The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-07-02

Medicine Chalcts. The old self.
styled rurmudgcon chucklcd
as he told his wife about the in.
durllon, that day, into the Black
i'cl tribe.
ir'."S listened with apparent in
'"it / To our explanation of the
plan and asked searching qucs-
ton, as to its purpose and scope,
with particular emphasis on the
availability of donations and
relic, and artifacts. We were bold
enough TO guarantee that if he
would giant funds for a true flu
scum, to be in charge of a quail
fled curator, exhibits of rare and
almost priceless value would be
Nurrd. We also stressed the
historic al relationship between
Glacier Park and the Blackfcct
people and suggested that a visit
to the proposed museum would
enrich the experience of the
thousands of summer visitors to
the park. lrkcs agreed.
The interview lasted until the
Great Northern train arrived at
Glacier Park and ended with
lckcS' promise not only to give
the prOicc his own early careful
attention hu, also to confer with
the President. On parting, he ask
cd US to keep the talk from pub
lie notice, which was done. This
episode. which has been regarded
as an important contribution to-
ward the fruitiOn of the museum
project. is referred to in Volume
two of "Ihr Secret Diary Of Har.
old l.. lckcS. a current best seller.
II is my recollection that the
Secretary made the grant of
pWA funds for the museum in
1888 or 1899. The announcement
took the state of Montana by sur
prise. The new building became
the first modern. first-class struc.
turc to be built on the rcscrva.
ton by the federal government.
lckcs rejected our dual purpose
idea and located the entire pro.
jcct a, Browning. AS | look back
on the operation of the museum
since that date. recognize his
wisdom. \ museum at Two Mcdi-
cine Lake would have been snow.
bund large part of the year. At
Browning. the museum is avail
able for use and research
throughout the year and also at.
fords comfortable permanent
living quarters for one Of the
curatorS.
President Roosevelt gave Ickcs
great power in his PWA admins.
tratiOn. Our group recognized
this and made our drive on him
as head of pW.A rather than as
Secretary Of The Interior For this
reason and in view of lckcs' re-.
quest for secrecy. we did not of.
ficially confer on the project
with Officers of the Indian Blu.
rcau or the National Park Ser.
vice. Accordingly. as | have stat.
cd. the announcement by lckcs
that he would establish the mu.
scum was astonishing news to al.
most everybody. including. so |
have been told. some officials Of
the Indian Bureau.
This is the story Of the inccp.
ton of the museum as ! rccollcct
il. My p.'"M Ial part was a modest
one. 1t must be understood that
lckcs was an enthusiast about
Glacier National Park and every.
ting related to il. In his younger
days. soon after the park was Is.
labli>hrd. he had ridden trails
with Howard Eaton and slept
under the stars. lie frequently
made public statements that Ola.
cirr Mas his fayoritc park. lie
had Visited the park again with
President Roosevelt IN 1894 .\c.
c0rdlnE.ly he was quick to sec that
the proposed Blackfcct museum
was n splendid satellite TO the
park and the idea appeared to be-
in the national interest. Then.
too. III President Was receptive
because of his visit to Glacier
,Contiunird ON page y