The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-18
MORGAN GIVES
LIBRARY FOR
PUBLIC USE
One of Finest Private COllec.
tons of Books in World
Is Turned Over


New York, Feb. l2.~J. p. Morgan
announced Saturday night that as :;
memorial 20 his father, the late J
rierpout Morgan, he had turned over
his magnificent library, its valuable
contents and the ground upon which
it stands to II board Of trustees, who
arc entrusted with its maintenance
in perpetuity for the use Of scholars
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 S7,00O,000.
With it ne gave an endowment of
$1,5O0,oOO. In addition he waived all
personal and legal rights to the
property.
Assembled in 1905.
The library which is to be desig-
mated The Perfect Morgan Library"
was first assembled by the late j. Pier
pont Morgan in 1905 and housed in
building opened the following year
on a tract of land extending from
East 3Gth to East 3Tth street be-
tween 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.
NY fathers intense interest and
satisfaction in the library which he
lest me-" said Mr.. Morgan. makes it
a peculiarly fitting memorial to him.
1t IS a memorial which keeps alive
the memory OF his love Of rare books
md manuscripts ana his belief in
the edu cational value Of the collec-
tion which he had gathered
Trustees Given Full Power.
Mr. Morgan made il clear that the
trustees would take his place in the
ownership with full powers 'to d..
ing and contents" so that they be
made available IN every way pos
sible for the advancement of knowi-
edge and for the use of the learned
men CT all Countries
He SAID the use Of the library
would have to be confined to scholars
and research students and would
nave 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.
Interest to Support Library.
a careless thumb" he said. could
urdo the work of 800 years. l believe
the interest from the endowment
should support the library. If | want
to do more. ! shall do so from time
to time in the way OF additions.
There are six trustees, Mr.. Nor
gan, his wife. his sons, Junius Spen-
Ger Morgan and Henry Sturgis Nor
gan. James Gore King and Lewis
Cass Ledyard. Whenever a vacancy
among the trustees occurs By death
or res iguation, 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
the made line" and if he were deem
ed Suitable person." he should be
chosen to ill the vacancy.
Manuscripts Of Sixth Century.
Among the principal collections in
the library. there are $50 volumes OF
illuminated manuscripts dating from
the Sixth to the Sixteenth century.
Among Photograph manuscripts of the
works and correspondence of Ameri
can, English and continental authors,
905 writers are represented, while
there are about 1000 signed letters
and documents, unbound.