The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-05
AMERICAN MUSEUM
APPEALS TO PUBLIC
Opens Advertising Campaign
to Induce People to See
It's Treasures.
FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY NEAR
Celebration Postponed Until
1924 SO Citizens May Get
More Interested.

Because the average metropolitan
dweller apparently knows considerably
less than he should about the recon-
structed brontosaur and. II possible.
degree or two less about petrified feas
the trustees of the American Museum
of Natural History launched a unique
advertising campaign yesterday. by
which they hope to educate the average
one up to an appreciation of the big
museums wonders.
For fifty years the museum has been
stretching its exploring arms out into
the remote corners of the earth and
collecting the specimens of natural life
that have made the museums name
known from one end of the world to
the other. But the trustees feel that
there are not enough New York folk
taking an interest in the collections, de-
spite the fact that the city's taxpayers
have been footing considerable portion
of the bills for the upkeep of the In
sttution.
Although the museums fiftieth birth
day comes this year the trustees have
decided TO delay formal celebration OF
the event until 1924, and by which time
they hope, through various means. to
have made the big institution so popu
lar with the public that the taxpayer
will be ready and willing to assume the
entire burden of maintenance. Properly
to mark the contamination OF the mu-
seum's half century of life. the trustees
have asked the city and State OF New
York to erect the main central building
of the eastern facade. facing Central
Park, as a memorial to Theodore Roose-
welt.
Mr.. RoOseveIt's Contributions.
Mr.. Roosevelt's name is indissoubly
connected with the great natural history
collection. His father brought together
in 1869 the group OF men that founded
the institution. He himself spent many
hours Of his boyhood there, and IN the
closing years of his life he led the mu-
seum's expedition to South America and
made important contributions to the col
lections and to the scientific publications.
If the invitation is accepted by the
city and State. the new Roosevelt build
ing will stand as a permanent memorial
of the great American. 1t is the idea of
the trustees that such a memorial would
inspire the youth of America with Mr..
Roosevelts example as nature lover,
naturalist and explorer.
A summary Of the general progress
of the museum, issued yesterday by the
trustees reveals that the institution pro-
jected in 1870 is about one-fourth COM
pleted. In fifty years trustees MEM
bers and friends of the museum have
contributed gifts and collections valued
at S7,250.000, while the contributions to
tho permanent endowment fund have
been S7.322.707. Meantime, the tax
payers of the city have contributed So
S1S.S20 for building and s4,2i1.49 for
maintenance. The general or unre-
stricted endowment fund which may he
al nt.al ln
institution is now approximately ST.
900 900. and in the last year and half
Mrs Russell Sage's bequest and other
gifts increased the general purpose
funds by s2.105,0o0.
In the coming five years preceding the
formal, delayed celebration of its If
tieth anniversary, the museum plans for
three great features extension of build
ing, a. firm foundation OF popular munic-
ipal maintenance and the increase of
the unrestricted endowment fund to So
100000, the amount needed TO place the
museum on a financially sure founda-
ton for the coming quarter of a CEN
fury.
At present the taxpayers are contrib
uting less than one-third Of the annual
cost and of the work OF the museum,
and 1t Is the policy of the trustees to
place the cost OF maintenance entirely
upon the taxpayers. so as TO do away
with individual contributions and sub
sCriptlons for this purpose. That is the
only real method OF completely democra-
tizinG the museum, in the opinion of the
trustees. and their hope IS that the
people will come to look on the natural
history university as one of the greatest
educational opportunities they possess
! one worthy of the most liberal support.
Branchcd Into New Paths.
In reviewing the first fifty years the
trustees observe that the museum has
broken away from many of its old ira
ditions and customs and has struck out
along new lines in every branch OF its
activity. In exploration 1t has made
North America its chief concern. but
expeditions have reached out into South
America. Africa. Asia and in Few
branches Europe itself. The natural
history OF the Philippines ard OF Porto
Rico have been studies Of intimate con-
| Germ. and valuable work has been done.
especially in South America.
This Is in keeping with the world
wide extension of American interests
and influence" the trustees state, land
Is part OF the inevitable participation OF
America in the worlds affairs Neither
the American Museum nor our Govern
ment nor our people can remain isolated
or bound by the confines OF our own con-
| tinent. Thus, while more than ever an
| American museum, our institution has
| become a world museum.
"In increasing degree II Is bringing
all parts OF the world within the view
of the millions of people within our city
walls who can never travel and never
explore and whose only means of finding
the inspiration Of travel is through look.
| ing into tho mirror which We are en-.
| dcavoring TO hold up to nature in all OF
its wonderful aspects"
| The war suspended the larger cNrlo.
rations of the museum, but work was
| kept UP on a reduced scale. Roy e. An,
drews sailed for China June IS to make
studies and collections in the Cobb Desert
| The third AsiattC expedition left Sar
| Francisco July 81 under Paul j. Rainev
accompanied by Edmund Heller as natu.
jralst, Mr. Rainey bearing the entire ,N.
| pense of the expedition.
| Earl II. Morris assisted nv r. r r.
| hyde continued the excavation of In,
| dian ruins at Aztec. y. NJ. and has pro.
! duced valuable collections Leslie Spie,
made archaeological explorations in Arl.
| 2ona, visiting the Fort Apache Indiar
| Reservation in the White Mountains ard
the Rio Verde Valley. Roy w. Miner
| made field studies in invcrtCbrate ZOO
! logy at Woods Hole. Mass Walter
| Granger explored the Huerfin Basin ir
| Colorado. Albert Thompson EXPLORED
| has l. Il. 4 III