The Meeker herald., 1923-01-13


ord. ~ the races which living in the western
world when Col:.r,bus reached these shores. The
great problems to which II II dedicated Include the
unwilling of the mystery Of the origin OF the 30
called He'd men themselves. 1t Is within the range
Of possibility, In the opinion OF George G. Heye.
the founder and the director OF the museum tnat
this goal may be reached.
The Investigation which the Institution II car
rylng on Is based not on mere the0rzing but on a
patient analysis OF all the fncts and factors. For
this reason students and scholars and enthusiasts
everywhere Invited to study the many thou
sands Of objects, for only by careful comparisons
and the tracing Of condolences can any progress
he made. The relatively small staff Of tile museum
IL colintIng ts stores u Information In the inter-
ests OF all those of inquring minds. The public
II welcomed to View the collections rs 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 In situated In Broadway at One nundred
and Fifty-Hfth street, In close proximity to the
museums OF the Hlspanc society and OF the Amer
lean Numlsmatic society and the quarters Of the
American Geographic society. The rearing Of the
whole important group was due primarily to the
zeal OF Archer n. Huntington. who gave the site
for the Museum Of the American Indian and
one Of its trustees gave literally to its building
fund.
In appearance. the structure is like that of the
others Of the group dlgniied and massive Ionic
il the style Of architecture The material Is In.
dian limestone anu the cOnstructlOn IN absolutely
nreprOOf. The museum ls four stories high and
occupies a site Is by 125 feet. As there is light
from three sides, and the windows especially
large. the collections In ordinary weather can be
examined without the MD 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 tile right the first floor also the
quarters of the scientific stnfr. To the left are
administrative Offices of various kinds.
Although this museum Is devoted to delving into
the pnst 1t Is In every way conducted in accord.
snce 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 hlle,i and many of the
bulky specimens which cannot be shown ut pres
ent. are housed In another building In st. Nicholas
avenue which Is almost ms large the museum
itself.
Some exponents Of visual education have suy.
gested that all specimens should be placed that
they mny be actually handled by the visitors This
IN mnnfestly impossible In dealing with specimens
which all valuable evidences OF the origins Of
races. but in the Museum Of the American Indian
there Is n novel system Of installation, Introduced
Tor the hrst time In tile United Suites tlro,lp',
which the public can .whut Is In view and
that without asking for II.
Under many cases. there drawers which the
visitors may pui, 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
research investigators also hnve access to the col
lections In storage. nl OF which have been syste.
maically cntnlOHued by the director himself. There
Is not n bit nf bone or potsierd In the whole In
etitutIon which cannot he Instantly found for pur.
poses OF comparison mud research. efficiently
Inns the museum been arranged for the purpose OF
making Its treasures available for the Of the
saekers after truth.
n, for example. some should come In with
n fansiful theory that the Australian busl,men and
the American Indians had some relationships be-
eause both used boomerangs he would sss that