The Washington herald., 1915-11-24
PLAN To secure
ART COLLECTION
Smithsonian Institution Re
gents VIII Try to Bring
Widener Treasures Here.
ART PATRONS WILL MEET
Gathering at Studio House to Form
Committee to Work for
Movement.
ART PATRONS WILL MEET

With plans for two meetings In process
of formation. Washington art lovers were
assured yesterday that every possible eff
fort will be made to obtain for the Ma
tional Capital the world-famous widener
treasures, worth several million dollars.
Dr. Charles d. walcott, secretary Of
the Smithsonian Institution. said yester-
day he will arrange within a few days a
meeting OF the executive committee Of
the board Of regents OF the Smithsonian
to plan means to bring the famous col
lection-one Of the greatest In the United
States-to Washington for the National
Gallery OF Art.
Mrs. Christian Hemmick today will con-
fer with DR.. Walcott, Frederick b. Nc
CURE. director OF the CorcOran Galley of
Art: Henning Jennings. Charles c. Glover
and other art patrons OF Washington TO
arrange a meeting at her studio house.
probably Sunday.afternoon. in hope that
a committee can be formed to decide
upon a plan to bring to the attention Of
Joseph E. widener the claims OF Wash
ington. Mr.. widener. In the will of his
father. Is given authority to place the
collection In Washington. New York or
Philadelphia.
81 am arranging a meeting Of the
executive committee Of the board Of re-
gents" said DIR. walcott yesterday. 1T
~ III DC SEVERAL udyb DILUTE d u1cchlnB VI
the cOmmittee-which consists OF DR..
Graham Bell. Judge George Gray. Of
Delaware. and Representative Conway, Of
Iowa-can be arranged. In the mean
time. there is nothing to do. and 1 am
waiting.
Mrs. HemmIck Interested.
I'VE want very much to see the col
lection come here. We shall form some
plan to bring to Mr.. widener's attention
the desirsbillty OF Washington and the
National Gallery as a place where the
whole nation can EMO the collyection.
Il hope that a meeting will be held
Sunday afternoon" said Mrs Hemmick.
when We shall arrange to write to Mr..
Widener or TO see him and ask him TO
permit the collection to be brought here.
both art and the advantages Of Washing
ton as an art center would have to be
selected. hope that the committee
will be able TO select such men
Every one Is very anxious to see the
collection here. I have found that all
Washingtonians interested in art are
anxious to find some way to show Mr..
Widener the value Of the National Capt.
tai as a home for the paintings"
Charles J. Bell one of the leading art
patrons Of Washington. said yesterday
that every effort should be made properly
to plead the cause of Washington.
The collection is one of the finest in
the country" said Mr.. Bell II believe
Washington would be an ideal place for
It. Here the whole nation would. in a
measure. have the collection in its Gus
tody I hope that II may be brought
here"
Mr.. Bell, H S. Reside. Mrs. ]. BiddIe
Porter. and Mrs. E. T. Stotesbury prob
ably will be asked to aid in bringing the
collection TO Washington Both Mrs.
Porter and Mrs Stotesbury know Mr..
widener well, and It Is thought their aid
would be most valuable to a committee
formed to ask Mr.. Wldener to consider
Washington.
Mr.. Mcclure, Of the Corcoran Gallery.
said yesterday he would be happy TO CO.
operate In any plan to obtain the paint
ings for Washington.