The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-03-30

0kknS museum in the world devoted exclu-
sively to the preservation Of the rec
ords of the races which were living in the western
world when Columbus reached these shores The
great problems to which 1t is dedicate~ include the
unveng of the mystery of the origin of the So
called Red men themselves. 1t Is within the range
of possibility in the opinion of George G. Heye,
the founder and the director Of the museum, that
this goal may be reached.
The investigation which the institution Is car
ryng on Is based not on mere theorizing, but on
patient analysis of all the facts and factors. For
this reason students and scholars and enthusiasts
everywhere are invited TO study the many thou
sands of objects, for only by careful comparisons
and the tracing of condolences can any progress
be made The relatively small staff Of the museum
Is coatng its stores of Information in the inter-
ests of all those of (inquring minds. The public
is welcomed to view the collections as means
of recreation and education. while at the same
time the quest for the secret Of origins proceeds.
The building of the Museum Of the American In
dian Is situated in Broadway at One Hundred
and Fifty-ffth street, In close proximity to the
museums of the Hispanic society and of the Amer
lean Numismatc society and the quarters Of the
American Geographic society. The rearing Of the
whole important group due primarily to- the
zeal of Archer nj. Huntington, who gave the site
for the Museum of the American Indian and as
one of Its trustees gave literally to It's building
fund.
In appearance, the structure Is like that of the
others of the group-a dgnlfed and massive Ionic
is the style of architecture. The material Is In
dian limestone and the construction Is absolutely
fireproof. The museum is four stories high and
occupies a site 65 by 125 feet AS there Is light
from three sides, and the windows are especially
large. the collections in ordinary weather be
examined without the aid of artificial illumination
The specimens are shown on three floors and
at the top of the building Is commodious work
room given to the cleaning and preparation Of the
collections for display The Office of the director
is to the right on the first floor, also the
quarters of the scientific staff To the LETT are
administrative offices of various kinds
Although this museum Is devoted to delvng into
the past II is In every way conducted In accord
ance with the principles of modern business efi-
cheney. The installations are In the latest types
Of cases, and many of the old time theories OF
museum arrangement have been abandoned. Ii Is
manfestly impossible to show any great number
of the objects at once, for already the storage
vaults In the basement are filed. and many of the
bulky specimens which cannot be shown Mt pres
ent, are housed in another building In St Nicholas
avenue, which is almost as large as the museum
itself.
Some exponents of visual education have sug-
gested that all specimens should be so placed that
they may be actually handled by the visitors. This
Is manifestly impossible In dealing with specimens
which are all valuable evidences Of the origins of
races, but in the Museum Of the American Indian
there is novel system Of installation, introduced
for the first time In the United States, through
which the public see what Is not in view, and
that without asking for 1t.
Under many cases, there are drawers which the
visitors may pull out and look through the glass
tops Of these containers at objects which are ar
ranged according to the general scheme followed
in the visible installations. The students and the
vesearch investigators also have the col
iections in storage. all Of which have been syste-
matically catalogued by the director himself There
Is not bit of bone or potsherd in the whole in
stitution which cannot be instantly found for pur-
poses Of comparison and research, efficiently
has the museum been arranged, for the purpose Of
making Its treasures available for the use of the
seekers after truth.
II, for example, some one should come In with
q fancful theory that the Australian bushmen and
the American Indians had some relationships be
cause both sAAd boomerangs he could see that