USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > The city of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922, Vol. I > Part 86
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words sank deeply into the receptive mind of at least one student and the little slip of paper held by the lecturer acted as the nebula to a great idea. He then and there resolved to have a hobby, and as he was a lover of books, decided this work would be in the line of American history, and he would acquire on an average at least one book each day of his life. That boy was, and the man is, Clarence Monroe Burton of Detroit. Although in the early stages of his pur- pose there were times when he did not know from where the revenue for the next day's purchase was coming, from that resolution has developed the great Burton Historical Collection, one of the largest and most valuable in America."
From this beginning the collection steadily grew through the years until now there are more than thirty thousand volumes, forty thousand pamphlets, nearly half a million unpublished letters and documents, twelve hundred maps, four thousand prints and many old newspaper files in the Burton library, making one of the most valuable collections of Americana in the country. Here are such papers as those of Michigan's governors, legislators, jurists and leaders of commerce. Among the more important items may be mentioned the papers of Governor Woodbridge, the Austin Blair papers and the Pingree scrap books. The fur trade and early land troubles may be studied from the Askin papers, plank roads occupy a prominent place in the Charles C. Trowbridge group, while the correspondence of James F. Joy is of prime importance in the history of the mid-western railroads. In this manner, and through many sources, the history of Detroit and the Northwest may be studied. Gencalogical interest led to the accumulation of much information and many authoritative publi- cations regarding the families of New England, and the collection has been further enriched by a gift from Detroit Post, No. 384, Grand Army of the Republic, of many interesting Civil war relics and curios.
On March 16, 1914, Mr. Burton presented this notable collection, as well as his former residence at 473 Brainard Street, between Cass Avenue and Second Boulevard, to the City of Detroit. The collection thus became em- bodied within the public library system of Detroit and in March, 1921, was removed to spacious quarters upon the third floor of the new library building on Woodward Avenue. Since 1914 the city has made regular appropriations for the support of the collection, but Mr. Burton has retained his active interest and is constantly adding to his original gift. By a ruling of the Michigan Historical Commission on November 14, 1917, the responsibility for the col- lection of personal records of Michigan citizens was placed upon the Burton Historical Collection.
THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING
At the beginning of the present century it became apparent that the old library building would soon become entirely inadequate for the demands. In fact, since the establishment of the library, the question of space had been a troublesome one; the building in Center Park had always been regarded as of makeshift character, due to the building restrictions at the beginning, and the proper growth of the Detroit Public Library had been seriously retarded. Other large cities of the country had been provided, or were securing, beautiful and commodious library structures, consequently Detroit came to be sadly in need of a building which should be a center for the artistic activities of the city, a research institution for people of all classes and vocations, where the spirit of civic growth and prosperity could be nurtured, and a manifestation of
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the intellectual development of the community. As there was no room in Center Park for additions to the old building, the subject of obtaining a new site and ereeting a new building came up for discussion in the newspapers and among interested citizens.
In 1901 the library commissioners secured from the Legislature an aet of incorporation which gave the board the right to manage the library, to hold title to property in its own name and to accept gifts for the use of the institu- tion. The aet also authorized the city to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding $1,000,000 for the same purposes. At this time Andrew Carnegie was offering liberal gifts of money for the erection of library buildings in cities which would pledge to provide sites and to raise annually for library maintenance a sum equal to one-tenth of his gift. Correspondence was opened with the steel king and on June 20, 1901, he offered to give the city $750,000, not to exceed one-half of it to go towards the construction of a library building and the remainder to be used for branch buildings. The nature of this offer rendered necessary its acceptance by the common eouneil, but in this body unexpected opposition arose. The first requirement of the offer-that the city raise $75,000 per year for maintenance-was first attacked. Such an amount to be raised by the city was a new thing; also another factor entered into the arguments of the opposition. Carnegie's Homestead Steel Mills had been torn asunder by strikes and labor troubles, which caused union labor and its champions to oppose anything coming from Carnegie. The direet issue was not submitted to the votes of the people, although the question of issuing bonds was first submitted to a referendum at the November election, 1902, and rejected by a poll of 7,574 to 4,730. In the spring election of 1903 the question of issuing bonds was again submitted to the people and they voted for the issue by 8,382 to 6,931.
In the spring of 1903, Carnegie had renewed his offer, under which new proposition the whole amount of $750,000 might have been available for the new building. There was no mention of braneh libraries, but the stipulation remained that at least $75,000 should be raised each year by taxation for library maintenance. Upon this the commissioners again appealed to the eouneil and a long campaign followed. All efforts were unavailing, however, and in Feb- ruary, 1904, the council flatly rejected the offer.
At the spring election of 1907 the question was again submitted to the electors in two ways, with the following result: for issuing library bonds to the extent of $750,000 was carried by 7,408 to 6,323, but the proposition of accepting the Carnegie gift was defeated by 7,860 to 7,783. At the fall election in 190S a proposition to negotiate a loan for the eentral and branch libraries was carried by a vote of 20,819 to 13,974.
Sometime in 1909 the subject of the Carnegie gift, or offer, again became an issue. His large gifts of money to other cities for library purposes were noted and Detroiters eame to believe that they were neglecting an opportunity. Information was received that Detroit was not outside the pale in this respect and in December, 1909, correspondence was opened with the Carnegie agent in Pittsburg. The library committee immediately began a campaign, in which they were assisted by almost every organization in the city. Extensive pub- licity was given to the subject and statements from thirty other cities relative to each of their library buildings were solicited and which proved that Detroit was very much in the rear of the procession. This continued for several months.
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The proposition as it finally came before the council was in nearly the same form as that first made in 1901, that is, a gift of $750,000, one-half to go for a central library and the rest for branches, the city to furnish sites, raise equal amounts for building and pledge itself to raise at least $75,000 a year by tax- ation for maintenance. It came up in the council March 22, 1910, and was carried by a vote of 28 to 6.
Bonds to the amount of $25,000 were issued on July 1, 1910, but the mayor, upon the advice of the corporation counsel, questioned the legality of the issue of any library bonds (also further school bonds) because the city's debt had reached, or the issue of these bonds would over-reach, the limitations set out in the charter. Sale of the bonds was necessarily held up then until the legality of the issue could be determined in court. The Circuit Court ruled against the validity of the bonds. The matter was then carried to the State Supreme Court, which, on February 12, 1912, handed down an opinion that the bonds were entirely legal, and defined the library as an integral part of the educational system. The point of view before the Supreme Court being the right of the city to issue bonds for library purposes to an amount over and above the limit applying to bond issues for municipal purposes, the court held that no such restriction applied in the case of library bond issues as they fell properly into the same class as school bonds.
The question of a site for the proposed library had been under discussion for a number of years. A location out Woodward Avenue was at all times thought to be the most desirable, owing to the expansion of the city in that direction. In 1907 the old D. A. C. grounds were secured upon an option for $185,000. When the 1910 issue of bonds was questioned and the matter taken to the courts, the option was extended until the Circuit Court passed judgment. Receiving a negative decision from that body, the commission was unable to extend the option until the question had been taken to the Supreme Court, consequently it lapsed. In the meantime publie-spirited citizens, interested in the art museum, acquired the two blocks on the east side of Woodward Avenue between Putnam and Ferry, extending back to John R Street. After the Supreme Court decided in favor of the library bonds, the opinion grew that the library building should be located opposite the proposed art museum. To insure the purchase of the site at the proper figures, the services of the appraisal committee of the Detroit Real Estate Board were obtained. The highest price paid for Woodward Avenue frontage was $559.70 a front foot. This large property, costing close to half a million dollars, is bounded by Woodward, Kirby, Cass and Putnam Avenues, and was paid for from the sale of the $750,000 bond issue. The site is said to be superior to that of New York, Boston, Brooklyn or St. Louis and comparable with that of Pittsburg and Philadelphia.
After the people had voted favorably on the bond issue, the library commis- sion began a systematic study of the best modern libraries over the country, to determine the arrangement of the building for the various departments. This information collected, Frank Miles Day was called in as adviser to the commission, and it was determined to hold a competition for the selection of an architect. From a preliminary competition, open to Detroiters only, two were selected to compete with outside architects. Mr. Cass Gilbert, of New York City, architect of the St. Louis library and the Woolworth Building of New York City, drew the successful plans, which were chosen by an impartial
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jury of experts and ratified by the commission. Subsequently, when Clarence M. Burton announced the gift of the Historical Collection to the city, the original plans were altered and enlarged to accommodate the addition. The building is approximately 210 feet square, three stories high, and is equipped according to the very highest standards. The general contract for the building was awarded to the George A. Fuller Company for $1,236,320, which sum is in addition to the cost of the site, of the steel book-stacks and furniture. The cornerstone was laid November 1, 1917, and in March, 1921, after seemingly interminable delays the building was opened to the public, having cost $2,500,000, exclusive of the site, which cost $412,000.
LIBRARY BONDS
The first library bond issue was dated July 1, 1910, and was for $25,000 in thirty-year bonds bearing interest of 312%.
The second issue came out November 15, 1912, and was for $100,000 in thirty-year bonds bearing 4% interest.
The third issue of $50,000 in thirty-year 4% bonds, was placed on the market February 1, 1913.
The fourth issue, bearing date of September 2, 1913, due on the corre- sponding date in 1943, was for $100,000 in 4% bonds.
The fifth issue, comprising 4% bonds to the amount of $475,000, bearing March 1, 1944, as the date of maturity, came out March 1, 1914.
The sixth issue, which was for $250,000 in 4% bonds, maturing January 1, 1948, was authorized January 1, 191S.
The seventh issue was authorized January 15, 1918, and was for $750,000 in 412% bonds of thirty-year maturity.
The eighth and last bond issue occurred May 1, 1920, at which time $750,000 in 5% bonds, $25,000 of which was to be retired each succeeding year, was authorized.
The total of the eight bond issues for the Detroit Public Library is $2,500,000.
MCKINSTRY'S MUSEUM
Webster defines the word museum as "A repository or a collection of nat- ural, scientifie, or literary curiosities or objects of interest, or of works of art." The museum may therefore be a place in which instruction is associated with entertainment, recreation or even amusement. One of the first collections in Detroit, worthy to be called a museum, was that of Maj. David C. Mckinstry, which was opened to the public May 13, 1834. It occupied the two upper floors of the four-story building on the southeast corner of Griswold Street and Jefferson Avenue. The collection contained many interesting natural curi- osities, Indian weapons and utensils, specimens of the taxidermist's art, etc. Most of this valuable collection was burned in the big fire of January 1, 1842.
MICHIGAN GARDEN
Major Mckinstry was the most popular amusement caterer in Detroit in the first half of the Nineteenth Century. In addition to the museum above mentioned, he was the proprietor of a circus, a theater and a public garden called the "Michigan Garden." This garden was bounded by Monroe Avenue, Brush, Fort and Randolph Streets, and was opened about the same time as
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the museum in 1834. In August, 1840, the following advertisement appeared in the Detroit newspapers:
"The public are respectfully informed that the Garden continues open to visitors. The Museum, consisting of some of the finest specimens of Ornithology, Minerals, Coins, natural and artificial curiosities and a Grand Cosmorama occupying building of the Garden; another containing thirty-seven wax figures, of some of the most interesting characters. The Garden will be illuminated *every fair evening and a band of music will heighten the enjoyment of a walk through upwards of three thousand feet of promenade walk. Refreshments as usual. The baths are likewise in order for company."
In fitting up the museum in the garden, many of the curios taken from the collection on Griswold Street and in this way they were saved from destruction when the building downtown was burned. Brush's Garden afterward occupied the site.
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
The Detroit Scientific Association was the outgrowth of the interest mani- fested by several gentlemen in the collection of historie relies, natural curiosities, etc. As early as 1845 there were a few noteworthy private collections, whose owners kept them open to visitors free of charge. The best known of these were probably the collections of S. W. Higgins and Dr. Louis Cavalli. Mr. Higgins had a son in the United States Navy, who, in his visits to foreign ports, collected many rare articles and sent them to his father. This collection was especially rich in weapons and utensils used by the native tribes in the African interior. The striking features of the Cavalli collection were the medals- some fourteen hundred in number-representing noted characters from the Fourteenth to the Eighteenth Centuries, and the great variety of insects. There were also curiosities from the ancient City of Herculaneum, many rare engravings, geological specimens and fine paintings. Upon Doctor Cavalli's death his collection went to the Smithsonian Institution.
In later years Henry A. Ward made a specialty of collecting fossils, and Prof. J. M. B. Sill, of the Detroit Female Seminary, also had an interesting collection of natural history and geological specimens on the corner of Fort and Wayne streets. It was here that a meeting was held Friday evening, March 27, 1874, to consider the subject of a Detroit Scientific Association. Eugene C. Skinner stated that the object of such an association would be "the establishment of a permanent museum, to cultivate a taste for the study of scientific subjects." Dr. George P. Andrew, John C. Holmes, Frederick Woolfenden and Mr. Skinner were appointed to draft a constitution and by- laws and report at a meeting to be held on the 16th of April. At the adjourned meeting the constitution was adopted and the following officers were elected: Dr. George P. Andrews, president; Eugene C. Skinner, first vice president ; J. M. B. Sill, second vice president; Frederick Woolfenden, recorder; Albert B. Lyons, secretary and cabinet keeper; J. C. Holmes, librarian; Charles C. Cadman, treasurer; D. Farrand Henry, Frederick Stearns and Ilenry Gillman, curators.
The museum was opened on the third floor of the Moffat Building early in May. Additional room was taken in July and in August the association pur- chased Henry A. Ward's collection of casts and fossils. This made it necessary to obtain larger quarters and in September the museum was removed to the
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upper floor of the old Odd Fellows' Hall on Woodward Avenue. That building was torn down in the spring of 1877, when the association leased the building formerly occupied by the public library in the rear of the old capitol. In June, ISSO, the collection was taken to one of the vacant buildings of the Harper Hospital, where it remained until the spring of 1883, when it was housed in the Detroit Medical College on Farmer Street. From there it was removed to the public library and placed under the control of the library commission.
DETROIT MUSEUM OF ART
This institution had its origin in the Art Loan Exhibition of 1883, which was conceived and projected by William H. Brearley. In an article in the "Detroit News," in the latter part of 1882, Mr. Brearley suggested such an exhibit, with a view to the establishment of an art institute, provided sufficient interest in the subject was shown by the people of Detroit. On Wednesday evening, December 6, 1882, a meeting was held at the residence of James F. Joy, at which the preliminary steps were taken to form an organization to promote the exhibit. At a subsequent meeting held in the office of Newberry & MeMillan, February 27, 1883, the following executive committee was se- lected: Henry P. Baldwin, William H. Brearley, Fred E. Farnsworth, John L. Harper, Mrs. E. G. Holden, Mrs. Eugene C. Skinner, Mrs. H. H. Crapo Smith, Mrs. Morse Stewart, John L. Warren and Mrs. Richard Storrs Willis. Mr. Brearley was chosen chairman of the committee; Mr. Farnsworth, seere- tary; and Mr. Harper, treasurer.
The next step was to be assured of sufficient funds to make the exhibit a success. On March 7, 1883, the following citizens of Detroit each agreed to pay $1,000, or such part thereof as might be necessary, to protect the projectors of the enterprise against financial loss: Russell A. Alger, Henry P. Baldwin, ('larence A. Black, Wilhelm Boeing, William H. Brearley, Mrs. J. W. Brodhead, HIenry B. Brown, Edmund A. Brush, Christian H. Buhl, James Burns, William A: Butler, Alexander H. Dey, James L. Edson, Dexter M. Ferry, Moses W. Field, George II. Hammond, E. S. Heineman, Charles C. Hodges, James F. Joy, Edward Kanter, Wells W. Leggett, George V. N. Lothrop, Richard Macauley, Hugh McMillan, James McMillan, Christopher R. Mabley, Mrs. C. R. Mabley, Elijah W. Meddaugh, William B. Moran, William A. Moore, Samuel R. Mumford, Simon J. Murphy, John S. Newberry, Cyrenius A. Newcomb, Thorndike Nourse, Thomas W. Palmer, Francis Palms, Philo Parsons, George Peck, Thomas Pitts, David Preston, Corydon C. Randall, George B. Remick, George H. Seripps, James E. Seripps, Allan Sheldon, Martin S. Smith, Thomas S. Sprague, Edward Y. Smith, William II. Tefft. Robert P. Toms, Willis E. Walker, William B. Wesson, Mrs. W. B. Wesson, David Whitney, Jr., Deodatus C. Whitwood. Richard Storrs Willis.
The lot adjoining Ste. Anne's Church on Larned Street was leased from the Bagley estate and on August 24, 1883, the art loan building was completed. It contained twenty-six rooms, 21,195 square feet of floor space, 2,000 linear feet of wall space for pictures, and cost $15,323. The exhibition was opened September 1, 1883, and continued until November 12th. During that time 134,924 persons visited the display of fine oil paintings, water colors, sculptures, bronzes, prints, drawings, etc .. numbering nearly five thousand in all, and the art exhibit was talked about for weeks after it closed.
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A PERMANENT INSTITUTION
Under date of April 5, 1883, while the subject of the Art Loan Exhibit was under discussion, the following letter was received by Mr. Brearley from Hon. Thomas W. Palmer, then United States Senator from Michigan, and was doubtless the first suggestion for the establishment of a permanent art institu- tion in Detroit:
"W. H. Brearley, Detroit.
"Detroit, April 5, 1883.
"Dear Sir-Believing that the City of Detroit has taste and wealth enough to found and maintain an art gallery which will be creditable to the culture and public spirit of her citizens, and desiring to contribute thereto, I have this day put into the hands of Hon. William A. Moore securities to the amount of $10,000, with interest from January 1, 1883, for the purpose of aiding in the purchase of a lot and the erection of an art gallery thereon.
"Said securities will be turned over by Mr. Moore for that purpose when $40,000 shall have been secured from other sources and a corporation shall have been formed, or some practical plan shall have been adopted to accomplish the end in view, provided said conditions shall be met by July 1, 1884.
"I regret very much that my business prevents my being present at the ex- ercises tonight, and wish you and the gentlemen associated the largest success in inaugurating this movement to call forth, develop and unite for practical ends the artistic feeling in our city. I am aware the result cannot be anything but gratifying.
"Respectfully yours, "T. W. Palmer."
At the close of the exhibition the executive committee reported receipts of $44,260.28 and expenses of $41,817.90, leaving a balance on hand of $2,442.38, part of which was expended in the purchase of a painting by F. D. Millet, though $1,521.60 remained in the hands of the committee. With this small balance and Senator Palmer's generous offer, Mr. Brearley and his associates at once undertook the work of raising the $40,000 for a permanent museum of art. Forty citizens of Detroit each agreed to give $1,000 and on February 27, 1884, a meeting of these donors was held in the Moffat Building. William A. Moore, Charles Endicott, George V. N. Lothrop, William II. Brearley and Lewis T. Ives were appointed a committee on organization.
This committee reported on May 5, 1884, that there was no law on the Michigan statute books authorizing the incorporation of such organizations as that contemplated. A bill was therefore prepared and presented at the next session of the Legislature. It was approved by Governor Alger February 16, 1885, and on the 25th of the following month the Detroit Museum of Art was incorporated. The first board of trustees was composed of William H. Brearley, Lewis T. Ives, George V. N. Lothrop, William A. Moore, Thomas W. Palmer and James E. Scripps. Mr. Lothrop was appointed United States minister to Russia and resigned June 12, 1885, when Dexter M. Ferry was elected to fill the vacancy.
On July 21, 1885 the trustees instructed Mr. Brearley to undertake the work of increasing the art fund to $100,000, in order that the means should be provided for erecting a museum building. About nineteen hundred persons subscribed to this fund. The full amount was not raised until late in the sum-
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mer of 1886 and then the trustees began looking about for a building site. The funds ineluded separate pledges, ranging from 1 cent to sums over $10,000.
Two locations were under consideration-one 200 by 426 feet near Harper Hospital, for $43,000, and the other 250 by 300 feet on Second Avenue, between Gilman and Iligh streets, for $56,000-when the board received the following communication :
"Detroit, October 13, 1886. "To the Detroit Museum of Art, its Incorporators and Trustees:
"The property known as the 'Brady property,' at the southwesterly corner of Jefferson Avenue and Hastings Street, comprising an area of 20,000 square feet, with a frontage on three streets of 400 feet, is hereby tendered to you as a suitable site for the buildings of the corporation.
"If accepted by you, a free and unincumbered title, with immediate pos- session, will be made to you as a gift for that purpose, without expense or cost of any kind.
"In behalf of the committee, "Henry B. Brown, "Sidney D. Miller, "William B. Moran."
The offer was accepted and on November 8, 1886 the building committee was directed to advertise for plans. Fifty-two designs were submitted, that of James Balfour, of Hamilton, Ontario, was accepted, and on May 12, 1887 the ' contract for the erection of the building was awarded to Dawson & Anderson, of Toledo, Ohio, for $43,780. Extra work and the improvement of the grounds brought the total cost up to $56,385.44. The museum was opened to the publie on September 1, 18SS. Three additions have been made to the building, to wit: one in 1893, costing $36,000; one in 1897, costing $50,000; and one in 1904, costing $50,000.
John Ward Dunsmore was appointed the first director of the institution in November, 1SSS. On March 18, 1889 the art schools connected with the institution were first opened, with sixty-eight students. A barn on the rear of the lot had been fitted up for school purposes, as had also the basement of the new building. The courses first given and the instruetors in each were: life class, John W. Dunsmore; advanced drawing from the antique, Franeis P. Paulus; elementary antique, Perey Ives; childrens' classes, Mrs. E. G. Holden; modeling and wood carving, L. H. DeFernelmont; industrial and decorative design, H. M. Lawrence; leeturer on anatomy, Dr. Hal C. Wyman. The fees established ranged from $10 to $25 for day or night elasses over a term of three months and for the first term the tuition receipts amounted to $1,038.
The various collections now embraced in the Art Institute are valued at over a half million dollars. These collections inelude an Egyptian department, a classical department, print department, oriental art, paintings of the Fif- teenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries, as well as modern paintings, objects of handieraft, etchings, sculpture, bronzes, ete. A number of the most valuable departments of the institute, such as paintings of different schools and of different periods, examples of handiwork, curios, colonial blue- ware and wrought-iron work, have been presented by individuals interested in the promotion of art. Among these large donors have been: James E. Seripps, Edward Chandler Walker, Charles Willis Ward, Charles L. Freer, George G. Booth, Thomas W. Palmer and Mrs. Gustavus D. Pope.
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ARTS COMMISSION
Under the charter of the City of Detroit which was adopted in June, 1918. provision was made for a municipal arts commission, this body to consist of four members, with power to hold, in the name of the city, any real property, to build suitable buildings for art purposes, and to acquire and hold any objects of art. Also under the provisions of this charter, the Detroit Museum of Art was to convey to the arts commission all of its property and was thereafter to be designated as the Detroit Institute of Arts, which should be the nucleus of an enlarged institute ranking with the best in the country. The transfer of the Detroit Museum of Art to the absolute control of the city was agreed upon by the trustees representing the original donors in conference with the charter commission in passing upon the arts commission chapter. The last members of the board of trustees of the Museum of Art were: Henry G. Stevens, Gustavus D. Pope, Francis P. Paulus, H. J. M. Grylls, William P. Stevens, William C. Weber, Frederick H. Holt, Ralph H. Booth, William B. Stratton, D. M. Ferry, Jr., David Gray and Thomas May.
Early in January, 1919, the arts commission came into being for the first time under chapter XIX of the new city charter. The organizing meeting of the commission was held at 1817 Dime Bank Building, Commissioners Ralph H. Booth, Albert Kahn and William J. Gray being present. At that meeting Ralph H. Booth was elected president, William J. Gray, vice president, and Clyde H. Burroughs secretary. Maj. D. M. Ferry, Jr., also appointed to the arts commission, was not present, owing to his absence in the service of the country. Afterward, in agreement with an opinion from the corporation counsel that he must be an actual resident of Detroit, he failed to qualify for the position of commissioner.
The first duty of the commission was the consideration of the budget for the operation of the museum for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1919. In this budget an item for a new building for the Detroit Institute of Arts was included but later, owing to the city's enormous requirements, the item was withdrawn by the commission and a nominal sum of $5,000 for an investigation looking to the new building was substituted.
The first problem faced by the commission was the negotiation for the property and collections which the Detroit Museum of Art had expressed an intention to convey to the arts commission. Although the commission worked steadily on the problem throughout the year, owing to the legal difficulties in making the conveyance it was not accomplished until the month of December, when the commission received from the Detroit Museum of Art a deed covering two blocks, bounded by Woodward Avenue, Kirby Avenue, John R Street and Frederick Street; the other by Woodward Avenue, Frederick Street, John R Street and Farnsworth Avenue, together with all interests in adjoining alleys and streets, and estimated at a valuation of one million dollars, together with a bill of sale of the art collections and personal property contained in the Museum of Art Building, which is conservatively valued at about $900,000. (The site above described was purchased in 1910 with funds raised by popular subscrip- tion.) The arts commission, therefore, came into existence possessed of well- rounded collections, and a site for the new Institute of Arts in the heart of the city's population, directly opposite the new library edifice.
To determine the form and character of the new building, the commission, with the limited means at its disposal, retained Prof. Paul Cret, of the University
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of Pennsylvania, architect for the Pan American Building at Washington and the Indianapolis Public Library, as consulting architect.
Although the actual conveyance of the collections of the museum did not take place until December, the arts commission was requested by the trustees of the Detroit Museum of Art to assume the operation and maintenance of the museum beginning July 1, 1919.
On February 6, 1920, at a special meeting of the Detroit Museum of Art Corporation, it was resolved, that, inasmuch as the Museum had been con- veyed to the city, with the exception of the invested trust funds, the corporation should continue as a body, but that the title should be changed to that of the Detroit Museum of Art . Founders Society. At a subsequent meeting the fol- lowing first officers were chosen: D. M. Ferry, Jr., president; J. J. Crowley, vice president; William J. Gray, treasurer; and Clyde H. Burroughs, secretary. The object of the new organization was to cooperate in every respect with the municipal arts commission.
Clyde II. Burroughs, secretary and curator of the Institute of Arts, has been connected with the institution since 1902.
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