The New York herald., 1922-10-22


the origin OF the many tribes and peo-
Piles found in the Western Hemisphere.
That mystery may be unveiled some
day. but 1t will require the most in
tensive research to accomplish such a
result. The trustees Of this museum
believe that by devot;ng it exclusively
70 the American Indian. this work OF
investigation can be more thoroughly
conducted than through any other means.
There are notable collections of Indian
objects in other museums in this coun-
try. but in this museum the origin and
history of the American aborigines can
be studied with the utmost thorough
ness because every other factor has been
eliminated.
Problem Is Hard One.
''The problem is most difficult one
because OF the wide differences in the
culture and in the development of the
races which originally inhabited the two
Americas We have the Aztecs, the
Mayas. and Incas. who attained degree
of civilization comparable to that of the
early Greeks, on one hand while on the
other we have nomadic tribes who knew
little of the arts and were practically
men OF the stone age. The tracing or
the origin of these strange people IS
project which should command the pest
! endeavors of science. The people OF the
United States furthermore. owe more
TO the American Indian than they
realize, for indirectly, at least. he mas
Rad a marked influence upon our own
culture The collections which on
November 16 will be on free public
view have been arranged primarily LOT
the use of scholars but nevertheless
they will have a deep interest for every
American. Aside from the educauonal
point OF view they will also prove W"
hope. of much value to artists, design
&C ord manufacturers. AS the re-
sources OF the museum are Increased
we think that they will be OF more ana
more service to the nation.
The Importance from historical as
we'll as from a practical standpoint
which attaches to the study OF the Ameri-
can Indian so impressed MT. Heye tnal
he has withdrawn from business pursuits
20 make the development of the Museum
of the American Indian his iite WORK.
His attention was first drawn TO tnis
,.nsolved problem OF the American con-
tinent when he WAS a young engineer
An the Arizona desert. Mr. Heye was
born in this city in 1874 and Is the son
OF Gustav Heye. who was a leading OF
ficial of the Standard Oil Company. lie
was graduated from the School or Mines,
Columbia University, as an electrical en-
tended to devote himself to business, for
up 10 that time he had not any special
interest In Indian lore His first posi-
tion was with what is now the engineer
ing firm of ]. G. White & Co, by which
he was put In charge OF the construction
of spur of railroad which was TO con-
meet mine near Kingman, Ariz., with
a main line
His first real contact with the Indians
was at work camp in 1897. when he
noticed Navajo laborer who was sit
ting by the camp fire mending buck
skin shirt. Something about the texture
and workmanship of the garment at
tracted the interest OF Mr.. Heye and he
finally bought it. This may be said to
have been the beginning of his career as
an ethnologist and archaeologist.
Thus was opened to him the pictur-
esaue life OF the Indians OF the South
west. He witnessed their weird rain
dances and their strange rituals and
bought rattles used In their incantations.
After finishing his work in Arizona ne
made tour of California, where he pur-
chased numerous Indian relics, which
formed the nucleus Of his collection.
Toured Reservations.
On his return TO New York city Mr.
Heye became a member of banking
firm. lie devoted his leisure, however,
to the study of the North American In
dians. In company with Mr.. Joseph
Keppler. who is a noted collector. he
went In 1899 to the reservations OF the
Iroauos. the Onondagas and other In
dian tribes OF the State of New York.
His collection was extended to prac-
tically every State In the Union. His
collections soon outgrew his home and
in 1895 he transferred them to a room
In the knabe Building at Fifth avenue
and Thirty-ninth street. These quar-
ters we're soon too small and in May
1908. Mr.. Heye leased loft at No. 10
I East Thirty-third street. where he in
Is,Stalled his treasures. BY this time he
had extended his explorations to the
WEST Indies and to Central and South
America. An expedition largely fin
anced by his mother. Mrs. Antoinette
J. Heye. was sent to ECUADOR In charge
OF Professor Marshall II. Saville. 1t
brought back archaeological objects OF
great antiquity and Importance
Thousands of objects were now gath
cred In the East Thirty-third street
building and another floor was leased
TO accommodate them. Many of them.
which since have been returned, were
loaned to the Museum OF the University
OF Pennsylvania. 1t was at this time
that collectors and amateurs and stu
dents began to refer 10 these collections
as a museum with which they satu-
rally connected the name OF their owner.
While In Europe in 1872 Mr.. Heye was
amazed to receive letter from one OF
his scientific staff. on which was the
imprint "Heye Museum" lie cabled for
an explanation and was informed that
the name had been used because every
body was so designating the institution.
Thereupon he decided upon the present
title and In 1915 the Museum OF the
American Indian. Heye Foundation.
was Incorporated. Mr.. Heye gave II
q substantial endowment
Through the generosity OF Mr.. Archer
NJ. Huntington and OF other men OF
wealth who had become interested in
the project building for the housing
or the collection was erected at Broad
way and 155th street IT is OF the same
style ~ architecture as the Hispanc
Museum. the American Geographical So
ciety and the American Numismatic So
ciety buildings.
Since its Incorporation Mr.. Heye has
given almost all his time TO the museum
~ IT'S director. He Is O director In every
sense for he has with his own hands
catalosued the 1.SO0. 900 specimens which
the museum contains and supervises all
the inetalla fions lie ia errroundnd bv