Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-19
RARE LIBRARY OF MORGAN
TRANSFERRED TO TRUSTEES
FOR BENEFIT OF SCHOLARS
F inanCier Announces Crea-
ton of 1.-THE Pierpont
Morgan Library" as Per-
n7anent Memorial to Father

NEW YORK. Feb. 17.-(By the AS
sociated Press.l-J. P, Morgan an
nounced that, as memorial
to his father, the late ]. Pierpont
Morgan, he had turned over his mag
nificent library, its valuable con-
tents, and the ground upon which
it stands, to board of trustees who
are entrusted with its maintenance
in perpetuity for the use of Schol-
airs from all parts of the world.
The collection, believed TO be the
best in private hands in existence,
was estimated by Mr.. Morgan to be
worth in the vicinity of $7,O00.Gu0:.
With it he gave an endowment OF
81 800 900. In addition he waived al
personal and legal rights TO TIE
property.
The library which Is to be Cesig-
mated the "Pierpont Morgan Libra
rv." was first assembled by the late
j. Pierpont Morgan in 1903 ard
housed in a building opened the fc'-
lowing year on a tract of land ex-
tending from East 36th to East 37th
street between Madison and Park
avenues.
With the additions which have
been made by Mr.. Morgan since the
death of his father in 1913, it con
tains $4,000 books and manuscripts
of which 10000 are rare or unique.
"My fathers intense interest and
satisfaction in the library which he
left me- said Mr.. Morgan, makes
it a peculiarly fitting memorial ~
him. it is q memorial which keeps
alive the memory of his love of rare
books and manuscripts and his be-
lief in the educational value of the
collection which he had gathered
Full Power for Trustees
Mr.. Morgan made it clear that the
trustees would take his place in the
ownership with full powers "to di-
rect and control the use of the build
ing and contents, so that they may
be made available in every way pos
sible for the advancement of knoWl-
edge and for the use Of the learned
men of all countries.
He said the use of the library
would have to be confined to schol-
ars and research students, and would
have to be denied the general public
because of the fragility of the books
and manuscripts and because. once
injured, they could neither be re-
stored nor replaced.
"a careless thumb" he said.
could undo the work Of 900 years
[ believe the interest from the en-.
dowment should support the library.
If | want to do more, l shall do so
from time to time in the way of adj
ditions."
There are six trustees, Mr.. Nor
gan. his wife, his sons. JuniuS Spen-
Ger Morgan and Henry Sturgls Nor
gan. James Gore King and Lewis
Cass Ledyard. Whenever vacancy
among the trustees occurs by death.
or resignation, the remaining trus-
tees will elect another to keep the
number six.
Mr.. Morgan expressed the hope
that if at the time of such an cleo
ton, there should be in existence
direct descendant of my father in
the male line" and if he were deemed
Suitable person he should be
chosen to fill the vacancy.
Ancient Books Preserved
Among the principal collections in
the library, there are $50 volumes
of illuminated manuscripts dating
from the sixth to the sixteenth cen
tuUy. Among Telegraph manuscripts
OF the works and correspondence OF
American, English and Continental
authors, 905 writer's are represented
while there are about 1000 signed
letters and documents, unbound.
The extensive collection or IN
cunabula. comprising books printed
before 1900, includes the only speci-
men in America of the earliest dated
piece of printing, the Indulgence"
dated l455, of Pope Nicholaus Y
issued to leach person as should
contribute money to aid the king Of
Cyprus against the Turks
Among Bibles there are the Ash
Durham, so-called Gutenberg print
ed at Mainz before 1855, all the Eng
lish editions from COverdale Onward,
and dozens in strange tongues or
from the collections of historical per-
sonages; thirty shelves in all.
OF greater rarely is the great
psalter. the first book to bear date.
Scores of shelves of rare ElzeVirs
| and Caxtons vie with examples of the
| press ,of Laurens Coster of Hurlem
| and with books printed at the Aldine
| pressed at Venice and elsewhere
from 1495 to 1893.
! William Cations press has given
! the only perfect copy known of the
first book printed in the English
language. The Recuyelt of the His
toryes of Troye," BruGes, 1475.
Wynken de Worde Cations success
sor, is represented by sixty speci'
linens,