, 1923-01-04

ords of the races which were living in the western
world when Columbus reached these shores. The
great problems to which il is dedicated include the
unwilling 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
rying on is based not on mere theorizing, but on a
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 ~collating its stores of information in the inter-
ests of all those of inquiring minds. The public
is welcomed to view the collections as a 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-fifth street, in close proximity to the
museums of the Hispanic society and of the Amer
lean Numismatic society and the quarters of the
American Geographic society. The rearing of the
whole important group was 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 its building
fund.
In appearance, the structure is like that of the
others of the group@a dignlfied and massive Ionic
is the style of architecture. The material Is In
dian limestone and the construction is absolutely
freproof. The museum Is four stories high and
occupies n site 50 by 125 feet. AS there is light
from three sides, and the windows are especially
large, the collections in ordinary weather can be
examined without the aid of artificial illumination.
The specimens are shown on three floors and
at the top of the building is a 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. as are also the
quarters Of the scientific STAFF. To the left are
administrative offices Of various kinds.
Although this museum Is devoted to delvIng into
the past, II Is In every way conducted I'm nccord-
ance with the principles of modern business eff
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
manifestly impossible to show any great number
of tile objects ut once, for already the storage
vaults In the basement are filled. and many OF the
bulky specimens which cannot be shown nj 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 plnced that
they may be actually handled by the visitors. This
is manlfestly impossible In dealing with sneclmens
which are all valuable evidences of the origins ~
races, but In the Museum OF the American Indian
there Is n novel system Of Installation. Introduced
for the first time In the United States, through
which the public can see what Is not In view. and
that without asking for II.
Under many cases, there are DRIVERS which thu
visitors may pull out and look through the glnss
tops of these containers ut objects which ARE mr..
ranged according to the general scheme followed
In the visible Installations. The students and the
research investigators also have access to the col
%lections In storage, all Of which have been syste.
matlcnlly catalogued by tho director himself. There
Is not Il bit Of bone or Il potslerd In the whole In
stltutIon which cannot be instantly found for pur.
poses OF comparison and research. 80 efficiently
hns 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
a fanciful theory that the Australian busimen and
the American Indians had some relationships be.
cause both used boomerangs. he would see that