Evening star., 1926-05-27
THE NORTH WINDOW
BY Leila Mechlin.


the fun value OF which IL still scarce
ly realized by even those who are best
informed. This IL the bequest OF
Joseph .Penneli Of almost everything
ne possessed--cap pital. prints, paint
ings, manuscripts. books and copy
the United states Govern
ment for the division Of prints Of the
Library Of Congress.
Mr.. Pennell'* estate, 1t has been
is estimated at something
over $25O,OOO. This represents the
joint earnings of Mrs. Pennell and
and during Mrs. Pennell's
life everything In left In trust to her,
but at her death II will constitute
the J. and r. r.. Penneii fund for the
founda lion Of n Calco9ra phic Museum
by the requirement. of etched plates
and Iithographic stones of deceased
artists, from which prints may be
made and sold at a nominal price to
art students and others. IT will also
provide means for further acquisition
Of prints by living artists. This will
not only mean the development Of our
division Of prints, but the establish.
ment OF a new and valuable depart
ment along the lines of the three great
phic museums of the world.
What would not this gift have meant
to those who first envisioned the
print division of the Library Of Con
gress and through their well directed
efforts brought it into being?
Mr. Penneli was one given to criti-
cism some said 10 ia ult finding. but
more than almost any one else ne
has for years realized the pOtentia H.
ties Of the division of prints OF the
Library of Congress. Indeed, he conf
planned TO friends vigorously from
time to time that there was not sui
ticient appreciation shown OF What
had already been accomplished by
the Library Of Congress in the de
veIopment OF this division and the
opportunities II afforded students.
In his will Mr.. pennell said that
the rea son for the gift WAS that the
United States was spending money
on prints and so encouraging art and
artists--in fact. had encouraged him
When he gave the Pennell collection
Of Whistleriana to the Library Oi
Congress he and Mrs. Penneli spent
weeks catsIoguing and ARA ngins II
At that time they came In close
touch with those in charge Of the
division OF prints and were greatly i'm
pressed by the excellent cooperation
given.
The print division of the Libra ~
of Congress was esta blished shorti!
after the Library moved into It's ne"
building, nearly 80 wears ago. The
first chief Of the division was the
late A. !. Parsons, and under MS
stimulating leadership it's or8anIZa
ton was pIa nned on broad lines. Gen
erons Gifts have been made t" It's
nermanent collection, such for in
sta nee. az the Gardiner Hubbard col
lection. Ii has also had valuable
loans, such as the Garrett collection
From time to time the works OF
contemporary print makers have been
acoujred by purchase. but no large
fund has been available for acces
siOns.
Two interesting and valuable col
lections were added through the gift
of the French and Italian govern
ments. These comprise prints from
the photographic du Louvre. In Paris
and The Regia calcografia. in Rome
The latter was founded by Pope
Clement XII In 1888 and by 1879 haC
acquired 5000 plates. From these
the art lover can now obtain prints
for a few lire of the ma sterpieces
Of Italian etching.
The French Calcos la phie du Louvre
which IL In the Musee National du
Louvre. had It's inception about 1861
through the desire OF Louis XIV to
preserve for pos,erify through the
medium OF etching the military
achieveme of his reign. his fetes
his palaces. his chateaux. etc. This
led to the acquisition of orieina
plates and from these original plates
heautiful prints of the ma ster etcners
and epgravers of France are now ob
tainable at small cost.
Commemorative collections OF these
Drints were assembled by those III
charge in Paris and In Rome ano
presented as an internatiO courtesy
to the print division of our Library
of Congress. From time to time tneH
have been exhibited.
Mr.. EenneIls plan is that this Gov
erument shall establish u simiiar IN
stitution or Organiza ton. and tna'
gradually there will he got together
and held in Government oWnersnlI
etched plates and photographic stones
bv American artists constituting ar
America collection Of a similar sort
This will mean perpetual source Oi
valuable material available TO the
unblic and within the reach OF the
persOn of moderate means. Not only
therefore. does it magnify the works
or American artists, but 1t places q
trust. for educational purposes. foT
the cultivation of a love OF art In
the hands Of the National GOVERN
ment.
This In the second time within
short period that the Library or con
sress. as u National institution, mas
Heen made the recipient of trust
fund with similar object. The Coolidge
fund for music supplements the
service Of the division of music and
nroyjdes for it's perpetual beneficence
Mrs. COolidge's endowment Tor the
music division includes provision Tor
An annual honorarium for the CHIEF or
the division in addition to his gov
salary. Th1s insureF ex.
nert conduct in the administration of
that division, and places a speciahs'
there who will not merely he an
suf fhoritv In the subject matter. but
widely influential In the application OF
e to it's best service--an endowment.
M. a mart endowment. ana alOEOus to a
chair Of music. What is greatly need
ed now Ia a similar endowment. or
mart endowment. for the division OF
prints. temporarily without chief
since the death. more tha n a year ago,
OF Prof Rice, who succeeds Mr.. Par
sons.
But to return to the Pennell gift.
This will include, not only. it must be
recalled, funds for acquisition and for
the calcographic museum or collection
of etchings and lithograp phic stones,
but the Pennell books, drawings,
ma nuscripts and prints. Mr.. Pennell
was an etcher and photographer Of
extra ordinary gift and achievement
a nd a complete. or a near complete
collection of his etchings, lithogra phs
dra wings and ma nuscripts will in itself