named on the committee by the
new president in place of DR.. Archi-
bald Mercer, for many years chair
man of the committee and leader of
Tne 0SHl against MI. iIdila liltdS-
Christian w. Feigenspan DIR. Will
lam S. Disbrow and Mr.. Dana. The
absent members were Peter Camp
bell, who was reported out of the
city. and Charles Bradley, = who was
said to have concurred with DIR.
Mercer in the controversy and who
left in the middle of the recent meet
ing at which the resignation of Gov
ernor Murphy was accepted and that
of Mr.. Dana laid on the table The
resignation of Governor Murphy was
accepted only after the fruitlessness
of attempts to get him to reconsider
had been shown.
Addition to Museum.
A notable addition to the museum
was reported by Mr.. Dana, that of
140 pieces of pottery and china from
the famous Prime collection, as a.
permanent loan. The matter was
negotiated by Miss Louise Connolly,
of the museum staff who selected
the pieces, and F. ]. Mather, and the
final arrangements were recently
completed by Mr.. Dana and Profess
sor Allan Marquand, in charge of
the Princeton University Museum.
The pieces are from the collection
of William c. Prime, who in 1878
published a notable work entitled
POTTERY and Porcelain and who
was regarded as an authority with
out peer The Prime collection was
left to Princeton University. When
the time came to put 1t in shape 1t
was found a portion could be spared
for the Newark Museum.
An exhibit, similar to the Indian
group on the first floor of the library,
showing the -Four Corners" ten
years after Newark's settlement,
was recommended by Mr. Dana. The
committee approved the suggestion
and will recommend it to the trus-
tees.
The exhibit will be made by Dwight
Franklin, who prepared the Indian
exhibit, and will cost $500. 1t will be
a splendid reproduction of the New
ark of the seventeenth century. The
log houses and log church of the
period will appear in miniature.
Groups of citizens will wear the cos
tunes of the times and show the
facial and physical characteristics
of the hardy settlers. 1t will be so
arranged that vision will be pos
sible through a window of one of the
Continued Page 2, Column 81