, 1926-05-19
WILL VISIT CODY TO
LOCATE MUSEUM

The following letter has been re-
ceived by Mrs. A. B. Chamberlin from
Mary Jester Allen in regard to the
locating of the Cody Museum, which
the Cody Family association will build
in the future. We trust that the peo-
pie of Cody will realize the import
nee of having the museum located
here and will give the necessary sup
port toward the securing of the loca-
ton.
"My Dear Mrs. Chamberlin: We
were talking about you the other day.
Our friend, Mr. Frederick f. Van de
Water said he had a letter from you.
He is the greatest Cody booster I've
seen in a long time. He wants to
come out again this year and we
want him to do so. The Buffalo Bill
Edward stories so pleased US that we
have asked him to elaborate with US
on the Cody history. So we want
him out there, personally.
"Now the Museum. l have some
thing positive to say. First, your had
much, as you must know, to decide
our first plans. We are going to re-
produce the TIE ranch. That was my
early idea. when the museum idea
was started, and it has always been
my hope. You may say positive from
me, that we will reproduce a pioneer
homestead, the TIE. as an actual part
of the Pioneer Museum plan. We
are ready and prepared to do this.
And if Cody town wants the museum
and will do its part. we car open a
temporary one this summer, break
ground, lay the corner stone of the
first TIE unit. and have work going
on this summer.
"As you have probably heard, many
cities and towns have pleaded for
this museum, so many have had such
splendid plans and actual things -
sites, relics, money, committees, etc.
that we have had to consider them,
and on this trip we will visit some
of the more important places. This
to settle our final plans and be pre-
pared to offer our decisions at the
big Cody Family meeting in Cleve-
land. From this meeting, if all goes
well, and Cody wins, as we hope it
will, we will return to Cody, open u
rented place, have a Museum head
quarters and begin work on the real
thing. We have changed the date,
out of courtesy to the Custer people,
but want our time to follow theirs
closely so that many of their people
can be over in Cody for u doings.
One of our first gifts was from Bill
Hart, who sent a picture of the Col
onel, and has said he would be on
hand to help break the ground.
"Mr. Hiram Cody, our acting pres
ident; Mr.. Murray B. Cody, our in
coming president, and myself, will
lead the committee making the west
ern trip. and we plan to be in Cody
about the first of June. We will have
perhaps two days there. one we will
go to the TIE with Mr.. Monte Jones.
l thought we should have conferences,
personally with the various groups
you win arrange for us with the Cody
Club-and then perhaps have a town
meeting where everybody could hear
and express themselves.
81 am counting upon Cody town as
one hundred per cent for the museum.
Every person in town must help us
pull for Cody and put it over. We
must have relics and trophies from
Cody. In pleading for Cody | have
said that the town was not only the
home but the home of real relics and
things and If we could have them ac-
tually gathered as proof positive, it
would help.
"As you know, we gave up the lease
on the Goodman house, and have no
intention Of buying il. We are going
to have a replica of the TIE. We
have already settled that and have
the design upon our Pioneer medal.
"You can announce this with au-
thority.
"Will you give the matter your
most careful thought and write us
your suggestions. Our Family board,
twenty-five strong, our honorary
board the same. and of course our
Cody town committee should be the
same. On this we are counting your
self and your president.
Hoping TO see you soon, I am,
yours, Mary Jester Allen"